Moving to Rwanda from United Kingdom

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from United Kingdom to Rwanda. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Kigali averages 80°F vs 60°F in London, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from United Kingdom to Rwanda.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

per 100,000 people per year

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

per 100,000 people per year

GB
2.4
RW
11.6

United Kingdom 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

GB
$6,606
RW
$177
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

GB
31.7
RW
1.2

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

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

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

GB
4.2t
RW
0.2t

United Kingdom 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

GB
41.4
RW
0.3
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

GB
14.3%
RW
20.2%

United Kingdom performs 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

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

a broad measure of economic output per person

GB
$54,100
RW
$3,000

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

GB
81.9 yrs
RW
65.8 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

GB
3.8
RW
26.4

United Kingdom performs better than Rwanda across all family life metrics.

Data: HM Revenue & Customs, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

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

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

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

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

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United Kingdom 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.

United Kingdom passport

United Kingdom passport holder visiting Rwanda

Visa Free
United Kingdom passport holders can enter Rwanda without a visa.
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.

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?

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

How is healthcare in Rwanda compared to United Kingdom?

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

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

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

What language do they speak in Rwanda?

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

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At a Glance

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