Share of people living in cities in Rwanda: 30.9% in 2025, ranking 195th of 217 countries. In 2010 it was 16.9%.
Data last updated · Period: 2010–2025
Understanding the chart
The line chart above tracks share of people living in cities in Rwanda for each year from 2010 to 2025, 16 data points in all. Each dot is one year; the first and last years and the highest point are labelled with their values, and the vertical scale is in % of total. All values in this period were above zero. The data table below the chart lists every value, and you can download the data, embed the chart or share it from the buttons above. The figures cover 2010–2025 and come from World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0).
Key insights
- Between 2010 and 2025, Rwanda's urban population rose from 16.9% to 30.9%, a rise of 14.0 percentage points.
- The highest value in this period was 30.9% in 2025; the lowest was 16.9% in 2010.
- Recently, the figure has risen in each of the last two years (2024: 29.9%; 2025: 30.9%).
- That is 26.9 percentage points below the world figure of 57.8%.
- Rwanda has the 195th-highest value of 217 countries with recent data.
- In Eastern Africa, Rwanda has the 14th-highest value of 18 countries with recent data; the highest is Djibouti (73.0%), and the typical (median) value is 34.2%.
Analysis
Averaged over periods, the figure was 17.1% in 2010 to 2014, 20.4% in 2015 to 2019 and 28.0% in 2020 onwards. The value went up in 15 of the 15 year-to-year steps and down in 0. The biggest one-year rise came in 2022 (+1.7 percentage points). Year to year, the figure typically varied by about 5.1 percentage points around its average of 22.2%, a volatile pattern.
What it means
For businesses and investors, the figure is most useful alongside related measures for the same country, such as growth, inflation, population and incomes, and compared with similar countries. Compared with its neighbours in Eastern Africa, where the typical value is 34.2%, Rwanda is 3.3 percentage points lower.
Related figures
- Urban population (% of total) by country, 2025: 100.0% (highest: Bahrain). The share of people living in areas defined as urban by each country.
- Share of people living in cities in Burundi, 2010–2025: 25.7% (Urban population, 2025 · 205th of 217). Share of people living in cities in Burundi: 25.7% in 2025, ranking 205th of 217 countries.
- Share of people living in cities in Comoros, 2010–2025: 33.9% (Urban population, 2025 · 186th of 217). Share of people living in cities in Comoros: 33.9% in 2025, ranking 186th of 217 countries.
About this statistic
The share of people living in areas defined as urban by each country. City dwellers are usually easier and cheaper to reach with deliveries, shops and services.
Population size, growth, age and urbanisation decide how many customers a market has, what they need, and where they live. The figures come from the World Bank's World Development Indicators, which compile official national statistics in a consistent form so countries can be compared.
Questions and answers
What is the share of people living in cities in Rwanda?
30.9% (Urban population, 2025 · 195th of 217). Share of people living in cities in Rwanda: 30.9% in 2025, ranking 195th of 217 countries. In 2010 it was 16.9%.
How has urban population in Rwanda changed since 2010?
Between 2010 and 2025, Rwanda's urban population rose from 16.9% to 30.9%, a rise of 14.0 percentage points. The highest value in this period was 30.9% in 2025; the lowest was 16.9% in 2010.
Where does this data come from?
From World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0), covering 2010–2025. The share of people living in areas defined as urban by each country. City dwellers are usually easier and cheaper to reach with deliveries, shops and services.
Data
| Year | Urban population (% of total) |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 16.9% |
| 2011 | 16.9% |
| 2012 | 16.9% |
| 2013 | 17.1% |
| 2014 | 17.5% |
| 2015 | 18.2% |
| 2016 | 19.1% |
| 2017 | 20.2% |
| 2018 | 21.5% |
| 2019 | 23.0% |
| 2020 | 24.5% |
| 2021 | 26.1% |
| 2022 | 27.8% |
| 2023 | 28.9% |
| 2024 | 29.9% |
| 2025 | 30.9% |
Source and notes
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0). Period: 2010–2025. Coverage: Rwanda.
The share of people living in areas defined as urban by each country. City dwellers are usually easier and cheaper to reach with deliveries, shops and services.
Cite this statistic
Please also credit the original source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0).Related statistics
- Urban population (% of total) by country, 2025
- Share of people living in cities in Burundi, 2010–2025
- Share of people living in cities in Comoros, 2010–2025
- Share of people living in cities in Djibouti, 2010–2025
- Share of people living in cities in Eritrea, 2010–2025
- GDP of Rwanda, 2010–2025
- Economic growth (GDP growth) in Rwanda, 2010–2025
- GDP per person in Rwanda, 2010–2025
- GDP per person, adjusted for prices (PPP, international $) in Rwanda, 2010–2024
All Rwanda data: economy, people, jobs and digital in one place
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