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Population in Burundi compared to Rwanda: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Burundi was 14,047,786 in 2024 vs 14,256,567 people in Rwanda in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Burundi's population is 14,833,763 people compared to 14,975,051 in Rwanda.

Population statistics:

  • Rwanda's population is 1.01 times bigger than Burundi's.
  • Burundi is ranked the 78th most populous country in the world, while Rwanda is the 77th.
  • The countries together account for 0.36% of the world: 0.18% for Burundi vs 0.18% for Rwanda.
  • For the last 10 years, Burundi has had an average growth rate of +2.74% per year vs +2.31% in Rwanda.
  • Since 2006, the population of Burundi has increased from 7.87M people to 14.8M (88.6% growth), while Rwanda has grown from 9.3M to 15M (61% growth).

Burundi vs Rwanda: population by year and forecast

Burundi
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Burundi Rwanda
2100 38,293,853 33,092,520
2099 38,174,358 32,987,847
2098 38,032,126 32,907,335
2097 37,893,681 32,832,706
2096 37,756,449 32,747,490
2095 37,614,540 32,615,044
2094 37,436,871 32,529,590
2093 37,274,132 32,396,544
2092 37,108,508 32,274,083
2091 36,942,857 32,171,077
2090 36,771,082 32,068,626
2089 36,563,987 31,872,593
2088 36,355,008 31,726,882
2087 36,164,606 31,533,364
2086 35,954,669 31,379,315
2085 35,713,632 31,235,000
2084 35,484,958 31,092,940
2083 35,263,538 30,917,707
2082 35,009,446 30,733,578
2081 34,736,107 30,557,819
2080 34,490,976 30,367,298
2079 34,213,139 30,176,627
2078 33,926,177 29,997,866
2077 33,614,120 29,800,561
2076 33,328,275 29,627,021
2075 33,008,877 29,423,503
2074 32,701,037 29,225,643
2073 32,376,989 29,007,777
2072 32,052,692 28,780,763
2071 31,745,266 28,560,382
2070 31,397,738 28,316,533
2069 31,057,284 28,103,541
2068 30,714,517 27,854,906
2067 30,354,696 27,591,747
2066 30,003,347 27,355,659
2065 29,629,671 27,084,704
2064 29,285,762 26,821,315
2063 28,949,355 26,543,184
2062 28,601,048 26,296,132
2061 28,250,749 25,985,356
2060 27,902,252 25,712,904
2059 27,548,599 25,437,446
2058 27,202,405 25,106,242
2057 26,854,783 24,837,928
2056 26,488,466 24,566,784
2055 26,128,941 24,266,669
2054 25,749,289 23,976,914
2053 25,370,938 23,690,426
2052 24,991,164 23,406,346
2051 24,616,398 23,099,207
2050 24,248,417 22,800,250
2049 23,841,324 22,484,698
2048 23,457,774 22,157,938
2047 23,054,780 21,834,786
2046 22,680,495 21,540,566
2045 22,268,462 21,215,262
2044 21,845,832 20,902,695
2043 21,428,437 20,535,605
2042 20,996,812 20,201,608
2041 20,590,106 19,832,577
2040 20,174,211 19,463,015
2039 19,754,227 19,096,860
2038 19,337,942 18,761,626
2037 18,919,404 18,421,864
2036 18,507,313 18,116,691
2035 18,115,077 17,753,910
2034 17,727,651 17,421,234
2033 17,339,180 17,089,349
2032 16,953,330 16,811,505
2031 16,569,289 16,485,559
2030 16,198,007 16,167,916
2029 15,827,843 15,858,862
2028 15,445,059 15,544,959
2027 15,084,625 15,207,733
2026 14,740,747 14,888,776
2025 14,397,864 14,560,205
2024 14,047,786 14,256,567
2023 13,689,450 13,954,471
2022 13,321,097 13,651,030
2021 12,965,481 13,355,260
2020 12,617,036 13,065,837
2019 12,255,336 12,776,103
2018 11,859,446 12,487,996
2017 11,506,762 12,202,060
2016 11,239,451 11,919,183
2015 11,047,580 11,640,022
2014 10,799,785 11,364,757
2013 10,439,341 11,093,340
2012 10,071,028 10,829,901
2011 9,717,978 10,573,733
2010 9,376,444 10,317,553
2009 8,947,646 10,060,432
2008 8,505,637 9,804,269
2007 8,161,874 9,549,933
2006 7,865,547 9,299,246
2005 7,587,299 9,054,528
2004 7,310,656 8,816,844
2003 7,043,154 8,586,875
2002 6,824,132 8,400,180
2001 6,634,365 8,287,094
2000 6,470,194 8,213,931
1999 6,337,155 8,147,912
1998 6,187,108 8,081,681
1997 6,070,042 7,755,238
1996 6,070,506 6,708,764
1995 6,066,316 5,674,118
1994 5,713,854 6,792,352
1993 5,676,843 7,981,132
1992 5,858,407 7,683,266
1991 5,703,857 7,526,966
1990 5,587,052 7,375,307
1989 5,471,706 7,184,706
1988 5,365,327 6,968,071
1987 5,247,787 6,749,493
1986 5,129,414 6,531,881
1985 5,034,042 6,317,228
1984 4,926,465 6,107,627
1983 4,808,528 5,905,311
1982 4,681,390 5,711,549
1981 4,566,014 5,527,230
1980 4,383,706 5,353,259
1979 4,203,530 5,189,541
1978 4,100,338 5,035,171
1977 3,983,582 4,888,240
1976 3,882,626 4,745,954
1975 3,796,612 4,607,728
1974 3,703,590 4,474,228
1973 3,611,991 4,345,047
1972 3,617,128 4,220,335
1971 3,617,289 4,100,044
1970 3,530,432 3,980,669
1969 3,454,590 3,861,271
1968 3,380,387 3,744,010
1967 3,300,690 3,629,577
1966 3,217,960 3,521,626
1965 3,141,367 3,423,210
1964 3,055,650 3,334,834
1963 2,969,841 3,258,890
1962 2,907,943 3,186,025
1961 2,835,119 3,106,779
1960 2,764,258 3,022,294

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/burundi/rwanda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Burundi increased by 3,373,904 people (a 42.9% growth), while Rwanda gained 2,619,937 people (a 28.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Burundi gained 3,594,312 people (a 32% growth), while Rwanda's population increased by 3,055,868 people (a 25.6% growth).

Burundi was ranked 93rd most populous country in 2006 and is 78th in 2026. Rwanda was ranked 86th in 2006 and ranked 77th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Burundi's population will grow by 63.5% to 24,248,417 people with a rank change from 78th to 69th. The population of Rwanda will increase by 52.3% to 22,800,250 people and rank change from 77th to 72nd.

Burundi is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 38.3M people compared to the peak of 33.1M people in 2100 for Rwanda.

Population growth rate by year

Burundi
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Burundi Rwanda
2100 0.31% 0.32%
2099 0.37% 0.24%
2098 0.37% 0.23%
2097 0.36% 0.26%
2096 0.38% 0.41%
2095 0.47% 0.26%
2094 0.44% 0.41%
2093 0.45% 0.38%
2092 0.45% 0.32%
2091 0.47% 0.32%
2090 0.57% 0.62%
2089 0.57% 0.46%
2088 0.53% 0.61%
2087 0.58% 0.49%
2086 0.67% 0.46%
2085 0.64% 0.46%
2084 0.63% 0.57%
2083 0.73% 0.6%
2082 0.79% 0.58%
2081 0.71% 0.63%
2080 0.81% 0.63%
2079 0.85% 0.6%
2078 0.93% 0.66%
2077 0.86% 0.59%
2076 0.97% 0.69%
2075 0.94% 0.68%
2074 1% 0.75%
2073 1.01% 0.79%
2072 0.97% 0.77%
2071 1.11% 0.86%
2070 1.1% 0.76%
2069 1.12% 0.89%
2068 1.19% 0.95%
2067 1.17% 0.86%
2066 1.26% 1%
2065 1.17% 0.98%
2064 1.16% 1.05%
2063 1.22% 0.94%
2062 1.24% 1.2%
2061 1.25% 1.06%
2060 1.28% 1.08%
2059 1.27% 1.32%
2058 1.29% 1.08%
2057 1.38% 1.1%
2056 1.38% 1.24%
2055 1.47% 1.21%
2054 1.49% 1.21%
2053 1.52% 1.21%
2052 1.52% 1.33%
2051 1.52% 1.31%
2050 1.71% 1.4%
2049 1.64% 1.47%
2048 1.75% 1.48%
2047 1.65% 1.37%
2046 1.85% 1.53%
2045 1.93% 1.5%
2044 1.95% 1.79%
2043 2.06% 1.65%
2042 1.98% 1.86%
2041 2.06% 1.9%
2040 2.13% 1.92%
2039 2.15% 1.79%
2038 2.21% 1.84%
2037 2.23% 1.68%
2036 2.17% 2.04%
2035 2.19% 1.91%
2034 2.24% 1.94%
2033 2.28% 1.65%
2032 2.32% 1.98%
2031 2.29% 1.96%
2030 2.34% 1.95%
2029 2.48% 2.02%
2028 2.39% 2.22%
2027 2.33% 2.14%
2026 2.38% 2.26%
2025 2.49% 2.13%
2024 2.62% 2.16%
2023 2.77% 2.22%
2022 2.74% 2.21%
2021 2.76% 2.22%
2020 2.95% 2.27%
2019 3.34% 2.31%
2018 3.07% 2.34%
2017 2.38% 2.37%
2016 1.74% 2.4%
2015 2.29% 2.42%
2014 3.45% 2.45%
2013 3.66% 2.43%
2012 3.63% 2.42%
2011 3.64% 2.48%
2010 4.79% 2.56%
2009 5.2% 2.61%
2008 4.21% 2.66%
2007 3.77% 2.7%
2006 3.67% 2.7%
2005 3.78% 2.7%
2004 3.8% 2.68%
2003 3.21% 2.22%
2002 2.86% 1.36%
2001 2.54% 0.89%
2000 2.1% 0.81%
1999 2.43% 0.82%
1998 1.93% 4.21%
1997 -0.008% 15.6%
1996 0.07% 18.2%
1995 6.17% -16.5%
1994 0.65% -14.9%
1993 -3.1% 3.88%
1992 2.71% 2.08%
1991 2.09% 2.06%
1990 2.11% 2.65%
1989 1.98% 3.11%
1988 2.24% 3.24%
1987 2.31% 3.33%
1986 1.89% 3.4%
1985 2.18% 3.43%
1984 2.45% 3.43%
1983 2.72% 3.39%
1982 2.53% 3.33%
1981 4.16% 3.25%
1980 4.29% 3.15%
1979 2.52% 3.07%
1978 2.93% 3.01%
1977 2.6% 3%
1976 2.27% 3%
1975 2.51% 2.98%
1974 2.54% 2.97%
1973 -0.14% 2.96%
1972 -0.004% 2.93%
1971 2.46% 3%
1970 2.2% 3.09%
1969 2.2% 3.13%
1968 2.41% 3.15%
1967 2.57% 3.07%
1966 2.44% 2.87%
1965 2.81% 2.65%
1964 2.89% 2.33%
1963 2.13% 2.29%
1962 2.57% 2.55%
1961 2.56% 2.8%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/burundi/rwanda | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Burundi grew by 2.62%, while Rwanda's population grew by 2.16%.

Live population counters

Burundi Rwanda
Current population
14833763
14975051
Population rank 78/197 77/197
Percent of world population 0.18% 0.18%
One net population change
1.47 minutes
1.74 minutes
One birth every
1.14 minutes
1.33 minutes
One death every
5.72 minutes
6.35 minutes
Daily growth/decline +982 +828
Annual growth/decline +358,336 +302,096
Annual growth/decline rate +2.62% +2.16%
Population growth rate rank 24/197 45/197
One migration net change every
15.2 minutes
1.4 hours
Annual migration change -34,727 +6,282
Net migration rank 169/196 48/196
Foreign-born residents 387,101 513,316
Foreign-born residents rank 90/195 80/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.8% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 119/195 109/195

Natural population change vs migration

Burundi
Natural

Migration
Rwanda
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Burundi Rwanda
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -34,727 - 6,282
2024 - -27,074 - -15,582
2023 368,917 1,995 312,762 -9,001
2022 363,786 1,995 312,145 -9,001
2021 359,844 -14,415 309,895 -21,492
2020 361,654 -10,189 312,692 -22,251
2019 357,672 14,253 313,525 -24,492
2018 351,704 68,141 312,512 -25,323
2017 353,879 -68,349 310,323 -25,634
2016 358,393 -109,296 305,549 -24,474
2015 370,856 -236,207 299,114 -21,862
2014 367,797 -6,856 292,779 -19,505
2013 362,224 -2,285 286,331 -16,779
2012 354,068 22,617 282,584 -25,260
2011 348,934 -19,513 282,922 -27,915
2010 341,808 11,845 286,848 -29,501
2009 319,583 184,359 287,034 -30,128
2008 300,750 79,319 287,334 -31,913
2007 285,323 22,129 285,791 -32,537
2006 269,874 15,322 282,149 -34,008
2005 253,401 17,905 275,121 -33,830
2004 234,891 47,091 265,273 -31,214
2003 216,295 36,719 251,243 -25,355
2002 201,892 -16,871 239,036 -91,518
2001 184,541 9,967 230,845 -152,197
2000 173,867 -40,032 221,276 -153,588
1999 166,699 -34,465 210,518 -146,162
1998 154,010 13,840 197,185 -129,089
1997 150,404 -84,126 174,687 410,106
1996 158,920 -226,317 140,455 1,367,700
1995 160,284 -84,697 121,137 439,995
1994 112,968 516,373 -719,479 -2,078,111
1993 128,898 -684,261 183,926 236,110
1992 156,420 35,769 188,025 -12,334
1991 156,148 -39,236 196,431 -59,519
1990 156,617 -39,926 207,895 -41,483
1989 157,547 -43,561 217,632 -2,826
1988 145,234 -46,464 223,759 -5,285
1987 157,481 -21,179 225,744 -7,062
1986 156,170 -55,742 225,526 -8,982
1985 156,896 -66,574 223,794 -11,031
1984 154,366 -29,534 219,337 -12,899
1983 152,801 -41,756 212,750 -14,560
1982 147,090 -3,844 205,147 -15,818
1981 146,231 -58,723 195,769 -16,453
1980 127,746 149,361 184,988 -16,359
1979 123,377 -40,126 174,477 -15,669
1978 114,884 8,247 163,779 -13,838
1977 108,488 1,884 155,011 -11,084
1976 104,396 -12,848 147,665 -7,027
1975 101,172 -20,693 140,596 -4,791
1974 95,486 10,065 135,743 -4,535
1973 74,805 2,843 131,021 -3,862
1972 30,532 -118,457 126,403 -4,156
1971 95,153 -7,569 122,567 -4,230
1970 92,476 -6,346 119,273 1,149
1969 90,852 -25,292 115,394 2,983
1968 88,765 -5,917 111,422 4,728
1967 86,373 -9,821 108,053 4,655
1966 83,651 5,262 105,128 -1,930
1965 78,208 -13,947 103,422 -9,774
1964 77,528 29,639 102,562 -19,458
1963 75,962 -11,502 94,296 -25,524
1962 74,710 -15,378 102,548 -25,594
1961 71,216 15,094 102,051 -20,508
1960 70,032 -14,620 100,627 -13,198

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/burundi/rwanda | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 91% of the population change in Burundi is from natural causes (a gain of 3,614,502 people) and 9.03% is from migration (a loss of 358,928 people). In Rwanda 93.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,081,296 people) and 6.18% is from migration (a loss of 203,035 people).

As of 2024, 387,101 residents or 2.8% of the population were not native-born in Burundi, compared to 513,316 people or 3.6% in Rwanda.

Biggest cities by population

Burundi
City Population
Bujumbura 659K
Gitega 136K
Ngozi 39.9K
Bubanza 20K
Muyinga 9.61K
Makamba 9.4K
Ruyigi 7.14K
Rutana 5.86K
Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K
Byumba 36.4K
Cyangugu 27.4K
Nyanza 25.4K
Butare 19.9K
Kibuye 12.3K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/burundi/rwanda | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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