MigrantoMigration trends in Rwanda
Africa
Rwanda loses more people than it takes in: 539K emigrants against 504.5K immigrants. Net balance −34.6K — 0% of the country's population
14.3M
Population
504.5K
Immigrants
539K
Emigrants
−34.6K
Outflow
1 in 28 residents of Rwanda was born abroad — and 1 in 27 people born in Rwanda lives abroad
#101 in the world by net migration loss
Top corridors
The largest migration flows in Rwanda
Key moments
How migration has changed since 1990
1990
139.8K immigrants · 584.3K emigrants
1995
- An accelerating exodus — the diaspora grew by 261%
- DR Congo replaced Uganda as the main destination for those leaving
- Entered the world's 20 largest diasporas
- Became the biggest country by emigrants in Africa
2000
- A surge of arrivals — the foreign-born population jumped 68%
- Emigration to Burundi declined sharply — 93.8K fewer migrants there
2005
- The country became a destination — more people arriving than leaving
2010
- DR Congo replaced Uganda as the main destination for those leaving
2015
- An accelerating exodus — the diaspora grew by 48%
- Surge of departures to DR Congo — 151.3K people left
- The gap between arrivals and departures was cut in half
- The foreign-born population passed 500K residents
Today
- The country became a place of departure — more people leaving than arriving
- The diaspora passed 500K people
- Since 1990: 364.7K more foreign-born residents and roughly the same number of emigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
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