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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Rwanda was 14,569,341 in 2025 vs 70,545,865 people in Tanzania in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Rwanda's population is 15,062,056 people compared to 73,639,263 in Tanzania.

Population statistics:

  • Tanzania's population is 4.89 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 1.07% of the world: 0.18% for Rwanda vs 0.89% for Tanzania.
  • For the last 10 years, Rwanda has had an average growth rate of +2.28% per year vs +3.11% in Tanzania.
  • Since 2006, the population of Rwanda has increased from 9.3M people to 15.1M (62% growth), while Tanzania has grown from 40.3M to 73.6M (82.8% growth).

Rwanda vs Tanzania: population by year and forecast

Rwanda
Factual

Projection
Tanzania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Rwanda Tanzania
2100 33,113,283 265,471,550
2099 33,008,545 263,137,702
2098 32,927,982 260,784,676
2097 32,853,307 258,387,890
2096 32,768,037 255,972,277
2095 32,635,508 253,543,248
2094 32,550,001 251,095,452
2093 32,416,870 248,605,184
2092 32,294,333 246,083,651
2091 32,191,262 243,533,968
2090 32,088,747 240,979,094
2089 31,892,591 238,393,867
2088 31,746,789 235,775,056
2087 31,553,150 233,145,231
2086 31,399,004 230,474,072
2085 31,254,597 227,778,580
2084 31,112,448 225,090,075
2083 30,937,106 222,400,079
2082 30,752,861 219,697,321
2081 30,576,992 216,974,796
2080 30,386,351 214,235,505
2079 30,195,560 211,466,096
2078 30,016,688 208,688,171
2077 29,819,259 205,898,494
2076 29,645,610 203,086,766
2075 29,441,964 200,278,383
2074 29,243,980 197,449,196
2073 29,025,977 194,624,081
2072 28,798,822 191,805,820
2071 28,578,302 188,974,004
2070 28,334,300 186,134,634
2069 28,121,174 183,293,747
2068 27,872,383 180,458,385
2067 27,609,059 177,622,538
2066 27,372,823 174,786,430
2065 27,101,698 171,897,059
2064 26,838,144 169,048,435
2063 26,559,838 166,202,091
2062 26,312,631 163,354,473
2061 26,001,660 160,521,858
2060 25,729,037 157,707,240
2059 25,453,407 154,905,240
2058 25,121,995 152,106,040
2057 24,853,512 149,311,257
2056 24,582,198 146,505,507
2055 24,281,895 143,722,840
2054 23,991,958 140,970,467
2053 23,705,290 138,249,490
2052 23,421,032 135,540,803
2051 23,113,700 132,838,721
2050 22,814,556 130,145,345
2049 22,498,806 127,483,126
2048 22,171,841 124,809,212
2047 21,848,486 122,146,647
2046 21,554,082 119,511,124
2045 21,228,573 116,903,642
2044 20,915,810 114,318,843
2043 20,548,490 111,765,580
2042 20,214,283 109,231,423
2041 19,845,021 106,738,458
2040 19,475,227 104,262,479
2039 19,108,842 101,804,600
2038 18,773,398 99,370,760
2037 18,433,422 96,974,485
2036 18,128,058 94,592,848
2035 17,765,049 92,248,476
2034 17,432,165 89,920,872
2033 17,100,072 87,646,627
2032 16,822,053 85,401,853
2031 16,495,903 83,172,579
2030 16,178,061 80,989,443
2029 15,868,812 78,830,947
2028 15,554,713 76,723,335
2027 15,217,275 74,639,948
2026 14,898,118 72,582,361
2025 14,569,341 70,545,865
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 3,142,873 people (a 26.4% growth), while Tanzania's population increased by 19,815,250 people (a 36.8% 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 51.5% to 22,814,556 people with a rank change from 77th to 72nd. The population of Tanzania will increase by 76.7% to 130,145,345 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 2.19% 2.9%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Rwanda grew by 2.19%, while Tanzania's population grew by 2.9%.

Live population counters

Rwanda Tanzania
Current population
15062056
73639263
Population rank 77/197 20/197
Percent of world population 0.18% 0.89%
One net population change
1.69 minutes
15.9 seconds
One birth every
1.31 minutes
13.2 seconds
One death every
6.25 minutes
1.34 minutes
Daily growth/decline +857 +5,440
Annual growth/decline +312,774 +1,985,708
Annual growth/decline rate +2.19% +2.9%
Population growth rate rank 40/197 16/197
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 316,025 -15,582 1,993,730 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/rwanda/tanzania | 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 Tanzania 98.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 18,197,641 people) and 1.2% is from migration (a gain of 220,684 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
Morogoro 471K
Arusha 416K
Tanga 221K
Dodoma 214K
Moshi 145K

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/tanzania | 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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