Death rate in Rwanda
Rwanda: Death rate was 5.93 deaths per 1,000 people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
5.93 deaths per 1,000 people
Change on year
down 1.0%
World rank
183rd
of 236 countries
All-time high
153.96 deaths per 1,000 people
in 1994
All-time low
5.93 deaths per 1,000 people
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Death rate in Rwanda, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 1,000 people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for death rate in Rwanda is 5.93 deaths per 1,000 people, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.0% on the previous year and down 10.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, death rate in Rwanda peaked at 153.96 deaths per 1,000 people in 1994 and was at its lowest, 5.93 deaths per 1,000 people, in 2023.
Rwanda ranks 183rd of 236 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Death rate in Rwanda, year by year
| Year | deaths per 1,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 22.62 deaths per 1,000 people | — |
| 1951 | 22.79 deaths per 1,000 people | +0.7% |
| 1952 | 22.75 deaths per 1,000 people | -0.2% |
| 1953 | 22.56 deaths per 1,000 people | -0.8% |
| 1954 | 22.28 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.3% |
| 1955 | 21.91 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.6% |
| 1956 | 21.51 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.8% |
| 1957 | 21.06 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.1% |
| 1958 | 20.6 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.2% |
| 1959 | 20.09 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.5% |
| 1960 | 19.59 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.5% |
| 1961 | 19.11 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.4% |
| 1962 | 18.68 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.2% |
| 1963 | 20.84 deaths per 1,000 people | +11.6% |
| 1964 | 18.02 deaths per 1,000 people | -13.5% |
| 1965 | 17.78 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.4% |
| 1966 | 17.7 deaths per 1,000 people | -0.4% |
| 1967 | 17.67 deaths per 1,000 people | -0.2% |
| 1968 | 17.8 deaths per 1,000 people | +0.8% |
| 1969 | 18.01 deaths per 1,000 people | +1.2% |
| 1970 | 18.27 deaths per 1,000 people | +1.4% |
| 1971 | 18.56 deaths per 1,000 people | +1.6% |
| 1972 | 18.9 deaths per 1,000 people | +1.8% |
| 1973 | 19.26 deaths per 1,000 people | +1.9% |
| 1974 | 19.63 deaths per 1,000 people | +1.9% |
| 1975 | 19.89 deaths per 1,000 people | +1.4% |
| 1976 | 20.01 deaths per 1,000 people | +0.6% |
| 1977 | 19.91 deaths per 1,000 people | -0.5% |
| 1978 | 19.54 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.9% |
| 1979 | 18.9 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.3% |
| 1980 | 18.13 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.1% |
| 1981 | 17.28 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.7% |
| 1982 | 16.47 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.7% |
| 1983 | 15.77 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.3% |
| 1984 | 15.21 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.5% |
| 1985 | 14.78 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.8% |
| 1986 | 14.5 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.9% |
| 1987 | 14.38 deaths per 1,000 people | -0.9% |
| 1988 | 14.45 deaths per 1,000 people | +0.5% |
| 1989 | 15.02 deaths per 1,000 people | +4.0% |
| 1990 | 15.89 deaths per 1,000 people | +5.8% |
| 1991 | 16.69 deaths per 1,000 people | +5.0% |
| 1992 | 17.77 deaths per 1,000 people | +6.5% |
| 1993 | 18.5 deaths per 1,000 people | +4.1% |
| 1994 | 153.96 deaths per 1,000 people | +732.4% |
| 1995 | 18.17 deaths per 1,000 people | -88.2% |
| 1996 | 16.28 deaths per 1,000 people | -10.4% |
| 1997 | 17.98 deaths per 1,000 people | +10.5% |
| 1998 | 17.76 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.3% |
| 1999 | 16.3 deaths per 1,000 people | -8.2% |
| 2000 | 15.17 deaths per 1,000 people | -6.9% |
| 2001 | 14.26 deaths per 1,000 people | -6.0% |
| 2002 | 13.33 deaths per 1,000 people | -6.5% |
| 2003 | 12.14 deaths per 1,000 people | -8.9% |
| 2004 | 11.06 deaths per 1,000 people | -8.9% |
| 2005 | 10.25 deaths per 1,000 people | -7.3% |
| 2006 | 9.52 deaths per 1,000 people | -7.1% |
| 2007 | 8.91 deaths per 1,000 people | -6.4% |
| 2008 | 8.34 deaths per 1,000 people | -6.4% |
| 2009 | 7.78 deaths per 1,000 people | -6.6% |
| 2010 | 7.35 deaths per 1,000 people | -5.6% |
| 2011 | 7.04 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.1% |
| 2012 | 6.76 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.0% |
| 2013 | 6.6 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.4% |
| 2014 | 6.48 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.8% |
| 2015 | 6.4 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 6.34 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 6.23 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.6% |
| 2018 | 6.21 deaths per 1,000 people | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 6.13 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 6.09 deaths per 1,000 people | -0.7% |
| 2021 | 6.18 deaths per 1,000 people | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 5.99 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.1% |
| 2023 | 5.93 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.0% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 5.93 deaths per 1,000 people is below the median for low income countries, which is 7.05 deaths per 1,000 people, 84% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 5.93 deaths per 1,000 people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7.2 deaths per 1,000 people, 82% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Death rate 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | +732.4% | 18.5 deaths per 1,000 people | 153.96 deaths per 1,000 people |
| 1995 | -88.2% | 153.96 deaths per 1,000 people | 18.17 deaths per 1,000 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 21.82 deaths per 1,000 people | 20.09 deaths per 1,000 people | 22.79 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 18.52 deaths per 1,000 people | 17.67 deaths per 1,000 people | 20.84 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 19.29 deaths per 1,000 people | 18.27 deaths per 1,000 people | 20.01 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 15.6 deaths per 1,000 people | 14.38 deaths per 1,000 people | 18.13 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 30.93 deaths per 1,000 people | 15.89 deaths per 1,000 people | 153.96 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.08 deaths per 1,000 people | 7.78 deaths per 1,000 people | 15.17 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.55 deaths per 1,000 people | 6.13 deaths per 1,000 people | 7.35 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.05 deaths per 1,000 people | 5.93 deaths per 1,000 people | 6.18 deaths per 1,000 people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
- 180 Kyrgyzstan 5.97 deaths per 1,000 people compare
- 181 Lebanon 5.96 deaths per 1,000 people compare
- 182 Ethiopia 5.96 deaths per 1,000 people compare
- 184 Mongolia 5.93 deaths per 1,000 people compare
- 185 Afghanistan 5.8 deaths per 1,000 people compare
- 186 Tanzania 5.79 deaths per 1,000 people compare
More health data for Rwanda
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.08 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.891 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 860.6 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 2,738 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.9441 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.065 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.9697 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is death rate in Rwanda?
- Death rate in Rwanda was 5.93 deaths per 1,000 people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest death rate recorded in Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 153.96 deaths per 1,000 people in 1994.
- What is the lowest death rate recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.93 deaths per 1,000 people in 2023.
- How does Rwanda rank for death rate?
- Rwanda ranks 183rd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is death rate rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Rwanda data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Death rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of deaths in a year per 1,000 people in the population.