Rwanda vs Sub-Saharan Africa: Rural population density

Rwanda
725.47 rural population per sq. km of arable land
in 2011
Sub-Saharan Africa
355.44 rural population per sq. km of arable land
in 2011
Rwanda rank
6th
Sub-Saharan Africa rank
6th

Rural population density over time

  • Rwanda
  • Sub-Saharan Africa
200400600800196119862011

How they compare

Rwanda currently reports 725.47 rural population per sq. km of arable land against 355.44 rural population per sq. km of arable land in Sub-Saharan Africa, a difference of 370.03 rural population per sq. km of arable land.

That makes Rwanda's figure about 2.0 times Sub-Saharan Africa's.

Across all 51 years both countries report, Rwanda has been ahead every year.

Rwanda ranks 6th and Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 6th of 53 countries.

Rwanda has averaged higher in every one of the 6 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Rwanda Sub-Saharan Africa Difference Ahead
1960s 620.54 rural population per sq. km of arable land 199.09 rural population per sq. km of arable land 421.46 rural population per sq. km of arable land Rwanda
1970s 638.38 rural population per sq. km of arable land 222.83 rural population per sq. km of arable land 415.54 rural population per sq. km of arable land Rwanda
1980s 705.92 rural population per sq. km of arable land 262.72 rural population per sq. km of arable land 443.19 rural population per sq. km of arable land Rwanda
1990s 723.07 rural population per sq. km of arable land 312.69 rural population per sq. km of arable land 410.38 rural population per sq. km of arable land Rwanda
2000s 697.48 rural population per sq. km of arable land 345.02 rural population per sq. km of arable land 352.47 rural population per sq. km of arable land Rwanda
2010s 716.25 rural population per sq. km of arable land 353.26 rural population per sq. km of arable land 362.98 rural population per sq. km of arable land Rwanda

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher rural population density, Rwanda or Sub-Saharan Africa?
Rwanda, at 725.47 rural population per sq. km of arable land against 355.44 rural population per sq. km of arable land in Sub-Saharan Africa as of 2011.
What is the difference in rural population density between Rwanda and Sub-Saharan Africa?
370.03 rural population per sq. km of arable land, with Rwanda ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Rwanda and Sub-Saharan Africa?
51 years are reported by both, from 1961 to 2011.
How do Rwanda and Sub-Saharan Africa rank globally for rural population density?
Rwanda ranks 6th and Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 6th of 53 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates, published as Rural population density (rural population per sq. km of arable land). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Rwanda vs Sub-Saharan Africa: Rural population density. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates. Retrieved 08 September 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/compare/rural-population-density-rural-population-per-sq-km-of-arable-land/rwanda/sub-saharan-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Rural population density (rural population per sq. km of arable land)
Unit
rural population per sq. km of arable land
Source
Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
59 places, 2,977 data points, 1961–2011
Last refreshed

Rural population density is the rural population divided by the arable land area. Rural population is calculated as the difference between the total population and the urban population. Arable land includes land defined by the FAO as land under temporary crops (double-cropped areas are counted once), temporary meadows for mowing or for pasture, land under market or kitchen gardens, and land temporarily fallow. Land abandoned as a result of shifting cultivation is excluded.