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Population in Rwanda compared to South Korea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Rwanda was 14,569,341 in 2025 vs 51,684,564 people in South Korea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Rwanda's population is 15,062,056 people compared to 51,624,449 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 3.43 times bigger than Rwanda's.
  • Rwanda is ranked the 77th most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
  • The countries together account for 0.8% of the world: 0.18% for Rwanda vs 0.62% for South Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Rwanda has had an average growth rate of +2.28% per year vs +0.17% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Rwanda has increased from 9.3M people to 15.1M (62% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.58% growth).

Rwanda vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

Rwanda
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Rwanda South Korea
2100 33,113,283 22,001,649
2099 33,008,545 22,324,514
2098 32,927,982 22,657,541
2097 32,853,307 22,998,315
2096 32,768,037 23,348,632
2095 32,635,508 23,711,049
2094 32,550,001 24,081,510
2093 32,416,870 24,460,970
2092 32,294,333 24,848,715
2091 32,191,262 25,242,926
2090 32,088,747 25,642,926
2089 31,892,591 26,048,094
2088 31,746,789 26,457,020
2087 31,553,150 26,871,556
2086 31,399,004 27,288,450
2085 31,254,597 27,710,065
2084 31,112,448 28,133,600
2083 30,937,106 28,564,090
2082 30,752,861 28,998,646
2081 30,576,992 29,441,497
2080 30,386,351 29,887,135
2079 30,195,560 30,337,095
2078 30,016,688 30,793,984
2077 29,819,259 31,258,278
2076 29,645,610 31,728,826
2075 29,441,964 32,205,338
2074 29,243,980 32,689,892
2073 29,025,977 33,180,187
2072 28,798,822 33,679,874
2071 28,578,302 34,187,068
2070 28,334,300 34,702,204
2069 28,121,174 35,224,472
2068 27,872,383 35,745,164
2067 27,609,059 36,274,411
2066 27,372,823 36,808,495
2065 27,101,698 37,349,660
2064 26,838,144 37,897,742
2063 26,559,838 38,450,082
2062 26,312,631 39,009,227
2061 26,001,660 39,565,102
2060 25,729,037 40,130,032
2059 25,453,407 40,692,438
2058 25,121,995 41,256,780
2057 24,853,512 41,813,259
2056 24,582,198 42,356,530
2055 24,281,895 42,888,143
2054 23,991,958 43,405,840
2053 23,705,290 43,917,075
2052 23,421,032 44,419,192
2051 23,113,700 44,901,452
2050 22,814,556 45,362,931
2049 22,498,806 45,809,553
2048 22,171,841 46,235,718
2047 21,848,486 46,645,885
2046 21,554,082 47,033,200
2045 21,228,573 47,409,815
2044 20,915,810 47,773,842
2043 20,548,490 48,120,989
2042 20,214,283 48,455,085
2041 19,845,021 48,782,206
2040 19,475,227 49,091,438
2039 19,108,842 49,388,464
2038 18,773,398 49,669,835
2037 18,433,422 49,932,869
2036 18,128,058 50,175,947
2035 17,765,049 50,401,135
2034 17,432,165 50,607,994
2033 17,100,072 50,796,030
2032 16,822,053 50,961,878
2031 16,495,903 51,109,725
2030 16,178,061 51,242,628
2029 15,868,812 51,360,529
2028 15,554,713 51,461,403
2027 15,217,275 51,551,313
2026 14,898,118 51,624,449
2025 14,569,341 51,684,564
2024 14,256,567 51,751,065
2023 13,954,471 51,712,619
2022 13,651,030 51,672,569
2021 13,355,260 51,769,539
2020 13,065,837 51,836,239
2019 12,776,103 51,764,822
2018 12,487,996 51,585,058
2017 12,202,060 51,361,911
2016 11,919,183 51,217,803
2015 11,640,022 51,014,947
2014 11,364,757 50,746,659
2013 11,093,340 50,428,893
2012 10,829,901 50,199,853
2011 10,573,733 49,936,638
2010 10,317,553 49,554,112
2009 10,060,432 49,307,835
2008 9,804,269 49,054,708
2007 9,549,933 48,683,638
2006 9,299,246 48,438,292
2005 9,054,528 48,184,561
2004 8,816,844 48,082,519
2003 8,586,875 47,892,330
2002 8,400,180 47,644,736
2001 8,287,094 47,370,164
2000 8,213,931 47,008,111
1999 8,147,912 46,616,677
1998 8,081,681 46,286,503
1997 7,755,238 45,953,580
1996 6,708,764 45,524,681
1995 5,674,118 45,092,991
1994 6,792,352 44,641,540
1993 7,981,132 44,194,628
1992 7,683,266 43,747,962
1991 7,526,966 43,295,704
1990 7,375,307 42,869,283
1989 7,184,706 42,449,038
1988 6,968,071 42,031,247
1987 6,749,493 41,621,690
1986 6,531,881 41,213,674
1985 6,317,228 40,805,744
1984 6,107,627 40,405,956
1983 5,905,311 39,910,403
1982 5,711,549 39,326,352
1981 5,527,230 38,723,248
1980 5,353,259 38,123,775
1979 5,189,541 37,534,236
1978 5,035,171 36,969,185
1977 4,888,240 36,411,795
1976 4,745,954 35,848,523
1975 4,607,728 35,280,725
1974 4,474,228 34,692,266
1973 4,345,047 34,103,149
1972 4,220,335 33,505,406
1971 4,100,044 32,882,704
1970 3,980,669 32,240,827
1969 3,861,271 31,544,266
1968 3,744,010 30,838,302
1967 3,629,577 30,130,983
1966 3,521,626 29,435,571
1965 3,423,210 28,704,674
1964 3,334,834 27,984,155
1963 3,258,890 27,261,747
1962 3,186,025 26,513,030
1961 3,106,779 25,765,673
1960 3,022,294 25,012,374

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/rwanda/south-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Rwanda increased by 2,619,937 people (a 28.2% growth), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Rwanda gained 3,142,873 people (a 26.4% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 406,646 people (a 0.79% growth).

Rwanda was ranked 86th most populous country in 2006 and is 77th in 2026. South Korea was ranked 25th in 2006 and ranked 31st now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Rwanda's population will grow by 51.5% to 22,814,556 people with a rank change from 77th to 72nd. The population of South Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,362,931 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.

Rwanda is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 33.1M people, while South Korea's population already peaked in 2020 at 51.8M people and is projected to decrease to 22M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Rwanda
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Rwanda South Korea
2100 0.32% -1.45%
2099 0.24% -1.47%
2098 0.23% -1.48%
2097 0.26% -1.5%
2096 0.41% -1.53%
2095 0.26% -1.54%
2094 0.41% -1.55%
2093 0.38% -1.56%
2092 0.32% -1.56%
2091 0.32% -1.56%
2090 0.62% -1.56%
2089 0.46% -1.55%
2088 0.61% -1.54%
2087 0.49% -1.53%
2086 0.46% -1.52%
2085 0.46% -1.51%
2084 0.57% -1.51%
2083 0.6% -1.5%
2082 0.58% -1.5%
2081 0.63% -1.49%
2080 0.63% -1.48%
2079 0.6% -1.48%
2078 0.66% -1.49%
2077 0.59% -1.48%
2076 0.69% -1.48%
2075 0.68% -1.48%
2074 0.75% -1.48%
2073 0.79% -1.48%
2072 0.77% -1.48%
2071 0.86% -1.48%
2070 0.76% -1.48%
2069 0.89% -1.46%
2068 0.95% -1.46%
2067 0.86% -1.45%
2066 1% -1.45%
2065 0.98% -1.45%
2064 1.05% -1.44%
2063 0.94% -1.43%
2062 1.2% -1.4%
2061 1.06% -1.41%
2060 1.08% -1.38%
2059 1.32% -1.37%
2058 1.08% -1.33%
2057 1.1% -1.28%
2056 1.24% -1.24%
2055 1.21% -1.19%
2054 1.21% -1.16%
2053 1.21% -1.13%
2052 1.33% -1.07%
2051 1.31% -1.02%
2050 1.4% -0.97%
2049 1.47% -0.92%
2048 1.48% -0.88%
2047 1.37% -0.82%
2046 1.53% -0.79%
2045 1.5% -0.76%
2044 1.79% -0.72%
2043 1.65% -0.69%
2042 1.86% -0.67%
2041 1.9% -0.63%
2040 1.92% -0.6%
2039 1.79% -0.57%
2038 1.84% -0.53%
2037 1.68% -0.48%
2036 2.04% -0.45%
2035 1.91% -0.41%
2034 1.94% -0.37%
2033 1.65% -0.33%
2032 1.98% -0.29%
2031 1.96% -0.26%
2030 1.95% -0.23%
2029 2.02% -0.2%
2028 2.22% -0.17%
2027 2.14% -0.14%
2026 2.26% -0.12%
2025 2.19% -0.13%
2024 2.16% 0.07%
2023 2.22% 0.08%
2022 2.21% -0.19%
2021 2.22% -0.13%
2020 2.27% 0.14%
2019 2.31% 0.35%
2018 2.34% 0.43%
2017 2.37% 0.28%
2016 2.4% 0.4%
2015 2.42% 0.53%
2014 2.45% 0.63%
2013 2.43% 0.46%
2012 2.42% 0.53%
2011 2.48% 0.77%
2010 2.56% 0.5%
2009 2.61% 0.52%
2008 2.66% 0.76%
2007 2.7% 0.51%
2006 2.7% 0.53%
2005 2.7% 0.21%
2004 2.68% 0.4%
2003 2.22% 0.52%
2002 1.36% 0.58%
2001 0.89% 0.77%
2000 0.81% 0.84%
1999 0.82% 0.71%
1998 4.21% 0.72%
1997 15.6% 0.94%
1996 18.2% 0.96%
1995 -16.5% 1.01%
1994 -14.9% 1.01%
1993 3.88% 1.02%
1992 2.08% 1.04%
1991 2.06% 0.99%
1990 2.65% 0.99%
1989 3.11% 0.99%
1988 3.24% 0.98%
1987 3.33% 0.99%
1986 3.4% 1%
1985 3.43% 0.99%
1984 3.43% 1.24%
1983 3.39% 1.49%
1982 3.33% 1.56%
1981 3.25% 1.57%
1980 3.15% 1.57%
1979 3.07% 1.53%
1978 3.01% 1.53%
1977 3% 1.57%
1976 3% 1.61%
1975 2.98% 1.7%
1974 2.97% 1.73%
1973 2.96% 1.78%
1972 2.93% 1.89%
1971 3% 1.99%
1970 3.09% 2.21%
1969 3.13% 2.29%
1968 3.15% 2.35%
1967 3.07% 2.36%
1966 2.87% 2.55%
1965 2.65% 2.57%
1964 2.33% 2.65%
1963 2.29% 2.82%
1962 2.55% 2.9%
1961 2.8% 3.01%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/rwanda/south-korea | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Rwanda grew by 2.19%, while South Korea's population declined by 0.13%.

Live population counters

Rwanda South Korea
Current population
15062056
51624449
Population rank 77/197 31/197
Percent of world population 0.18% 0.62%
One net population change
1.69 minutes
7.93 minutes
One birth every
1.31 minutes
2.16 minutes
One death every
6.25 minutes
1.45 minutes
Daily growth/decline +857 -182
Annual growth/decline +312,774 -66,501
Annual growth/decline rate +2.19% -0.13%
Population growth rate rank 40/197 169/197
One migration net change every
1.4 hours
8.02 minutes
Annual migration change +6,282 +65,731
Net migration rank 48/196 20/196
Foreign-born residents 513,316 1,811,507
Foreign-born residents rank 80/195 40/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.6% 3.5%
Foreign-born share rank 109/195 111/195

Natural population change vs migration

Rwanda
Natural

Migration
South Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Rwanda South Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 6,282 - 65,731
2024 316,025 -15,582 -119,027 75,963
2023 312,762 -9,001 -124,111 87,800
2022 312,145 -9,001 -124,014 87,800
2021 309,895 -21,492 -56,947 -16,778
2020 312,692 -22,251 -31,101 112,631
2019 313,525 -24,492 10,353 128,622
2018 312,512 -25,323 30,951 118,220
2017 310,323 -25,634 71,907 104,029
2016 305,549 -24,474 122,923 91,568
2015 299,114 -21,862 163,248 276,427
2014 292,779 -19,505 167,464 308,037
2013 286,331 -16,779 166,415 301,926
2012 282,584 -25,260 215,859 281,866
2011 282,922 -27,915 214,728 269,958
2010 286,848 -29,501 213,083 52,042
2009 287,034 -30,128 197,231 5,308
2008 287,334 -31,913 215,841 -19,630
2007 285,791 -32,537 248,286 -42,293
2006 282,149 -34,008 203,441 -28,434
2005 275,121 -33,830 187,920 -47,821
2004 265,273 -31,214 225,988 -42,549
2003 251,243 -25,355 244,251 -31,994
2002 239,036 -91,518 247,752 -18,105
2001 230,845 -152,197 312,643 -28,006
2000 221,276 -153,588 390,167 -84,960
1999 210,518 -146,162 368,272 -107,448
1998 197,185 -129,089 393,436 -98,044
1997 174,687 410,106 422,773 -109,130
1996 140,455 1,367,700 446,142 -115,705
1995 121,137 439,995 468,967 -208,491
1994 -719,479 -2,078,111 473,200 -208,309
1993 183,926 236,110 477,302 -222,802
1992 188,025 -12,334 494,352 -265,849
1991 196,431 -59,519 467,594 -270,754
1990 207,895 -41,483 411,546 79,294
1989 217,632 -2,826 403,266 186,120
1988 223,759 -5,285 399,297 192,534
1987 225,744 -7,062 378,758 198,057
1986 225,526 -8,982 395,651 189,782
1985 223,794 -11,031 416,219 97,949
1984 219,337 -12,899 436,384 101,394
1983 212,750 -14,560 514,844 102,167
1982 205,147 -15,818 605,626 48,638
1981 195,769 -16,453 631,189 18,442
1980 184,988 -16,359 583,294 -148,341
1979 174,477 -15,669 623,068 -139,566
1978 163,779 -13,838 499,084 -85,721
1977 155,011 -11,084 578,947 -90,737
1976 147,665 -7,027 530,558 -92,314
1975 140,596 -4,791 603,300 -52,332
1974 135,743 -4,535 673,030 27,005
1973 131,021 -3,862 699,115 35,779
1972 126,403 -4,156 740,469 25,382
1971 122,567 -4,230 789,185 -6,326
1970 119,273 1,149 747,987 -27,999
1969 115,394 2,983 694,227 -21,175
1968 111,422 4,728 684,487 -16,868
1967 108,053 4,655 692,169 -16,484
1966 105,128 -1,930 623,534 -16,688
1965 103,422 -9,774 641,090 -146,386
1964 102,562 -19,458 655,501 -102,284
1963 94,296 -25,524 685,824 -80,226
1962 102,548 -25,594 712,590 -94,606
1961 102,051 -20,508 730,173 -93,179
1960 100,627 -13,198 728,010 47,245

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/rwanda/south-korea | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 94% of the population change in Rwanda is from natural causes (a gain of 3,104,542 people) and 6.03% is from migration (a loss of 199,112 people). In South Korea 4.97% is from natural causes (a loss of 55,818 people) and 95% is from migration (a gain of 1,066,282 people).

As of 2024, 513,316 residents or 3.6% of the population were not native-born in Rwanda, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South Korea.

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
South Korea
City Population
Seoul 9.67M
Busan 3.45M
Incheon 3.05M
Daegu 2.38M
Daejeon 1.48M
Gwangju 1.41M
Suwon 1.23M
Ulsan 1.13M
Yongin 1.08M
Goyang 1.06M

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/rwanda/south-korea | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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