Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Rwanda was 14,256,567 in 2024 vs 68,560,157 people in Tanzania in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Rwanda's population is 14,975,051 people compared to 73,145,892 in Tanzania.

Population statistics:

  • Tanzania's population is 4.88 times bigger than Rwanda's.
  • Rwanda is ranked the 77th most populous country in the world, while Tanzania is the 20th.
  • The countries together account for 1.06% of the world: 0.18% for Rwanda vs 0.88% for Tanzania.
  • For the last 10 years, Rwanda has had an average growth rate of +2.31% per year vs +3.13% in Tanzania.
  • Since 2006, the population of Rwanda has increased from 9.3M people to 15M (61% growth), while Tanzania has grown from 40.3M to 73.1M (81.5% growth).

Rwanda vs Tanzania: population by year and forecast

Rwanda
Factual

Projection
Tanzania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Rwanda Tanzania
2100 33,092,520 265,496,854
2099 32,987,847 263,162,785
2098 32,907,335 260,809,535
2097 32,832,706 258,412,520
2096 32,747,490 255,996,677
2095 32,615,044 253,567,416
2094 32,529,590 251,119,386
2093 32,396,544 248,628,881
2092 32,274,083 246,107,108
2091 32,171,077 243,557,182
2090 32,068,626 241,002,065
2089 31,872,593 238,416,591
2088 31,726,882 235,797,530
2087 31,533,364 233,167,455
2086 31,379,315 230,496,041
2085 31,235,000 227,800,292
2084 31,092,940 225,111,530
2083 30,917,707 222,421,279
2082 30,733,578 219,718,263
2081 30,557,819 216,995,478
2080 30,367,298 214,255,926
2079 30,176,627 211,486,253
2078 29,997,866 208,708,063
2077 29,800,561 205,918,120
2076 29,627,021 203,106,125
2075 29,423,503 200,297,474
2074 29,225,643 197,468,017
2073 29,007,777 194,642,633
2072 28,780,763 191,824,103
2071 28,560,382 188,992,017
2070 28,316,533 186,152,377
2069 28,103,541 183,311,218
2068 27,854,906 180,475,586
2067 27,591,747 177,639,469
2066 27,355,659 174,803,090
2065 27,084,704 171,913,445
2064 26,821,315 169,064,549
2063 26,543,184 166,217,933
2062 26,296,132 163,370,044
2061 25,985,356 160,537,159
2060 25,712,904 157,722,273
2059 25,437,446 154,920,005
2058 25,106,242 152,120,539
2057 24,837,928 149,325,489
2056 24,566,784 146,519,472
2055 24,266,669 143,736,540
2054 23,976,914 140,983,905
2053 23,690,426 138,262,668
2052 23,406,346 135,553,723
2051 23,099,207 132,851,383
2050 22,800,250 130,157,751
2049 22,484,698 127,495,278
2048 22,157,938 124,821,109
2047 21,834,786 122,158,290
2046 21,540,566 119,522,516
2045 21,215,262 116,914,785
2044 20,902,695 114,329,740
2043 20,535,605 111,776,234
2042 20,201,608 109,241,835
2041 19,832,577 106,748,632
2040 19,463,015 104,272,418
2039 19,096,860 101,814,304
2038 18,761,626 99,380,232
2037 18,421,864 96,983,729
2036 18,116,691 94,601,865
2035 17,753,910 92,257,269
2034 17,421,234 89,929,444
2033 17,089,349 87,654,982
2032 16,811,505 85,409,993
2031 16,485,559 83,180,507
2030 16,167,916 80,997,163
2029 15,858,862 78,838,461
2028 15,544,959 76,730,649
2027 15,207,733 74,647,063
2026 14,888,776 72,589,279
2025 14,560,205 70,552,589
2024 14,256,567 68,560,157
2023 13,954,471 66,617,606
2022 13,651,030 64,711,821
2021 13,355,260 62,830,412
2020 13,065,837 60,972,798
2019 12,776,103 59,174,891
2018 12,487,996 57,437,145
2017 12,202,060 55,652,890
2016 11,919,183 53,824,013
2015 11,640,022 52,020,962
2014 11,364,757 50,351,512
2013 11,093,340 48,824,128
2012 10,829,901 47,374,260
2011 10,573,733 46,029,367
2010 10,317,553 44,758,488
2009 10,060,432 43,633,982
2008 9,804,269 42,570,728
2007 9,549,933 41,435,512
2006 9,299,246 40,294,902
2005 9,054,528 39,182,076
2004 8,816,844 38,109,668
2003 8,586,875 37,089,555
2002 8,400,180 36,121,304
2001 8,287,094 35,198,299
2000 8,213,931 34,260,139
1999 8,147,912 33,300,330
1998 8,081,681 32,420,458
1997 7,755,238 31,578,089
1996 6,708,764 30,945,762
1995 5,674,118 30,383,497
1994 6,792,352 29,442,356
1993 7,981,132 28,332,692
1992 7,683,266 27,457,588
1991 7,526,966 26,780,436
1990 7,375,307 26,110,207
1989 7,184,706 25,438,759
1988 6,968,071 24,769,686
1987 6,749,493 24,030,378
1986 6,531,881 23,258,959
1985 6,317,228 22,501,693
1984 6,107,627 21,779,066
1983 5,905,311 21,079,874
1982 5,711,549 20,398,571
1981 5,527,230 19,784,703
1980 5,353,259 19,189,769
1979 5,189,541 18,592,038
1978 5,035,171 17,976,566
1977 4,888,240 17,352,929
1976 4,745,954 16,736,211
1975 4,607,728 16,138,361
1974 4,474,228 15,561,630
1973 4,345,047 15,010,101
1972 4,220,335 14,479,308
1971 4,100,044 13,971,451
1970 3,980,669 13,492,677
1969 3,861,271 13,036,700
1968 3,744,010 12,602,076
1967 3,629,577 12,200,109
1966 3,521,626 11,827,459
1965 3,423,210 11,470,728
1964 3,334,834 11,127,826
1963 3,258,890 10,799,528
1962 3,186,025 10,487,756
1961 3,106,779 10,187,886
1960 3,022,294 9,901,419

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/tanzania | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Rwanda increased by 2,619,937 people (a 28.2% growth), while Tanzania gained 13,529,111 people (a 33.6% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Rwanda gained 3,055,868 people (a 25.6% growth), while Tanzania's population increased by 19,321,879 people (a 35.9% growth).

Rwanda was ranked 86th most populous country in 2006 and is 77th in 2026. Tanzania was ranked 30th in 2006 and ranked 20th 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 Tanzania will increase by 77.9% to 130,157,751 people and rank change from 20th to 15th.

Rwanda is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 33.1M people compared to the peak of 265M people in 2100 for Tanzania.

Population growth rate by year

Rwanda
Factual

Projection
Tanzania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Rwanda Tanzania
2100 0.32% 0.89%
2099 0.24% 0.9%
2098 0.23% 0.93%
2097 0.26% 0.94%
2096 0.41% 0.96%
2095 0.26% 0.97%
2094 0.41% 1%
2093 0.38% 1.02%
2092 0.32% 1.05%
2091 0.32% 1.06%
2090 0.62% 1.08%
2089 0.46% 1.11%
2088 0.61% 1.13%
2087 0.49% 1.16%
2086 0.46% 1.18%
2085 0.46% 1.19%
2084 0.57% 1.21%
2083 0.6% 1.23%
2082 0.58% 1.25%
2081 0.63% 1.28%
2080 0.63% 1.31%
2079 0.6% 1.33%
2078 0.66% 1.35%
2077 0.59% 1.38%
2076 0.69% 1.4%
2075 0.68% 1.43%
2074 0.75% 1.45%
2073 0.79% 1.47%
2072 0.77% 1.5%
2071 0.86% 1.53%
2070 0.76% 1.55%
2069 0.89% 1.57%
2068 0.95% 1.6%
2067 0.86% 1.62%
2066 1% 1.68%
2065 0.98% 1.69%
2064 1.05% 1.71%
2063 0.94% 1.74%
2062 1.2% 1.76%
2061 1.06% 1.78%
2060 1.08% 1.81%
2059 1.32% 1.84%
2058 1.08% 1.87%
2057 1.1% 1.92%
2056 1.24% 1.94%
2055 1.21% 1.95%
2054 1.21% 1.97%
2053 1.21% 2%
2052 1.33% 2.03%
2051 1.31% 2.07%
2050 1.4% 2.09%
2049 1.47% 2.14%
2048 1.48% 2.18%
2047 1.37% 2.21%
2046 1.53% 2.23%
2045 1.5% 2.26%
2044 1.79% 2.28%
2043 1.65% 2.32%
2042 1.86% 2.34%
2041 1.9% 2.37%
2040 1.92% 2.41%
2039 1.79% 2.45%
2038 1.84% 2.47%
2037 1.68% 2.52%
2036 2.04% 2.54%
2035 1.91% 2.59%
2034 1.94% 2.59%
2033 1.65% 2.63%
2032 1.98% 2.68%
2031 1.96% 2.7%
2030 1.95% 2.74%
2029 2.02% 2.75%
2028 2.22% 2.79%
2027 2.14% 2.83%
2026 2.26% 2.89%
2025 2.13% 2.91%
2024 2.16% 2.92%
2023 2.22% 2.95%
2022 2.21% 2.99%
2021 2.22% 3.05%
2020 2.27% 3.04%
2019 2.31% 3.03%
2018 2.34% 3.21%
2017 2.37% 3.4%
2016 2.4% 3.47%
2015 2.42% 3.32%
2014 2.45% 3.13%
2013 2.43% 3.06%
2012 2.42% 2.92%
2011 2.48% 2.84%
2010 2.56% 2.58%
2009 2.61% 2.5%
2008 2.66% 2.74%
2007 2.7% 2.83%
2006 2.7% 2.84%
2005 2.7% 2.81%
2004 2.68% 2.75%
2003 2.22% 2.68%
2002 1.36% 2.62%
2001 0.89% 2.74%
2000 0.81% 2.88%
1999 0.82% 2.71%
1998 4.21% 2.67%
1997 15.6% 2.04%
1996 18.2% 1.85%
1995 -16.5% 3.2%
1994 -14.9% 3.92%
1993 3.88% 3.19%
1992 2.08% 2.53%
1991 2.06% 2.57%
1990 2.65% 2.64%
1989 3.11% 2.7%
1988 3.24% 3.08%
1987 3.33% 3.32%
1986 3.4% 3.37%
1985 3.43% 3.32%
1984 3.43% 3.32%
1983 3.39% 3.34%
1982 3.33% 3.1%
1981 3.25% 3.1%
1980 3.15% 3.21%
1979 3.07% 3.42%
1978 3.01% 3.59%
1977 3% 3.68%
1976 3% 3.7%
1975 2.98% 3.71%
1974 2.97% 3.67%
1973 2.96% 3.67%
1972 2.93% 3.63%
1971 3% 3.55%
1970 3.09% 3.5%
1969 3.13% 3.45%
1968 3.15% 3.29%
1967 3.07% 3.15%
1966 2.87% 3.11%
1965 2.65% 3.08%
1964 2.33% 3.04%
1963 2.29% 2.97%
1962 2.55% 2.94%
1961 2.8% 2.89%

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/tanzania | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Rwanda grew by 2.16%, while Tanzania's population grew by 2.92%.

Live population counters

Rwanda Tanzania
Current population
14975051
73145892
Population rank 77/197 20/197
Percent of world population 0.18% 0.88%
One net population change
1.74 minutes
16.2 seconds
One birth every
1.33 minutes
13.4 seconds
One death every
6.35 minutes
1.36 minutes
Daily growth/decline +828 +5,322
Annual growth/decline +302,096 +1,942,551
Annual growth/decline rate +2.16% +2.92%
Population growth rate rank 45/197 18/197
One migration net change every
1.4 hours
41.4 minutes
Annual migration change +6,282 -12,730
Net migration rank 48/196 139/196
Foreign-born residents 513,316 462,371
Foreign-born residents rank 80/195 83/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.6% 0.7%
Foreign-born share rank 109/195 167/195

Natural population change vs migration

Rwanda
Natural

Migration
Tanzania
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Rwanda Tanzania
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 6,282 - -12,730
2024 - -15,582 - -29,865
2023 312,762 -9,001 1,960,623 -39,388
2022 312,145 -9,001 1,927,960 -37,557
2021 309,895 -21,492 1,880,137 -7,704
2020 312,692 -22,251 1,861,377 -18,587
2019 313,525 -24,492 1,816,669 -63,602
2018 312,512 -25,323 1,777,852 -55,444
2017 310,323 -25,634 1,726,909 119,142
2016 305,549 -24,474 1,659,502 152,194
2015 299,114 -21,862 1,592,882 201,495
2014 292,779 -19,505 1,565,630 -21,083
2013 286,331 -16,779 1,509,008 1,241
2012 282,584 -25,260 1,439,325 -49,875
2011 282,922 -27,915 1,384,886 -84,546
2010 286,848 -29,501 1,363,477 -122,020
2009 287,034 -30,128 1,332,015 -324,478
2008 287,334 -31,913 1,303,728 -184,816
2007 285,791 -32,537 1,278,285 -126,793
2006 282,149 -34,008 1,257,927 -128,231
2005 275,121 -33,830 1,224,165 -128,251
2004 265,273 -31,214 1,175,379 -126,490
2003 251,243 -25,355 1,118,435 -127,101
2002 239,036 -91,518 1,063,195 -118,047
2001 230,845 -152,197 1,026,242 -125,375
2000 221,276 -153,588 985,185 -9,701
1999 210,518 -146,162 948,659 -4,489
1998 197,185 -129,089 920,806 -105,184
1997 174,687 410,106 882,544 -13,400
1996 140,455 1,367,700 868,524 -473,007
1995 121,137 439,995 838,980 -109,971
1994 -719,479 -2,078,111 803,953 349,348
1993 183,926 236,110 778,044 288,004
1992 188,025 -12,334 767,961 -83,825
1991 196,431 -59,519 762,011 -91,851
1990 207,895 -41,483 750,825 -80,529
1989 217,632 -2,826 743,854 -71,268
1988 223,759 -5,285 736,551 -71,012
1987 225,744 -7,062 718,580 94,498
1986 225,526 -8,982 705,677 24,101
1985 223,794 -11,031 697,867 86,864
1984 219,337 -12,899 687,435 -26,938
1983 212,750 -14,560 679,720 58,161
1982 205,147 -15,818 662,627 -37,883
1981 195,769 -16,453 645,496 -42,485
1980 184,988 -16,359 629,444 -42,588
1979 174,477 -15,669 613,388 -4,792
1978 163,779 -13,838 595,024 27,307
1977 155,011 -11,084 574,938 49,997
1976 147,665 -7,027 553,617 54,875
1975 140,596 -4,791 533,906 53,290
1974 135,743 -4,535 515,152 51,127
1973 131,021 -3,862 488,429 48,363
1972 126,403 -4,156 467,305 57,489
1971 122,567 -4,230 449,014 41,900
1970 119,273 1,149 427,988 38,635
1969 115,394 2,983 408,322 37,006
1968 111,422 4,728 389,467 34,455
1967 108,053 4,655 374,763 5,265
1966 105,128 -1,930 360,229 5,049
1965 103,422 -9,774 343,456 4,742
1964 102,562 -19,458 328,527 9,090
1963 94,296 -25,524 314,644 4,333
1962 102,548 -25,594 300,663 3,916
1961 102,051 -20,508 286,839 8,338
1960 100,627 -13,198 275,814 1,946

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

GeoRank.org/population/rwanda/tanzania | 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 Tanzania 98.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 17,769,541 people) and 1.27% is from migration (a gain of 229,466 people).

As of 2024, 513,316 residents or 3.6% of the population were not native-born in Rwanda, compared to 462,371 people or 0.7% in Tanzania.

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
Tanzania
City Population
Dar es Salaam 4.72M
Zanzibar 710K
Mwanza 706K
Mbeya 542K
Arusha 416K
Tanga 221K
Dodoma 214K
Morogoro 207K
Moshi 145K
Stone Town 18K

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/tanzania | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.