Invest in Musanze
Why Musanze
Rwanda chose six secondary cities as poles of growth outside Kigali. The national urbanisation policy sets Musanze’s role as: Eco-friendly mountain tourism and industry.
- Tourism: Volcanoes National Park, with mountain gorillas and golden monkeys, is being enlarged by about 3,740 ha.
- Industry: the Musanze industrial park, 164 ha with 27 companies, takes heavy and light industry.
- Access: 82 km of road to Kigali, the Ruhengeri airstrip and the Cyanika border post with Uganda in Burera next door.
Key figures
| Figure | Musanze | Rwanda |
|---|---|---|
| Population (2022 census) | 476,522 | 13,246,394 |
| People per km² | 1,157 | 503 |
| Living in urban areas | 49.2% | 27.9% |
| Unemployment (2025) | 11.8% | 12.4% |
| Labour force participation (2025) | 68.7% | 63.8% |
| Median monthly pay at the main job (2025) | RWF 52,000 | RWF 39,000 |
Figures are for the whole district, town and countryside. The 2025 district estimates come from a sample survey, so small differences are not significant.
Frequently Asked Questions
What role does the government give Musanze?
Eco-friendly mountain tourism and industry.
How large is the Musanze industrial park?
164 ha, with 27 companies.
What is median pay in Musanze?
RWF 52,000 a month at the main job in 2025.
How many people live in Musanze district?
476,522 at the 2022 census, 49.2% of them in urban areas.
Sources
- National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda: Fifth Population and Housing Census 2022, Main Indicators Report
- National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda: Labour Force Survey 2025, annual tables
- Ministry of Infrastructure: National Urbanization Policy (2015)
- Ministry of Trade and Industry: Annual Report 2024-2025
- Ministry of Environment: Resettlement Action Plan for the Volcanoes National Park expansion
- Rwanda Airports Company: Airports
- Ministry of Infrastructure: Transport Sector Bulletin 2014/15
- Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration: Border management
- Visit Rwanda: Volcanoes National Park
Figures checked 9 November 2026. Prepared by InvestRwanda.com for general information. Figures come from the sources listed.
