Child stunting among children under five in Rwanda has declined from 33 percent in 2020 to 27 percent in 2025, according to the Seventh Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey (RDHS7). The survey was released on December 17, 2025, by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR). The six-percentage-point reduction marks a significant improvement compared to findings from the 2019–2020 survey, which reported a stunting rate of 33 percent. NISR presented the findings during the official launch of RDHS7 at the Kigali Convention Centre. Conducted between June and October 2025, the survey

Child stunting among children under five in Rwanda has declined from 33 percent in 2020 to 27 percent in 2025, according to the Seventh Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey (RDHS7). The survey was released on December 17, 2025, by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR). The six-percentage-point reduction marks a significant improvement compared to findings from the 2019–2020 survey, which reported a stunting rate of 33 percent. NISR presented the findings during the official launch of RDHS7 at the Kigali Convention Centre. Conducted between June and October 2025, the survey covered more than 14,500 households nationwide. It provides nationally representative data on fertility, maternal and child health, nutrition, HIV, and mortality. The survey shows that Rwanda’s total fertility rate (TFR) has declined to 3.7 children per woman, down from 4.1 recorded in the previous survey. The TFR reflects the average number of children a woman is expected to have over her lifetime. The decline was observed across the country, with the largest reductions recorded in the Western Province, where the rate dropped from 4.0 to 3.4, and the Northern Province, which declined from 4.1 to 3.8. Urban areas maintained a stable rate of 3.4, while rural areas saw a decrease from 4.3 to 3.9. The City of Kigali recorded the lowest fertility rate at 3.1 children per woman, followed by the Southern Province at 3.8 and the Eastern Province at 4.0. The reduction is largely linked to increased use of family planning methods. Modern contraceptive use among women in unions rose sharply to 78 percent, compared to 64 percent in earlier surveys. Injectables remain the most commonly used method at 34 percent, followed by implants at 25 percent. Among married women, about half still express a desire to have more children. However, preferences have shifted, with only 13 percent wanting another child soon, 37 percent preferring to delay, and 47 percent reporting that they want no more children or have been sterilized. The survey also highlights trends in teenage pregnancy. The proportion of girls aged 15 to 19 who have ever been pregnant has varied over the past two decades. It stood at 4 percent in 2005, rose to 6 percent in 2010, and increased to 7 percent in 2014–2015. The rate declined slightly to 5 percent in 2019–2020 but rose again to 8 percent in 2025, indicating a renewed upward trend. Education continues to play a critical role in reducing teenage pregnancy. Girls with no formal education face the highest risk, with 21 percent having been pregnant. The rate drops to 13 percent among those with primary education and falls further to 4 percent among girls with secondary education. “University-level data are not presented due to the limited number of observations in the sample,” the report notes, emphasizing the protective effect of continued schooling for adolescent girls. Despite these concerns, the survey points to broader progress in maternal health. Nearly all births—98 percent—are now assisted by skilled health providers and take place in health facilities. However, the report also raises concern about a decline in comprehensive knowledge of HIV prevention among young people aged 15 to 24. The findings suggest a need for renewed and targeted awareness campaigns to address gaps in knowledge among adolescents and youth.

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