List of Rwanda Provinces and Capitals - Largest and Smallest by Area & Population

Written and Fact-checked by Whereig Editors | Last Updated On: May 27, 2026

Rwanda is a small landlocked country located in East Africa. It is divided into five administrative provinces, which are further subdivided into districts, sectors, and cells. Here are the five provinces of Rwanda:

Rwanda is a landlocked country in East-Central Africa bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The country is divided into 4 provinces and 1 capital city administration for governance and regional administration. Kigali is the national capital and also the largest city in Rwanda.

The country includes volcanic mountains, rolling hills, lakes, forests, wetlands, and fertile agricultural regions spread across the African Great Lakes region. Different provinces are known for agriculture, tourism, tea and coffee production, conservation, and growing urban development.

Key Facts

National capital: Kigali
Total population: 14,500,000 (Official estimate 2025)
Total area: 26,338 km² (10,169 sq miles)
Currency: Rwandan Franc (RWF)
Bordering countries: Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Total Provinces and Capital City: 5
Total Districts: 30

List of Provinces and Capital City of Rwanda

Total administrative divisions shown: 5 | Combined population: 14,500,000 | Combined area: 26,338 km²

#	Province / City	Capital City	Geographic Region	Area (km²)	Population (Latest Census)
1	Eastern Province	Rwamagana	Eastern Rwanda	9,458	3,800,000
2	Kigali City	Kigali	Capital Region	730	1,900,000
3	Northern Province	Musanze	Volcanic Highlands	3,276	2,100,000
4	Southern Province	Nyanza	Southern Highlands	5,963	3,300,000
5	Western Province	Kibuye	Lake Kivu Region	6,911	3,400,000

Largest Provinces by Area

Eastern Province - 3,652 sq mi (9,458 km²)
Western Province - 2,668 sq mi (6,911 km²)
Southern Province - 2,302 sq mi (5,963 km²)
Northern Province - 1,265 sq mi (3,276 km²)
Kigali City - 282 sq mi (730 km²)

Most Populous Provinces

Eastern Province - Population: 3,800,000 (Official Estimate 2025)
Western Province - Population: 3,400,000 (Official Estimate 2025)
Southern Province - Population: 3,300,000 (Official Estimate 2025)
Northern Province - Population: 2,100,000 (Official Estimate 2025)
Kigali City - Population: 1,900,000 (Official Estimate 2025)

Smallest Administrative Divisions by Area

Kigali City - 282 sq mi (730 km²)
Northern Province - 1,265 sq mi (3,276 km²)
Southern Province - 2,302 sq mi (5,963 km²)
Western Province - 2,668 sq mi (6,911 km²)
Eastern Province - 3,652 sq mi (9,458 km²)

Administrative Divisions by Geographic Grouping

Capital Region: Kigali City
Eastern Rwanda: Eastern Province
Lake Kivu Region: Western Province
Southern Highlands: Southern Province
Volcanic Highlands: Northern Province

Landlocked Provinces

All provinces and Kigali City are landlocked.

Administrative Divisions Sharing Borders with Other Countries

Uganda: Northern Province, Eastern Province
Tanzania: Eastern Province
Burundi: Southern Province, Western Province
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Western Province

Major Economic Activities by Province

Province / City	Main Economic Activity	Known For
Kigali City	Finance and services	National capital and business center
Eastern Province	Agriculture and livestock	Farming and savanna landscapes
Western Province	Tourism and tea production	Lake Kivu and mountain scenery
Northern Province	Tourism and agriculture	Volcanoes National Park and gorilla tourism
Southern Province	Agriculture and education	Tea plantations and universities

Sources

World Countries and Capitals

[an error occurred while processing this directive]

Rwanda Provinces and Capitals List