Urban area over the long-term in Rwanda
Rwanda: Urban area over the long-term was 369.67 km² per grid cell in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
369.67 km² per grid cell
Change on year
up 3.8%
World rank
138th
of 202 countries
All-time high
369.67 km² per grid cell
in 2025
All-time low
0.0001 km² per grid cell
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Urban area over the long-term in Rwanda, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in km² per grid cell.
Analysis
Rwanda recorded 369.67 km² per grid cell for urban area over the long-term in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.8% on the previous year and up 49.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban area over the long-term in Rwanda peaked at 369.67 km² per grid cell in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0001 km² per grid cell, in 1000.
That places Rwanda 138th out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban area over the long-term in Rwanda, year by year
| Year | km² per grid cell | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0.0001 km² per grid cell | — |
| 1100 | 0.0002 km² per grid cell | +265.0% |
| 1200 | 0.0009 km² per grid cell | +253.4% |
| 1300 | 0.003 km² per grid cell | +245.3% |
| 1400 | 0.0103 km² per grid cell | +239.3% |
| 1500 | 0.0345 km² per grid cell | +234.2% |
| 1600 | 0.1121 km² per grid cell | +225.1% |
| 1700 | 0.3391 km² per grid cell | +202.5% |
| 1710 | 0.4046 km² per grid cell | +19.3% |
| 1720 | 0.4661 km² per grid cell | +15.2% |
| 1730 | 0.5337 km² per grid cell | +14.5% |
| 1740 | 0.6076 km² per grid cell | +13.8% |
| 1750 | 0.688 km² per grid cell | +13.2% |
| 1760 | 0.7752 km² per grid cell | +12.7% |
| 1770 | 0.8693 km² per grid cell | +12.1% |
| 1780 | 0.9705 km² per grid cell | +11.6% |
| 1790 | 1.08 km² per grid cell | +11.2% |
| 1800 | 1.2 km² per grid cell | +10.8% |
| 1810 | 1.32 km² per grid cell | +10.4% |
| 1820 | 1.45 km² per grid cell | +10.0% |
| 1830 | 1.59 km² per grid cell | +9.7% |
| 1840 | 1.74 km² per grid cell | +9.4% |
| 1850 | 1.9 km² per grid cell | +9.1% |
| 1860 | 2.02 km² per grid cell | +6.3% |
| 1870 | 2.14 km² per grid cell | +6.2% |
| 1880 | 2.28 km² per grid cell | +6.2% |
| 1890 | 2.49 km² per grid cell | +9.4% |
| 1900 | 2.49 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 2.49 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 2.49 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 2.96 km² per grid cell | +18.9% |
| 1940 | 3.59 km² per grid cell | +21.2% |
| 1950 | 4.53 km² per grid cell | +26.3% |
| 1951 | 4.78 km² per grid cell | +5.5% |
| 1952 | 5.04 km² per grid cell | +5.3% |
| 1953 | 5.3 km² per grid cell | +5.3% |
| 1954 | 5.59 km² per grid cell | +5.4% |
| 1955 | 5.91 km² per grid cell | +5.7% |
| 1956 | 6.26 km² per grid cell | +5.9% |
| 1957 | 6.63 km² per grid cell | +5.9% |
| 1958 | 7.01 km² per grid cell | +5.8% |
| 1959 | 7.41 km² per grid cell | +5.6% |
| 1960 | 7.79 km² per grid cell | +5.2% |
| 1961 | 8.17 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 1962 | 8.53 km² per grid cell | +4.5% |
| 1963 | 8.91 km² per grid cell | +4.4% |
| 1964 | 9.33 km² per grid cell | +4.7% |
| 1965 | 9.81 km² per grid cell | +5.1% |
| 1966 | 10.36 km² per grid cell | +5.6% |
| 1967 | 10.97 km² per grid cell | +6.0% |
| 1968 | 11.65 km² per grid cell | +6.2% |
| 1969 | 12.37 km² per grid cell | +6.2% |
| 1970 | 13.12 km² per grid cell | +6.0% |
| 1971 | 14.06 km² per grid cell | +7.2% |
| 1972 | 15.08 km² per grid cell | +7.3% |
| 1973 | 16.18 km² per grid cell | +7.3% |
| 1974 | 17.4 km² per grid cell | +7.5% |
| 1975 | 18.75 km² per grid cell | +7.8% |
| 1976 | 20.13 km² per grid cell | +7.3% |
| 1977 | 21.65 km² per grid cell | +7.6% |
| 1978 | 23.33 km² per grid cell | +7.8% |
| 1979 | 24.51 km² per grid cell | +5.1% |
| 1980 | 25.69 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 1981 | 26.77 km² per grid cell | +4.2% |
| 1982 | 27.85 km² per grid cell | +4.0% |
| 1983 | 29.04 km² per grid cell | +4.3% |
| 1984 | 30.5 km² per grid cell | +5.0% |
| 1985 | 32.33 km² per grid cell | +6.0% |
| 1986 | 34.63 km² per grid cell | +7.1% |
| 1987 | 37.43 km² per grid cell | +8.1% |
| 1988 | 39.98 km² per grid cell | +6.8% |
| 1989 | 41.18 km² per grid cell | +3.0% |
| 1990 | 40.39 km² per grid cell | -1.9% |
| 1991 | 40.06 km² per grid cell | -0.8% |
| 1992 | 40.86 km² per grid cell | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 41.17 km² per grid cell | +0.7% |
| 1994 | 42.88 km² per grid cell | +4.2% |
| 1995 | 48.53 km² per grid cell | +13.2% |
| 1996 | 52.84 km² per grid cell | +8.9% |
| 1997 | 62.48 km² per grid cell | +18.2% |
| 1998 | 76.66 km² per grid cell | +22.7% |
| 1999 | 92.86 km² per grid cell | +21.1% |
| 2000 | 108.33 km² per grid cell | +16.7% |
| 2001 | 116.55 km² per grid cell | +7.6% |
| 2002 | 123.65 km² per grid cell | +6.1% |
| 2003 | 129.99 km² per grid cell | +5.1% |
| 2004 | 136.36 km² per grid cell | +4.9% |
| 2005 | 143.41 km² per grid cell | +5.2% |
| 2006 | 151.28 km² per grid cell | +5.5% |
| 2007 | 159.79 km² per grid cell | +5.6% |
| 2008 | 168.85 km² per grid cell | +5.7% |
| 2009 | 178.3 km² per grid cell | +5.6% |
| 2010 | 194.91 km² per grid cell | +9.3% |
| 2011 | 204.82 km² per grid cell | +5.1% |
| 2012 | 214.96 km² per grid cell | +4.9% |
| 2013 | 225.31 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 2014 | 235.89 km² per grid cell | +4.7% |
| 2015 | 246.69 km² per grid cell | +4.6% |
| 2016 | 257.71 km² per grid cell | +4.5% |
| 2017 | 268.94 km² per grid cell | +4.4% |
| 2018 | 280.4 km² per grid cell | +4.3% |
| 2019 | 292.07 km² per grid cell | +4.2% |
| 2020 | 303.95 km² per grid cell | +4.1% |
| 2021 | 316.62 km² per grid cell | +4.2% |
| 2022 | 329.53 km² per grid cell | +4.1% |
| 2023 | 342.67 km² per grid cell | +4.0% |
| 2024 | 356.06 km² per grid cell | +3.9% |
| 2025 | 369.67 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 369.67 km² per grid cell is below the median for low income countries, which is 889.43 km² per grid cell, 42% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 369.67 km² per grid cell is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 733.88 km² per grid cell, 50% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban area over the long-term in Rwanda changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1100 | +265.0% | 0.0001 km² per grid cell | 0.0002 km² per grid cell |
| 1200 | +253.4% | 0.0002 km² per grid cell | 0.0009 km² per grid cell |
| 1300 | +245.3% | 0.0009 km² per grid cell | 0.003 km² per grid cell |
| 1400 | +239.3% | 0.003 km² per grid cell | 0.0103 km² per grid cell |
| 1500 | +234.2% | 0.0103 km² per grid cell | 0.0345 km² per grid cell |
| 1600 | +225.1% | 0.0345 km² per grid cell | 0.1121 km² per grid cell |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.0001 km² per grid cell | 0.0001 km² per grid cell | 0.0001 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.0002 km² per grid cell | 0.0002 km² per grid cell | 0.0002 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.0009 km² per grid cell | 0.0009 km² per grid cell | 0.0009 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.003 km² per grid cell | 0.003 km² per grid cell | 0.003 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.0103 km² per grid cell | 0.0103 km² per grid cell | 0.0103 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.0345 km² per grid cell | 0.0345 km² per grid cell | 0.0345 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1600s | 0.1121 km² per grid cell | 0.1121 km² per grid cell | 0.1121 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1700s | 0.3391 km² per grid cell | 0.3391 km² per grid cell | 0.3391 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1710s | 0.4046 km² per grid cell | 0.4046 km² per grid cell | 0.4046 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1720s | 0.4661 km² per grid cell | 0.4661 km² per grid cell | 0.4661 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1730s | 0.5337 km² per grid cell | 0.5337 km² per grid cell | 0.5337 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1740s | 0.6076 km² per grid cell | 0.6076 km² per grid cell | 0.6076 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1750s | 0.688 km² per grid cell | 0.688 km² per grid cell | 0.688 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1760s | 0.7752 km² per grid cell | 0.7752 km² per grid cell | 0.7752 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1770s | 0.8693 km² per grid cell | 0.8693 km² per grid cell | 0.8693 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1780s | 0.9705 km² per grid cell | 0.9705 km² per grid cell | 0.9705 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1790s | 1.08 km² per grid cell | 1.08 km² per grid cell | 1.08 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1800s | 1.2 km² per grid cell | 1.2 km² per grid cell | 1.2 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1810s | 1.32 km² per grid cell | 1.32 km² per grid cell | 1.32 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1820s | 1.45 km² per grid cell | 1.45 km² per grid cell | 1.45 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1830s | 1.59 km² per grid cell | 1.59 km² per grid cell | 1.59 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1840s | 1.74 km² per grid cell | 1.74 km² per grid cell | 1.74 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1850s | 1.9 km² per grid cell | 1.9 km² per grid cell | 1.9 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1860s | 2.02 km² per grid cell | 2.02 km² per grid cell | 2.02 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1870s | 2.14 km² per grid cell | 2.14 km² per grid cell | 2.14 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1880s | 2.28 km² per grid cell | 2.28 km² per grid cell | 2.28 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1890s | 2.49 km² per grid cell | 2.49 km² per grid cell | 2.49 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1900s | 2.49 km² per grid cell | 2.49 km² per grid cell | 2.49 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1910s | 2.49 km² per grid cell | 2.49 km² per grid cell | 2.49 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1920s | 2.49 km² per grid cell | 2.49 km² per grid cell | 2.49 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1930s | 2.96 km² per grid cell | 2.96 km² per grid cell | 2.96 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1940s | 3.59 km² per grid cell | 3.59 km² per grid cell | 3.59 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1950s | 5.85 km² per grid cell | 4.53 km² per grid cell | 7.41 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1960s | 9.79 km² per grid cell | 7.79 km² per grid cell | 12.37 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1970s | 18.42 km² per grid cell | 13.12 km² per grid cell | 24.51 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1980s | 32.54 km² per grid cell | 25.69 km² per grid cell | 41.18 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1990s | 53.87 km² per grid cell | 40.06 km² per grid cell | 92.86 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2000s | 141.65 km² per grid cell | 108.33 km² per grid cell | 178.3 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2010s | 242.17 km² per grid cell | 194.91 km² per grid cell | 292.07 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2020s | 336.42 km² per grid cell | 303.95 km² per grid cell | 369.67 km² per grid cell | 6 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
More reference data data for Rwanda
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2282 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.9517 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.38 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1223 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.38 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.7651 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.9517 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 4.27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 6.98 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.666 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban area over the long-term in Rwanda?
- Urban area over the long-term in Rwanda was 369.67 km² per grid cell in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban area over the long-term recorded in Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 369.67 km² per grid cell in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban area over the long-term recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0001 km² per grid cell in 1000.
- How does Rwanda rank for urban area over the long-term?
- Rwanda ranks 138th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban area over the long-term rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 49.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Rwanda data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban area over the long-term. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 108 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total built-up area of a country over time.