On 2006-01-01, Rwanda was reorganized. Twelve provinces were replaced with five, and 106 districts were replaced with these thirty.

District	HASC	Code	Population
Bugesera	RW.ES.BG	0507	361,914
Burera	RW.NO.BR	0404	336,582
Gakenke	RW.NO.GK	0402	338,234
Gasabo	RW.KV.GB	0102	529,561
Gatsibo	RW.ES.GT	0503	433,020
Gicumbi	RW.NO.GC	0405	395,606
Gisagara	RW.SU.GG	0202	322,506
Huye	RW.SU.HU	0204	328,398
Kamonyi	RW.SU.KM	0208	340,501
Karongi	RW.OU.KG	0301	331,808
Kayonza	RW.ES.KZ	0504	344,157
Kicukiro	RW.KV.KK	0103	318,564
Kirehe	RW.ES.KH	0505	340,368
Muhanga	RW.SU.MH	0207	319,141
Musanze	RW.NO.MS	0403	368,267
Ngoma	RW.ES.NM	0506	336,928
Ngororero	RW.OU.NR	0305	333,713
Nyabihu	RW.OU.NB	0304	294,740
Nyagatare	RW.ES.NT	0502	465,855
Nyamagabe	RW.SU.NY	0205	341,491
Nyamasheke	RW.OU.NS	0307	381,804
Nyanza	RW.SU.NZ	0201	323,719
Nyarugenge	RW.KV.NG	0101	284,561
Nyaruguru	RW.SU.NU	0203	294,334
Rubavu	RW.OU.RB	0303	403,662
Ruhango	RW.SU.RH	0206	319,885
Rulindo	RW.NO.RL	0401	287,681
Rusizi	RW.OU.RS	0306	400,858
Rutsiro	RW.OU.RT	0302	324,654
Rwamagana	RW.ES.RM	0501	313,461
HASC: Hierarchical administrative subdivision codes. The middle two letters identify the province. For key, see the Provinces of Rwanda page. Code: Ministry of Local Government codes. Population: 2012-08-16 census.

Change history

Before 2002, Rwanda was divided into prefectures, which were divided into subprefectures, which were divided into communes, which were divided into secteurs (sectors), which were in turn divided into cellules (cells). The subprefectures were rarely noticed. The table below shows all 154 communes of Rwanda at that time.

Commune	HASC
Bicumbi	RW.KR.BI
Birenga	RW.KN.BI
Bugaragara	RW.UM.BU
Bugarama	RW.CY.BG
Bulinga	RW.GT.BU
Busozo	RW.CY.BS
Butamwa	RW.KR.BU
Butaro	RW.RU.BU
Buyoga	RW.BM.BU
Bwakira	RW.KY.BW
Bwisige	RW.BM.BW
Cyabingo	RW.RU.CB
Cyeru	RW.RU.CR
Cyimbogo	RW.CY.CY
Cyumba	RW.BM.CB
Cyungo	RW.BM.CG
Gabiro	RW.UM.GA
Gafunzo	RW.CY.GF
Gaseke	RW.GS.GA
Gashora	RW.KR.GA
Gatare	RW.CY.GT
Gatonde	RW.RU.GA
Giciye	RW.GS.GI
Gikomero	RW.KR.GM
Gikoro	RW.KR.GR
Gishamvu	RW.BT.GI
Gishoma	RW.CY.GH
Gishyita	RW.KY.GY
Gisovu	RW.KY.GS
Gisuma	RW.CY.GS
Gitesi	RW.KY.GT
Giti	RW.BM.GT
Gituza	RW.BM.GZ
Huye	RW.BT.HU
Kabarondo	RW.KN.KB
Kacyiru	RW.KV.KA
Kagano	RW.CY.KG
Kagitumba	RW.UM.KG
Kahi	RW.UM.KH
Kamembe	RW.CY.KM
Kanama	RW.GS.KN
Kanombe	RW.KR.KM
Kanzenze	RW.KR.KZ
Karago	RW.GS.KR
Karama	RW.GK.KA
Karambo	RW.GK.KB
Karangazi	RW.UM.KR
Karengera	RW.CY.KR
Kayenzi	RW.GT.KA
Kayonza	RW.KN.KY
Kayove	RW.GS.KY
Kibali	RW.BM.KB
Kibayi	RW.BT.KB
Kibilira	RW.GS.KI
Kicukiro	RW.KV.KI
Kidaho	RW.RU.KD
Kigarama	RW.KN.KI
Kigembe	RW.BT.KG
Kigoma	RW.GT.KI
Kigombe	RW.RU.KG
Kinigi	RW.RU.KN
Kinyamakara	RW.GK.KM
Kinyami	RW.BM.KN
Kirambo	RW.CY.KI
Kivu	RW.GK.KV
Kivumu	RW.KY.KI
Kivuye	RW.BM.KV
Kiyombe	RW.BM.KY
Mabanza	RW.KY.MA
Maraba	RW.BT.MA
Masango	RW.GT.MA
Mbazi	RW.BT.MB
Mbogo	RW.KR.MB
Mubuga	RW.GK.MB
Mudasomwa	RW.GK.MD
Mugambazi	RW.KR.MG
Muganza	RW.BT.MN
Mugesera	RW.KN.MG
Mugina	RW.GT.MG
Mugusa	RW.BT.MS
Muhazi	RW.KN.MH
Muhura	RW.BM.MH
Mukarange	RW.BM.MK
Mukingi	RW.GT.MK
Mukingo	RW.RU.MU
Muko	RW.GK.MK
Murama	RW.GT.MR
Murambi	RW.UM.MR
Musambira	RW.GT.MS
Musange	RW.GK.MN
Musasa	RW.KR.MS
Musebeya	RW.GK.MS
Mushubati	RW.GT.MT
Mutura	RW.GS.MU
Muvumba	RW.UM.MV
Muyaga	RW.BT.MG
Muyira	RW.BT.MR
Mwendo	RW.KY.MW
Ndora	RW.BT.ND
Ndusu	RW.RU.ND
Ngarama	RW.BM.NG
Ngenda	RW.KR.NG
Ngoma	RW.BT.NG
Nkuli	RW.RU.NL
Nkumba	RW.RU.NK
Nshili	RW.GK.NS
Ntongwe	RW.GT.NT
Ntyazo	RW.BT.NT
Nyabikenke	RW.GT.NB
Nyabisindu	RW.BT.NB
Nyagatare	RW.UM.NY
Nyakabanda	RW.GT.NK
Nyakabuye	RW.CY.NY
Nyakinama	RW.RU.NY
Nyakizu	RW.BT.NK
Nyamabuye	RW.GT.NM
Nyamagabe	RW.GK.NY
Nyamugali	RW.RU.NM
Nyamutera	RW.RU.NT
Nyamyumba	RW.GS.NY
Nyarubuye	RW.KN.NY
Nyarugenge	RW.KV.NY
Nyaruhengeri	RW.BT.NR
Nyarutovu	RW.RU.NR
Ramba	RW.GS.RA
Rubavu	RW.GS.RU
Rubungo	RW.KR.RB
Ruhashya	RW.BT.RH
Ruhondo	RW.RU.RU
Rukara	RW.UM.RU
Rukira	RW.KN.RK
Rukondo	RW.GK.RU
Runda	RW.GT.RN
Runyinya	RW.BT.RN
Rusatira	RW.BT.RS
Rushashi	RW.KR.RS
Rusumo	RW.KN.RS
Rutare	RW.BM.RU
Rutobwe	RW.GT.RT
Rutonde	RW.KN.RT
Rutongo	RW.KR.RT
Rutsiro	RW.KY.RU
Rwamatamu	RW.KY.RW
Rwamiko	RW.GK.RW
Rwerere	RW.GS.RW
Rwisirabo	RW.UM.RW
Sake	RW.KN.SA
Satinskyi	RW.GS.SA
Shyanda	RW.BT.SH
Shyorongi	RW.KR.SH
Taba	RW.GT.TA
Tambwe	RW.GT.TM
Tare	RW.KR.TA
Tumba	RW.BM.TU
HASC: Hierarchical administrative subdivision codes. The middle two letters identify the prefecture.

 

2001-02-15: A law  was passed governing the function of a district.

2002-01-01: According to a communication from Niko Pater, the communes of Rwanda were replaced on 2002-01-01 by a new set of divisions called districts and municipalities (akarere and umujyi, respectively). Rwanda's government Web site has a list  of them. Note: the government Web site lists only 105 districts and municipalities, but the accompanying text says that there are 116 of them. The list below is taken from the government site. Where the district has the same name as one of the old communes, I've retained the same HASC code; where the name is new, so is the HASC code. I have no way of telling how the communes were carved up to make the districts.

A Ministry of Local Government report titled Appraisal of the Decentralisation Process in Rwanda  gives this fragmentary account of the correspondence between communes and districts: Bugarura district formed by merging Cyabingo and Ruhondo communes; Bukonya district formed by merging Gatonde and Ndusu communes; Bungwe district formed by merging Cyumba and Kivuye communes; Cyarubare district formed by merging parts of Birenga, Kayonza, Kabarondo, Kigarama, and Rukira communes; Kahi district formed by merging Kahi commune and part of Gituza; Nyakizu district formed by merging parts of Gishamvu, Nyakizu, and Runyinya communes; Rusumo district formed from Rusumo commune and part of Birenga; Rwamiko district formed by merging Giti and Rutare communes; Save district formed by merging Ndora and Shyanda communes; Umutara town formed from part of Nyagatare commune.

Division	Type	HASC
Bicumbi	d	RW.KR.BI
Bigogwe	d	RW.GS.BI
Budaha	d	RW.KY.BU
Bugaragara	d	RW.UM.BU
Bugarama	d	RW.CY.BG
Bugarura	d	RW.RU.BG
Buhoma	d	RW.RU.BH
Bukamba	d	RW.RU.BK
Bukonya	d	RW.RU.BN
Bukunzi	d	RW.CY.BK
Buliza	d	RW.KR.BZ
Bungwe	d	RW.BM.BG
Butamwa	d	RW.KV.BU
Butare	m	RW.BT.BT
Butaro	d	RW.RU.BU
Byumba	m	RW.BM.BM
Cyangugu	m	RW.CY.CG
Cyanzarwe	d	RW.GS.CY
Cyarubare	d	RW.KN.CY
Cyeru	d	RW.RU.CR
Gabiro	d	RW.UM.GA
Gasabo	d	RW.KR.GB
Gaseke	d	RW.GS.GA
Gashonga	d	RW.CY.GG
Gashora	d	RW.KR.GS
Gasiza	d	RW.GS.GZ
Gatare	d	RW.CY.GT
Gatsibo	d	RW.BM.GA
Gatumba	d	RW.GS.GT
Gikondo	d	RW.KV.GK
Gikongoro	m	RW.GK.GK
Gikonko	d	RW.BT.GK
Gisenyi	m	RW.GS.GS
Gisozi	d	RW.KV.GS
Gisunzu	d	RW.KY.GZ
Gitarama	m	RW.GT.GT
Humure	d	RW.BM.HU
Impala	d	RW.CY.IM
Itabire	d	RW.KY.IT
Kabagari	d	RW.GT.KB
Kabare	d	RW.UM.KB
Kabuga	m	RW.KR.KB
Kacyiru	d	RW.KV.KA
Kaduha	d	RW.GK.KD
Kageyo	d	RW.GS.KG
Kahi	d	RW.UM.KH
Kamonyi	d	RW.GT.KM
Kanama	d	RW.GS.KN
Kanombe	d	RW.KV.KN
Karaba	d	RW.GK.KR
Kayonza	d	RW.KN.KY
Kayove	d	RW.GS.KY
Kayumbu	d	RW.GT.KY
Kibingo	d	RW.BT.KN
Kibungo	m	RW.KN.KN
Kibuye	m	RW.KY.KB
Kicukiro	d	RW.KV.KI
Kigarama	d	RW.KN.KI
Kinigi	d	RW.RU.KN
Kinihira	d	RW.BM.KH
Kiruhura	d	RW.BT.KR
Kisaro	d	RW.BM.KS
Maraba	d	RW.BT.MA
Mirenge	d	RW.KN.MI
Mudasomwa	d	RW.GK.MD
Mugombwa	d	RW.BT.MU
Muhanga	d	RW.GT.MU
Muhazi	d	RW.KN.MH
Murambi	d	RW.UM.MR
Mushubi	d	RW.GK.MU
Mutobo	d	RW.RU.MT
Muvumba	d	RW.UM.MV
Ndiza	d	RW.GT.ND
Ngenda	d	RW.KR.NG
Nshili	d	RW.GK.NS
Ntenyo	d	RW.GT.NN
Ntongwe	d	RW.GT.NT
Nyakizu	d	RW.BT.NK
Nyamasheke	d	RW.CY.NS
Nyamata	d	RW.KR.NY
Nyamirambo	d	RW.KV.NM
Nyamugali	d	RW.RU.NM
Nyamure	d	RW.BT.NM
Nyamyumba	d	RW.GS.NY
Nyanza	m	RW.BT.NZ
Nyarubuye	d	RW.KN.NY
Nyarugenge	d	RW.KV.NY
Nyaruguru	d	RW.GK.NG
Nyarutovu	d	RW.RU.NR
Rebero	d	RW.BM.RB
Ruhango	m	RW.GT.RH
Ruhengeri	m	RW.RU.RH
Rukara	d	RW.UM.RU
Rukira	d	RW.KN.RK
Rulindo	d	RW.KR.RL
Rusenyi	d	RW.KY.RS
Rushaki	d	RW.BM.RS
Rushashi	d	RW.KR.RS
Rusumo	d	RW.KN.RS
Ruyumba	d	RW.GT.RY
Rwamagana	m	RW.KN.RW
Rwamiko	d	RW.BM.RW
Save	d	RW.BT.SV
Shyorongi	d	RW.KR.SH
Umutara	m	RW.UM.UM
Type: d=district, m=municipality HASC: Hierarchical administrative subdivision codes.

 

Between this list and the following one, there are a few differences. In Kibuye province, there is a new district, Rutsiro. In Byumba province, the name of Gatsibo district changed to Ngarama. In Kibungo province, the name of Kayonza district changed to Kabarondo. In Gisenyi province, Bigogwe and Gatumba districts were replaced by Mutura and Nyagisagara. The way I interpreted these changes was partly based on guesswork.

The preliminary census report  for 2002 from the Rwandan National Census Service shows the following list of 106 districts.

Division	HASC	Type	Cen	Population	Area(km.²)
Bicumbi	RW.KR.BI	d	0202	101,057	350
Budaha	RW.KY.BU	d	0704	85,420	263
Bugaragara	RW.UM.BU	d	1102	33,078	424
Bugarama	RW.CY.BG	d	0606	99,471	572
Bugarura	RW.RU.BG	d	0902	99,520	153
Buhoma	RW.RU.BH	d	0905	89,091	211
Bukamba	RW.RU.BK	d	0908	119,935	181
Bukonya	RW.RU.BN	d	0904	84,358	173
Bukunzi	RW.CY.BK	d	0605	87,706	177
Buliza	RW.KR.BZ	d	0209	85,394	187
Bungwe	RW.BM.BG	d	1004	80,068	141
Butamwa	RW.KV.BU	d	0103	30,464	86
Butare	RW.BT.BT	m	0401	77,449	96
Butaro	RW.RU.BU	d	0909	62,658	143
Byumba	RW.BM.BM	m	1001	66,536	72
Cyangugu	RW.CY.CG	m	0601	59,429	40
Cyanzarwe	RW.GS.CY	d	0802	71,142	113
Cyarubare	RW.KN.CY	d	1207	67,184	405
Cyeru	RW.RU.CR	d	0910	85,102	181
Gabiro	RW.UM.GA	d	1104	34,250	1,317
Gasabo	RW.KR.GB	d	0210	90,534	309
Gaseke	RW.GS.GA	d	0807	78,458	197
Gashonga	RW.CY.GG	d	0607	74,988	164
Gashora	RW.KR.GS	d	0203	86,606	574
Gasiza	RW.GS.GZ	d	0804	122,681	257
Gatare	RW.CY.GT	d	0604	83,428	376
Gikondo	RW.KV.GK	d	0108	77,680	24
Gikongoro	RW.GK.GK	m	0501	32,476	60
Gikonko	RW.BT.GK	d	0410	70,475	214
Gisenyi	RW.GS.GS	m	0801	67,192	24
Gisozi	RW.KV.GS	d	0104	66,875	49
Gisunzu	RW.KY.GZ	d	0702	77,089	203
Gitarama	RW.GT.GT	m	0301	84,669	76
Humure	RW.BM.HU	d	1008	71,485	191
Impala	RW.CY.IM	d	0602	129,986	180
Itabire	RW.KY.IT	d	0705	78,086	283
Kabagari	RW.GT.KB	d	0305	83,006	255
Kabare	RW.UM.KB	d	1103	29,228	321
Kabarondo	RW.KN.KY	d	1206	67,750	232
Kabuga	RW.KR.KB	m	0201	51,128	100
Kacyiru	RW.KV.KA	d	0105	121,191	30
Kaduha	RW.GK.KD	d	0506	60,961	261
Kageyo	RW.GS.KG	d	0805	84,345	167
Kahi	RW.UM.KH	d	1107	65,750	408
Kamonyi	RW.GT.KM	d	0310	116,255	267
Kanama	RW.GS.KN	d	0809	77,709	185
Kanombe	RW.KV.KN	d	0106	53,010	39
Karaba	RW.GK.KR	d	0507	90,280	253
Kayove	RW.GS.KY	d	0808	96,090	184
Kayumbu	RW.GT.KY	d	0309	74,264	174
Kibingo	RW.BT.KN	d	0404	98,856	239
Kibungo	RW.KN.KN	m	1201	43,582	97
Kibuye	RW.KY.KB	m	0701	46,500	103
Kicukiro	RW.KV.KI	d	0107	59,165	53
Kigarama	RW.KN.KI	d	1202	62,773	249
Kinigi	RW.RU.KN	d	0907	62,644	165
Kinihira	RW.BM.KH	d	1003	92,003	172
Kiruhura	RW.BT.KR	d	0407	51,163	154
Kisaro	RW.BM.KS	d	1002	77,320	190
Maraba	RW.BT.MA	d	0406	62,149	132
Mirenge	RW.KN.MI	d	1203	101,026	419
Mudasomwa	RW.GK.MD	d	0504	70,183	255
Mugombwa	RW.BT.MU	d	0403	76,558	240
Muhanga	RW.GT.MU	d	0307	79,811	211
Muhazi	RW.KN.MH	d	1205	58,492	150
Murambi	RW.UM.MR	d	1106	83,418	244
Mushubi	RW.GK.MU	d	0505	90,336	416
Mutobo	RW.RU.MT	d	0906	98,355	137
Mutura	RW.GS.BI	d	0803	122,325	196
Muvumba	RW.UM.MV	d	1108	95,996	305
Ndiza	RW.GT.ND	d	0308	99,490	289
Ngarama	RW.BM.GA	d	1007	73,626	187
Ngenda	RW.KR.NG	d	0204	106,112	370
Nshili	RW.GK.NS	d	0503	81,277	464
Ntenyo	RW.GT.NN	d	0306	109,656	273
Ntongwe	RW.GT.NT	d	0303	84,870	253
Nyagisagara	RW.GS.GT	d	0806	81,727	200
Nyakizu	RW.BT.NK	d	0405	85,587	280
Nyamasheke	RW.CY.NS	d	0603	74,496	208
Nyamata	RW.KR.NY	d	0205	76,456	356
Nyamirambo	RW.KV.NM	d	0102	98,827	21
Nyamugali	RW.RU.NM	d	0911	54,743	123
Nyamure	RW.BT.NM	d	0409	82,716	289
Nyamyumba	RW.GS.NY	d	0810	65,556	63
Nyanza	RW.BT.NZ	m	0408	55,699	114
Nyarubuye	RW.KN.NY	d	1209	49,565	439
Nyarugenge	RW.KV.NY	d	0101	100,929	8
Nyaruguru	RW.GK.NG	d	0502	67,092	266
Nyarutovu	RW.RU.NR	d	0903	67,248	127
Rebero	RW.BM.RB	d	1006	79,894	241
Ruhango	RW.GT.RH	m	0304	43,780	74
Ruhengeri	RW.RU.RH	m	0901	70,525	64
Rukara	RW.UM.RU	d	1105	73,919	1,137
Rukira	RW.KN.RK	d	1208	60,330	286
Rulindo	RW.KR.RL	d	0208	71,715	172
Rusenyi	RW.KY.RS	d	0706	105,826	292
Rushaki	RW.BM.RS	d	1005	79,484	246
Rushashi	RW.KR.RS	d	0207	68,594	208
Rusumo	RW.KN.RS	d	1210	149,643	601
Rutsiro	RW.KY.RT	d	0703	74,824	226
Ruyumba	RW.GT.RY	d	0302	88,793	269
Rwamagana	RW.KN.RW	m	1204	47,203	87
Rwamiko	RW.BM.RW	d	1009	91,956	256
Save	RW.BT.SV	d	0402	61,964	115
Shyorongi	RW.KR.SH	d	0206	54,946	156
Umutara	RW.UM.UM	m	1101	8,003	45
Type: d=district, m=municipality HASC: Hierarchical administrative subdivision codes. The middle two letters identify the prefecture. For key, see the Provinces of Rwanda page. Cen: Codes from National Census Service. Area: Calculated from population densities.

 

2003-04-16: The Ministry of Local Government has a document  describing a set of changes to local government areas, and mentioning this date. For the most part, the changes affect the boundaries of districts, but not their identity.

2006-01-01: Rwanda reorganized into the thirty districts shown above.