Net migration in Rwanda
Rwanda: Net migration was 6,282 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net migration in Rwanda, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
The most recent figure for net migration in Rwanda is 6,282, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 140.3% on the previous year and up 128.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in Rwanda peaked at 1.37 million in 1996 and was at its lowest, -2.08 million, in 1994.
Rwanda ranks 48th of 218 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in Rwanda, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -13,198 | — |
| 1961 | -20,508 | +55.4% |
| 1962 | -25,594 | +24.8% |
| 1963 | -25,524 | -0.3% |
| 1964 | -19,458 | -23.8% |
| 1965 | -9,774 | -49.8% |
| 1966 | -1,930 | -80.3% |
| 1967 | 4,655 | -341.2% |
| 1968 | 4,728 | +1.6% |
| 1969 | 2,983 | -36.9% |
| 1970 | 1,149 | -61.5% |
| 1971 | -4,230 | -468.1% |
| 1972 | -4,156 | -1.7% |
| 1973 | -3,862 | -7.1% |
| 1974 | -4,535 | +17.4% |
| 1975 | -4,791 | +5.6% |
| 1976 | -7,027 | +46.7% |
| 1977 | -11,084 | +57.7% |
| 1978 | -13,838 | +24.8% |
| 1979 | -15,669 | +13.2% |
| 1980 | -16,359 | +4.4% |
| 1981 | -16,453 | +0.6% |
| 1982 | -15,818 | -3.9% |
| 1983 | -14,560 | -8.0% |
| 1984 | -12,899 | -11.4% |
| 1985 | -11,031 | -14.5% |
| 1986 | -8,982 | -18.6% |
| 1987 | -7,062 | -21.4% |
| 1988 | -5,285 | -25.2% |
| 1989 | -2,826 | -46.5% |
| 1990 | -41,483 | +1367.9% |
| 1991 | -59,519 | +43.5% |
| 1992 | -12,334 | -79.3% |
| 1993 | 236,110 | -2014.3% |
| 1994 | -2.08 million | -980.1% |
| 1995 | 439,995 | -121.2% |
| 1996 | 1.37 million | +210.8% |
| 1997 | 410,106 | -70.0% |
| 1998 | -129,089 | -131.5% |
| 1999 | -146,162 | +13.2% |
| 2000 | -153,588 | +5.1% |
| 2001 | -152,197 | -0.9% |
| 2002 | -91,518 | -39.9% |
| 2003 | -25,355 | -72.3% |
| 2004 | -31,214 | +23.1% |
| 2005 | -33,830 | +8.4% |
| 2006 | -34,008 | +0.5% |
| 2007 | -32,537 | -4.3% |
| 2008 | -31,913 | -1.9% |
| 2009 | -30,128 | -5.6% |
| 2010 | -29,501 | -2.1% |
| 2011 | -27,915 | -5.4% |
| 2012 | -25,260 | -9.5% |
| 2013 | -16,779 | -33.6% |
| 2014 | -19,505 | +16.2% |
| 2015 | -21,862 | +12.1% |
| 2016 | -24,474 | +11.9% |
| 2017 | -25,634 | +4.7% |
| 2018 | -25,323 | -1.2% |
| 2019 | -24,492 | -3.3% |
| 2020 | -22,251 | -9.1% |
| 2021 | -21,492 | -3.4% |
| 2022 | -9,001 | -58.1% |
| 2023 | -9,001 | -0.0% |
| 2024 | -15,582 | +73.1% |
| 2025 | 6,282 | -140.3% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 6,282 is above the median for low income countries, which is -7,704. (25 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 6,282 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -5,646. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration in Rwanda changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | +2014.3% | -12,334 | 236,110 |
| 1990 | -1367.9% | -2,826 | -41,483 |
| 1994 | -980.1% | 236,110 | -2.08 million |
| 1971 | -468.1% | 1,149 | -4,230 |
| 1967 | +341.2% | -1,930 | 4,655 |
| 1996 | +210.8% | 439,995 | 1.37 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -10,362 | -25,594 | 4,728 | 10 |
| 1970s | -6,804 | -15,669 | 1,149 | 10 |
| 1980s | -11,128 | -16,453 | -2,826 | 10 |
| 1990s | -1,279 | -2.08 million | 1.37 million | 10 |
| 2000s | -61,629 | -153,588 | -25,355 | 10 |
| 2010s | -24,074 | -29,501 | -16,779 | 10 |
| 2020s | -11,841 | -22,251 | 6,282 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
- 45 Azerbaijan 8,731 compare
- 46 Cyprus 7,749 compare
- 47 Zambia 6,562 compare
- 49 Panama 6,151 compare
- 50 South Sudan 6,145 compare
- 51 Puerto Rico 5,495 compare
More financial sector data for Rwanda
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0017 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 1.88 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0012 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 1.37 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0017 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 1.88 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Rwanda?
- Net migration in Rwanda was 6,282 in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 1.37 million in 1996.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.08 million in 1994.
- How does Rwanda rank for net migration?
- Rwanda ranks 48th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 128.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Rwanda data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.