Moving to United Kingdom from Rwanda

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Rwanda to United Kingdom. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — London averages 60°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 United Kingdom, and how the trend has changed.

Living there in 2020
4,476 ↑ 13% vs 2015

people born in Rwanda live in United Kingdom · UN DESA

Who's moving to United Kingdom?

Top countries of origin for United Kingdom's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

per 100,000 people per year

RW
3.6
GB
1.0
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

RW
11.6
GB
2.4

United Kingdom 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
GB
$6,606
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

RW
1.2
GB
31.7

Rwanda generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Kingdom 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
GB
13.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

RW
0.2t
GB
4.2t

Rwanda generally does better on environment, though United Kingdom 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
GB
41.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

RW
20.2%
GB
14.3%

United Kingdom performs significantly better than Rwanda across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

RW
14.9%
GB
4.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

RW
$3,000
GB
$54,100

United Kingdom 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
GB
81.9 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

RW
26.4
GB
3.8

United Kingdom 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

London Rain: 22.0 in/yr (558 mm)
60° / 46°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Kigali London
Jan–Mar 80°/60°F (27°/16°C) 49°/38°F (9°/3°C)
Apr–Jun 79°/61°F (26°/16°C) 64°/48°F (18°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 82°/60°F (28°/16°C) 72°/56°F (22°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 80°/60°F (27°/16°C) 53°/43°F (12°/6°C)
View all months
Month Kigali London
Jan 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.6°C) 47°/38°F (8.1°/3.1°C)
Feb 81°/60°F (27.4°/15.8°C) 47°/37°F (8.6°/2.7°C)
Mar 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.7°C) 53°/40°F (11.6°/4.6°C)
Apr 79°/61°F (26.2°/16.1°C) 58°/43°F (14.6°/5.9°C)
May 79°/61°F (25.9°/16.2°C) 65°/48°F (18.1°/8.9°C)
Jun 80°/60°F (26.4°/15.3°C) 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C)
Jul 81°/59°F (27.1°/15.0°C) 74°/57°F (23.4°/13.7°C)
Aug 82°/61°F (28.0°/16.0°C) 74°/57°F (23.1°/13.8°C)
Sep 83°/61°F (28.2°/16.0°C) 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.4°C)
Oct 81°/61°F (27.2°/15.9°C) 60°/48°F (15.5°/8.8°C)
Nov 79°/60°F (26.1°/15.5°C) 52°/42°F (11.3°/5.8°C)
Dec 80°/60°F (26.4°/15.6°C) 47°/38°F (8.4°/3.4°C)

Data: Rwanda Meteorology Agency Rwanda Meteorology Agency, Met Office Met Office

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Rwanda passport

Rwanda passport holder visiting United Kingdom

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Rwanda passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to United Kingdom.
United Kingdom passport

United Kingdom passport holder visiting Rwanda

Visa Free
United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom?

With 41.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom.

Is United Kingdom safe for expats?

United Kingdom performs significantly better than Rwanda across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in United Kingdom is 1.0 per 100,000 people, compared to 3.6 in Rwanda.

How is healthcare in United Kingdom compared to Rwanda?

Rwanda generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Kingdom leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 31.7 doctors per 10,000 people in United Kingdom, compared to 1.2 in Rwanda. United Kingdom scores 88 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Rwanda: 49).

What's the weather like in United Kingdom compared to Rwanda?

The average high temperature in London is 60°F, compared to 80°F in Kigali. London receives around 22.0 in of rainfall per year, while Kigali gets 37.4 in.

What language do they speak in United Kingdom?

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

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At a Glance

RW GB
Population 13,173,730 67,791,400
Currency Rwandan Franc (RWF) British Pound Sterling (£)
Languages English, French, Kinyarwanda English
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +250 +44
Time zones 1 9
Emergency number 112 999