# Western Province, Rwanda – Population, Districts & Map

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

Province · Rwanda 

# Western Province

Western Province is a province of Rwanda. It had an estimated **2,812,263 people** in 2023 on 4,876 km² (about 577 per km²). Its main town is Kibuye. It is divided into 7 districts. 1,070 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 307 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 2,812,263people (2023)
- 4,876km²
- 7districts
- 307mapped services

## How many people live in Western Province?

Western Province had an estimated **2,812,263 people** in 2023 — 21.0% of Rwanda, 3rd of 5 provinces. There are 1,083 women for every 1,000 men (above the Rwanda figure of 1,039). Spread over 4,876 km², that is about **577 people per km²**, 2nd of 5 provinces.

39.7% of people are children under 15 and 3.0% are 65 or older; the median age is about 19 years (it is 21 across Rwanda). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 74 children and older people.

0–4 ****364,372**

5–9 ****377,153**

10–14 ****374,576**

15–19 ****324,576**

20–24 ****263,703**

25–29 ****208,160**

30–34 ****197,392**

35–39 ****182,692**

40–44 ****133,034**

45–49 ****101,681**

50–54 ****77,410**

55–59 ****69,096**

60–64 ****54,614**

65–69 ****39,704**

70–74 ****23,658**

75–79 ****11,327**

80+ ****9,115**

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 Western Province?

Western Province lies in [Rwanda](https://wherepedia.org/rwanda/). It borders 2 other provinces: [Northern Province](https://wherepedia.org/rwanda/northern-province/) and [Southern Province](https://wherepedia.org/rwanda/southern-province/). By area it is the 3rd largest of 5 provinces in Rwanda. It covers 20.0% of [Rwanda](https://wherepedia.org/rwanda/). The centre of Western Province is about 71 km in a straight line from Kigali, the capital. The centre point is at 2.1254° S, 29.4433° 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 Western Province

OpenStreetMap lists 18 named sights in Western Province: 5 viewpoints; 4 attractions; 3 memorials; 2 museums; 1 castle or fort; 1 waterfall; 1 gallery; 1 nature reserve.

- Museum of Environment · museum
- Ross Carr Museum And Gardens · museum
- Chateau le Marara · castle or fort
- Ndaba Falls · waterfall
- Mukura Forest Reserve · nature reserve
- Great view of Kivu Lake stp · viewpoint
- Home St Jean · viewpoint
- Lake Kivu Viewpoint (2026m) · viewpoint
- Norbi's viewpoint Kibuye · viewpoint
- Sunrise Spot · viewpoint
- Hot springs · attraction
- Kivu art gallery · attraction
- Start of the Congo Nile Trail · attraction
- Tourist office · attraction
- African Art Gallery · gallery
- Bisesero Genocide Memorial Centre · memorial
- Gatwaro Genocide Memorial · memorial
- Genocide-Memorial Kibuye · memorial

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: Western 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

- Goma International Airport (GOM) · Goma56 km
- Kamembe Airport (KME) · Kamembe70 km

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 12.2 hours, sunrise around 05:50) and shortest in Jun (about 12.0 hours, sunrise around 06:02, sunset around 18:02).

Month Sunrise Sunset Daylight 

Jan 06:03 18:17 12.2 h 

Feb 06:11 18:21 12.2 h 

Mar 06:08 18:15 12.1 h 

Apr 06:00 18:04 12.1 h 

May 05:57 17:58 12.0 h 

Jun 06:02 18:02 12.0 h 

Jul 06:07 18:08 12.0 h 

Aug 06:05 18:08 12.0 h 

Sep 05:54 18:00 12.1 h 

Oct 05:43 17:52 12.2 h 

Nov 05:40 17:53 12.2 h 

Dec 05:50 18:04 12.2 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 Western Province

District People per km² Area km² Sectors Services 

[Rubavu District](https://wherepedia.org/rwanda/western-province/rubavu/) 574,548 1,695 339 12 118 

[Rusizi District](https://wherepedia.org/rwanda/western-province/rusizi/) 448,512 487 920 18 0 

[Nyamasheke District](https://wherepedia.org/rwanda/western-province/nyamasheke/) 408,298 430 950 15 0 

[Rutsiro District](https://wherepedia.org/rwanda/western-province/rutsiro/) 364,656 550 662 13 57 

[Karongi District](https://wherepedia.org/rwanda/western-province/karongi/) 362,793 460 789 13 93 

[Ngororero District](https://wherepedia.org/rwanda/western-province/ngororero/) 358,980 530 677 13 13 

[Nyabihu District](https://wherepedia.org/rwanda/western-province/nyabihu/) 294,476 547 538 12 26 

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 Western Province

- Kibuye48,024
- Gitesi24,859
- Mukamira19,021
- Kora15,134
- Mabanza13,139

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 Western Province

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

### Water

331 rivers and streams; 5 lakes; 2 waterfalls.

- Baharamba
- Basera
- Baza
- Bicuba
- Bihongora
- Bikeneko
- Bikore
- Bipyisi
- Birarama
- Biruruma
- Biruye
- Bishuhira
- Bitaba
- Bitenga
- Bitoboro
- Budacya
- Bugiti
- Buhali
- Buhoro
- Bukinda
- Bukizai
- Buranga
- Burehe
- Busenda

…and 314 more.

### Hills and mountains

16 mountains; 4 peaks; 2 hills.

- Mount Muwogo · 2,885 m
- Muhungwe · 2,826 m
- Marenga · 2,768 m
- Nyamateke · 2,723 m
- Rubare · 2,723 m
- Mount Kwiruhelo · 2,705 m
- Karbona · 2,584 m
- Kilimbogo · 2,572 m
- Matyazo · 2,519 m
- Remera · 2,512 m
- Kamirantama · 2,490 m
- Mount Nyamidjima · 2,451 m
- Mugogo · 2,440 m
- Gihinga · 2,374 m
- Muhewe · 2,324 m
- Rusengesi · 2,254 m
- Nyarunebwe · 2,165 m
- Gasengesi · 2,118 m
- Ninda · 2,059 m
- Bugobera · 1,939 m
- Karora · 1,733 m
- Nkira · 1,693 m

### Forests and nature

7 forests; 3 forest reserves.

- Bushengo
- Gasasa
- Gihunduguru
- Ibere rya Bigogwe
- Kagohe
- Kaliba
- Muhe
- Mukura Natural Forest
- Murambi
- Rwabihama

### Getting around

1 airfield.

- Gisenyi 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 Western Province and the best time to visit

In Western Province, the warmest month is Feb (average 21 °C) and the coolest is Jun (19 °C). About 1,586 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Nov (196 mm) and the driest Jul (38 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **June to September**.

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

Month Average °C Rain mm 

Jan 20 126 

Feb 21 132 

Mar 21 191 

Apr 20 191 

May 19 141 

Jun 19 61 

Jul 19 38 

Aug 20 80 

Sep 21 118 

Oct 20 164 

Nov 20 196 

Dec 20 149 

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

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Western Province

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

- Hospitals91
- Banks4
- ATMs2
- Petrol pumps6
- Hotels75
- Schools81
- Colleges and universities3
- Pharmacies15
- Restaurants28
- Police stations1
- Dental clinics1

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 Western Province?In Rwanda
- What is the population of Western Province?2,812,263 (2023 estimate)
- What is the median age in Western Province?About 19 years (2023 estimate)
- What is the population density of Western Province?About 577 people per km²
- What borders Western Province?Northern Province and Southern Province
- What is there to see in Western Province?African Art Gallery, Bisesero Genocide Memorial Centre, Chateau le Marara, Gatwaro Genocide Memorial
- What time zone is Western Province in?UTC+2
- What currency is used in Western Province?Franc (RWF)
- What language is spoken in Western Province?Kinyarwanda, English, French (main languages nationally)
- What is the largest town in Western Province?Kibuye
- What is the highest point in Western Province?Mount Muwogo (2,885 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Western Province?June to September
- How many hospitals are in Western Province?91 mapped
- How many banks are in Western Province?4 mapped
- How many ATMs are in Western Province?2 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Western Province?6 mapped
- What is the P-code of Western Province?RW3 (OCHA common operational dataset)