City of Kigali: population, poverty, jobs, health and schooling
City of Kigali is a capital city (province-level) of Rwanda, number 5 of 5 by population. The National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda projects the population of the City of Kigali at 2,065,183 in 2026 (1,045,598 male, 1,019,585 female), 14.3% of Rwanda's 14.42 million; the smallest of Rwanda's four provinces and Kigali. The projection is built on the 2022 census.
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in City of Kigali: 12.1% of the City of Kigali's labour force was unemployed in 2025, about 121,000 people, according to the Labour Force Survey (district figures added up); 2nd lowest of Rwanda's four provinces and Kigali (Rwanda: 12.4%; Kigali in 2024: 14.4%).
- Health in City of Kigali: 84.2% of people in the City of Kigali had health insurance (mostly the community scheme, Mutuelle de Santé) in 2023/24, 2nd lowest of Rwanda's four provinces and Kigali (Rwanda: 85.3%).
- Education in City of Kigali: 90.6% of people aged 15 and over in the City of Kigali could read and write in 2023/24, the highest of Rwanda's four provinces and Kigali (Rwanda: 75.8%).
- Poverty and living standards in City of Kigali: 9.1% of people in the City of Kigali lived below the national poverty line in 2023/24 (EICV7), the lowest of Rwanda's four provinces and Kigali (Rwanda: 27.4%); NISR's comparable estimate for 2017 was 14.3%.
How fast is Kigali's population growing?
The projections add 85,951 people to the City of Kigali between 2025 and 2026, growth of 4.34% in a year (Rwanda: 2.22%), and reach 2,631,832 by 2032.
Source: National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda · saved copyHow many people did the 2022 census count in Kigali?
The 2022 census (Fifth Population and Housing Census) counted 1,745,555 residents in the City of Kigali, with 2,401 people per square kilometre, the most densely populated of Rwanda's four provinces and Kigali (Rwanda: 503).
Source: National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda · saved copyHow many people in Kigali live in towns?
86.9% of the City of Kigali's residents lived in urban areas at the 2022 census (1,517,168 people), the most urban of Rwanda's four provinces and Kigali (Rwanda: 27.9%).
Source: National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda · saved copyHow many children do women in Kigali have?
Women in the City of Kigali have 3.1 children each on average at current rates, according to the 2025 Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey, the lowest of Rwanda's four provinces and Kigali (Rwanda: 3.7).
Source: National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda and Ministry of Health (with ICF, The DHS Program) · saved copyHow capital citys are governed in Rwanda
Provinces (4) and the City of Kigali. Provincial governors appointed by the central government; Kigali has a city council and mayor. Coordinate and supervise districts; not local governments.
Every tier of government in Rwanda
Other capital cities of Rwanda
- Eastern Province 4,044,312
- Southern Province 3,103,431
- Western Province 3,016,095
- Northern Province 2,189,124
Up a level: Rwanda · government and power in Rwanda · cities
Sources
- National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda and Ministry of Health (with ICF, The DHS Program): Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey 2025, Key Indicators Report (Tables 3.2, 4, 7, 9, 10 and 13 by province), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 71e62feb691d…)
- National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda: Seventh Integrated Household Living Conditions Survey (EICV7) 2023/24, Main Indicators Report tables, read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8a01ec05d851…)
- National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda: Labour Force Survey 2025 annual tables (Table 1: Rwanda; Tables 21-25: labour force indicators by district), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2dde50d4941d…)
- National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda: Rwanda Subnational Population Projections by Provinces (2023-2032): City of Kigali, by age group and sex (medium scenario, from the 2022 census), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7808527387fc…)
- National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda: Rwanda Statistical Yearbook 2025 (tables 15.1-15.2: 2022 census by province; 14.1.2: crimes by province, Rwanda Investigation Bureau; 3.2.3: HIV testing of pregnant women by province, Rwanda Biomedical Centre), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 ef41d895c949…)
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