Safest cities in Rwanda
3 cities with 100k+ population · data updated 2026-09-04
Areas the UK FCDO advises against visiting
- Rusizi District
In full or in part — the official advisory lists exact boundaries and exceptions.
What official travel advice warns about
Terrorism
- Terrorism in RwandaTerrorist attacks in Rwanda cannot be ruled out.
Crime
- Protecting yourself and your belongingsCrime levels are relatively low in Rwanda, but there are cases of burglary, theft, bag-snatching and mugging (violent theft) in Kigali.
- Personal safety in military zonesSome off-limits military zones in Kigali may not be well lit or signposted. You could be arrested and detained if you enter these areas. Take extra care when walking around less populated zones, particularly at night.
- Methanol poisoningThere has been an increase in cases of serious illness caused by alcoholic drinks containing methanol in popular travel destinations around the world.
Laws and cultural differences
- Illegal drugsIllegal drugs, including cannabis, carry severe penalties.
- Using cameras in secure areasIt is illegal to photograph some government buildings. If you use a drone to take photographs of a prohibited area without a permit, you risk being imprisoned or receiving a severe fine.
- LGBT+ travellersConsensual same-sex sexual acts are not illegal in Rwanda, but can be frowned upon by locals.
- Plastic bag banThere is a ban on plastic bags in Rwanda for environmental reasons. If you have plastic bags when you arrive in the country, they will be confiscated.
Genocide Memorial Day
- The week following Genocide Memorial Day on 7 April is an official week of mourning.
National day of community service (Umuganda)
- The last Saturday of each month is Umuganda, a national day of community service. Most normal services close from 7am to 11am. Kigali also has a car-free morning from 7am to 10am on the first and third Sunday of the month to promote exercise and reduce car emissions. Other cities in the country may also hold car-free mornings. You should check…
Outdoor activities and adventure tourism
- Gorilla and Chimpanzee trekkingIf you plan to travel close to the Democratic Republic of the Congo border on a gorilla or chimpanzee trek, check travel advice for Rusizi District and the DRC border region. If you plan on crossing the border into DRC, check the travel advice for DRC. Short-notice border closures could impact any travel plans in the region. Plan your journey in…
Transport risks
- Road travelIf you are planning to drive in Rwanda, see information on driving abroad.
- Driving standardsRoads from Kigali to all major towns are in good condition but can be damaged by landslides during the rainy season. After dark, many roads outside of larger urban centres are unlit and driving standards are poor.
Building health and safety
- Levels of building health and safety in Rwanda are lower than in the UK. Buildings and construction sites have collapsed, causing deaths and serious injuries.
Extreme weather and natural disasters
- FloodingThe rainy season runs from February to May and from September to December. April is the height of the rainy season. Heavy storms can cause disruption and damage, including landslides and floods. Monitor local media reports and follow the advice of local authorities.
- EarthquakesThere is a risk of earthquakes in Rwanda. The US Federal Emergency Management Agency has advice about what to do before, during and after an earthquake. The US Geological Survey has a real-time earthquake map that captures information following significant seismic activity. If there is an earthquake, monitor local media reports and follow the…
Headings and opening lines from the UK FCDO “Safety and security” travel advice for Rwanda, updated 2026-06-10 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Read the full advice on gov.uk →
Country figures
- Homicide rate
- 3.61 /100k2020
- Income inequality
- Gini 39.42023
- Human development
- HDI 0.5782023
- Income
- $4,070/yrGNI per capita PPP
- Road deaths
- 29.4 /100kWHO, 2019
- Political stability
- 65/100WGI, 2024 · higher = more stable
- Rule of law
- 59/100WGI, 2024
- Corruption perceptions
- 58/100Transparency Intl, 2025 · higher = cleaner
- Natural-hazard risk
- 5.4/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Women, Peace & Security
- 0.62GIWPS, 2025 · 0-1, higher = better
- Air quality
- 36.0 µg/m³PM2.5, 2023 · WHO guideline is 5
- Safe drinking water
- no dataof population · WHO/UNICEF JMP
- Healthcare capacity
- 0.1 doctors /1k0.8 hospital beds per 1,000
- Malaria
- 77 /1k at riskWHO, 2024 · endemic countries only
Natural hazards
- Drought
- 4.2/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Earthquake
- 3.9/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Flood
- 2.7/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Hazard types scoring under 1 out of 10 are not listed.
Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Rwanda (as of 2025).
How Rwanda compares
| Measure | Rwanda | World median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 3.6 /100k | 2.4 /100k | +1.2 /100k — better for World median |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 39.4 | 35.2 | +4.2 — better for World median |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.578 | 0.763 | −0.185 — better for World median |
| Road deaths | 29.4 /100k | 15.4 /100k | +14.0 /100k — better for World median |
| Rule of law | 59/100 | 52/100 | +7/100 — better for Rwanda |
| Corruption perceptions | 58/100 | 39/100 | +19/100 — better for Rwanda |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 36.0 µg/m³ | 19.7 µg/m³ | +16.3 µg/m³ — better for World median |
| Natural-hazard risk | 5.4/10 | 3.8/10 | +1.6/10 — better for World median |
| Measure | Rwanda | Africa median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 3.6 /100k | 4.7 /100k | −1.0 /100k — better for Rwanda |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 39.4 | 38.3 | +1.1 — better for Africa median |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.578 | 0.560 | +0.018 — better for Rwanda |
| Road deaths | 29.4 /100k | 27.9 /100k | +1.5 /100k — better for Africa median |
| Rule of law | 59/100 | 42/100 | +17/100 — better for Rwanda |
| Corruption perceptions | 58/100 | 30/100 | +28/100 — better for Rwanda |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 36.0 µg/m³ | 27.3 µg/m³ | +8.7 µg/m³ — better for Africa median |
| Natural-hazard risk | 5.4/10 | 5.2/10 | +0.2/10 — better for Africa median |
Medians, not means, so one extreme country cannot drag the reference value. Each row compares only the countries that have a published figure for that measure, and differences are plain arithmetic between stored values.