Today, mobile phones have evolved from simple calling tools to essential devices that support work and access to diverse services.
For many, being separated from their phone feels like the most significant inconvenience they could face.
A study conducted by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) for the third quarter of 2024 reveals that 84.9% of households in Rwanda own a mobile phone, with 36.2% owning smartphones.
The study also highlights a gender disparity in phone ownership. Among individuals aged 10 and above, 58% of men have mobile phones, compared to 48.8% of women.
This gap persists among those 16 and older, where 70.5% of men own phones versus 58.2% of women. In the 16-30 age group, 66.5% of men own phones, compared to 56.7% of women. Among those 31 and older, 74% of men and 60% of women own mobile phones.
Overall, the NISR data show that 88.5% of men own a phone, with 39.7% of them owning smartphones, while 75.9% of women own a phone, with 27.1% owning smartphones.
The study further indicates that urban residents are more likely to own phones, with 95.4% of urban households owning one, compared to 80.2% in rural areas.
Kigali City leads all regions, with 96.8% of households owning phones, followed by the Northern Province at 85.8%, the Western Province at 85.4%, the Eastern Province at 84.2%, and the Southern Province at 76.5%.
At the district level, Kigali’s Kicukiro District ranks highest, with 98.7% of households owning mobile phones, while Gisagara District in the Southern Province has the lowest ownership rate at 60%.