Africa · capital city
What Is the Capital of Rwanda?
Kigali
The capital of Rwanda is Kigali. About 1.2 million people live in the Kigali urban area — 8.6% of the country's population.
1.2 million
Urban area population
UTC+2
Time zone
1.95°S
Latitude · 30.05°E
Yes
Largest city
Kigali at a glance
Name origin
The city takes its name from nearby Mount Kigali; the name is composed of the Bantu prefix ki- and the Rwandan word gali, meaning "broad," which is probably meant to describe the terrain.
Time zone
UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time). No daylight saving time.
Coordinates
1 57 S, 30 03 E · IANA time zone Africa/Maputo
Location of Rwanda
Central Africa, east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, north of Burundi
Capitals of neighbouring countries
Kinshasa, DR Congo — 1,659 kmCapitals closest to Kigali
Gitega, Burundi — 164 km
Kampala, Uganda — 375 km
Nairobi, Kenya — 756 km
Juba, South Sudan — 776 km
Dodoma, Tanzania — 1,157 km
Lilongwe, Malawi — 1,398 km
Bangui, Central African Republic — 1,455 km
Lusaka, Zambia — 1,510 km
Straight-line distance between capitals.
Frequently asked questions about Kigali
What is the capital of Rwanda?
The capital of Rwanda is Kigali. About 1.2 million people live in the Kigali urban area — 8.6% of the country's population.
Is Kigali the largest city in Rwanda?
Yes — Kigali is also the largest urban area of Rwanda (1.2 million).
What time zone is Kigali in?
Kigali is on UTC+2 — UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time). There is no daylight saving time.
Where does the name Kigali come from?
The city takes its name from nearby Mount Kigali; the name is composed of the Bantu prefix ki- and the Rwandan word gali, meaning "broad," which is probably meant to describe the terrain.
Which capital is closest to Kigali?
Among the capitals of neighbouring countries, Gitega (Burundi) is the closest, 164 km away in a straight line.
Data: CIA World Factbook (public domain); population: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0).