MigrantoImmigrants in Rwanda
504.5K foreign-born residents — the #79 largest immigrant population in the world
Where immigrants come from
The top 3 countries account for 91% of all immigrants
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| DR Congo | 236385 |
| Burundi | 130912 |
| Uganda | 91955 |
| Tanzania | 42664 |
| Kenya | 2572 |
By region of origin
Africa is the leading region of origin at 100%
504.5K
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about immigration in Rwanda.
DR Congo is the leading source of immigration by a wide margin
DR Congo accounts for 47% of all immigrants, far ahead of the second-largest source at just 26%.
How immigration changed over time
Total immigrant population by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 139805 |
| 1995 | 201277 |
| 2000 | 337752 |
| 2005 | 405872 |
| 2010 | 410794 |
| 2015 | 505797 |
| 2020 | 505069 |
| 2024 | 504488 |
Top sources over time
Immigration from the 5 largest source countries
| Year | DR Congo | Burundi | Uganda | Tanzania | Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 62526 | 26393 | 34106 | 15825 | 955 |
| 1995 | 89770 | 37445 | 48486 | 24121 | 1455 |
| 2000 | 163420 | 56107 | 79241 | 36766 | 2218 |
| 2005 | 197717 | 68762 | 93430 | 43346 | 2617 |
| 2010 | 207397 | 64931 | 92808 | 43060 | 2598 |
| 2015 | 233744 | 134501 | 92195 | 42776 | 2581 |
| 2020 | 236657 | 131063 | 92061 | 42713 | 2575 |
| 2024 | 236385 | 130912 | 91955 | 42664 | 2572 |
Fastest-changing origins
How immigration from each country has changed since the selected year
Rwanda as a destination, by diaspora
Share of each country's emigrants who settled in Rwanda
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many immigrants live in Rwanda?
Around 504.5K foreign-born residents live in Rwanda, making it the #79-largest immigrant population in the world.
Where do most immigrants in Rwanda come from?
Most immigrants in Rwanda come from DR Congo, Burundi and Uganda — these three countries account for about 91% of all foreign-born residents.
What share of the population of Rwanda are immigrants?
Immigrants make up around 4% of the population of Rwanda — that's 504.5K out of a total population of 14.3M.
How has immigration to Rwanda changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the immigrant population in Rwanda has changed from 505.8K to 504.5K people, a change of about 0%.
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