Moving to Rwanda from Ireland

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Ireland to Rwanda — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Ireland to Rwanda. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Kigali averages 80°F vs 56°F in Dublin, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Ireland to Rwanda.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

IE
0.9
RW
3.6
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

IE
2.8
RW
11.6

Ireland 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

IE
$8,772
RW
$177
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

IE
40.6
RW
1.2

Ireland 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

IE
13.0
RW
62.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

IE
6.0t
RW
0.2t

Ireland 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

IE
32.1
RW
0.3
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

IE
22.2%
RW
20.2%

Ireland 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

IE
4.3%
RW
14.9%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

IE
$115,600
RW
$3,000

Ireland 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

IE
81.7 yrs
RW
65.8 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

IE
3.5
RW
26.4

Ireland generally does better on family life, though Rwanda leads in education spending.

Data: The Office of the Revenue Commissioners, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Dublin Rain: 29.8 in/yr (758 mm)
56° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Dublin Kigali
Jan–Mar 49°/37°F (10°/3°C) 80°/60°F (27°/16°C)
Apr–Jun 59°/44°F (15°/7°C) 79°/61°F (26°/16°C)
Jul–Sep 66°/52°F (19°/11°C) 82°/60°F (28°/16°C)
Oct–Dec 51°/41°F (11°/5°C) 80°/60°F (27°/16°C)
View all months
Month Dublin Kigali
Jan 47°/36°F (8.1°/2.4°C) 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.6°C)
Feb 47°/36°F (8.3°/2.3°C) 81°/60°F (27.4°/15.8°C)
Mar 54°/38°F (12.1°/3.4°C) 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.7°C)
Apr 54°/40°F (12.1°/4.6°C) 79°/61°F (26.2°/16.1°C)
May 59°/44°F (14.8°/6.9°C) 79°/61°F (25.9°/16.2°C)
Jun 64°/49°F (17.6°/9.6°C) 80°/60°F (26.4°/15.3°C)
Jul 67°/53°F (19.5°/11.7°C) 81°/59°F (27.1°/15.0°C)
Aug 67°/53°F (19.2°/11.5°C) 82°/61°F (28.0°/16.0°C)
Sep 63°/50°F (17.0°/9.8°C) 83°/61°F (28.2°/16.0°C)
Oct 56°/45°F (13.6°/7.3°C) 81°/61°F (27.2°/15.9°C)
Nov 51°/40°F (10.3°/4.5°C) 79°/60°F (26.1°/15.5°C)
Dec 47°/37°F (8.3°/2.8°C) 80°/60°F (26.4°/15.6°C)

Data: Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service, Rwanda Meteorology Agency Rwanda Meteorology Agency

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Ireland 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.

Ireland passport

Ireland passport holder visiting Rwanda

Visa on Arrival
Ireland passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Rwanda.
Rwanda passport

Rwanda passport holder visiting Ireland

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

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?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Rwanda has 0.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Rwanda safe for expats?

Ireland performs better than Rwanda across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Rwanda is 3.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.9 in Ireland.

How is healthcare in Rwanda compared to Ireland?

Ireland 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 40.6 in Ireland. Rwanda scores 49 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Ireland: 83).

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

The average high temperature in Kigali is 80°F, compared to 56°F in Dublin. Kigali receives around 37.4 in of rainfall per year, while Dublin gets 29.8 in.

What language do they speak in Rwanda?

The official languages in Rwanda are English, French and Kinyarwanda. In Ireland, the official languages are English and Irish.

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At a Glance

IE RW
Population 5,275,004 13,173,730
Currency Euro (€) Rwandan Franc (RWF)
Languages English, Irish English, French, Kinyarwanda
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +353 +250
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112