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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Rwanda was 14,256,567 in 2024 vs 16,634,373 people in Zimbabwe in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Rwanda's population is 14,975,051 people compared to 17,361,868 in Zimbabwe.

Population statistics:

  • Zimbabwe's population is 1.16 times bigger than Rwanda's.
  • Rwanda is ranked the 77th most populous country in the world, while Zimbabwe is the 74th.
  • The countries together account for 0.39% of the world: 0.18% for Rwanda vs 0.21% for Zimbabwe.
  • For the last 10 years, Rwanda has had an average growth rate of +2.31% per year vs +1.57% in Zimbabwe.
  • Since 2006, the population of Rwanda has increased from 9.3M people to 15M (61% growth), while Zimbabwe has grown from 12.6M to 17.4M (37.4% growth).

Rwanda vs Zimbabwe: population by year and forecast

Rwanda
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Rwanda Zimbabwe
2100 33,092,520 37,483,053
2099 32,987,847 37,412,398
2098 32,907,335 37,328,255
2097 32,832,706 37,235,542
2096 32,747,490 37,142,915
2095 32,615,044 37,032,129
2094 32,529,590 36,912,747
2093 32,396,544 36,810,893
2092 32,274,083 36,688,511
2091 32,171,077 36,567,262
2090 32,068,626 36,425,606
2089 31,872,593 36,280,973
2088 31,726,882 36,141,446
2087 31,533,364 35,977,638
2086 31,379,315 35,808,135
2085 31,235,000 35,637,092
2084 31,092,940 35,456,207
2083 30,917,707 35,268,035
2082 30,733,578 35,078,904
2081 30,557,819 34,873,129
2080 30,367,298 34,658,962
2079 30,176,627 34,439,720
2078 29,997,866 34,217,295
2077 29,800,561 33,982,909
2076 29,627,021 33,739,228
2075 29,423,503 33,495,867
2074 29,225,643 33,244,838
2073 29,007,777 32,978,488
2072 28,780,763 32,706,059
2071 28,560,382 32,445,747
2070 28,316,533 32,181,119
2069 28,103,541 31,906,793
2068 27,854,906 31,631,000
2067 27,591,747 31,345,338
2066 27,355,659 31,062,884
2065 27,084,704 30,766,830
2064 26,821,315 30,479,939
2063 26,543,184 30,176,104
2062 26,296,132 29,867,679
2061 25,985,356 29,557,068
2060 25,712,904 29,252,423
2059 25,437,446 28,945,088
2058 25,106,242 28,631,679
2057 24,837,928 28,307,305
2056 24,566,784 27,990,713
2055 24,266,669 27,658,887
2054 23,976,914 27,331,920
2053 23,690,426 26,986,935
2052 23,406,346 26,643,553
2051 23,099,207 26,287,592
2050 22,800,250 25,934,893
2049 22,484,698 25,585,239
2048 22,157,938 25,228,082
2047 21,834,786 24,874,649
2046 21,540,566 24,513,443
2045 21,215,262 24,147,637
2044 20,902,695 23,783,088
2043 20,535,605 23,401,965
2042 20,201,608 23,035,288
2041 19,832,577 22,647,950
2040 19,463,015 22,273,520
2039 19,096,860 21,902,980
2038 18,761,626 21,530,130
2037 18,421,864 21,159,664
2036 18,116,691 20,791,034
2035 17,753,910 20,413,656
2034 17,421,234 20,048,019
2033 17,089,349 19,676,339
2032 16,811,505 19,311,985
2031 16,485,559 18,959,300
2030 16,167,916 18,613,738
2029 15,858,862 18,270,049
2028 15,544,959 17,933,466
2027 15,207,733 17,600,984
2026 14,888,776 17,273,208
2025 14,560,205 16,949,303
2024 14,256,567 16,634,373
2023 13,954,471 16,340,822
2022 13,651,030 16,069,056
2021 13,355,260 15,797,210
2020 13,065,837 15,526,888
2019 12,776,103 15,271,368
2018 12,487,996 15,034,452
2017 12,202,060 14,812,482
2016 11,919,183 14,600,294
2015 11,640,022 14,399,013
2014 11,364,757 14,207,359
2013 11,093,340 14,013,808
2012 10,829,901 13,817,887
2011 10,573,733 13,595,424
2010 10,317,553 13,356,548
2009 10,060,432 13,142,790
2008 9,804,269 12,959,149
2007 9,549,933 12,804,058
2006 9,299,246 12,636,445
2005 9,054,528 12,483,432
2004 8,816,844 12,365,896
2003 8,586,875 12,232,323
2002 8,400,180 12,087,653
2001 8,287,094 11,971,901
2000 8,213,931 11,892,055
1999 8,147,912 11,783,458
1998 8,081,681 11,594,297
1997 7,755,238 11,369,827
1996 6,708,764 11,158,360
1995 5,674,118 10,974,599
1994 6,792,352 10,873,148
1993 7,981,132 10,860,288
1992 7,683,266 10,702,700
1991 7,526,966 10,404,816
1990 7,375,307 10,137,281
1989 7,184,706 9,864,798
1988 6,968,071 9,583,094
1987 6,749,493 9,284,644
1986 6,531,881 8,982,578
1985 6,317,228 8,686,813
1984 6,107,627 8,391,488
1983 5,905,311 8,098,404
1982 5,711,549 7,796,496
1981 5,527,230 7,498,635
1980 5,353,259 7,041,303
1979 5,189,541 6,647,556
1978 5,035,171 6,543,575
1977 4,888,240 6,449,512
1976 4,745,954 6,287,105
1975 4,607,728 6,098,658
1974 4,474,228 5,908,328
1973 4,345,047 5,720,404
1972 4,220,335 5,542,445
1971 4,100,044 5,374,712
1970 3,980,669 5,215,918
1969 3,861,271 5,058,181
1968 3,744,010 4,900,440
1967 3,629,577 4,748,307
1966 3,521,626 4,601,217
1965 3,423,210 4,458,462
1964 3,334,834 4,320,006
1963 3,258,890 4,185,877
1962 3,186,025 4,055,959
1961 3,106,779 3,930,401
1960 3,022,294 3,809,389

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/zimbabwe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Rwanda increased by 2,619,937 people (a 28.2% growth), while Zimbabwe gained 1,963,849 people (a 15.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Rwanda gained 3,055,868 people (a 25.6% growth), while Zimbabwe's population increased by 2,761,574 people (a 18.9% growth).

Rwanda was ranked 86th most populous country in 2006 and is 77th in 2026. Zimbabwe was ranked 70th in 2006 and ranked 74th 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 Zimbabwe will increase by 49.4% to 25,934,893 people and rank change from 74th to 65th.

Rwanda is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 33.1M people compared to the peak of 37.5M people in 2100 for Zimbabwe.

Population growth rate by year

Rwanda
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Rwanda Zimbabwe
2100 0.32% 0.19%
2099 0.24% 0.23%
2098 0.23% 0.25%
2097 0.26% 0.25%
2096 0.41% 0.3%
2095 0.26% 0.32%
2094 0.41% 0.28%
2093 0.38% 0.33%
2092 0.32% 0.33%
2091 0.32% 0.39%
2090 0.62% 0.4%
2089 0.46% 0.39%
2088 0.61% 0.46%
2087 0.49% 0.47%
2086 0.46% 0.48%
2085 0.46% 0.51%
2084 0.57% 0.53%
2083 0.6% 0.54%
2082 0.58% 0.59%
2081 0.63% 0.62%
2080 0.63% 0.64%
2079 0.6% 0.65%
2078 0.66% 0.69%
2077 0.59% 0.72%
2076 0.69% 0.73%
2075 0.68% 0.76%
2074 0.75% 0.81%
2073 0.79% 0.83%
2072 0.77% 0.8%
2071 0.86% 0.82%
2070 0.76% 0.86%
2069 0.89% 0.87%
2068 0.95% 0.91%
2067 0.86% 0.91%
2066 1% 0.96%
2065 0.98% 0.94%
2064 1.05% 1.01%
2063 0.94% 1.03%
2062 1.2% 1.05%
2061 1.06% 1.04%
2060 1.08% 1.06%
2059 1.32% 1.09%
2058 1.08% 1.15%
2057 1.1% 1.13%
2056 1.24% 1.2%
2055 1.21% 1.2%
2054 1.21% 1.28%
2053 1.21% 1.29%
2052 1.33% 1.35%
2051 1.31% 1.36%
2050 1.4% 1.37%
2049 1.47% 1.42%
2048 1.48% 1.42%
2047 1.37% 1.47%
2046 1.53% 1.51%
2045 1.5% 1.53%
2044 1.79% 1.63%
2043 1.65% 1.59%
2042 1.86% 1.71%
2041 1.9% 1.68%
2040 1.92% 1.69%
2039 1.79% 1.73%
2038 1.84% 1.75%
2037 1.68% 1.77%
2036 2.04% 1.85%
2035 1.91% 1.82%
2034 1.94% 1.89%
2033 1.65% 1.89%
2032 1.98% 1.86%
2031 1.96% 1.86%
2030 1.95% 1.88%
2029 2.02% 1.88%
2028 2.22% 1.89%
2027 2.14% 1.9%
2026 2.26% 1.91%
2025 2.13% 1.89%
2024 2.16% 1.8%
2023 2.22% 1.69%
2022 2.21% 1.72%
2021 2.22% 1.74%
2020 2.27% 1.67%
2019 2.31% 1.58%
2018 2.34% 1.5%
2017 2.37% 1.45%
2016 2.4% 1.4%
2015 2.42% 1.35%
2014 2.45% 1.38%
2013 2.43% 1.42%
2012 2.42% 1.64%
2011 2.48% 1.79%
2010 2.56% 1.63%
2009 2.61% 1.42%
2008 2.66% 1.21%
2007 2.7% 1.33%
2006 2.7% 1.23%
2005 2.7% 0.95%
2004 2.68% 1.09%
2003 2.22% 1.2%
2002 1.36% 0.97%
2001 0.89% 0.67%
2000 0.81% 0.92%
1999 0.82% 1.63%
1998 4.21% 1.97%
1997 15.6% 1.9%
1996 18.2% 1.67%
1995 -16.5% 0.93%
1994 -14.9% 0.12%
1993 3.88% 1.47%
1992 2.08% 2.86%
1991 2.06% 2.64%
1990 2.65% 2.76%
1989 3.11% 2.94%
1988 3.24% 3.21%
1987 3.33% 3.36%
1986 3.4% 3.4%
1985 3.43% 3.52%
1984 3.43% 3.62%
1983 3.39% 3.87%
1982 3.33% 3.97%
1981 3.25% 6.49%
1980 3.15% 5.92%
1979 3.07% 1.59%
1978 3.01% 1.46%
1977 3% 2.58%
1976 3% 3.09%
1975 2.98% 3.22%
1974 2.97% 3.29%
1973 2.96% 3.21%
1972 2.93% 3.12%
1971 3% 3.04%
1970 3.09% 3.12%
1969 3.13% 3.22%
1968 3.15% 3.2%
1967 3.07% 3.2%
1966 2.87% 3.2%
1965 2.65% 3.2%
1964 2.33% 3.2%
1963 2.29% 3.2%
1962 2.55% 3.19%
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/zimbabwe | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Rwanda grew by 2.16%, while Zimbabwe's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

Rwanda Zimbabwe
Current population
14975051
17361868
Population rank 77/197 74/197
Percent of world population 0.18% 0.21%
One net population change
1.74 minutes
1.79 minutes
One birth every
1.33 minutes
1.06 minutes
One death every
6.35 minutes
4.22 minutes
Daily growth/decline +828 +804
Annual growth/decline +302,096 +293,551
Annual growth/decline rate +2.16% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 45/197 60/197
One migration net change every
1.4 hours
9.66 minutes
Annual migration change +6,282 -54,555
Net migration rank 48/196 175/196
Foreign-born residents 513,316 429,108
Foreign-born residents rank 80/195 87/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.6% 2.6%
Foreign-born share rank 109/195 127/195

Natural population change vs migration

Rwanda
Natural

Migration
Zimbabwe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Rwanda Zimbabwe
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 6,282 - -54,555
2024 - -15,582 - -60,528
2023 312,762 -9,001 372,505 -97,380
2022 312,145 -9,001 371,243 -102,828
2021 309,895 -21,492 349,908 -74,623
2020 312,692 -22,251 354,790 -89,440
2019 313,525 -24,492 348,798 -103,107
2018 312,512 -25,323 345,883 -117,758
2017 310,323 -25,634 344,035 -128,241
2016 305,549 -24,474 348,772 -140,181
2015 299,114 -21,862 356,203 -162,220
2014 292,779 -19,505 366,350 -177,029
2013 286,331 -16,779 374,757 -176,972
2012 282,584 -25,260 371,135 -177,061
2011 282,922 -27,915 359,572 -108,714
2010 286,848 -29,501 335,570 -108,671
2009 287,034 -30,128 309,316 -108,689
2008 287,334 -31,913 280,527 -113,858
2007 285,791 -32,537 261,805 -118,299
2006 282,149 -34,008 248,963 -57,257
2005 275,121 -33,830 248,545 -134,212
2004 265,273 -31,214 248,307 -127,550
2003 251,243 -25,355 243,057 -96,667
2002 239,036 -91,518 244,170 -101,212
2001 230,845 -152,197 227,909 -139,361
2000 221,276 -153,588 236,343 -165,181
1999 210,518 -146,162 232,393 -86,343
1998 197,185 -129,089 225,614 6,645
1997 174,687 410,106 216,288 395
1996 140,455 1,367,700 205,269 978
1995 121,137 439,995 206,695 -45,428
1994 -719,479 -2,078,111 216,343 -174,723
1993 183,926 236,110 228,045 -243,947
1992 188,025 -12,334 255,291 75,788
1991 196,431 -59,519 260,943 3,749
1990 207,895 -41,483 265,444 4,948
1989 217,632 -2,826 270,838 3,736
1988 223,759 -5,285 277,498 11,327
1987 225,744 -7,062 286,766 21,308
1986 225,526 -8,982 289,894 6,154
1985 223,794 -11,031 290,756 4,718
1984 219,337 -12,899 290,052 5,124
1983 212,750 -14,560 286,545 4,456
1982 205,147 -15,818 279,934 32,899
1981 195,769 -16,453 271,361 11,523
1980 184,988 -16,359 241,179 390,593
1979 174,477 -15,669 223,657 -67,937
1978 163,779 -13,838 222,979 -170,727
1977 155,011 -11,084 225,139 -89,270
1976 147,665 -7,027 221,419 -32,495
1975 140,596 -4,791 216,947 -28,988
1974 135,743 -4,535 208,806 -16,105
1973 131,021 -3,862 201,885 -18,733
1972 126,403 -4,156 193,725 -20,959
1971 122,567 -4,230 185,427 -22,719
1970 119,273 1,149 178,979 -24,102
1969 115,394 2,983 172,626 -12,028
1968 111,422 4,728 166,865 -11,997
1967 108,053 4,655 161,205 -11,814
1966 105,128 -1,930 156,014 -11,211
1965 103,422 -9,774 151,164 -10,465
1964 102,562 -19,458 145,848 -9,631
1963 94,296 -25,524 140,984 -8,936
1962 102,548 -25,594 136,317 -8,529
1961 102,051 -20,508 131,531 -8,204
1960 100,627 -13,198 126,959 -8,260

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

GeoRank.org/population/rwanda/zimbabwe | 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 Zimbabwe 74.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,558,487 people) and 25.1% is from migration (a loss of 1,192,807 people).

As of 2024, 513,316 residents or 3.6% of the population were not native-born in Rwanda, compared to 429,108 people or 2.6% in Zimbabwe.

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
Zimbabwe
City Population
Harare 2.15M
Masvingo 1.64M
Bulawayo 666K
Chitungwiza 371K
Mutare 225K
Gweru 141K
Kadoma 116K
Kwekwe 93.1K
Chinhoyi 56.8K
Marondera 52.3K

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/zimbabwe | 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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