Eastern Province
The districts
Districts at a glance
| District | Population (2022) | People per km² | Urban | Unemployment (2025) | Median monthly pay (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nyagatare | 653,861 | 373 | 24.1% | 10.0% | RWF 26,000 |
| Gatsibo | 551,164 | 435 | 10.0% | 11.5% | RWF 26,000 |
| Bugesera | 551,103 | 450 | 40.1% | 13.3% | RWF 43,333 |
| Rwamagana | 484,953 | 740 | 37.1% | 11.7% | RWF 39,000 |
| Kirehe | 460,860 | 398 | 6.3% | 9.3% | RWF 26,000 |
| Kayonza | 457,156 | 338 | 14.2% | 9.2% | RWF 30,000 |
| Ngoma | 404,048 | 498 | 9.2% | 10.1% | RWF 26,000 |
Population, density and urban share are from the 2022 census. Unemployment and median monthly pay at the main job are 2025 Labour Force Survey estimates; district samples are small, so treat district differences of one or two points with care. National 2025 figures: unemployment 12.4%, median monthly pay RWF 39,000.
What the province offers investors
- Bugesera: the new international airport, expected to open in 2028, and the Bugesera Special Economic Zone, 330 ha with 18 companies.
- Industrial parks: Rwamagana, 80 ha with 53 companies (light industry), and Nyagatare, 200 ha with 4 companies (agro-processing only).
- Akagera National Park: 1,122 km² of savannah and wetland, managed by African Parks with the Rwanda Development Board since 2010.
- Borders: Rusumo, a one-stop border post with Tanzania open 24 hours since 2015, and Kagitumba with Uganda.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is Rwanda’s most populous province?
The Eastern Province, with 3,563,145 people in seven districts.
Where is the new international airport?
In Bugesera, next to the 330 ha Bugesera Special Economic Zone. It is expected to open in 2028.
What is Nyagatare known for?
It is the cattle and dairy centre of Rwanda.
Which border post leads to Dar es Salaam?
Rusumo, on the Central Corridor.
Sources
- National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda: Fifth Population and Housing Census 2022, Main Indicators Report
- geoBoundaries: Rwanda districts (ADM2), CC BY 4.0
- National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda: Labour Force Survey 2025, annual tables
- Ministry of Trade and Industry: Annual Report 2024-2025
- allAfrica (The New Times): What next for landowners as Bugesera Airport City takes shape?
- Rwanda Development Board: 70 southern white rhino translocated to Akagera National Park
- Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration: Border management
- Ministry of Infrastructure: Transport Sector Bulletin 2014/15
Figures checked 9 November 2026. Prepared by InvestRwanda.com for general information. Figures come from the sources listed.
