Economy, jobs and prices in Southern Province, Rwanda: official figures
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%).
How many people in Southern Province have a job?
49.9% of people aged 16 and over in the Southern Province had a job in 2025 and 57.8% were in the labour force (working or looking for work); the share in work is the lowest of Rwanda's four provinces and Kigali (Rwanda: 55.9% and 63.8%).
Source: National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda · saved copyHow much do workers in Southern Province earn?
Median monthly earnings from the main job in 2025 ranged from 26,000 Rwandan francs in Nyanza to 46,800 Rwandan francs in Kamonyi across the districts of the Southern Province (Rwanda: 39,000 Rwandan francs).
Source: National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda · saved copyHow many homes in Southern Province have electricity?
34.5% of households in the Southern Province used electricity from the grid as their main lighting in 2023/24, the lowest of Rwanda's four provinces and Kigali (Rwanda: 50.0%).
Source: National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda · saved copyHow many homes in Southern Province have internet?
21.1% of households in the Southern Province had internet access at home (including on mobile phones) in 2023/24, the lowest of Rwanda's four provinces and Kigali (Rwanda: 29.8%).
Source: National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda · saved copyDo people in Southern Province have clean drinking water?
90.8% of households in the Southern Province used an improved drinking water source in 2023/24, 3rd highest of Rwanda's four provinces and Kigali (Rwanda: 89.7%).
Source: National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda · saved copyHow many homes in Southern Province have a proper toilet?
90.8% of households in the Southern Province used improved sanitation in 2023/24 and 74.6% had an improved toilet not shared with other households (Rwanda: 94.3% and 72.4%).
Source: National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda · saved copyHow Southern Province compares with other provinces
Unemployment rate (labour force aged 16+) (2025)
Southern Province ranks 1 of 5, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate (labour force aged 16+) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southern Province | 13.6% |
| 2 | Northern Province | 13.2% |
| 3 | Western Province | 12.9% |
| 4 | City of Kigali | 12.1% |
| 5 | Eastern Province | 10.9% |
Households lit mainly by grid electricity (2023/24)
Southern Province ranks 5 of 5, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households lit mainly by grid electricity |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | City of Kigali | 90.4% |
| 2 | Western Province | 48.3% |
| 3 | Eastern Province | 45.1% |
| 4 | Northern Province | 43.9% |
| 5 | Southern Province | 34.5% |
More on Southern Province: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · Rwanda
Sources
- 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…)
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