Northern Province
The districts
Districts at a glance
| District | Population (2022) | People per km² | Urban | Unemployment (2025) | Median monthly pay (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Musanze | 476,522 | 1,157 | 49.2% | 11.8% | RWF 52,000 |
| Gicumbi | 448,824 | 544 | 6.3% | 18.1% | RWF 31,200 |
| Burera | 387,729 | 682 | 9.9% | 16.4% | RWF 39,000 |
| Gakenke | 365,292 | 520 | 4.0% | 7.0% | RWF 26,000 |
| Rulindo | 360,144 | 635 | 10.6% | 12.4% | RWF 31,200 |
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
- Tourism: Volcanoes National Park, about 160 km², with mountain gorilla tracking from Musanze; the park is being enlarged.
- Industry: the Musanze industrial park, 164 ha with 27 companies, for heavy and light industry.
- Borders: Gatuna (Gicumbi) and Cyanika (Burera) are border posts with Uganda; Gatuna is a one-stop border post that works 24 hours a day.
- Musanze: one of the six secondary cities, with 49.2% of its district’s people in urban areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which districts make up the Northern Province?
Five: Burera, Gakenke, Gicumbi, Musanze and Rulindo.
How many people live in the Northern Province?
2,038,511 at the 2022 census, 17.4% of them in urban areas.
What is in Musanze for investors?
Musanze is a secondary city and the gateway to Volcanoes National Park. Its industrial park covers 164 ha with 27 companies.
Which border posts lead to Uganda?
Gatuna in Gicumbi, on the Northern Corridor to Mombasa, and Cyanika.
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
- Ministry of Environment: Resettlement Action Plan for the Volcanoes National Park expansion
- Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration: Border management
- Ministry of Trade and Industry: EAC delegation visits Gatuna One Stop Border Post
Figures checked 9 November 2026. Prepared by InvestRwanda.com for general information. Figures come from the sources listed.
