Rwanda’s urbanization history is quite recent. Since the colonial and post-independence periods, the tendency to promote ruralisation and the confinement of residents into rural areas was the main governmental goal. This situation has led to a low urban population growth, uncontrolled spatial expansion with little provision of safe, open, public places, and the uncoordinated planning and provision of basic services in urban settlements. Between 1960 and 2012, the urbanization rate increased from 2 per cent to 16.5 per cent (multiplied by 8.3), while the Gross Domestic Product multiplied by 4.2, moving from USD 1.68 billion to USD 7 billion.
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