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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Rwanda was 14,256,567 in 2024 vs 19,009,151 people in Somalia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Rwanda's population is 14,975,051 people compared to 20,503,678 in Somalia.

Population statistics:

  • Somalia's population is 1.37 times bigger than Rwanda's.
  • Rwanda is ranked the 77th most populous country in the world, while Somalia is the 66th.
  • The countries together account for 0.43% of the world: 0.18% for Rwanda vs 0.25% for Somalia.
  • For the last 10 years, Rwanda has had an average growth rate of +2.31% per year vs +3.61% in Somalia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Rwanda has increased from 9.3M people to 15M (61% growth), while Somalia has grown from 11M to 20.5M (86.8% growth).

Rwanda vs Somalia: population by year and forecast

Rwanda
Factual

Projection
Somalia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Rwanda Somalia
2100 33,092,520 68,384,185
2099 32,987,847 68,040,371
2098 32,907,335 67,702,230
2097 32,832,706 67,362,336
2096 32,747,490 66,972,933
2095 32,615,044 66,585,659
2094 32,529,590 66,179,819
2093 32,396,544 65,760,590
2092 32,274,083 65,324,261
2091 32,171,077 64,852,843
2090 32,068,626 64,362,727
2089 31,872,593 63,922,797
2088 31,726,882 63,464,036
2087 31,533,364 62,987,028
2086 31,379,315 62,447,029
2085 31,235,000 61,873,597
2084 31,092,940 61,318,916
2083 30,917,707 60,761,800
2082 30,733,578 60,187,980
2081 30,557,819 59,676,722
2080 30,367,298 59,100,915
2079 30,176,627 58,477,428
2078 29,997,866 57,852,528
2077 29,800,561 57,211,821
2076 29,627,021 56,602,463
2075 29,423,503 56,005,600
2074 29,225,643 55,330,165
2073 29,007,777 54,651,918
2072 28,780,763 53,978,548
2071 28,560,382 53,284,016
2070 28,316,533 52,573,210
2069 28,103,541 51,878,214
2068 27,854,906 51,197,653
2067 27,591,747 50,493,028
2066 27,355,659 49,779,172
2065 27,084,704 49,024,665
2064 26,821,315 48,265,876
2063 26,543,184 47,522,361
2062 26,296,132 46,785,920
2061 25,985,356 46,037,526
2060 25,712,904 45,220,507
2059 25,437,446 44,397,936
2058 25,106,242 43,659,021
2057 24,837,928 42,897,422
2056 24,566,784 42,121,542
2055 24,266,669 41,318,179
2054 23,976,914 40,513,141
2053 23,690,426 39,744,995
2052 23,406,346 38,992,177
2051 23,099,207 38,228,872
2050 22,800,250 37,471,735
2049 22,484,698 36,739,905
2048 22,157,938 35,984,999
2047 21,834,786 35,218,863
2046 21,540,566 34,462,403
2045 21,215,262 33,717,596
2044 20,902,695 32,977,674
2043 20,535,605 32,247,710
2042 20,201,608 31,537,272
2041 19,832,577 30,794,853
2040 19,463,015 30,032,324
2039 19,096,860 29,312,883
2038 18,761,626 28,583,386
2037 18,421,864 27,838,646
2036 18,116,691 27,114,453
2035 17,753,910 26,385,421
2034 17,421,234 25,687,629
2033 17,089,349 25,018,509
2032 16,811,505 24,338,597
2031 16,485,559 23,657,353
2030 16,167,916 22,965,742
2029 15,858,862 22,299,610
2028 15,544,959 21,651,582
2027 15,207,733 20,991,860
2026 14,888,776 20,322,668
2025 14,560,205 19,666,990
2024 14,256,567 19,009,151
2023 13,954,471 18,358,615
2022 13,651,030 17,801,897
2021 13,355,260 17,271,431
2020 13,065,837 16,651,191
2019 12,776,103 16,030,971
2018 12,487,996 15,452,487
2017 12,202,060 14,916,629
2016 11,919,183 14,348,740
2015 11,640,022 13,806,963
2014 11,364,757 13,339,491
2013 11,093,340 12,869,594
2012 10,829,901 12,461,160
2011 10,573,733 12,348,830
2010 10,317,553 12,261,756
2009 10,060,432 11,961,201
2008 9,804,269 11,663,084
2007 9,549,933 11,322,582
2006 9,299,246 10,975,502
2005 9,054,528 10,644,228
2004 8,816,844 10,280,998
2003 8,586,875 9,909,157
2002 8,400,180 9,550,063
2001 8,287,094 9,198,493
2000 8,213,931 8,838,713
1999 8,147,912 8,492,059
1998 8,081,681 8,155,417
1997 7,755,238 7,824,525
1996 6,708,764 7,554,474
1995 5,674,118 7,285,007
1994 6,792,352 7,026,797
1993 7,981,132 6,681,399
1992 7,683,266 6,495,107
1991 7,526,966 6,813,760
1990 7,375,307 7,082,811
1989 7,184,706 7,114,817
1988 6,968,071 7,235,360
1987 6,749,493 7,228,302
1986 6,531,881 6,974,788
1985 6,317,228 6,693,289
1984 6,107,627 6,428,389
1983 5,905,311 6,198,430
1982 5,711,549 6,003,840
1981 5,527,230 5,982,849
1980 5,353,259 5,936,154
1979 5,189,541 5,449,117
1978 5,035,171 4,814,892
1977 4,888,240 4,484,050
1976 4,745,954 4,365,812
1975 4,607,728 4,257,535
1974 4,474,228 4,151,842
1973 4,345,047 4,045,592
1972 4,220,335 3,939,436
1971 4,100,044 3,837,691
1970 3,980,669 3,738,448
1969 3,861,271 3,641,015
1968 3,744,010 3,546,590
1967 3,629,577 3,454,537
1966 3,521,626 3,365,106
1965 3,423,210 3,277,874
1964 3,334,834 3,192,796
1963 3,258,890 3,110,361
1962 3,186,025 3,030,091
1961 3,106,779 2,952,054
1960 3,022,294 2,876,331

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/rwanda/somalia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Rwanda increased by 2,619,937 people (a 28.2% growth), while Somalia gained 3,373,238 people (a 30.7% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Rwanda gained 3,055,868 people (a 25.6% growth), while Somalia's population increased by 6,154,938 people (a 42.9% growth).

Rwanda was ranked 86th most populous country in 2006 and is 77th in 2026. Somalia was ranked 75th in 2006 and ranked 66th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Rwanda's population will grow by 52.3% to 22,800,250 people with a rank change from 77th to 72nd. The population of Somalia will increase by 82.8% to 37,471,735 people and rank change from 66th to 57th.

Rwanda is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 33.1M people compared to the peak of 68.4M people in 2100 for Somalia.

Population growth rate by year

Rwanda
Factual

Projection
Somalia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Rwanda Somalia
2100 0.32% 0.51%
2099 0.24% 0.5%
2098 0.23% 0.5%
2097 0.26% 0.58%
2096 0.41% 0.58%
2095 0.26% 0.61%
2094 0.41% 0.64%
2093 0.38% 0.67%
2092 0.32% 0.73%
2091 0.32% 0.76%
2090 0.62% 0.69%
2089 0.46% 0.72%
2088 0.61% 0.76%
2087 0.49% 0.86%
2086 0.46% 0.93%
2085 0.46% 0.9%
2084 0.57% 0.92%
2083 0.6% 0.95%
2082 0.58% 0.86%
2081 0.63% 0.97%
2080 0.63% 1.07%
2079 0.6% 1.08%
2078 0.66% 1.12%
2077 0.59% 1.08%
2076 0.69% 1.07%
2075 0.68% 1.22%
2074 0.75% 1.24%
2073 0.79% 1.25%
2072 0.77% 1.3%
2071 0.86% 1.35%
2070 0.76% 1.34%
2069 0.89% 1.33%
2068 0.95% 1.4%
2067 0.86% 1.43%
2066 1% 1.54%
2065 0.98% 1.57%
2064 1.05% 1.56%
2063 0.94% 1.57%
2062 1.2% 1.63%
2061 1.06% 1.81%
2060 1.08% 1.85%
2059 1.32% 1.69%
2058 1.08% 1.78%
2057 1.1% 1.84%
2056 1.24% 1.94%
2055 1.21% 1.99%
2054 1.21% 1.93%
2053 1.21% 1.93%
2052 1.33% 2%
2051 1.31% 2.02%
2050 1.4% 1.99%
2049 1.47% 2.1%
2048 1.48% 2.18%
2047 1.37% 2.2%
2046 1.53% 2.21%
2045 1.5% 2.24%
2044 1.79% 2.26%
2043 1.65% 2.25%
2042 1.86% 2.41%
2041 1.9% 2.54%
2040 1.92% 2.45%
2039 1.79% 2.55%
2038 1.84% 2.68%
2037 1.68% 2.67%
2036 2.04% 2.76%
2035 1.91% 2.72%
2034 1.94% 2.67%
2033 1.65% 2.79%
2032 1.98% 2.88%
2031 1.96% 3.01%
2030 1.95% 2.99%
2029 2.02% 2.99%
2028 2.22% 3.14%
2027 2.14% 3.29%
2026 2.26% 3.33%
2025 2.13% 3.46%
2024 2.16% 3.54%
2023 2.22% 3.13%
2022 2.21% 3.07%
2021 2.22% 3.72%
2020 2.27% 3.87%
2019 2.31% 3.74%
2018 2.34% 3.59%
2017 2.37% 3.96%
2016 2.4% 3.92%
2015 2.42% 3.5%
2014 2.45% 3.65%
2013 2.43% 3.28%
2012 2.42% 0.91%
2011 2.48% 0.71%
2010 2.56% 2.51%
2009 2.61% 2.56%
2008 2.66% 3.01%
2007 2.7% 3.16%
2006 2.7% 3.11%
2005 2.7% 3.53%
2004 2.68% 3.75%
2003 2.22% 3.76%
2002 1.36% 3.82%
2001 0.89% 4.07%
2000 0.81% 4.08%
1999 0.82% 4.13%
1998 4.21% 4.23%
1997 15.6% 3.57%
1996 18.2% 3.7%
1995 -16.5% 3.67%
1994 -14.9% 5.17%
1993 3.88% 2.87%
1992 2.08% -4.68%
1991 2.06% -3.8%
1990 2.65% -0.45%
1989 3.11% -1.67%
1988 3.24% 0.1%
1987 3.33% 3.63%
1986 3.4% 4.21%
1985 3.43% 4.12%
1984 3.43% 3.71%
1983 3.39% 3.24%
1982 3.33% 0.35%
1981 3.25% 0.79%
1980 3.15% 8.94%
1979 3.07% 13.2%
1978 3.01% 7.38%
1977 3% 2.71%
1976 3% 2.54%
1975 2.98% 2.55%
1974 2.97% 2.63%
1973 2.96% 2.69%
1972 2.93% 2.65%
1971 3% 2.65%
1970 3.09% 2.68%
1969 3.13% 2.66%
1968 3.15% 2.66%
1967 3.07% 2.66%
1966 2.87% 2.66%
1965 2.65% 2.66%
1964 2.33% 2.65%
1963 2.29% 2.65%
1962 2.55% 2.64%
1961 2.8% 2.63%

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/rwanda/somalia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Rwanda grew by 2.16%, while Somalia's population grew by 3.54%.

Live population counters

Rwanda Somalia
Current population
14975051
20503678
Population rank 77/197 66/197
Percent of world population 0.18% 0.25%
One net population change
1.74 minutes
48.5 seconds
One birth every
1.33 minutes
40 seconds
One death every
6.35 minutes
2.91 minutes
Daily growth/decline +828 +1,782
Annual growth/decline +302,096 +650,536
Annual growth/decline rate +2.16% +3.54%
Population growth rate rank 45/197 8/197
One migration net change every
1.4 hours
43.6 minutes
Annual migration change +6,282 +12,077
Net migration rank 48/196 40/196
Foreign-born residents 513,316 77,972
Foreign-born residents rank 80/195 140/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.6% 0.4%
Foreign-born share rank 109/195 180/195

Natural population change vs migration

Rwanda
Natural

Migration
Somalia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Rwanda Somalia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 6,282 - 12,077
2024 - -15,582 - 26,859
2023 312,762 -9,001 608,203 46,217
2022 312,145 -9,001 551,450 -92,434
2021 309,895 -21,492 566,399 35,506
2020 312,692 -22,251 561,311 77,259
2019 313,525 -24,492 548,756 53,124
2018 312,512 -25,323 514,244 40,844
2017 310,323 -25,634 478,556 38,067
2016 305,549 -24,474 495,132 124,017
2015 299,114 -21,862 481,573 -17,178
2014 292,779 -19,505 464,481 6,065
2013 286,331 -16,779 448,518 20,723
2012 282,584 -25,260 399,468 -51,833
2011 282,922 -27,915 203,213 -326,192
2010 286,848 -29,501 385,571 -88,448
2009 287,034 -30,128 405,784 -101,795
2008 287,334 -31,913 394,258 -102,035
2007 285,791 -32,537 380,303 8,476
2006 282,149 -34,008 372,597 -67,200
2005 275,121 -33,830 363,117 -5,955
2004 265,273 -31,214 351,959 17,353
2003 251,243 -25,355 341,192 33,174
2002 239,036 -91,518 331,215 12,603
2001 230,845 -152,197 319,059 40,274
2000 221,276 -153,588 306,651 53,580
1999 210,518 -146,162 295,523 37,548
1998 197,185 -129,089 284,779 55,426
1997 174,687 410,106 271,894 49,692
1996 140,455 1,367,700 264,807 -46,291
1995 121,137 439,995 254,509 65,888
1994 -719,479 -2,078,111 246,950 -50,921
1993 183,926 236,110 232,960 261,815
1992 188,025 -12,334 57,495 -179,675
1991 196,431 -59,519 53,052 -568,166
1990 207,895 -41,483 225,162 -248,155
1989 217,632 -2,826 225,255 -266,281
1988 223,759 -5,285 215,599 -415,660
1987 225,744 -7,062 231,580 -17,391
1986 225,526 -8,982 218,416 74,424
1985 223,794 -11,031 207,960 62,183
1984 219,337 -12,899 199,017 60,630
1983 212,750 -14,560 190,775 9,505
1982 205,147 -15,818 182,793 6,115
1981 195,769 -16,453 185,211 -332,129
1980 184,988 -16,359 174,790 65,519
1979 174,477 -15,669 151,016 582,746
1978 163,779 -13,838 132,689 402,005
1977 155,011 -11,084 124,818 2,170
1976 147,665 -7,027 113,319 -3,831
1975 140,596 -4,791 108,998 -1,934
1974 135,743 -4,535 104,813 -495
1973 131,021 -3,862 108,038 143
1972 126,403 -4,156 104,493 -351
1971 122,567 -4,230 101,196 -1,850
1970 119,273 1,149 98,025 1,104
1969 115,394 2,983 95,045 690
1968 111,422 4,728 92,208 906
1967 108,053 4,655 89,497 1,498
1966 105,128 -1,930 86,930 941
1965 103,422 -9,774 84,448 2,142
1964 102,562 -19,458 82,042 1,518
1963 94,296 -25,524 79,859 1,449
1962 102,548 -25,594 77,737 1,496
1961 102,051 -20,508 75,513 1,336
1960 100,627 -13,198 73,850 750

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 93.8% of the population change in Rwanda is from natural causes (a gain of 3,081,296 people) and 6.18% is from migration (a loss of 203,035 people). In Somalia 94.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,270,105 people) and 5.58% is from migration (a gain of 311,487 people).

As of 2024, 513,316 residents or 3.6% of the population were not native-born in Rwanda, compared to 77,972 people or 0.4% in Somalia.

Biggest cities by population

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
Somalia
City Population
Mogadishu 2.12M
Hargeisa 1.23M
Baidoa 1.2M
Borama 68.1K

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/rwanda/somalia | 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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