Datasource:
Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) - 2025
Period:
June to November, 2025
Electricity coverage
Electricity coverage refers to the proportion of households with access to electricity. This indicator provides information on household access to electricity as a basic household amenity. At least 67% of households in the Southern Province have access to electricity, compared with 74 % at the national level. However, the results show considerable disparities between districts within the Southern Province.
Muhanga Districts recorded the highest number of households with electricity (74 %),
while Gisagara District registered the lowest, at only 57 %. Comparing the findings of the RDHS 2019-20 and RDHS 2025 in the Southern Province, the electricity coverage has increased significantly from 36% to 67%. This change is shown by significant increase in Nyamagabe District which has increased from 22% to 65% and increase in other districts respectively.
Household durable goods
About 42% of households own a standalone radio, compared with 44% nationally, while mobile phone ownership stands at 78%, against 84% nationwide.
Television ownership is lower, at 11% compared with 15% nationally, and computer ownership remains limited to just 4%, compared with 5% nationally. Significant disparities exist across districts, with Muhanga recording the highest radio ownership (53%) and Kamonyi leading in mobile phones (85%) and televisions (22%). Nyaruguru has the lowest radio (29%) and television ownership (3%), while Gisagara records the lowest mobile phone (70%) and computer ownership (1%).
Access to drinking water
About 37% of households spend more than 30 minutes collecting drinking water, compared with 33% nationally, while 29% travel more than 500 metres to reach a water source. Significant disparities exist across districts: Nyanza has the highest proportion of households with water on their premises (32%), while Gisagara has the lowest (5%) and the highest share of households spending more than 30 minutes collecting water (62%). Nyamagabe records the highest proportion of households obtaining water within 30 minutes or less (57%), while Ruhango has the highest proportion accessing water within 200 metres (24%).
Sanitation services
Access to basic sanitation in Rwanda’s Southern Province stands at 73%, slightly above the national average of 71%. However, 10% of the population rely on limited sanitation services, while 16% use unimproved facilities and 2% practice open defecation. Significant disparities exist across districts: Muhanga records the highest access to basic sanitation (87%), followed by Nyaruguru (82%), while Ruhango has the lowest rate (59%) and the highest proportion using unimproved facilities (31%). Huye records the highest use of limited sanitation services (13%). Open defecation reaches 3% in Nyamagabe, Gisagara and Ruhango, compared with less than 1% in Nyanza, Nyaruguru, Huye and Kamonyi.