Rwanda is currently host to 127,000 refugees and asylum seekers, 90 percent of whom live across five refugee camps: Kiziba, Nyabiheke, Kigeme, Mugombwa and Mahama. In addition, UNHCR supports the evacuation of vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers from Libya through the Emergency Transit Mechanism (ETM) which is located in Gashora.
These activities are managed through the presence of five Field Offices in Karongi, Kabarore, Huye, Kirehe and Nyamata as well as the Branch Office in the capital, Kigali.
UNHCR’s work in Rwanda focuses on four main pillars:
- Ensuring access of refugees, asylum seekers and stateless populations in Rwanda to a favorable protection environment. Including providing services and support such as registration, documentation, prevention of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), and child protection.
- Helping refugees, asylum seekers and stateless populations in Rwanda enjoy a better living condition. Including providing healthcare, access to water, sanitation, shelter and energy.
- Supporting refugees and asylum seekers in Rwanda to access for livelihoods and economic opportunities. Involving increasing refugee self-reliance and supporting their inclusion within the national education system as well as technical and vocational training
- Finding durable solutions for refugee populations. Involving voluntary repatriation, resettlement and complementary pathways and local integration. UNHCR also supports the return of Rwandan returnees.
Even though, Rwanda is one of the smallest countries in Africa and the continent’s most densely populated country, over the last few decades it has achieved significant growth and development. UNHCR’s work in Rwanda consequently aligns to its ‘Vision 2050’, national transformation strategies and sustainable development goals.
Explore the dedicated website to access additional information and UNHCR's news and stories related to Rwanda.
Latest updates
Populations
Population types
Note: The "Stateless" category does not include stateless people who are also in other categories, to avoid double counting. The total number of stateless, across all categories, is .
NB: 2023 figures are planning figures.
Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder for years until 2022, UNHCR planning figures (COMPASS) otherwise.
Population by country
NB: 2023 figures are planning figures.
Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder for years until 2022, UNHCR planning figures (COMPASS) otherwise.
Population by origin
NB: 2023 figures are planning figures.
Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder for years until 2022, UNHCR planning figures (COMPASS) otherwise.
Financials
Budget and expenditure trend
Source: 2024 budget and 2023 current budget are taken from the budget document approved by UNHCR's Executive Committee in October 2023.
Budget by pillar
Budget by Impact Area
Source: 2023 budget as approved by the Executive Committee in October 2022.
2022 current budget as approved by the High Commissioner as of October 2022; pending presentation to the ExCom's Standing Committee.
Budget by objective
Note: The table presents the budget for this operation broken down at the objective level. Resource allocation at the objective level is subject to change during the course of the year as the operational situation evolves and priorities shift. The current budget, reflected in the bottom line of this table, is updated on a monthly basis and is replaced by the final budget at year-end.
Expenditure by Outcome Area
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Source: 2023 budget as approved by the Executive Committee in October 2022.
2022 current budget as approved by the High Commissioner as of October 2022; pending presentation to the ExCom's Standing Committee.
Budget by Impact Area
Source: 2024 budget and 2023 current budget are taken from the budget document approved by UNHCR's Executive Committee in October 2023.
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Narratives
Map
The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.
UNHCR GIS data is publicly accessible in the Operational Data Portal