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Rwanda: cities by population

By James Burfield, SEO consultant, Bath · Page updated 18 September 2026 · UN World Population Prospects

Rwanda has a population of 14,889,693 (UN estimate, 2026), with Kigali as its capital. The 50 largest of its 51 recorded towns and cities, ranked.

+81%

since 2000 (8,213,931)

+53%

projected by 2050 (22,707,910)

615

people per km²

UN estimates to 2026; the dashed line is the medium-variant projection to 2050, a forecast rather than a measurement. Source: World Population Prospects 2024.

Full UN series, 1950 to 2050

Year	Population
1950	2,157,097
1975	4,607,728
2000	8,213,931
2005	9,054,528
2010	10,317,553
2015	11,640,022
2020	13,065,837
2025	14,569,341
2026	14,889,693
2030 projected	16,154,705
2050 projected	22,707,910

Medium variant. Figures from 2026 onward are projections, not measurements.

Figures are the latest available in GeoNames (CC BY 4.0), which draws on national censuses of varying dates — treat them as recent, not same-year. Country totals are UN World Population Prospects 2024 (medium variant) where the UN lists the country separately; the handful it reports under a parent state keep a GeoNames figure and are marked as such. Sources & method.

Largest cities in Rwanda

#	Place	Region	Population
1	Kigali	Kigali	1,132,686
2	Gisenyi	Western Province	172,357
3	Musanze	Northern Province	153,368
4	Nyagatare	Eastern Province	100,000
5	Gitarama	Southern Province	87,613
6	Muhanga	Southern Province	82,797
7	Butare	Southern Province	62,823
8	Kibuye	Western Province	48,024
9	Rwamagana	Eastern Province	47,203
10	Kibungo	Eastern Province	46,240
11	Cyangugu	Western Province	43,866
12	Shyorongi	Northern Province	43,744
13	Byumba	Northern Province	43,134
14	Ndera	Kigali	41,764
15	Kirambo	Western Province	40,341
16	Kagano	Western Province	39,994
17	Ngororero	Western Province	38,823
18	Nzega	Southern Province	33,832
19	Macuba	Western Province	33,319
20	Karengera	Western Province	32,504
21	Nyanza	Southern Province	32,016
22	Bugarama	Western Province	31,086
23	Gihombo	Western Province	29,843
24	Karambi	Western Province	29,726
25	Bushekeri	Western Province	29,680
26	Nyabitekeli	Western Province	29,293
27	Busogo	Northern Province	28,264
28	Shangi	Western Province	28,064
29	Kayonza	Eastern Province	27,059
30	Cyato	Western Province	26,996
31	Kirimbi	Western Province	25,647
32	Gitesi	Western Province	24,859
33	Bushenge	Western Province	22,624
34	Nyamata	Eastern Province	21,509
35	Ruhango	Southern Province	21,478
36	Gikongoro	Southern Province	21,029
37	Mahembe	Western Province	20,043
38	Mukamira	Western Province	19,021
39	Mugina	Southern Province	18,586
40	Umutara	Eastern Province	18,038
41	Rangiro	Western Province	17,967
42	Kamuhanda / Ruyenzi	Southern Province	16,369
43	Bugaragara	Eastern Province	15,732
44	Mukingo	Northern Province	15,695
45	Kora	Western Province	15,134
46	Kinigi	Northern Province	14,523
47	Mabanza	Western Province	13,139
48	Gahini	Eastern Province	7,917
49	Ruhuha	Eastern Province	5,842
50	Tare	Northern Province	3,426

Twenty years earlier: Rwanda in the 2005 World Gazetteer — population then 8,640,104.

Common questions

What is the population of Rwanda?

Rwanda has a population of 14,889,693, the UN World Population Prospects estimate for 2026. The UN's medium-variant projection for 2050 is 22,707,910 — a forecast, not a measurement.

What is the capital of Rwanda?

Kigali.

Go deeper

Kigali

The largest place we record in Rwanda: 1,132,686 people

Rwanda in 2005

The World Gazetteer's archive edition: 8,640,104 then

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