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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Rwanda was 14,256,567 in 2024 vs 21,314,956 people in Zambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Rwanda's population is 14,975,051 people compared to 22,697,916 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Zambia's population is 1.52 times bigger than Rwanda's.
  • Rwanda is ranked the 77th most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.45% of the world: 0.18% for Rwanda vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, Rwanda has had an average growth rate of +2.31% per year vs +3% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Rwanda has increased from 9.3M people to 15M (61% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.7M (87.1% growth).

Rwanda vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Rwanda
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Rwanda Zambia
2100 33,092,520 65,217,429
2099 32,987,847 64,871,545
2098 32,907,335 64,515,891
2097 32,832,706 64,148,736
2096 32,747,490 63,777,313
2095 32,615,044 63,393,169
2094 32,529,590 62,992,652
2093 32,396,544 62,590,327
2092 32,274,083 62,175,930
2091 32,171,077 61,750,591
2090 32,068,626 61,321,399
2089 31,872,593 60,880,148
2088 31,726,882 60,434,676
2087 31,533,364 59,970,107
2086 31,379,315 59,499,234
2085 31,235,000 59,023,040
2084 31,092,940 58,535,857
2083 30,917,707 58,040,512
2082 30,733,578 57,538,672
2081 30,557,819 57,027,491
2080 30,367,298 56,506,421
2079 30,176,627 55,983,242
2078 29,997,866 55,449,777
2077 29,800,561 54,906,771
2076 29,627,021 54,361,075
2075 29,423,503 53,806,856
2074 29,225,643 53,246,777
2073 29,007,777 52,677,348
2072 28,780,763 52,101,139
2071 28,560,382 51,519,691
2070 28,316,533 50,931,614
2069 28,103,541 50,334,700
2068 27,854,906 49,737,479
2067 27,591,747 49,135,488
2066 27,355,659 48,530,443
2065 27,084,704 47,918,592
2064 26,821,315 47,299,740
2063 26,543,184 46,677,439
2062 26,296,132 46,048,819
2061 25,985,356 45,416,657
2060 25,712,904 44,777,347
2059 25,437,446 44,137,306
2058 25,106,242 43,494,451
2057 24,837,928 42,851,923
2056 24,566,784 42,206,898
2055 24,266,669 41,558,284
2054 23,976,914 40,906,492
2053 23,690,426 40,255,629
2052 23,406,346 39,603,888
2051 23,099,207 38,949,958
2050 22,800,250 38,294,607
2049 22,484,698 37,634,194
2048 22,157,938 36,971,309
2047 21,834,786 36,309,749
2046 21,540,566 35,645,868
2045 21,215,262 34,981,812
2044 20,902,695 34,316,981
2043 20,535,605 33,652,420
2042 20,201,608 32,990,657
2041 19,832,577 32,329,447
2040 19,463,015 31,664,262
2039 19,096,860 31,001,305
2038 18,761,626 30,335,662
2037 18,421,864 29,668,561
2036 18,116,691 29,000,264
2035 17,753,910 28,333,498
2034 17,421,234 27,671,195
2033 17,089,349 27,011,974
2032 16,811,505 26,356,580
2031 16,485,559 25,702,812
2030 16,167,916 25,055,216
2029 15,858,862 24,414,405
2028 15,544,959 23,780,809
2027 15,207,733 23,151,479
2026 14,888,776 22,529,742
2025 14,560,205 21,918,187
2024 14,256,567 21,314,956
2023 13,954,471 20,723,965
2022 13,651,030 20,152,938
2021 13,355,260 19,603,607
2020 13,065,837 19,059,395
2019 12,776,103 18,513,839
2018 12,487,996 17,973,569
2017 12,202,060 17,441,320
2016 11,919,183 16,914,423
2015 11,640,022 16,399,089
2014 11,364,757 15,895,315
2013 11,093,340 15,398,997
2012 10,829,901 14,913,629
2011 10,573,733 14,437,796
2010 10,317,553 13,965,594
2009 10,060,432 13,490,389
2008 9,804,269 13,021,324
2007 9,549,933 12,565,085
2006 9,299,246 12,129,553
2005 9,054,528 11,718,819
2004 8,816,844 11,338,198
2003 8,586,875 10,983,595
2002 8,400,180 10,647,949
2001 8,287,094 10,325,185
2000 8,213,931 10,017,631
1999 8,147,912 9,740,005
1998 8,081,681 9,482,408
1997 7,755,238 9,237,063
1996 6,708,764 9,004,053
1995 5,674,118 8,785,763
1994 6,792,352 8,576,269
1993 7,981,132 8,373,921
1992 7,683,266 8,176,680
1991 7,526,966 7,981,650
1990 7,375,307 7,786,169
1989 7,184,706 7,589,216
1988 6,968,071 7,391,440
1987 6,749,493 7,191,282
1986 6,531,881 6,986,471
1985 6,317,228 6,780,953
1984 6,107,627 6,580,490
1983 5,905,311 6,381,038
1982 5,711,549 6,178,637
1981 5,527,230 5,983,289
1980 5,353,259 5,802,833
1979 5,189,541 5,631,728
1978 5,035,171 5,465,374
1977 4,888,240 5,302,480
1976 4,745,954 5,143,842
1975 4,607,728 4,990,086
1974 4,474,228 4,842,746
1973 4,345,047 4,702,693
1972 4,220,335 4,569,309
1971 4,100,044 4,442,525
1970 3,980,669 4,321,718
1969 3,861,271 4,197,116
1968 3,744,010 4,065,593
1967 3,629,577 3,936,343
1966 3,521,626 3,812,003
1965 3,423,210 3,692,086
1964 3,334,834 3,577,017
1963 3,258,890 3,465,907
1962 3,186,025 3,358,099
1961 3,106,779 3,254,086
1960 3,022,294 3,153,729

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/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Rwanda increased by 2,619,937 people (a 28.2% growth), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Rwanda gained 3,055,868 people (a 25.6% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,783,493 people (a 34.2% growth).

Rwanda was ranked 86th most populous country in 2006 and is 77th in 2026. Zambia was ranked 71st in 2006 and ranked 62nd 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 Zambia will increase by 68.7% to 38,294,607 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

Rwanda is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 33.1M people compared to the peak of 65.2M people in 2100 for Zambia.

Population growth rate by year

Rwanda
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Rwanda Zambia
2100 0.32% 0.53%
2099 0.24% 0.55%
2098 0.23% 0.57%
2097 0.26% 0.58%
2096 0.41% 0.61%
2095 0.26% 0.64%
2094 0.41% 0.64%
2093 0.38% 0.67%
2092 0.32% 0.69%
2091 0.32% 0.7%
2090 0.62% 0.72%
2089 0.46% 0.74%
2088 0.61% 0.77%
2087 0.49% 0.79%
2086 0.46% 0.81%
2085 0.46% 0.83%
2084 0.57% 0.85%
2083 0.6% 0.87%
2082 0.58% 0.9%
2081 0.63% 0.92%
2080 0.63% 0.93%
2079 0.6% 0.96%
2078 0.66% 0.99%
2077 0.59% 1%
2076 0.69% 1.03%
2075 0.68% 1.05%
2074 0.75% 1.08%
2073 0.79% 1.11%
2072 0.77% 1.13%
2071 0.86% 1.15%
2070 0.76% 1.19%
2069 0.89% 1.2%
2068 0.95% 1.23%
2067 0.86% 1.25%
2066 1% 1.28%
2065 0.98% 1.31%
2064 1.05% 1.33%
2063 0.94% 1.37%
2062 1.2% 1.39%
2061 1.06% 1.43%
2060 1.08% 1.45%
2059 1.32% 1.48%
2058 1.08% 1.5%
2057 1.1% 1.53%
2056 1.24% 1.56%
2055 1.21% 1.59%
2054 1.21% 1.62%
2053 1.21% 1.65%
2052 1.33% 1.68%
2051 1.31% 1.71%
2050 1.4% 1.75%
2049 1.47% 1.79%
2048 1.48% 1.82%
2047 1.37% 1.86%
2046 1.53% 1.9%
2045 1.5% 1.94%
2044 1.79% 1.97%
2043 1.65% 2.01%
2042 1.86% 2.05%
2041 1.9% 2.1%
2040 1.92% 2.14%
2039 1.79% 2.19%
2038 1.84% 2.25%
2037 1.68% 2.3%
2036 2.04% 2.35%
2035 1.91% 2.39%
2034 1.94% 2.44%
2033 1.65% 2.49%
2032 1.98% 2.54%
2031 1.96% 2.58%
2030 1.95% 2.62%
2029 2.02% 2.66%
2028 2.22% 2.72%
2027 2.14% 2.76%
2026 2.26% 2.79%
2025 2.13% 2.83%
2024 2.16% 2.85%
2023 2.22% 2.83%
2022 2.21% 2.8%
2021 2.22% 2.86%
2020 2.27% 2.95%
2019 2.31% 3.01%
2018 2.34% 3.05%
2017 2.37% 3.12%
2016 2.4% 3.14%
2015 2.42% 3.17%
2014 2.45% 3.22%
2013 2.43% 3.25%
2012 2.42% 3.3%
2011 2.48% 3.38%
2010 2.56% 3.52%
2009 2.61% 3.6%
2008 2.66% 3.63%
2007 2.7% 3.59%
2006 2.7% 3.5%
2005 2.7% 3.36%
2004 2.68% 3.23%
2003 2.22% 3.15%
2002 1.36% 3.13%
2001 0.89% 3.07%
2000 0.81% 2.85%
1999 0.82% 2.72%
1998 4.21% 2.66%
1997 15.6% 2.59%
1996 18.2% 2.48%
1995 -16.5% 2.44%
1994 -14.9% 2.42%
1993 3.88% 2.41%
1992 2.08% 2.44%
1991 2.06% 2.51%
1990 2.65% 2.6%
1989 3.11% 2.68%
1988 3.24% 2.78%
1987 3.33% 2.93%
1986 3.4% 3.03%
1985 3.43% 3.05%
1984 3.43% 3.13%
1983 3.39% 3.28%
1982 3.33% 3.26%
1981 3.25% 3.11%
1980 3.15% 3.04%
1979 3.07% 3.04%
1978 3.01% 3.07%
1977 3% 3.08%
1976 3% 3.08%
1975 2.98% 3.04%
1974 2.97% 2.98%
1973 2.96% 2.92%
1972 2.93% 2.85%
1971 3% 2.8%
1970 3.09% 2.97%
1969 3.13% 3.24%
1968 3.15% 3.28%
1967 3.07% 3.26%
1966 2.87% 3.25%
1965 2.65% 3.22%
1964 2.33% 3.21%
1963 2.29% 3.21%
1962 2.55% 3.2%
1961 2.8% 3.18%

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/zambia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Rwanda grew by 2.16%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.85%.

Live population counters

Rwanda Zambia
Current population
14975051
22697916
Population rank 77/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.18% 0.27%
One net population change
1.74 minutes
53.4 seconds
One birth every
1.33 minutes
46 seconds
One death every
6.35 minutes
4.87 minutes
Daily growth/decline +828 +1,619
Annual growth/decline +302,096 +590,991
Annual growth/decline rate +2.16% +2.85%
Population growth rate rank 45/197 21/197
One migration net change every
1.4 hours
1.34 hours
Annual migration change +6,282 +6,562
Net migration rank 48/196 47/196
Foreign-born residents 513,316 249,205
Foreign-born residents rank 80/195 105/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.6% 1.2%
Foreign-born share rank 109/195 150/195

Natural population change vs migration

Rwanda
Natural

Migration
Zambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Rwanda Zambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 6,282 - 6,562
2024 - -15,582 - 7,381
2023 312,762 -9,001 577,660 9,521
2022 312,145 -9,001 563,456 -8,566
2021 309,895 -21,492 535,629 8,143
2020 312,692 -22,251 536,484 8,156
2019 313,525 -24,492 528,089 18,385
2018 312,512 -25,323 515,644 18,431
2017 310,323 -25,634 504,630 25,789
2016 305,549 -24,474 497,521 25,860
2015 299,114 -21,862 491,021 16,261
2014 292,779 -19,505 483,663 16,574
2013 286,331 -16,779 476,846 15,542
2012 282,584 -25,260 469,406 8,958
2011 282,922 -27,915 459,743 13,569
2010 286,848 -29,501 448,337 22,761
2009 287,034 -30,128 434,458 44,867
2008 287,334 -31,913 419,560 39,249
2007 285,791 -32,537 403,729 49,945
2006 282,149 -34,008 387,891 29,517
2005 275,121 -33,830 368,756 35,316
2004 265,273 -31,214 349,352 7,819
2003 251,243 -25,355 331,189 20,845
2002 239,036 -91,518 316,041 3,206
2001 230,845 -152,197 302,682 23,582
2000 221,276 -153,588 293,186 -4,338
1999 210,518 -146,162 283,297 -16,888
1998 197,185 -129,089 275,568 -26,796
1997 174,687 410,106 268,198 -26,276
1996 140,455 1,367,700 262,468 -38,358
1995 121,137 439,995 257,897 -45,423
1994 -719,479 -2,078,111 252,023 -45,504
1993 183,926 236,110 245,917 -47,739
1992 188,025 -12,334 239,953 -43,656
1991 196,431 -59,519 237,957 -44,203
1990 207,895 -41,483 235,835 -38,619
1989 217,632 -2,826 233,429 -36,736
1988 223,759 -5,285 230,118 -31,270
1987 225,744 -7,062 227,813 -26,338
1986 225,526 -8,982 224,768 -16,610
1985 223,794 -11,031 221,351 -18,474
1984 219,337 -12,899 216,695 -18,652
1983 212,750 -14,560 212,712 -11,849
1982 205,147 -15,818 207,621 -3,676
1981 195,769 -16,453 202,822 -16,072
1980 184,988 -16,359 198,817 -24,664
1979 174,477 -15,669 197,578 -29,515
1978 163,779 -13,838 194,933 -30,284
1977 155,011 -11,084 191,557 -30,423
1976 147,665 -7,027 186,762 -30,612
1975 140,596 -4,791 182,258 -30,886
1974 135,743 -4,535 174,484 -31,178
1973 131,021 -3,862 168,258 -31,472
1972 126,403 -4,156 161,648 -31,672
1971 122,567 -4,230 155,249 -31,651
1970 119,273 1,149 149,380 -31,370
1969 115,394 2,983 142,660 -11,469
1968 111,422 4,728 137,315 -5,447
1967 108,053 4,655 131,938 -5,298
1966 105,128 -1,930 127,164 -5,129
1965 103,422 -9,774 122,814 -5,023
1964 102,562 -19,458 117,197 -4,851
1963 94,296 -25,524 114,555 -4,676
1962 102,548 -25,594 110,173 -4,428
1961 102,051 -20,508 106,318 -4,043
1960 100,627 -13,198 102,335 -3,898

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

GeoRank.org/population/rwanda/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,233,797 people) and 2.58% is from migration (a gain of 138,554 people).

As of 2024, 513,316 residents or 3.6% of the population were not native-born in Rwanda, compared to 249,205 people or 1.2% in Zambia.

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
Zambia
City Population
Lusaka 2.47M
Kitwe 625K
Ndola 528K
Chingola 255K
Mufulira 182K
Livingstone 177K
Kasama 158K
Kapiri Mposhi 65.2K
Choma 51.8K
Mansa 45.4K

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/zambia | 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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