Rwanda has a population density of 1,497 people per square mile compared to the World's average of 141.6 people. Rwanda has 19,886 sq ft of land per person. In the list of countries ranked from the most to the least densely populated, Rwanda ranked 13th out of 197.
Rwanda has 0.18% of the world's population and 0.02% of all countries' land area.
Population density in Rwanda compared to the World's average
Rwanda
|
World
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population density | 1,497 ppl/mi² | 141.6 ppl/mi² |
| Population density rank | 13/197 | N/A |
| Population |
14826674
|
8266870341
|
| Land area | 9,525 sq mi | 57,506,055 sq mi |
| Land area per capita | 18,626 sq ft | 196,901 sq ft |
| Rural population | 81.9% | 42.3% |
| Urban population | 18.1% | 57.7% |
| Living in agglomerations of 1M+ people | 8.11% | 28.6% |
Rwanda population density by year chart
The chart below plots how population density in Rwanda has been changing over time. From 2004 to 2024, population density increased by 61.7%. The population density rank was 18th 21 years ago and is 13th today.
people per square mile
| Year | Population density | Density rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,497 | 13 |
| 2023 | 1,465 | 13 |
| 2022 | 1,433 | 15 |
| 2021 | 1,402 | 15 |
| 2020 | 1,372 | 16 |
| 2019 | 1,341 | 16 |
| 2018 | 1,311 | 17 |
| 2017 | 1,281 | 17 |
| 2016 | 1,251 | 17 |
| 2015 | 1,222 | 17 |
| 2014 | 1,193 | 17 |
| 2013 | 1,165 | 17 |
| 2012 | 1,137 | 17 |
| 2011 | 1,110 | 17 |
| 2010 | 1,083 | 18 |
| 2009 | 1,056 | 18 |
| 2008 | 1,029 | 18 |
| 2007 | 1,003 | 18 |
| 2006 | 976 | 18 |
| 2005 | 951 | 18 |
| 2004 | 926 | 18 |
| 2003 | 901 | 19 |
| 2002 | 882 | 20 |
| 2001 | 870 | 20 |
| 2000 | 862 | 20 |
| 1999 | 855 | 18 |
| 1998 | 848 | 18 |
| 1997 | 814 | 18 |
| 1996 | 704 | 24 |
| 1995 | 596 | 34 |
| 1994 | 713 | 23 |
| 1993 | 838 | 17 |
| 1992 | 807 | 17 |
| 1991 | 790 | 17 |
| 1990 | 774 | 17 |
| 1989 | 754 | 17 |
| 1988 | 732 | 19 |
| 1987 | 709 | 19 |
| 1986 | 686 | 20 |
| 1985 | 663 | 20 |
| 1984 | 641 | 20 |
| 1983 | 620 | 21 |
| 1982 | 600 | 22 |
| 1981 | 580 | 23 |
| 1980 | 562 | 25 |
| 1979 | 545 | 25 |
| 1978 | 529 | 25 |
| 1977 | 513 | 25 |
| 1976 | 498 | 25 |
| 1975 | 484 | 26 |
| 1974 | 470 | 28 |
| 1973 | 456 | 29 |
| 1972 | 443 | 29 |
| 1971 | 430 | 29 |
| 1970 | 418 | 29 |
| 1969 | 405 | 29 |
| 1968 | 393 | 30 |
| 1967 | 381 | 30 |
| 1966 | 370 | 30 |
| 1965 | 359 | 31 |
| 1964 | 350 | 31 |
| 1963 | 342 | 32 |
| 1962 | 334 | 32 |
| 1961 | 326 | 32 |
Share of urban population by year chart
The following chart shows the share of the urban population in Rwanda from 1960 to 2024: 2.6% of population lived in urban areas in 1960, 14.9% in 2000, and in 2024 the share of the urban population was 18.1%.
| Year | Urban population | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 18.1% | 190 |
| 2023 | 17.9% | 190 |
| 2022 | 17.7% | 190 |
| 2021 | 17.6% | 191 |
| 2020 | 17.4% | 190 |
| 2019 | 17.3% | 190 |
| 2018 | 17.2% | 190 |
| 2017 | 17.1% | 190 |
| 2016 | 17.1% | 190 |
| 2015 | 17% | 190 |
| 2014 | 17% | 190 |
| 2013 | 16.9% | 190 |
| 2012 | 16.9% | 190 |
| 2011 | 16.9% | 190 |
| 2010 | 16.9% | 189 |
| 2009 | 16.9% | 188 |
| 2008 | 16.9% | 188 |
| 2007 | 16.9% | 188 |
| 2006 | 16.9% | 188 |
| 2005 | 16.9% | 188 |
| 2004 | 16.9% | 187 |
| 2003 | 16.9% | 186 |
| 2002 | 16.8% | 185 |
| 2001 | 15.8% | 188 |
| 2000 | 14.9% | 189 |
| 1999 | 14.1% | 192 |
| 1998 | 13.2% | 193 |
| 1997 | 12.5% | 193 |
| 1996 | 11.4% | 193 |
| 1995 | 9.84% | 194 |
| 1994 | 8.49% | 194 |
| 1993 | 7.31% | 194 |
| 1992 | 6.29% | 195 |
| 1991 | 5.49% | 195 |
| 1990 | 5.42% | 195 |
| 1989 | 5.34% | 194 |
| 1988 | 5.27% | 194 |
| 1987 | 5.2% | 194 |
| 1986 | 5.13% | 194 |
| 1985 | 5.06% | 194 |
| 1984 | 4.99% | 194 |
| 1983 | 4.92% | 193 |
| 1982 | 4.85% | 193 |
| 1981 | 4.79% | 193 |
| 1980 | 4.72% | 193 |
| 1979 | 4.66% | 193 |
| 1978 | 4.57% | 193 |
| 1977 | 4.37% | 193 |
| 1976 | 4.18% | 193 |
| 1975 | 4% | 193 |
| 1974 | 3.82% | 193 |
| 1973 | 3.65% | 193 |
| 1972 | 3.49% | 193 |
| 1971 | 3.34% | 193 |
| 1970 | 3.19% | 193 |
| 1969 | 3.13% | 193 |
| 1968 | 3.07% | 193 |
| 1967 | 3% | 193 |
| 1966 | 2.94% | 193 |
| 1965 | 2.88% | 193 |
| 1964 | 2.82% | 193 |
| 1963 | 2.77% | 193 |
| 1962 | 2.71% | 193 |
| 1961 | 2.65% | 193 |
| 1960 | 2.6% | 193 |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population density in other countries
people per square mile
Population density
Relevant pages:
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Population density comparisons
