Southern Province: population, poverty, jobs, health and schooling
Southern Province is a province of Rwanda, number 2 of 5 by population. The National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda projects the population of the Southern Province at 3,103,431 in 2026 (1,507,745 male, 1,595,686 female), 21.5% of Rwanda's 14.42 million; 2nd largest of Rwanda's four provinces and Kigali. The projection is built on the 2022 census.
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Southern Province: 13.6% of the Southern Province's labour force was unemployed in 2025, about 150,000 people, according to the Labour Force Survey (district figures added up); the highest of Rwanda's four provinces and Kigali (Rwanda: 12.4%; Southern Province in 2024: 16.3%).
- Health in Southern Province: 84.8% of people in the Southern Province had health insurance (mostly the community scheme, Mutuelle de Santé) in 2023/24, 2nd highest of Rwanda's four provinces and Kigali (Rwanda: 85.3%).
- Education in Southern Province: 72.1% of people aged 15 and over in the Southern Province could read and write in 2023/24, the lowest of Rwanda's four provinces and Kigali (Rwanda: 75.8%).
- Poverty and living standards in Southern Province: 34.7% of people in the Southern Province lived below the national poverty line in 2023/24 (EICV7), 2nd highest of Rwanda's four provinces and Kigali (Rwanda: 27.4%); NISR's comparable estimate for 2017 was 47.6%.
How fast is Southern Province's population growing?
The projections add 26,445 people to the Southern Province between 2025 and 2026, growth of 0.86% in a year (Rwanda: 2.22%), and reach 3,251,288 by 2032.
Source: National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda · saved copyHow many people did the 2022 census count in Southern Province?
The 2022 census (Fifth Population and Housing Census) counted 3,002,699 residents in the Southern Province, with 547 people per square kilometre, 2nd least densely populated of Rwanda's four provinces and Kigali (Rwanda: 503).
Source: National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda · saved copyHow many people in Southern Province live in towns?
14.8% of the Southern Province's residents lived in urban areas at the 2022 census (444,106 people), the least 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 Southern Province have?
Women in the Southern Province have 3.8 children each on average at current rates, according to the 2025 Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey, 3rd highest 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 provinces 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 provinces of Rwanda
- Eastern Province 4,044,312
- Western Province 3,016,095
- Northern Province 2,189,124
- City of Kigali 2,065,183
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): Southern Province, by age group and sex (medium scenario, from the 2022 census), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 69e9e63fe3b1…)
- 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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