Moving to Rwanda from Sweden

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Sweden to Rwanda, and you’d need to navigate life in English, French and Kinyarwanda. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Kigali averages 80°F vs 52°F in Stockholm, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

SE
1.1
RW
3.6
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SE
2.1
RW
11.6

Sweden 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

SE
$7,770
RW
$177
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

SE
44.1
RW
0.9

Rwanda generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Sweden 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

SE
8.0
RW
62.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SE
3.6t
RW
0.2t

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

SE
40.6
RW
0.6
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SE
3.6%
RW
20.2%

Sweden performs better than Rwanda across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

SE
8.7%
RW
11.4%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

SE
$63,133
RW
$1,124

Sweden 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

SE
84.1 yrs
RW
68.0 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SE
2.0
RW
29.4

Sweden performs better than Rwanda across all family life metrics.

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

Weather in Rwanda vs Sweden

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Stockholm Rain: 21.5 in/yr (546 mm)
52° / 41°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Stockholm Kigali
Jan–Mar 36°/28°F (2°/-2°C) 80°/60°F (27°/16°C)
Apr–Jun 61°/45°F (16°/7°C) 79°/61°F (26°/16°C)
Jul–Sep 69°/56°F (21°/13°C) 82°/60°F (28°/16°C)
Oct–Dec 43°/36°F (6°/2°C) 80°/60°F (27°/16°C)
View all months
Month Stockholm Kigali
Jan 34°/27°F (1.0°/-2.9°C) 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.6°C)
Feb 34°/26°F (1.2°/-3.2°C) 81°/60°F (27.4°/15.8°C)
Mar 40°/30°F (4.7°/-1.1°C) 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.7°C)
Apr 51°/37°F (10.7°/2.6°C) 79°/61°F (26.2°/16.1°C)
May 62°/45°F (16.5°/7.1°C) 79°/61°F (25.9°/16.2°C)
Jun 69°/53°F (20.8°/11.6°C) 80°/60°F (26.4°/15.3°C)
Jul 74°/59°F (23.6°/14.8°C) 81°/59°F (27.1°/15.0°C)
Aug 72°/58°F (22.1°/14.2°C) 82°/61°F (28.0°/16.0°C)
Sep 62°/50°F (16.6°/10.2°C) 83°/61°F (28.2°/16.0°C)
Oct 50°/42°F (10.1°/5.5°C) 81°/61°F (27.2°/15.9°C)
Nov 42°/35°F (5.4°/1.9°C) 79°/60°F (26.1°/15.5°C)
Dec 36°/30°F (2.5°/-1.2°C) 80°/60°F (26.4°/15.6°C)

Data: Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI), Rwanda Meteorology Agency Rwanda Meteorology Agency

Can you move from Sweden to Rwanda?

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Sweden 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.

Sweden passport

Sweden passport holder visiting Rwanda

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

Rwanda passport holder visiting Sweden

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

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 0.6 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?

Sweden performs better than Rwanda across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Rwanda is 3.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in Sweden.

How is healthcare in Rwanda compared to Sweden?

Rwanda generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Sweden leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 0.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Rwanda, compared to 44.1 in Sweden. Rwanda scores 49 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Sweden: 85).

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

The average high temperature in Kigali is 80°F, compared to 52°F in Stockholm. Kigali receives around 37.4 in of rainfall per year, while Stockholm gets 21.5 in.

What language do they speak in Rwanda?

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

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At a Glance

SE RW
Population 10,596,620 14,569,341
Currency Swedish Krona (SEK) Rwandan Franc (RWF)
Languages Swedish English, French, Kinyarwanda
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +46 +250
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112