Moving to New Zealand from Rwanda

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Rwanda to New Zealand. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Auckland averages 66°F vs 80°F in Kigali, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from Rwanda to New Zealand, and how the trend has changed.

Moved in 2023
9 ↑ 50% vs 2022

people moved from Rwanda to New Zealand · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to New Zealand?

Top countries of origin for New Zealand's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

RW
3.6
NZ
1.5
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

RW
11.6
NZ
6.6

New Zealand performs significantly better than Rwanda across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

RW
$177
NZ
$5,576
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

RW
0.9
NZ
36.1

Rwanda generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

RW
62.0
NZ
12.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

RW
0.2t
NZ
6.0t

Rwanda generally does better on environment, though New Zealand leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

RW
0.6
NZ
38.0
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

RW
20.2%
NZ
8.1%

New Zealand performs significantly better than Rwanda across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

RW
11.4%
NZ
5.1%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

RW
$1,124
NZ
$49,591

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

RW
68.0 yrs
NZ
82.0 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

RW
29.4
NZ
4.0

New Zealand performs significantly better than Rwanda across all family life metrics.

Sources: World Bank (2020–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), Rwanda Revenue Authority (2016), New Zealand Inland Revenue Department (2016). How we calculate this

Weather in New Zealand vs Rwanda

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Auckland Rain: 43.3 in/yr (1101 mm)
66° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Kigali Auckland
Jan–Mar 80°/60°F (27°/16°C) 74°/61°F (23°/16°C)
Apr–Jun 79°/61°F (26°/16°C) 63°/51°F (18°/11°C)
Jul–Sep 82°/60°F (28°/16°C) 60°/47°F (15°/8°C)
Oct–Dec 80°/60°F (27°/16°C) 67°/55°F (20°/13°C)
View all months
Month Kigali Auckland
Jan 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.6°C) 74°/61°F (23.6°/16.0°C)
Feb 81°/60°F (27.4°/15.8°C) 75°/62°F (24.1°/16.5°C)
Mar 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.7°C) 73°/59°F (22.6°/14.9°C)
Apr 79°/61°F (26.2°/16.1°C) 68°/55°F (20.0°/12.7°C)
May 79°/61°F (25.9°/16.2°C) 63°/51°F (17.4°/10.6°C)
Jun 80°/60°F (26.4°/15.3°C) 59°/47°F (15.2°/8.4°C)
Jul 81°/59°F (27.1°/15.0°C) 58°/46°F (14.3°/7.5°C)
Aug 82°/61°F (28.0°/16.0°C) 59°/47°F (14.9°/8.2°C)
Sep 83°/61°F (28.2°/16.0°C) 62°/49°F (16.4°/9.7°C)
Oct 81°/61°F (27.2°/15.9°C) 64°/52°F (17.7°/11.2°C)
Nov 79°/60°F (26.1°/15.5°C) 67°/55°F (19.5°/12.8°C)
Dec 80°/60°F (26.4°/15.6°C) 71°/59°F (21.8°/14.9°C)

Data: Rwanda Meteorology Agency Rwanda Meteorology Agency, New Zealand National Meteorological Service New Zealand National Meteorological Service

Can you move from Rwanda to New Zealand?

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

Rwanda passport

Rwanda passport holder visiting New Zealand

Visa Required
Rwanda passport holders need a visa to enter New Zealand.
New Zealand passport

New Zealand passport holder visiting Rwanda

Visa Free
New Zealand passport holders can enter Rwanda without a visa.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from New Zealand?

With 38.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, New Zealand can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Rwanda and New Zealand.

Is New Zealand safe for expats?

New Zealand performs significantly better than Rwanda across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in New Zealand is 1.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 3.6 in Rwanda.

How is healthcare in New Zealand compared to Rwanda?

Rwanda generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 36.1 doctors per 10,000 people in New Zealand, compared to 0.9 in Rwanda. New Zealand scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Rwanda: 49).

What's the weather like in New Zealand compared to Rwanda?

The average high temperature in Auckland is 66°F, compared to 80°F in Kigali. Auckland receives around 43.3 in of rainfall per year, while Kigali gets 37.4 in.

What language do they speak in New Zealand?

The official languages in New Zealand are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. In Rwanda, the official languages are English, French and Kinyarwanda.

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At a Glance

RW NZ
Population 14,569,341 5,324,700
Currency Rwandan Franc (RWF) New Zealand Dollar (NZ$)
Languages English, French, Kinyarwanda English, Māori, New Zealand Sign Language
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +250 +64
Time zones 1 5
Emergency number 112 111