Economy, jobs and prices in Western Province, Rwanda: official figures
12.9% of the Western Province's labour force was unemployed in 2025, about 135,000 people, according to the Labour Force Survey (district figures added up); 3rd highest of Rwanda's four provinces and Kigali (Rwanda: 12.4%; Western Province in 2024: 16.3%).
How many people in Western Province have a job?
54.2% of people aged 16 and over in the Western Province had a job in 2025 and 62.3% were in the labour force (working or looking for work); the share in work is 2nd 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 Western Province earn?
Median monthly earnings from the main job in 2025 ranged from 31,200 Rwandan francs in Karongi to 52,000 Rwandan francs in Rubavu across the districts of the Western Province (Rwanda: 39,000 Rwandan francs).
Source: National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda · saved copyHow many homes in Western Province have electricity?
48.3% of households in the Western Province used electricity from the grid as their main lighting in 2023/24, 2nd highest of Rwanda's four provinces and Kigali (Rwanda: 50.0%).
Source: National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda · saved copyHow many homes in Western Province have internet?
25.5% of households in the Western Province had internet access at home (including on mobile phones) in 2023/24, 2nd highest of Rwanda's four provinces and Kigali (Rwanda: 29.8%).
Source: National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda · saved copyDo people in Western Province have clean drinking water?
84.8% of households in the Western Province used an improved drinking water source in 2023/24, the lowest of Rwanda's four provinces and Kigali (Rwanda: 89.7%).
Source: National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda · saved copyHow many homes in Western Province have a proper toilet?
94.5% of households in the Western Province used improved sanitation in 2023/24 and 76.1% had an improved toilet not shared with other households (Rwanda: 94.3% and 72.4%).
Source: National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda · saved copyHow Western Province compares with other provinces
Unemployment rate (labour force aged 16+) (2025)
Western Province ranks 3 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)
Western Province ranks 2 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 Western 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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