Elevation
Kigali elevation and altitude
Kigali, Rwanda is 5,059 feet (1,542 meters) above sea level. Elevation and altitude mean the same thing here: the height of the city above the sea.
What 5,059 feet means in Kigali
Among the 689 cities on this site, Kigali is higher than most. At 5,059 ft the air holds noticeably less oxygen per breath than at the coast. Most people adapt within a few days; exercise feels harder at first.
Air pressure. Air pressure falls as you climb, about 1 inHg for every 1,000 ft near the ground. In Kigali a barometer that is not corrected to sea level reads around 24.84 inHg on an average day, while the weather forecast still quotes a sea-level number near 29.92 inHg. See today’s live barometric pressure in Kigali.
Cooking. Water boils at about 203 °F (94.8 °C) here, so boiled foods cook more slowly and baking recipes often need small high-altitude adjustments. Boiling point at altitude
Where the number comes from. The elevation is for the city center point in the GeoNames gazetteer, taken from a digital elevation model. To check the exact height where you are standing, use What is my elevation? or What is my altitude?
Elevation of places near Kigali
| Place | Elevation (ft) | Elevation (m) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kampala, Uganda | 4,012 | 1,223 | 234 mi |
| Nairobi, Kenya | 5,525 | 1,684 | 469 mi |
| Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | 79 | 24 | 718 mi |
| Lusaka, Zambia | 4,190 | 1,277 | 938 mi |
| Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | 7,890 | 2,405 | 966 mi |
| Harare, Zimbabwe | 4,902 | 1,494 | 1099 mi |
| Windhoek, Namibia | 5,577 | 1,700 | 1669 mi |
| Johannesburg, South Africa | 5,797 | 1,767 | 1681 mi |
Frequently asked questions
What is the elevation or altitude of Kigali?
Kigali, Rwanda is about 5,059 feet (1,542 meters) above sea level, measured at the city center. Neighborhoods higher or lower in the city can differ by a few hundred feet.
What is the air pressure in Kigali because of its elevation?
On a standard day the air pressure at 5,059 ft is about 24.84 inHg (841 hPa), 83% of sea-level pressure. Each breath holds about 83% as much oxygen as at sea level. Live barometric pressure in Kigali.
At what temperature does water boil in Kigali?
About 203 °F (94.8 °C), compared with 212 °F (100 °C) at sea level, so pasta, eggs and beans take a little longer to cook.