UN-Habitat Country Programme Document 2008-2009 - Rwanda

In Rwanda, urban development goes hand in hand with migration; urban development depends essentially on the contributions of rural populations. The low urbanization rate and low urban development place Rwanda in the margin of the demographic transition trend which characterizes developing countries.

However, this urbanization dynamic is neither well understood nor fully controlled. More than 80% of the urban population lives in slums and the majority of households live under the poverty line. According to a long-term planning, Rwanda Vision 2020, the urban population growth will reach 30% in 2020 or five times in 30 years.