Moving to Rwanda from France

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What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from France to Rwanda — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from France to Rwanda. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Kigali averages 80°F vs 60°F in Paris, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

How France and Rwanda stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

FR
1.6
RW
3.6
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

FR
4.7
RW
11.6

France performs better than Rwanda across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

FR
$6,868
RW
$177
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

FR
33.4
RW
1.2

France generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Rwanda leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

FR
10.0
RW
62.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

FR
4.0t
RW
0.2t

France generally does better on environment, though Rwanda leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

FR
49.4
RW
0.3
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

FR
21.6%
RW
20.2%

France generally does better on infrastructure, though Rwanda leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

FR
7.3%
RW
14.9%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

FR
$55,200
RW
$3,000

France generally does better on employment & economy, though Rwanda leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

FR
82.6 yrs
RW
65.8 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

FR
3.1
RW
26.4

France performs better than Rwanda across all family life metrics.

Data: Direction Générale des Finances Publiques, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Paris Rain: 25.6 in/yr (650 mm)
60° / 47°F

Avg. annual high / low

Kigali Rain: 37.4 in/yr (951 mm)
80° / 60°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Paris Kigali
Jan–Mar 48°/38°F (9°/3°C) 80°/60°F (27°/16°C)
Apr–Jun 65°/50°F (18°/10°C) 79°/61°F (26°/16°C)
Jul–Sep 74°/58°F (23°/14°C) 82°/60°F (28°/16°C)
Oct–Dec 52°/43°F (11°/6°C) 80°/60°F (27°/16°C)
View all months
Month Paris Kigali
Jan 44°/36°F (6.9°/2.5°C) 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.6°C)
Feb 47°/37°F (8.2°/2.8°C) 81°/60°F (27.4°/15.8°C)
Mar 53°/41°F (11.8°/5.1°C) 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.7°C)
Apr 58°/44°F (14.7°/6.8°C) 79°/61°F (26.2°/16.1°C)
May 66°/51°F (19.0°/10.5°C) 79°/61°F (25.9°/16.2°C)
Jun 71°/56°F (21.8°/13.3°C) 80°/60°F (26.4°/15.3°C)
Jul 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.5°C) 81°/59°F (27.1°/15.0°C)
Aug 76°/60°F (24.6°/15.4°C) 82°/61°F (28.0°/16.0°C)
Sep 69°/54°F (20.8°/12.5°C) 83°/61°F (28.2°/16.0°C)
Oct 60°/49°F (15.8°/9.2°C) 81°/61°F (27.2°/15.9°C)
Nov 51°/42°F (10.4°/5.3°C) 79°/60°F (26.1°/15.5°C)
Dec 46°/38°F (7.8°/3.6°C) 80°/60°F (26.4°/15.6°C)

Data: Météo-France Météo-France, Rwanda Meteorology Agency Rwanda Meteorology Agency

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between France and Rwanda. To live, work, or study long-term in Rwanda, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Rwanda's immigration authority.

France passport

France passport holder visiting Rwanda

Visa Free
France passport holders can enter Rwanda without a visa.
Rwanda passport

Rwanda passport holder visiting France

Visa Required
Rwanda passport holders need a visa to enter France.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Rwanda?

With 0.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Rwanda can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in France and Rwanda.

Is Rwanda safe for expats?

France performs better than Rwanda across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Rwanda is 3.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.6 in France.

How is healthcare in Rwanda compared to France?

France generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Rwanda leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 1.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Rwanda, compared to 33.4 in France. Rwanda scores 49 on the WHO universal health coverage index (France: 85).

What's the weather like in Rwanda compared to France?

The average high temperature in Kigali is 80°F, compared to 60°F in Paris. Kigali receives around 37.4 in of rainfall per year, while Paris gets 25.6 in.

What language do they speak in Rwanda?

The official languages in Rwanda are English, French and Kinyarwanda. In France, the official language is French.

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At a Glance

FR RW
Population 68,305,148 13,173,730
Currency Euro (€) Rwandan Franc (RWF)
Languages French English, French, Kinyarwanda
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +33 +250
Time zones 14 1
Emergency number 112 112