View source for Provinces of Rwanda

{{short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]] -->
[[Image:Provinces of Rwanda English.svg|350px|thumb|right|Map of provinces, 2006]]
{{Politics of Rwanda}}
The '''provinces of Rwanda''' ([[Kinyarwanda]]: ''intara'') are divided into [[Districts of Rwanda|districts]] (''akarere'') and municipalities (''umujyi'').  Prior to January 1, 2006, [[Rwanda]] was composed of 12 [[province]]s. The [[Politics of Rwanda|Rwandan government]] decided to establish new provinces in an attempt to address issues that arose from the [[Rwandan genocide|genocide against the Tutsis]]. The new provinces were to be "ethnically-diverse administrative areas".<ref name=BBCtime>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14093322 |title=Rwanda Profile: Timeline |work= BBC News |date=9 July 2011 |access-date= 15 October 2017 }}</ref> 

Until 2002, the provinces were called prefectures (''perefegitura'').<ref>{{Cite web | title =Provinces of Rwanda | work =Statoids | publisher =Gwillim Law | date =27 April 2010 | url =http://www.statoids.com/urw.html | access-date =17 May 2011 }}</ref>

==Administrative divisions==
Since January 1, 2006, the administrative divisions of Rwanda comprise four provinces and the City of Kigali:<ref name="GovRwandaLocal">{{cite web |title=Local Government |url=https://www.gov.rw/government/directory/local-government |publisher=Government of Rwanda |access-date=27 November 2025}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Administrative divisions of Rwanda
|-bgcolor=#ACE1AF
!Province / City
!Kinyarwanda name
! Capital / Seat
!Area <br> (km<sup>2</sup>) <ref>[http://www.geohive.com/cntry/rwanda.aspx Rwanda at GeoHive] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120522095057/http://www.geohive.com/cntry/rwanda.aspx |date=2012-05-22 }}</ref>
!Population <br> (2022 census)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rwanda: Administrative Division (Provinces and Districts) - Population Statistics, Charts and Map |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/rwanda/admin/ |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=www.citypopulation.de}}</ref>
!Density <br> (per km<sup>2</sup>)
|-
|[[Kigali City|City of Kigali]]
|Umujyi wa Kigali
|[[Nyarugenge District|Nyarugenge]]
|730
|1,745,555
|2,391
|-
|[[Southern Province, Rwanda|Southern Province]]
|Amajyepfo
|[[Nyanza, Rwanda|Nyanza]]
|5,963
|3,002,699
|503.6
|-
|[[Western Province, Rwanda|Western Province]]
|Iburengerazuba
|[[Kibuye, Rwanda|Kibuye]]
|5,883
|2,896,484
|492.4
|-
|[[Northern Province, Rwanda|Northern Province]]
|Amajyaruguru
|[[Byumba]]
|3,276
|2,038,511
|622.3
|-
|[[Eastern Province, Rwanda|Eastern Province]]
|Iburasirazuba
|[[Rwamagana]]
|9,458
|3,563,145
|376.7
|}

==Provincial districts and sectors ==
{{unreferenced section|date=October 2017}}
===Eastern Province ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Province
! District
! Sector
! District
! Sector
! District
! Sector
! District
! Sector
|-
| rowspan="28" |Eastern Province
| rowspan="14" |[[Nyagatare District|Nyagatare]]
|''Rwimiyaga''
| rowspan="15" |[[Bugesera District|Bugesera]]
|Gashora
| rowspan="14" |[[Ngoma District|Ngoma]]
|Gashanda
| rowspan="14" |[[Rwamagana District|Rwamagana]]
|Fumbwe
|-
|''Karangazi''
|Juru
|Jarama
|Gahengeri
|-
|''Nyagatare''
|Kamabuye
|Karembo
|Gishari
|-
|''Katabagemu''
|Ntarama
|Kazo
|Karenge
|-
|''Rukomo''
|Mareba
|Kibungo
|Kigabiro
|-
|''Tabagwe''
|Mayange
|Mugesera
|Muhazi
|-
|''Musheli''
|Musenyi
|Murama
|Munyaga
|-
|''Gatunda''
|Mwogo
|Mutenderi
|Munyiginya
|-
|''Mimuli''
|Ngeruka
|Remera
|Musha
|-
|''Karama''
|Nyamata
|Rukira
|Muyumbu
|-
|''Matimba''
|Nyarugenge
|Rukumberi
|Mwulire
|-
|''Mukama''
|Rilima
|Rurenge
|Nyakariro
|-
|''Rwempasha''
|Ruhuha
|Sake
|Nzige
|-
|''Kiyombe''
|Rweru
|Zaza
|Rubona
|-
| rowspan="14" |[[Gatsibo District|Gatsibo]]
|Gasange
|Shyara
| rowspan="12" |[[Kirehe District|Kirehe]]
|Gahara
|
|
|-
|Gatsibo
| rowspan="12" |[[Kayonza District|Kayonza]]
|[[Gahini]]
|Gatore
|
|
|-
|Gitoki
|[[Kabare, Rwanda|Kabare]]
|Kigarama
|
|
|-
|Kabarore
|[[Kabarondo, Rwanda|Kabarondo]]
|Kigina
|
|
|-
|Kageyo
|[[Mukarange]]
|Kirehe
|
|
|-
|Kiramuruzi
|[[Murama]]
|Mahama
|
|
|-
|Kiziguro
|[[Murundi (sector)|Murundi]]
|Mpanga
|
|
|-
|Muhura
|[[Mwiri]]
|Musaza
|
|
|-
|Murambi
|[[Ndego]]
|Mushikiri
|
|
|-
|Ngarama
|[[Nyamirama]]
|Nasho
|
|
|-
|Nyagihanga
|[[Rukara]]
|Nyamugari
|
|
|-
|Remera
|[[Ruramira]]
|Nyarubuye
|
|
|-
|Rugarama
|[[Rwinkwavu]]
|
|
|
|
|-
|Rwimbogo
|
|
|
|
|
|
|}

===Northern Province===
{| class="wikitable"
! Province
! District
! Sector
! District
! Sector
! District
! Sector
|-
| rowspan="36" |Northern Province
| rowspan="17" |[[Burera District|Burera]]
|Bungwe
| rowspan="21" |[[Gicumbi District|Gicumbi]]
|Bukure
| rowspan="17" |[[Rulindo District|Rulindo]]
|Base
|-
|Butaro
|Bwisige
|Burega
|-
|Cyanika
|Byumba
|Bushoki
|-
|Cyeru
|Cyumba
|Buyoga
|-
|Gahunga
|Giti
|Cyinzuzi
|-
|Gatebe
|Kaniga
|Cyungo
|-
|Gitovu
|Manyagiro
|Kinihira
|-
|Kagogo
|Miyove
|Kisaro
|-
|Kinoni
|Kageyo
|Masoro
|-
|Kinyababa
|Mukarange
|Mbogo
|-
|Kivuye
|Muko
|Murambi
|-
|Nemba
|Mutete
|Ngoma
|-
|Rugarama
|Nyamiyaga
|Ntarabana
|-
|Rugendabari
|Nyankenke II
|Rukozo
|-
|Ruhunde
|Rubaya
|Rusiga
|-
|Rusarabuge
|Rukomo
|Shyorongi
|-
|Rwerere
|Rushaki
|Tumba
|-
| rowspan="19" |[[Gakenke District|Gakenke]]
|Busengo
|Rutare
|
|
|-
|Coko
|Ruvune
|
|
|-
|Cyabingo
|Rwamiko
|
|
|-
|Gakenke
|Shangasha
|
|
|-
|Gashenyi
| rowspan="15" |[[Musanze District|Musanze]]
|Busogo
|
|
|-
|Mugunga
|Cyuve
|
|
|-
|Janja
|Gacaca
|
|
|-
|Kamubuga
|Gashaki
|
|
|-
|Karambo
|Gataraga
|
|
|-
|Kivuruga
|Kimonyi
|
|
|-
|Mataba
|Kinigi
|
|
|-
|Minazi
|Muhoza
|
|
|-
|Muhondo
|Muko
|
|
|-
|Muyongwe
|Musanze
|
|
|-
|Muzo
|Nkotsi
|
|
|-
|Nemba
|Nyange
|
|
|-
|Ruli
|Remera
|
|
|-
|Rusasa
|Rwaza
|
|
|-
|Rushashi
|Shingiro
|
|
|}

===Western Province===
{| class="wikitable"
! Province
! District
! Sector
! District
! Sector
! District
! Sector
! District
! Sector
|-
| rowspan="26" |Western Province
| rowspan="13" |Karongi
|Bwishyura
| rowspan="12" |Nyabihu
|Bigogwe
| rowspan="12" |Rubavu
|Bugeshi
| rowspan="13" |Rutsiro
|Boneza
|-
|Gishyita
|Jenda
|Busasamana
|Gihango
|-
|Gishari
|Jomba
|Cyanzarwe
|Kigeyo
|-
|Gitesi
|Kabatwa
|Gisenyi
|Kivumu
|-
|Mubuga
|Karago
|Kanama
|Manihira
|-
|Murambi
|Kintobo
|Kanzenze
|Mukura
|-
|Murundi
|Mukamira
|Mudende
|Murunda
|-
|Mutuntu
|Muringa
|Nyakiliba
|Musasa
|-
|[[Rubengera]]
|Rambura
|Nyamyumba
|Mushonyi
|-
|[[Rugabano]]
|Rugera
|Nyundo
|Mushubati
|-
|[[Ruganda]]
|Rurembo
|Rubavu
|Nyabirasi
|-
|Rwankuba
|Shyira
|Rugerero
|Ruhango
|-
|Twumba
| rowspan="15" |Nyamasheke
|Ruharambuga
| rowspan="18" |Rusizi
|Bugarama
|Rusebeya
|-
| rowspan="13" |Ngororero
|Bwira
|Bushekeri
|Butare
|
|
|-
|Gatumba
|Bushenge
|Bweyeye
|
|
|-
|Hindiro
|Cyato
|Gikundamvura
|
|
|-
|Kabaya
|Gihombo
|Gashonga
|
|
|-
|Kageyo
|Kagano
|Giheke
|
|
|-
|Kavumu
|Kanjongo
|Gihundwe
|
|
|-
|Matyazo
|Karambi
|Gitambi
|
|
|-
|Muhanda
|Karengera
|Kamembe
|
|
|-
|Muhororo
|Kirimbi
|Muganza
|
|
|-
|Ndaro
|Macuba
|Mururu
|
|
|-
|Ngororero
|Nyabitekeri
|Nkanka
|
|
|-
|Nyange
|Mahembe
|Nkombo
|
|
|-
|Sovu
|Rangiro
|Nkungu
|
|
|-
|
|
|
|Shangi
|Nyakabuye
|
|
|-
|
|
|
|
|
|Nyakarenzo
|
|
|-
|
|
|
|
|
|Nzahaha
|
|
|-
|
|
|
|
|
|Rwimbogo
|
|
|}

===Southern Province===
{| class="wikitable"
! Province
! District
! Sector
! District
! Sector
! District
! Sector
! District
! Sector
|-
| rowspan="27" |Southern Province
| rowspan="13" |Gisagara
|Gikonko
| rowspan="12" |Kamonyi
|Gacurabwenge
| rowspan="17" |Nyamagabe
|Buruhukiro
| rowspan="14" |Nyaruguru
|Cyahinda
|-
|Gishubi
|Karama
|Cyanika
|Busanze
|-
|Kansi
|Kayenzi
|Gatare
|Kibeho
|-
|Kibilizi
|Kayumbu
|Kaduha
|Mata
|-
|Kigembe
| [[Mugina, Kigali|Mugina]]
|Kamegeli
|Munini
|-
|Mamba
|Musambira
|Kibirizi
|Kivu
|-
|Muganza
|Ngamba
|Kibumbwe
|Ngera
|-
|Mugombwa
|Nyamiyaga
|Kitabi
|Ngoma
|-
|Mukindo
|Nyarubaka
|Mbazi
|Nyabimata
|-
|Musha
|Rugalika
|Mugano
|Nyagisozi
|-
|Ndora
|Rukoma
|Musange
|Muganza
|-
|Nyanza
|Runda
|Musebeya
|Ruheru
|-
|Save
| rowspan="12" |Muhanga
|Muhanga
|Mushubi
|Ruramba
|-
| rowspan="14" |Huye
|Gishamvu
|Cyeza
|Nkomane
|Rusenge
|-
|Karama
|Kibangu
|Gasaka
| rowspan="9" |Ruhango
|Kinazi
|-
|Kigoma
|Kiyumba
|Tare
|Byimana
|-
|Kinazi
|Mushishiro
|Uwinkingi
|Bweramana
|-
|Maraba
|Kabacuzi
| rowspan="10" |Nyanza
|Busasamana
|Mbuye
|-
|Mbazi
|Nyabinoni
|Busoro
|Ruhango
|-
|Mukura
|Nyamabuye
|Cyabakamyi
|Mwendo
|-
|Ngoma
|Nyarusange
|Kibirizi
|Kinihira
|-
|Ruhashya
|Rongi
|Kigoma
|Ntongwe
|-
|Huye
|Rugendabari
|Mukingo
|Kabagari
|-
|Rusatira
|Shyogwe
|Muyira
|
|
|-
|Rwaniro
|
|
|Ntyazo
|
|
|-
|Simbi
|
|
|Nyagisozi
|
|
|-
|Tumba
|
|
|Rwabicuma
|
|
|}

===City of Kigali===
{| class="wikitable"
! City
! District
! Sector
! District
! Sector
! District
! Sector 
|-
| rowspan="15" |City of Kigali
| rowspan="15" |''[[Gasabo District|Gasabo]]''
|Bumbogo
| rowspan="10" |''[[Kicukiro District|Kicukiro]]''
|Gahanga
| rowspan="10" |''[[Nyarugenge District|Nyarugenge]]''
|Gitega
|-
|Gatsata
|Gatenga
|Kanyinya
|-
|Jali
|Gikondo
|[[Kigali (sector)|Kigali]]
|-
|Gikomero
|Kagarama
|[[Kimisagara]]
|-
|[[Gisozi]]
|Kanombe
|[[Mageragere]]
|-
|Jabana
|Kicukiro
|[[Muhima]]
|-
|Kinyinya
|Kigarama
|[[Nyakabanda]]
|-
|Ndera
|Masaka
|[[Nyamirambo]]
|-
|Nduba
|Niboye
|[[Nyarugenge]]
|-
|Rusororo
|Nyarugunga
|[[Rwezamenyo]]
|-
|Rutunga
|-
|[[Kacyiru]]
|-
|[[Kimihurura]]
|-
|Kimironko
|-
|[[Remera, Kigali|Remera]]
|}

==Former provinces==
Prior to 2006 the provinces were:
[[Image:Rwanda.geohive.gif|thumb|450px|[[Administrative division]] between 2002 and 2006.]]
[[Image:Administrative divisions of Rwanda in 1994.svg|thumb|450px|The 11 prefectures and 145 communes of Rwanda during the genocide in 1994.]]
[[File:Communes of Rwanda.svg|thumb|450px|Communes of Rwanda prior to 2002, after the formation of [[Umutara Province|Umutara]] prefecture in 1996.]]

*[[Butare Province]]
*[[Byumba Province]]
*[[Cyangugu Province]]
*[[Gikongoro Province]]
*[[Gisenyi Province]]
*[[Gitarama Province]]
*[[Kibungo Province]]
*[[Kibuye Province]]
*[[Kigali City]] (Established as a province in 1990<ref>{{cite report |first=André |last=Guichaoua |date=August 1998 |publication-place=Arusha |id=Record Number: 13685, Exhibit Number: P31B in ICTR-01-74 |title=Local government in Rwanda: Expert report prepared at the request of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda |page=14 |publisher=ICTR |quote=An eleventh [prefecture] came into being in 1990, with the division between Kigali-Urban and Kigali-Rural. Two neighbourhoods in Kigali-urban were at the same time transformed into ''communes'', making a total of 145 ''communes''.}}</ref>)
*[[Kigali-Rural Province]] (Kigali Ngali)
*[[Ruhengeri Province]]
*[[Umutara Province]] (Established in August 1996)<ref name=HRW>{{cite book|last1=Des Forges|first1=Alison|title=Leave None to Tell the Story: Genocide in Rwanda – History → The Single-Party State |date=March 1999|publisher=Human Rights Watch|location=New York|isbn=1-56432-171-1|url=https://www.hrw.org/legacy/reports/1999/rwanda/Geno1-3-09.htm|at=Note 14|quote=An eleventh prefecture was added in 1992 when the city of Kigali was established as an independent unit [...]}}</ref>
{{clear}}

==See also==
* [[Districts of Rwanda]]
*[[List provinces of Rwanda by Human Development Index]]
* [[List of Rwanda districts by population]]
* [[ISO 3166-2:RW]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040717114942/http://www.minaloc.gov.rw/admin_territory/admin_map_rwanda.htm Ministry of Local Government, Community Development and Social Affairs]
* [https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4577790.stm Rwanda redrawn to reflect compass], [[BBC News]], 3 January 2006

{{Rwanda provinces}}
{{Rwanda topics}}
{{Articles on first-level administrative divisions of African countries}}

[[Category:Provinces of Rwanda| ]]
[[Category:Subdivisions of Rwanda]]
[[Category:Lists of administrative divisions|Rwanda, Provinces]]
[[Category:Administrative divisions in Africa|Rwanda 1]]
[[Category:First-level administrative divisions by country|Provinces, Rwanda]]
[[Category:Rwanda geography-related lists]]