Moving to South Korea from Rwanda

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Rwanda to South Korea, and you’d need to navigate life in Korean. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Seoul averages 63°F vs 80°F in Kigali, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Rwanda to South Korea, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
138 ↓ 9% vs 2022

people moved from Rwanda to South Korea · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to South Korea?

Top countries of origin for South Korea's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Rwanda to South Korea.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

RW
3.6
KR
0.5
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

RW
11.6
KR
6.9

South Korea 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
KR
$5,081
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

RW
1.2
KR
25.2

Rwanda generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Korea 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
KR
19.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

RW
0.2t
KR
11.4t

Rwanda generally does better on environment, though South Korea leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

RW
0.3
KR
45.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

RW
20.2%
KR
85.2%

South Korea 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

RW
14.9%
KR
2.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

RW
$3,000
KR
$50,600

South Korea 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

RW
65.8 yrs
KR
83.0 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

RW
26.4
KR
2.9

South Korea performs significantly better than Rwanda across all family life metrics.

Data: Rwanda Revenue Authority, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Seoul Rain: 55.8 in/yr (1418 mm)
63° / 48°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Kigali Seoul
Jan–Mar 80°/60°F (27°/16°C) 43°/28°F (6°/-2°C)
Apr–Jun 79°/61°F (26°/16°C) 73°/56°F (23°/13°C)
Jul–Sep 82°/60°F (28°/16°C) 83°/70°F (28°/21°C)
Oct–Dec 80°/60°F (27°/16°C) 54°/38°F (12°/4°C)
View all months
Month Kigali Seoul
Jan 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.6°C) 36°/22°F (2.1°/-5.5°C)
Feb 81°/60°F (27.4°/15.8°C) 41°/26°F (5.1°/-3.2°C)
Mar 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.7°C) 52°/35°F (11.0°/1.9°C)
Apr 79°/61°F (26.2°/16.1°C) 64°/46°F (17.9°/8.0°C)
May 79°/61°F (25.9°/16.2°C) 74°/56°F (23.6°/13.5°C)
Jun 80°/60°F (26.4°/15.3°C) 82°/66°F (27.6°/18.7°C)
Jul 81°/59°F (27.1°/15.0°C) 84°/72°F (29.0°/22.3°C)
Aug 82°/61°F (28.0°/16.0°C) 86°/73°F (30.0°/22.9°C)
Sep 83°/61°F (28.2°/16.0°C) 79°/64°F (26.2°/17.7°C)
Oct 81°/61°F (27.2°/15.9°C) 68°/51°F (20.2°/10.6°C)
Nov 79°/60°F (26.1°/15.5°C) 53°/38°F (11.9°/3.5°C)
Dec 80°/60°F (26.4°/15.6°C) 40°/26°F (4.2°/-3.4°C)

Data: Rwanda Meteorology Agency Rwanda Meteorology Agency, Korea Meteorological Administration Korea Meteorological Administration

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Rwanda passport

Rwanda passport holder visiting South Korea

Visa Required
Rwanda passport holders need a visa to enter South Korea.
South Korea passport

South Korea passport holder visiting Rwanda

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from South Korea?

Internet is rarely the blocker — South Korea has 45.4 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 South Korea safe for expats?

South Korea performs significantly better than Rwanda across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in South Korea is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 3.6 in Rwanda.

How is healthcare in South Korea compared to Rwanda?

Rwanda generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Korea leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 25.2 doctors per 10,000 people in South Korea, compared to 1.2 in Rwanda. South Korea scores 89 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Rwanda: 49).

What's the weather like in South Korea compared to Rwanda?

The average high temperature in Seoul is 63°F, compared to 80°F in Kigali. Seoul receives around 55.8 in of rainfall per year, while Kigali gets 37.4 in.

What language do they speak in South Korea?

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

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At a Glance

RW KR
Population 13,173,730 51,844,834
Currency Rwandan Franc (RWF) South Korean Won (₩)
Languages English, French, Kinyarwanda Korean
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +250 +82
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112