Population and Demographics of Rwanda
Population changed +2.16% in 2024 · median age 20 years
Annual population movement in Rwanda is +2.16% in 2024, with fertility measured at 3.6 children per woman. Compared with 2000, the 2024 population is 73.6% larger, showing the scale of the longer shift. The medium projection reaches 22.71 million in 2050, placing the mid-century total 59.3% above 2024.
Population Over Time in Rwanda
Rwanda's population stood at 8.214M in 2000 and 14.257M in 2024, equivalent to a +73.6% change over that period. For 2050, the medium projection is 22.708M. That is a difference of about 8.45 million people from the 2024 estimate. The chart connects dated reference points only and should not be read as an annual interpolated series.
Age Structure and Sex Balance
Age composition is an important part of Rwanda's demographic picture in 2024. At 37.36%, the under-15 group is larger than the 3.93% aged 65+, while ages 15 to 64 account for 58.71%. The age balance is weighted toward younger residents.
Population by broad age group
The 2024 World Bank sex-share indicator gives Rwanda a female share of 51.2% and a male share of 48.8%. Females exceed males by 2.4 percentage points.
Female and male population share
Females made up 51.2% of the population in the World Bank's 2024 series, compared with 48.8% males.
What Is Shaping Population Change
The 2024 population series for Rwanda records +2.16% annual change and a fertility rate of 3.6, and 58.71% of residents fall in the broad 15-to-64 age group.
The difference between the 2000 and 2024 population points is +73.6% in Rwanda, and the 2050 medium path differs from 2024 by +59.3%; interpreting the components of that change requires evidence not supplied by the aggregate series.
2024 estimate for Rwanda. The world comparison value is 2.25 children per woman.
Rwanda vs. World
A same-year comparison shows Rwanda at +2.16% annual growth, 3.6 children per woman and a median age of 20, against world values of +0.87%, 2.25 and 30.6.
| Indicator | Rwanda | World | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual population change | +2.16% | +0.87% | 2024 |
| Total fertility rate | 3.6 | 2.25 | 2024 |
| Median age | 20 | 30.6 | 2024 |
No national-only figure is inserted into this world comparison. The country and global values share the same 2024 table and source context.
Key Takeaways
Rwanda has 14,256,567 people in the 2024 estimate, with the population changing +2.16% over the year.
Broad age shares show 3.93% aged 65+ compared with 37.36% under 15; the 15 to 64 group accounts for 58.71%.
Females make up 51.2% of the 2024 population in the World Bank indicator, with males at 48.8%.
By 2050, the medium projection is 22.708M, differing from 2024 by roughly 8.45 million people.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Rwanda?
The 2024 harmonized population estimate for Rwanda is 14,256,567 people.
Is the population of Rwanda growing or declining?
In the 2024 estimate, Rwanda's population is growing, with annual change of +2.16%.
What percentage of the population of Rwanda is aged 65 or older?
People aged 65 or older account for 3.93% of Rwanda's 2024 population in the UN WPP-based broad age data.
What is the projected population of Rwanda in 2050?
The UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium projection puts Rwanda's 2050 population at 22,707,910.
What is the fertility rate in Rwanda?
The 2024 harmonized fertility estimate for Rwanda is 3.6 children per woman.
Sources & methodology
This profile uses United Nations World Population Prospects 2024 as the primary framework for globally comparable population, age, fertility and projection data. The World Bank is the primary source for the female population share. Some country values were accessed through secondary retrieval interfaces that republish or organize UN data; those interfaces are identified below as secondary and are not treated as the original statistical publishers.
View sources used for this page
Primary global framework for the population estimates and projections.
Harmonized 2024 country table based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Harmonized broad age shares based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Harmonized reference for the 2000 population point.
Harmonized 2050 country projection based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Used for the 2024 female share; the male share is calculated as the remainder to 100%.