MigrantoRwandan Diaspora
539K Rwandans live abroad — 4% of the population of Rwanda
Rwandan diaspora by country
The top 3 countries are home to 84% of the diaspora
| Country | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| DR Congo | 286208 |
| Burundi | 85969 |
| Uganda | 79149 |
| Republic of Congo | 24825 |
| Belgium | 15445 |
| Zambia | 12201 |
| Canada | 9317 |
| Malawi | 6128 |
| Kenya | 5208 |
| South Africa | 3172 |
| China | 1400 |
| Australia | 1338 |
| Angola | 1299 |
| Italy | 954 |
| Norway | 736 |
| Togo | 674 |
| Denmark | 674 |
| Mali | 621 |
| Finland | 617 |
| Tanzania | 561 |
| Ghana | 488 |
| Namibia | 397 |
| Eswatini | 392 |
| Eritrea | 365 |
| Senegal | 289 |
| Gabon | 226 |
| Luxembourg | 217 |
| Greece | 103 |
| Guinea | 35 |
| Hungary | 27 |
| Estonia | 4 |
| Bulgaria | 1 |
| Slovakia | 1 |
| Latvia | 1 |
| Lithuania | 1 |
| Slovenia | 1 |
| Costa Rica | 1 |
| Bolivia | 1 |
| Sierra Leone | 0 |
| Iceland | 0 |
By region
94% of the diaspora lives in Africa
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Key facts
The Rwandan diaspora in numbers
Most Rwandans abroad live in DR Congo
53% of the diaspora lives in DR Congo, while the next country accounts for just 16%.
The map of the diaspora has changed since 1990
6 countries have entered the top 20 since 1990: Republic of Congo, Zambia, Australia. Republic of Congo climbed from outside the top 20 to #4.
The diaspora is more concentrated than in 1990
The largest country's share rose from 44% to 53%, and today that country is DR Congo.
Rwandan diaspora population over time
People living abroad, by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 584280 |
| 1995 | 2109879 |
| 2000 | 346850 |
| 2005 | 293186 |
| 2010 | 334656 |
| 2015 | 496392 |
| 2020 | 486754 |
| 2024 | 539046 |
Largest communities over time
Rwandans living in the 5 largest countries, by year
| Year | DR Congo | Burundi | Uganda | Republic of Congo | Belgium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 22972 | 221943 | 257379 | 0 | 3525 |
| 1995 | 1132791 | 160197 | 187709 | 5503 | 4714 |
| 2000 | 85936 | 66415 | 104439 | 12480 | 6296 |
| 2005 | 82035 | 61104 | 92150 | 7936 | 9034 |
| 2010 | 123871 | 54794 | 84421 | 18900 | 12799 |
| 2015 | 275136 | 64363 | 80434 | 25119 | 14033 |
| 2020 | 251333 | 76567 | 76677 | 24955 | 14698 |
| 2024 | 286208 | 85969 | 79149 | 24825 | 15445 |
Fastest-changing communities
How the number of Rwandans in each country has changed since the selected year
Rwandans among immigrants in other countries
Where Rwandans make up the largest share of a country's immigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many Rwandans live outside Rwanda?
Around 539K Rwandans live abroad, the world's #101 largest diaspora.
Where do most Rwandans abroad live?
Most Rwandans live in DR Congo, Burundi and Uganda — these three countries account for about 84% of all Rwandans living abroad.
Which country has the largest Rwandan population outside Rwanda?
DR Congo is home to the largest Rwandan community abroad — 286.2K people, about 53% of all Rwandans living abroad.
What share of the population of Rwanda lives abroad?
About 4% of the population of Rwanda lives abroad — that's 539K out of a total population of 14.3M.
Is the Rwandan diaspora growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of Rwandans living abroad has grown from 496.4K to 539K, about 9%.
Where does the data on the Rwandan diaspora come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born in Rwanda who now live in other countries. Descendants of emigrants born abroad are not included.
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Living in Rwanda
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