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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Rwanda was 14,256,567 in 2024 vs 48,848,840 people in Spain in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Rwanda's population is 14,975,051 people compared to 48,806,901 in Spain.

Population statistics:

  • Spain's population is 3.26 times bigger than Rwanda's.
  • Rwanda is ranked the 77th most populous country in the world, while Spain is the 32nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.77% of the world: 0.18% for Rwanda vs 0.59% for Spain.
  • For the last 10 years, Rwanda has had an average growth rate of +2.31% per year vs +0.43% in Spain.
  • Since 2006, the population of Rwanda has increased from 9.3M people to 15M (61% growth), while Spain has grown from 44.4M to 48.8M (9.93% growth).

Rwanda vs Spain: population by year and forecast

Rwanda
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Rwanda Spain
2100 33,092,520 33,862,981
2099 32,987,847 34,039,965
2098 32,907,335 34,215,187
2097 32,832,706 34,387,116
2096 32,747,490 34,552,002
2095 32,615,044 34,719,411
2094 32,529,590 34,882,039
2093 32,396,544 35,044,043
2092 32,274,083 35,204,657
2091 32,171,077 35,366,895
2090 32,068,626 35,535,838
2089 31,872,593 35,707,942
2088 31,726,882 35,877,681
2087 31,533,364 36,043,209
2086 31,379,315 36,210,710
2085 31,235,000 36,386,207
2084 31,092,940 36,564,622
2083 30,917,707 36,749,680
2082 30,733,578 36,936,644
2081 30,557,819 37,133,976
2080 30,367,298 37,337,517
2079 30,176,627 37,551,557
2078 29,997,866 37,771,135
2077 29,800,561 38,002,963
2076 29,627,021 38,249,247
2075 29,423,503 38,506,040
2074 29,225,643 38,777,715
2073 29,007,777 39,056,249
2072 28,780,763 39,348,447
2071 28,560,382 39,642,346
2070 28,316,533 39,949,413
2069 28,103,541 40,256,590
2068 27,854,906 40,575,543
2067 27,591,747 40,893,798
2066 27,355,659 41,218,263
2065 27,084,704 41,543,254
2064 26,821,315 41,878,338
2063 26,543,184 42,208,320
2062 26,296,132 42,542,893
2061 25,985,356 42,874,096
2060 25,712,904 43,191,452
2059 25,437,446 43,506,737
2058 25,106,242 43,809,907
2057 24,837,928 44,112,668
2056 24,566,784 44,415,689
2055 24,266,669 44,691,749
2054 23,976,914 44,958,971
2053 23,690,426 45,223,225
2052 23,406,346 45,470,541
2051 23,099,207 45,695,307
2050 22,800,250 45,911,520
2049 22,484,698 46,127,777
2048 22,157,938 46,322,244
2047 21,834,786 46,510,152
2046 21,540,566 46,687,914
2045 21,215,262 46,858,778
2044 20,902,695 47,016,278
2043 20,535,605 47,158,325
2042 20,201,608 47,301,091
2041 19,832,577 47,434,593
2040 19,463,015 47,563,236
2039 19,096,860 47,685,343
2038 18,761,626 47,798,797
2037 18,421,864 47,910,899
2036 18,116,691 48,020,350
2035 17,753,910 48,124,430
2034 17,421,234 48,220,051
2033 17,089,349 48,311,842
2032 16,811,505 48,402,470
2031 16,485,559 48,495,278
2030 16,167,916 48,579,920
2029 15,858,862 48,648,699
2028 15,544,959 48,707,969
2027 15,207,733 48,758,200
2026 14,888,776 48,806,901
2025 14,560,205 48,838,057
2024 14,256,567 48,848,840
2023 13,954,471 48,352,528
2022 13,651,030 47,786,102
2021 13,355,260 47,443,821
2020 13,065,837 47,359,424
2019 12,776,103 47,118,501
2018 12,487,996 46,782,011
2017 12,202,060 46,571,232
2016 11,919,183 46,458,139
2015 11,640,022 46,422,303
2014 11,364,757 46,460,733
2013 11,093,340 46,604,197
2012 10,829,901 46,773,055
2011 10,573,733 46,742,697
2010 10,317,553 46,576,897
2009 10,060,432 46,362,946
2008 9,804,269 45,954,106
2007 9,549,933 45,226,803
2006 9,299,246 44,397,319
2005 9,054,528 43,653,155
2004 8,816,844 42,921,895
2003 8,586,875 42,187,645
2002 8,400,180 41,431,558
2001 8,287,094 40,850,412
2000 8,213,931 40,567,864
1999 8,147,912 40,386,875
1998 8,081,681 40,223,509
1997 7,755,238 40,057,389
1996 6,708,764 39,889,852
1995 5,674,118 39,724,050
1994 6,792,352 39,549,108
1993 7,981,132 39,361,262
1992 7,683,266 39,157,685
1991 7,526,966 38,966,376
1990 7,375,307 38,867,322
1989 7,184,706 38,827,764
1988 6,968,071 38,766,939
1987 6,749,493 38,684,815
1986 6,531,881 38,584,624
1985 6,317,228 38,469,512
1984 6,107,627 38,330,364
1983 5,905,311 38,171,525
1982 5,711,549 37,986,012
1981 5,527,230 37,758,631
1980 5,353,259 37,491,165
1979 5,189,541 37,191,330
1978 5,035,171 36,864,898
1977 4,888,240 36,511,638
1976 4,745,954 36,137,812
1975 4,607,728 35,757,900
1974 4,474,228 35,373,335
1973 4,345,047 34,988,947
1972 4,220,335 34,604,469
1971 4,100,044 34,224,490
1970 3,980,669 33,814,531
1969 3,861,271 33,441,054
1968 3,744,010 33,113,134
1967 3,629,577 32,682,947
1966 3,521,626 32,283,194
1965 3,423,210 31,954,292
1964 3,334,834 31,609,195
1963 3,258,890 31,296,651
1962 3,186,025 31,023,366
1961 3,106,779 30,739,250
1960 3,022,294 30,455,000

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/spain | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Rwanda increased by 2,619,937 people (a 28.2% growth), while Spain gained 2,060,820 people (a 4.64% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Rwanda gained 3,055,868 people (a 25.6% growth), while Spain's population increased by 2,348,762 people (a 5.06% growth).

Rwanda was ranked 86th most populous country in 2006 and is 77th in 2026. Spain was ranked 28th in 2006 and ranked 32nd 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 Spain will decrease by 5.93% to 45,911,520 people and rank change from 32nd to 47th.

Rwanda is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 33.1M people, while Spain's population already peaked in 2024 at 48.8M people and is projected to decrease to 33.9M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Rwanda
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Rwanda Spain
2100 0.32% -0.52%
2099 0.24% -0.51%
2098 0.23% -0.5%
2097 0.26% -0.48%
2096 0.41% -0.48%
2095 0.26% -0.47%
2094 0.41% -0.46%
2093 0.38% -0.46%
2092 0.32% -0.46%
2091 0.32% -0.48%
2090 0.62% -0.48%
2089 0.46% -0.47%
2088 0.61% -0.46%
2087 0.49% -0.46%
2086 0.46% -0.48%
2085 0.46% -0.49%
2084 0.57% -0.5%
2083 0.6% -0.51%
2082 0.58% -0.53%
2081 0.63% -0.55%
2080 0.63% -0.57%
2079 0.6% -0.58%
2078 0.66% -0.61%
2077 0.59% -0.64%
2076 0.69% -0.67%
2075 0.68% -0.7%
2074 0.75% -0.71%
2073 0.79% -0.74%
2072 0.77% -0.74%
2071 0.86% -0.77%
2070 0.76% -0.76%
2069 0.89% -0.79%
2068 0.95% -0.78%
2067 0.86% -0.79%
2066 1% -0.78%
2065 0.98% -0.8%
2064 1.05% -0.78%
2063 0.94% -0.79%
2062 1.2% -0.77%
2061 1.06% -0.73%
2060 1.08% -0.72%
2059 1.32% -0.69%
2058 1.08% -0.69%
2057 1.1% -0.68%
2056 1.24% -0.62%
2055 1.21% -0.59%
2054 1.21% -0.58%
2053 1.21% -0.54%
2052 1.33% -0.49%
2051 1.31% -0.47%
2050 1.4% -0.47%
2049 1.47% -0.42%
2048 1.48% -0.4%
2047 1.37% -0.38%
2046 1.53% -0.36%
2045 1.5% -0.33%
2044 1.79% -0.3%
2043 1.65% -0.3%
2042 1.86% -0.28%
2041 1.9% -0.27%
2040 1.92% -0.26%
2039 1.79% -0.24%
2038 1.84% -0.23%
2037 1.68% -0.23%
2036 2.04% -0.22%
2035 1.91% -0.2%
2034 1.94% -0.19%
2033 1.65% -0.19%
2032 1.98% -0.19%
2031 1.96% -0.17%
2030 1.95% -0.14%
2029 2.02% -0.12%
2028 2.22% -0.1%
2027 2.14% -0.1%
2026 2.26% -0.06%
2025 2.13% -0.02%
2024 2.16% 1.03%
2023 2.22% 1.19%
2022 2.21% 0.72%
2021 2.22% 0.18%
2020 2.27% 0.51%
2019 2.31% 0.72%
2018 2.34% 0.45%
2017 2.37% 0.24%
2016 2.4% 0.08%
2015 2.42% -0.08%
2014 2.45% -0.31%
2013 2.43% -0.36%
2012 2.42% 0.06%
2011 2.48% 0.36%
2010 2.56% 0.46%
2009 2.61% 0.89%
2008 2.66% 1.61%
2007 2.7% 1.87%
2006 2.7% 1.7%
2005 2.7% 1.7%
2004 2.68% 1.74%
2003 2.22% 1.82%
2002 1.36% 1.42%
2001 0.89% 0.7%
2000 0.81% 0.45%
1999 0.82% 0.41%
1998 4.21% 0.41%
1997 15.6% 0.42%
1996 18.2% 0.42%
1995 -16.5% 0.44%
1994 -14.9% 0.48%
1993 3.88% 0.52%
1992 2.08% 0.49%
1991 2.06% 0.25%
1990 2.65% 0.1%
1989 3.11% 0.16%
1988 3.24% 0.21%
1987 3.33% 0.26%
1986 3.4% 0.3%
1985 3.43% 0.36%
1984 3.43% 0.42%
1983 3.39% 0.49%
1982 3.33% 0.6%
1981 3.25% 0.71%
1980 3.15% 0.81%
1979 3.07% 0.89%
1978 3.01% 0.97%
1977 3% 1.03%
1976 3% 1.06%
1975 2.98% 1.09%
1974 2.97% 1.1%
1973 2.96% 1.11%
1972 2.93% 1.11%
1971 3% 1.21%
1970 3.09% 1.12%
1969 3.13% 0.99%
1968 3.15% 1.32%
1967 3.07% 1.24%
1966 2.87% 1.03%
1965 2.65% 1.09%
1964 2.33% 1%
1963 2.29% 0.88%
1962 2.55% 0.92%
1961 2.8% 0.93%

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/spain | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Rwanda grew by 2.16%, while Spain's population grew by 1.03%.

Live population counters

Rwanda Spain
Current population
14975051
48806901
Population rank 77/197 32/197
Percent of world population 0.18% 0.59%
One net population change
1.74 minutes
1.06 minutes
One birth every
1.33 minutes
1.62 minutes
One death every
6.35 minutes
1.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline +828 +1,360
Annual growth/decline +302,096 +496,312
Annual growth/decline rate +2.16% +1.03%
Population growth rate rank 45/197 100/197
One migration net change every
1.4 hours
5.45 minutes
Annual migration change +6,282 +96,630
Net migration rank 48/196 17/196
Foreign-born residents 513,316 8,870,527
Foreign-born residents rank 80/195 6/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.6% 18.5%
Foreign-born share rank 109/195 32/195

Natural population change vs migration

Rwanda
Natural

Migration
Spain
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Rwanda Spain
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 6,282 - 96,630
2024 - -15,582 - 111,674
2023 312,762 -9,001 -111,211 119,099
2022 312,145 -9,001 -133,801 299,779
2021 309,895 -21,492 -113,865 144,385
2020 312,692 -22,251 -151,551 236,854
2019 313,525 -24,492 -56,542 464,783
2018 312,512 -25,323 -56,139 337,467
2017 310,323 -25,634 -32,600 201,135
2016 305,549 -24,474 0 106,474
2015 299,114 -21,862 -4,642 -1,979
2014 292,779 -19,505 32,522 -97,870
2013 286,331 -16,779 37,284 -250,741
2012 282,584 -25,260 51,450 -153,486
2011 282,922 -27,915 84,137 60,761
2010 286,848 -29,501 102,469 69,406
2009 287,034 -30,128 106,635 129,557
2008 287,334 -31,913 133,267 434,135
2007 285,791 -32,537 108,545 772,317
2006 282,149 -34,008 110,994 659,720
2005 275,121 -33,830 78,576 629,803
2004 265,273 -31,214 85,844 661,158
2003 251,243 -25,355 54,844 658,428
2002 239,036 -91,518 53,861 737,880
2001 230,845 -152,197 44,936 181,307
2000 221,276 -153,588 36,512 176,269
1999 210,518 -146,162 8,077 178,559
1998 197,185 -129,089 4,022 182,926
1997 174,687 410,106 20,028 165,345
1996 140,455 1,367,700 11,967 162,704
1995 121,137 439,995 15,889 162,434
1994 -719,479 -2,078,111 31,639 160,407
1993 183,926 236,110 47,234 160,907
1992 188,025 -12,334 62,652 177,544
1991 196,431 -59,519 58,450 122,841
1990 207,895 -41,483 66,075 -30,684
1989 217,632 -2,826 81,538 -25,892
1988 223,759 -5,285 100,794 -17,663
1987 225,744 -7,062 116,054 -12,681
1986 225,526 -8,982 131,188 -13,540
1985 223,794 -11,031 146,184 -589
1984 219,337 -12,899 172,487 2,754
1983 212,750 -14,560 183,223 1,241
1982 205,147 -15,818 231,714 -7,384
1981 195,769 -16,453 237,879 2,563
1980 184,988 -16,359 281,184 20,166
1979 174,477 -15,669 312,407 -5,929
1978 163,779 -13,838 339,157 -2,504
1977 155,011 -11,084 361,465 -1,332
1976 147,665 -7,027 375,834 2,804
1975 140,596 -4,791 371,882 -218
1974 135,743 -4,535 396,182 105,838
1973 131,021 -3,862 374,381 8,624
1972 126,403 -4,156 391,030 7,935
1971 122,567 -4,230 369,625 7,363
1970 119,273 1,149 378,723 -60,580
1969 115,394 2,983 367,851 -49,956
1968 111,422 4,728 387,423 -46,088
1967 108,053 4,655 402,001 -42,344
1966 105,128 -1,930 397,084 -41,467
1965 103,422 -9,774 405,819 -42,476
1964 102,562 -19,458 429,885 -41,461
1963 94,296 -25,524 394,338 -44,446
1962 102,548 -25,594 384,690 -45,211
1961 102,051 -20,508 396,537 -46,517
1960 100,627 -13,198 398,960 -154,869

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

GeoRank.org/population/rwanda/spain | 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 Spain 25.8% is from natural causes (a loss of 627,829 people) and 74.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,810,127 people).

As of 2024, 513,316 residents or 3.6% of the population were not native-born in Rwanda, compared to 8,870,527 people or 18.5% in Spain.

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
Spain
City Population
Madrid 3.51M
Barcelona 1.73M
Tenerife 955K
Valencia 841K
Zaragoza 693K
Seville 689K
Malaga 599K
Palma de Mallorca 435K
Las Palmas 382K
Alicante 366K

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/spain | 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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