Population and Demographics

Rwanda's population density, even after the 1994 genocide, is among the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa at 230 per sq km (590 per sq mi). This country has few villages, and nearly every family lives in a self-contained compound on a hillside. The urban concentrations are grouped around administrative centres.

The indigenous population consists of three ethnic groups. The Hutus, who comprise the majority of the population (85%), are farmers of Bantu origin. The Tutsis (14%) are a pastoral people who arrived in the area in the 15th century. Until 1959, they formed the dominant caste under a feudal system based on cattleholding. The Twa (pygmies) (1%) are thought to be the remnants of the earliest settlers of the region. However, in the 21st century a number of Rwandans reject the idea of sub-races and simply identify themselves as "Rwandans".

Over half of the adult population is literate, but no more than 5% have received secondary education. During 1994-95, most primary schools and more than half of pre-war secondary schools reopened. The national university in Butare reopened in April 1995; enrollment is over 7,000. Rebuilding the educational system continues to be a high priority of the Rwandan Government.

Facts and Figures

• Population: 8,648,248
• Age Structure:
  • 0-14 years: 41.9% (male 1,817,998/female 1,802,134)
  • 15-64 years: 55.6% (male 2,392,778/female 2,417,467)
  • 65 years and over: 2.5% (male 87,325/female 130,546)
• Median Age:
  • Total: 18.6 years
  • Male: 18.4 years
  • Female: 18.8 years
• Population Growth Rate: 2.43%
• Birth Rate: 40.37 births/1,000 population
• Death Rate: 16.09 deaths/1,000 population
• Net Migration Rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
• Sex Ratio:
  • At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  • Under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  • 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
  • 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
  • Total population: 0.99 male(s)/female
• Infant Mortality Rate:
  • Total: 89.61 deaths/1,000 live births
  • Male: 94.71 deaths/1,000 live births
  • Female: 84.34 deaths/1,000 live births
• Life Expectancy at Birth:
  • Total population: 47.3 years
  • Male: 46.26 years
  • Female: 48.38 years
• Total Fertility Rate: 5.43 children born/woman
• HIV/AIDS:
  • Adult prevalence rate: 5.1%
  • People living with HIV/AIDS: 250,000
• Ethnic groups:
  • Hutu (Bantu) 84%
  • Tutsi (Hamitic) 15%
  • Twa (Pygmy) 1%
  • Religions:
  • Roman Catholic 56.5%
  • Protestant 26%
  • Adventist 11.1%
  • Muslim 4.6%
  • Indigenous beliefs 0.1%
  • None 1.7%
• Literacy:
• Total population: 70.4%
• Male: 76.3%
• Female: 64.7%