GeoRealityMatch

The UK Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to parts of the country. FCDO travel advice, read 29 October 2026.

Breathtaking aerial view of Kigali's picturesque green hills and valleys, showcasing stunning Rwandan landscapes.A vibrant panorama of Kigali's residential area showcasing architecture and greenery at sunset.

Rwanda

Africa · Eastern Africa

Medium safetyVery affordable cost of livingMedium development

Incomes are low.

BackpackerVery affordable cost of living.
vs Kenya
Safety

113th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
2.200lower is more peacefulMedium safety
#113 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
3.6per 100,000 people a yearModerateUNODC / World Bank · 2020
Safety index
73.7Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferHighNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$1,150national income per person, US dollarsVery low
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
12.4New York = 100ModerateNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 219% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 137% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$2.5K$5.0K$4,164 PPP$1,124Inflation, % a year20%0200620102015202020252006, $352 a person, $990 at PPP, inflation 8.9%2007, $421 a person, $1,066 at PPP, inflation 9.1%2008, $522 a person, $1,177 at PPP, inflation 15.4%2009, $557 a person, $1,226 at PPP, inflation 12.9%2010, $587 a person, $1,298 at PPP, inflation -0.2%2011, $643 a person, $1,396 at PPP, inflation 3.1%2012, $698 a person, $1,436 at PPP, inflation 10.3%2013, $695 a person, $1,492 at PPP, inflation 5.9%2014, $715 a person, $1,655 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2015, $726 a person, $1,761 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2016, $721 a person, $1,845 at PPP, inflation 7.2%2017, $751 a person, $1,949 at PPP, inflation 8.3%2018, $773 a person, $2,128 at PPP, inflation -0.3%2019, $823 a person, $2,374 at PPP, inflation 3.3%2020, $803 a person, $2,355 at PPP, inflation 9.9%2021, $843 a person, $2,776 at PPP, inflation -0.4%2022, $1,007 a person, $3,195 at PPP, inflation 17.7%2023, $1,061 a person, $3,519 at PPP, inflation 19.8%2024, $1,060 a person, $3,785 at PPP, inflation 1.8%2025, $1,124 a person, $4,164 at PPP, inflation 5.9%$0$2.5K$5.0KInflation, % a year20%0200620102015202020252006, $352 a person, $990 at PPP, inflation 8.9%2007, $421 a person, $1,066 at PPP, inflation 9.1%2008, $522 a person, $1,177 at PPP, inflation 15.4%2009, $557 a person, $1,226 at PPP, inflation 12.9%2010, $587 a person, $1,298 at PPP, inflation -0.2%2011, $643 a person, $1,396 at PPP, inflation 3.1%2012, $698 a person, $1,436 at PPP, inflation 10.3%2013, $695 a person, $1,492 at PPP, inflation 5.9%2014, $715 a person, $1,655 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2015, $726 a person, $1,761 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2016, $721 a person, $1,845 at PPP, inflation 7.2%2017, $751 a person, $1,949 at PPP, inflation 8.3%2018, $773 a person, $2,128 at PPP, inflation -0.3%2019, $823 a person, $2,374 at PPP, inflation 3.3%2020, $803 a person, $2,355 at PPP, inflation 9.9%2021, $843 a person, $2,776 at PPP, inflation -0.4%2022, $1,007 a person, $3,195 at PPP, inflation 17.7%2023, $1,061 a person, $3,519 at PPP, inflation 19.8%2024, $1,060 a person, $3,785 at PPP, inflation 1.8%2025, $1,124 a person, $4,164 at PPP, inflation 5.9%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Below-average life expectancy

Life expectancy
68.0years, at birthLow
#145 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
59WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100LowWHO · 2023
Air pollution
29.3PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageVery highWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Moderate home internet speeds

Unemployment rate
11.4%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
43 Mbpsmedian download speedModerateOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
417EF English Proficiency Index scoreVery lowEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet43 MbpsModerate

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

A vibrant panorama of Kigali's residential area showcasing architecture and greenery at sunset.
How it changed

Rwanda's Human Development Index

0.578Medium human development

159th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 26th of 54 in Africa.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #157Ivory Coast0.582
  2. #157Uganda0.582
  3. #159Rwanda0.578
  4. #160Papua New Guinea0.576
  5. #161Togo0.571
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1995

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.294 in 1995 to 0.578 in 2023.

0.250.420.600.57819952000201020231995: 0.2941996: 0.2971997: 0.2951998: 0.3041999: 0.3172000: 0.3402001: 0.3702002: 0.3852003: 0.3982004: 0.4172005: 0.4332006: 0.4522007: 0.4672008: 0.4792009: 0.4932010: 0.5042011: 0.5122012: 0.5212013: 0.4992014: 0.5252015: 0.5252016: 0.5342017: 0.5392018: 0.5402019: 0.5502020: 0.5552021: 0.5622022: 0.5702023: 0.5780.250.420.6019952000201020231995: 0.2941996: 0.2971997: 0.2951998: 0.3041999: 0.3172000: 0.3402001: 0.3702002: 0.3852003: 0.3982004: 0.4172005: 0.4332006: 0.4522007: 0.4672008: 0.4792009: 0.4932010: 0.5042011: 0.5122012: 0.5212013: 0.4992014: 0.5252015: 0.5252016: 0.5342017: 0.5392018: 0.5402019: 0.5502020: 0.5552021: 0.5622022: 0.5702023: 0.578

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 29 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
68 years2024at birthUp 11 years from 57 years in 2005
Internet users
32%2024of people onlineUp 30 points from 2% in 2007
Urban population
31%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 14 points from 17% in 2006
Births per woman
3.652024births per womanDown 1.85 from 5.50 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
80%2022of energy usedDown 8 points from 88% in 2004
Access to electricity
72%2024of people with electricityUp 67 points from 5% in 2005
Infant mortality
292024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 35 from 64 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
0.2 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 0.1 t from 0.1 t in 2005
Forest area
11%2023of land under forestLevel with 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Aims to be Africa's Singapore: clean, safe, ambitious governance, fast-growing. The case against is low incomes, polluted air and little English among locals.

About Rwanda

Rwanda is a small, densely forested country in the heart of Africa that has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent decades, emerging as one of the continent's most organised and forward-looking destinations. The main draw for most visitors is gorilla trekking in the Volcanoes National Park, one of the most moving wildlife experiences anywhere in the world. The country is safe, clean, and surprisingly easy to travel, with a warmth and pride in its recovery that is genuinely inspiring.

Practical facts

  • CapitalKigali
  • LanguagesEnglish, French, Kinyarwanda
  • CurrencyRwandan franc (RWF)
  • Area24,670 km²
  • Plug typeType C/E/F/G
  • Drives on theright
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Quick answers

What is Rwanda's Human Development Index?

Rwanda's Human Development Index is 0.578 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #159 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Rwanda safe?

Rwanda scores 2.20 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #113 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is Rwanda?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Rwanda at 25.0 (New York = 100); that is #10 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Rwanda?

Life expectancy at birth in Rwanda is 68.0 yrs (World Bank), ranked #145 of 195 countries.