Rwanda will host the seventh United Nations World Data Forum in 2028, bringing the global data and statistics community to Kigali. The announcement marks a significant moment for Rwanda’s role in international discussions on data, statistics and sustainable development.
The United Nations High-level Group for Partnership, Coordination and Capacity-Building for Statistics for the 2030 Agenda held a special meeting on 21 September 2026 to select the host of the seventh UN World Data Forum, which is scheduled for 2028.
The UN World Data Forum brings together governments, international organisations, civil society, the private sector, academia, data scientists and other stakeholders to strengthen cooperation around data and statistics for sustainable development.
Rwanda’s hosting of the 2028 forum will place Kigali at the centre of global discussions on how data can support development, innovation and evidence-based decision-making.
The seventh forum will follow the sixth UN World Data Forum, scheduled to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 9 to 12 November 2026.
The UN has said the 2028 forum is expected to take place in the fourth quarter of the year, maintaining the Forum’s intended biennial cycle and aligning with the final phase of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Rwanda’s selection also comes as the country continues to position data and statistics as important tools for planning, monitoring development programmes and informing public policy.
The forum is expected to provide an opportunity for participants from across the world to exchange experiences, strengthen partnerships and explore new approaches to improving the availability and use of data for sustainable development.
The UN World Data Forum was established as a platform for intensifying cooperation among the diverse communities involved in data and statistics, including governments, civil society, businesses, international organisations, academia and the geospatial community.
