Gisenyi Population 2026

Gisenyi has a population of 172,357, making it the #2 biggest city in 🇷🇼 Rwanda, located in Western Province. Roughly 1.2% of Rwanda's population lives here. It is about 6.6× smaller than Kigali, the country's biggest city.

Location of Gisenyi (capital Kigali shown for reference). Boundaries: Natural Earth.

Population (city proper)

172,357

Rank in Rwanda

Coordinates

1.70°S, 29.26°E

~1,461 m elevation · Africa/Kigali

Distance to capital (Kigali)

93 km

58 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Western Province

City	Population	Rank in Rwanda
Kibuye	48,024	#8
Cyangugu	43,866	#11
Kirambo	40,341	#15
Kagano	39,994	#16
Ngororero	38,823	#17
Macuba	33,319	#19
Karengera	32,504	#20
Bugarama	31,086	#22

Cities near Gisenyi

Kora15,134 people · ~23 km away
Mukamira19,021 people · ~29 km away
Busogo28,264 people · ~36 km away
Mukingo15,695 people · ~38 km away
Kibuye48,024 people · ~41 km away
Ngororero38,823 people · ~45 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Gisenyi?

Gisenyi has a population of 172,357 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #2 biggest city in Rwanda.

What region is Gisenyi in?

Gisenyi is located in Western Province, Rwanda.

Is Gisenyi the capital of Rwanda?

No, the capital of Rwanda is Kigali, about 93 km away.

Sources & notes

Population refers to the city proper (municipal boundaries), not the metropolitan area. Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0), retrieved 2026-07-07. Country data: UN World Population Prospects 2024.

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