# Southern Province, Rwanda – Population, Districts & Map

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/rwanda/southern-province/

Province · Rwanda 

# Southern Province

Southern Province is a province of Rwanda. It had an estimated **3,044,830 people** in 2023 on 5,974 km² (about 510 per km²). Its main town is Nyanza. It is divided into 8 districts. 1,934 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 359 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 3,044,830people (2023)
- 5,974km²
- 8districts
- 359mapped services

## How many people live in Southern Province?

Southern Province had an estimated **3,044,830 people** in 2023 — 22.7% of Rwanda, 2nd of 5 provinces. There are 1,071 women for every 1,000 men (above the Rwanda figure of 1,039). Spread over 5,974 km², that is about **510 people per km²**, 4th of 5 provinces.

37.7% of people are children under 15 and 3.5% are 65 or older; the median age is about 21 years (it is 21 across Rwanda). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 70 children and older people.

0–4 ****373,215**

5–9 ****393,788**

10–14 ****380,640**

15–19 ****331,813**

20–24 ****246,429**

25–29 ****214,942**

30–34 ****218,721**

35–39 ****213,892**

40–44 ****174,824**

45–49 ****137,415**

50–54 ****95,958**

55–59 ****86,128**

60–64 ****71,220**

65–69 ****50,034**

70–74 ****30,751**

75–79 ****14,526**

80+ ****10,534**

Source: [United States Census Bureau via OCHA HDX, population 2023 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ps-rwa).

## Where is Southern Province?

Southern Province lies in [Rwanda](https://wherepedia.org/rwanda/). It borders 4 other provinces: [Eastern Province](https://wherepedia.org/rwanda/eastern-province/), [Kigali City](https://wherepedia.org/rwanda/kigali-city/), [Northern Province](https://wherepedia.org/rwanda/northern-province/) and [Western Province](https://wherepedia.org/rwanda/western-province/). By area it is the 2nd largest of 5 provinces in Rwanda. It covers 24.6% of [Rwanda](https://wherepedia.org/rwanda/). The centre of Southern Province is about 56 km in a straight line from Kigali, the capital. The centre point is at 2.2858° S, 29.6817° E.

Source: [National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR). via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-rwa).

## Things to see in and around Southern Province

OpenStreetMap lists 15 named sights in Southern Province: 4 attractions; 3 memorials; 3 museums; 2 caves; 1 ruins; 1 castle or fort; 1 monument.

- Ethnographic Museum · museum
- King's Palace Museum · museum
- Kwigira Museum · museum
- Nyanza Palace · castle or fort
- Arboretum Office · attraction
- Eglise Ste. Therese · attraction
- Huye Mountain Coffee · attraction
- Mwina - Mausoleum · attraction
- Cyabakamyi Genocide Memorial · memorial
- Genocide-Memorial Butare · memorial
- Kiboniyi Caves · cave
- Mata Tea Company Limited · monument
- Murambi Genocide Memorial Centre · memorial
- Nyemana Caves · cave
- Queen Mother's House · ruins

Source: [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright).

Named attractions, museums, viewpoints, historic sites and natural features mapped in OpenStreetMap. Places of worship are not listed.

## Know before you go: Southern Province

- Time zoneUTC+2, no daylight saving · Africa/Kigali
- CurrencyFranc (RWF)
- Country calling code+250
- LanguagesKinyarwanda, English, French, Swahili
- Plug typesType C, E, G · 230 V
- Driving sideRight

### Nearest airports

- Kirundo Airport (KRE) · Kirundo54 km
- Kigali International Airport (KGL) · Kigali62 km

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 12.3 hours, sunrise around 05:48) and shortest in Jun (about 12.0 hours, sunrise around 06:01, sunset around 18:00).

Month Sunrise Sunset Daylight 

Jan 06:02 18:17 12.2 h 

Feb 06:09 18:21 12.2 h 

Mar 06:07 18:14 12.1 h 

Apr 05:59 18:03 12.1 h 

May 05:56 17:57 12.0 h 

Jun 06:01 18:00 12.0 h 

Jul 06:07 18:07 12.0 h 

Aug 06:05 18:07 12.0 h 

Sep 05:53 17:59 12.1 h 

Oct 05:42 17:51 12.2 h 

Nov 05:39 17:52 12.2 h 

Dec 05:48 18:03 12.3 h 

Source: [GeoNames country and time-zone files (CC BY 4.0)](https://www.geonames.org/); [Wikidata (CC0) — plug types, mains voltage, driving side; retrieved 2026-11-03](https://www.wikidata.org/); [OurAirports (public domain)](https://ourairports.com/data/).

Airports with scheduled passenger flights; straight-line distances. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of each month in local standard time. Check entry and visa rules with official government sources before travelling.

## Districts of Southern Province

District People per km² Area km² Sectors Services 

[Nyanza District](https://wherepedia.org/rwanda/southern-province/nyanza/) 436,868 650 673 10 47 

[Kamonyi District](https://wherepedia.org/rwanda/southern-province/kamonyi/) 414,941 628 660 12 24 

[Nyamagabe District](https://wherepedia.org/rwanda/southern-province/nyamagabe/) 387,128 354 1,092 17 31 

[Ruhango District](https://wherepedia.org/rwanda/southern-province/ruhango/) 386,363 617 627 9 31 

[Huye District](https://wherepedia.org/rwanda/southern-province/huye/) 375,193 645 582 14 116 

[Gisagara District](https://wherepedia.org/rwanda/southern-province/gisagara/) 366,731 539 681 13 23 

[Nyaruguru District](https://wherepedia.org/rwanda/southern-province/nyaruguru/) 351,287 347 1,012 14 24 

[Muhanga District](https://wherepedia.org/rwanda/southern-province/muhanga/) 326,319 504 647 12 63 

Source: [National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR). via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-rwa); [United States Census Bureau via OCHA HDX, population 2023 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ps-rwa).

## Largest towns in Southern Province

- Gitarama87,613
- Muhanga82,797
- Butare62,823
- Nzega33,832
- Nyanza32,016
- Ruhango21,478
- Gikongoro21,029
- Mugina18,586
- Kamuhanda / Ruyenzi16,369
- Eglise Catholique, Centrale GIKO3,000
- Family RUDAHUNGA Bernard7

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/).

Populations as recorded in GeoNames, which may be older than the estimates above.

## Landscape and landmarks of Southern Province

Named natural and historic features inside Southern Province, from the GeoNames gazetteer.

### Water

1,315 rivers and streams; 2 lakes.

- Agafunzo
- Agafunzo
- Agahararo
- Agasasa
- Agasayo
- Agaseke
- Agaseke
- Agaseke
- Agasekera
- Agasumo
- Agataba
- Agatare
- Agatare
- Agatare
- Agatare
- Agatare
- Agatare
- Agatare
- Agatare
- Agatare
- Agatare
- Agatobwe
- Agatorove
- Akabacyaba

…and 1,293 more.

### Hills and mountains

40 hills; 17 mountains; 14 peaks.

- Ngabwe · 2,707 m
- Kabavu · 2,612 m
- Rutovu · 2,564 m
- Rugera · 2,554 m
- Rushinyali · 2,554 m
- Gaharo · 2,549 m
- Mushabarara · 2,541 m
- Nyabihu · 2,535 m
- Bushigo · 2,533 m
- Twinyoni · 2,532 m
- Ruhonge · 2,527 m
- Nyabihu · 2,515 m
- Rukwekwe · 2,504 m
- Kiburara · 2,496 m
- Mubumbano · 2,487 m
- Ruhindi · 2,485 m
- Gatandaganya · 2,468 m
- Katandaganya · 2,468 m
- Wasenkoko · 2,462 m
- Rukwekwe · 2,457 m
- Bitare · 2,451 m
- Mount Gahiro · 2,451 m
- Rukwi · 2,446 m
- Mbiyo · 2,438 m

…and 47 more.

### Forests and nature

8 forests; 1 forest reserve.

- Gashike
- Gashishi
- Kabuga
- Kagano
- Karumu
- Maraba
- Migoza
- Muyaga
- Rwuli

### History

2 museums.

- King's Palace Museum
- Musée National du Rwanda

### Getting around

1 airfield.

- Butare Airport

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/).

Places of worship are not listed. Elevations are from the GeoNames terrain model and are approximate.

## Weather in Southern Province and the best time to visit

In Southern Province, the warmest month is Sep (average 20 °C) and the coolest is Jun (18 °C). About 1,507 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Nov (224 mm) and the driest Jul (29 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **May to September**.

- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec

Month Average °C Rain mm 

Jan 19 137 

Feb 20 125 

Mar 19 178 

Apr 19 176 

May 18 108 

Jun 18 50 

Jul 18 29 

Aug 19 65 

Sep 20 106 

Oct 19 157 

Nov 19 224 

Dec 19 152 

Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/).

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Southern Province

Places mapped inside Southern Province in open map data, by type.

- Hospitals164
- Banks12
- ATMs1
- Petrol pumps23
- Hotels50
- Shopping malls1
- Schools36
- Colleges and universities15
- Cinemas1
- Pharmacies35
- Restaurants19
- Police stations2

Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

Coverage depends on what has been mapped; contact details are not shown.

## Quick answers

- Where is Southern Province?In Rwanda
- What is the population of Southern Province?3,044,830 (2023 estimate)
- What is the median age in Southern Province?About 21 years (2023 estimate)
- What is the population density of Southern Province?About 510 people per km²
- What borders Southern Province?Eastern Province, Kigali City, Northern Province and Western Province
- What is there to see in Southern Province?Arboretum Office, Cyabakamyi Genocide Memorial, Eglise Ste. Therese, Ethnographic Museum
- What time zone is Southern Province in?UTC+2
- What currency is used in Southern Province?Franc (RWF)
- What language is spoken in Southern Province?Kinyarwanda, English, French (main languages nationally)
- What is the largest town in Southern Province?Gitarama
- What is the highest point in Southern Province?Ngabwe (2,707 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Southern Province?May to September
- How many hospitals are in Southern Province?164 mapped
- How many banks are in Southern Province?12 mapped
- How many ATMs are in Southern Province?1 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Southern Province?23 mapped
- What is the P-code of Southern Province?RW2 (OCHA common operational dataset)