Rwanda’s population grew by 2.7 million in the last 10 years from 10.5 million in 2012 to over 13.2 million in 2022, according to results from last year’s population and housing census presented Monday at a national forum in the country’s capital Kigali.
Women make up 51.5 percent of the total population, higher than men at 48.5 percent, with an average household size of four children, the figures showed.
Eastern Rwanda accounts for the highest population of 3.5 million, followed by southern Rwanda with 3 million, while Kigali has 1.7 million residents.
“Rwandans are living longer and healthier. Life expectancy increased to 69.6 years in 2022 from 64.5 ten years ago, attributed to better health sector, nutrition and increased access to social amenities such as shelter and water,” said Yusuf Murangwa, the director general of National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda while presenting the figures at a two-day national forum known as National Dialogue Council.
“These results reflect the country’s progress and the efforts put in health to reduce infant mortality rate,” Rwandan Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Uzziel Ndagijimana said.
The population of youth, meanwhile, dropped from 70.3 percent in 2012 to 65.3 percent in 2022, according to the figures.
It also showed that 69 percent of Rwandan households are engaged in agriculture activities with only 27.9 percent of the population living in urban areas.
Xinhua