Rural population density in Rwanda
Rwanda: Rural population density was 725.47 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 2011. ▲ Rising
Latest (2011)
725.47 rural population per sq. km of arable land
Change on year
up 2.6%
World rank
6th
of 53 countries
All-time high
793.42 rural population per sq. km of arable land
in 1989
All-time low
574.24 rural population per sq. km of arable land
in 1961
Years of data
51
1961–2011
Rural population density in Rwanda, 1961–2011
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates. Measured in rural population per sq. km of arable land.
Analysis
Rwanda recorded 725.47 rural population per sq. km of arable land for rural population density in 2011.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.6% on the previous year and up 0.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population density in Rwanda peaked at 793.42 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 1989 and was at its lowest, 574.24 rural population per sq. km of arable land, in 1961.
Rwanda ranks 6th of 53 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 51 years of available data.
Rural population density in Rwanda, year by year
| Year | rural population per sq. km of arable land | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 574.24 rural population per sq. km of arable land | — |
| 1962 | 585.29 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.9% |
| 1963 | 596.62 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.9% |
| 1964 | 608.22 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.9% |
| 1965 | 620.12 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.0% |
| 1966 | 632.26 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.0% |
| 1967 | 644.73 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.0% |
| 1968 | 656.33 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.8% |
| 1969 | 667.1 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.6% |
| 1970 | 695.21 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +4.2% |
| 1971 | 667.29 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -4.0% |
| 1972 | 619.76 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -7.1% |
| 1973 | 650.02 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +4.9% |
| 1974 | 611.8 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -5.9% |
| 1975 | 614.3 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.4% |
| 1976 | 621.16 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.1% |
| 1977 | 627.69 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.1% |
| 1978 | 634.64 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.1% |
| 1979 | 641.87 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.1% |
| 1980 | 649.27 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.2% |
| 1981 | 656.42 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.1% |
| 1982 | 662.7 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.0% |
| 1983 | 669.56 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.0% |
| 1984 | 678.89 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.4% |
| 1985 | 698.11 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.8% |
| 1986 | 723.05 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +3.6% |
| 1987 | 751.2 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +3.9% |
| 1988 | 776.52 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +3.4% |
| 1989 | 793.42 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.2% |
| 1990 | 764.15 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -3.7% |
| 1991 | 734.03 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -3.9% |
| 1992 | 685.11 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -6.7% |
| 1993 | 653.76 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -4.6% |
| 1994 | 744.62 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +13.9% |
| 1995 | 729.75 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -2.0% |
| 1996 | 701.18 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -3.9% |
| 1997 | 704.67 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 748.77 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +6.3% |
| 1999 | 764.62 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.1% |
| 2000 | 775.89 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.5% |
| 2001 | 722.86 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -6.8% |
| 2002 | 660.19 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -8.7% |
| 2003 | 679.87 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +3.0% |
| 2004 | 670 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -1.5% |
| 2005 | 679.91 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 688.07 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 723.46 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +5.1% |
| 2008 | 680.53 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -5.9% |
| 2009 | 694.04 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.0% |
| 2010 | 707.02 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.9% |
| 2011 | 725.47 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 620.54 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 574.24 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 667.1 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 9 |
| 1970s | 638.38 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 611.8 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 695.21 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 10 |
| 1980s | 705.92 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 649.27 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 793.42 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 10 |
| 1990s | 723.07 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 653.76 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 764.62 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 10 |
| 2000s | 697.48 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 660.19 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 775.89 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 10 |
| 2010s | 716.25 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 707.02 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 725.47 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 2 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
- 3 Egypt 1,624 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 4 Mauritius 959.63 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 5 Burundi 830.23 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 7 Sao Tome and Principe 723.5 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 8 Comoros 661.37 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 9 Democratic Republic of Congo 654.87 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
More environment data for Rwanda
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -5.64 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -5.05 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate -31.63 % change on previous year (2013)
- Standard Deviation 0.268 °C (2013)
- Temperature change 1.35 °C (2013)
- Paper and paperboard — Import value, per unit of GDP 0 1000 USD per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Paper and paperboard — Import value, per capita 0.0013 1000 USD per person (2024)
- Graphic papers — Import quantity, annual growth rate -28.11 % change on previous year (2024)
- Graphic papers — Import quantity, per unit of GDP 0 t per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Graphic papers — Import quantity, per capita 0.0001 t per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population density in Rwanda?
- Rural population density in Rwanda was 725.47 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 2011, according to Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates.
- What is the highest rural population density recorded in Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 793.42 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 1989.
- What is the lowest rural population density recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 574.24 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 1961.
- How does Rwanda rank for rural population density?
- Rwanda ranks 6th out of 53 countries with data for 2011.
- Is rural population density rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Rwanda data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates, published as part of Rural population density (rural population per sq. km of arable land). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
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.