A rural municipality (RM) is a type of incorporated municipality in the Canadian province of Manitoba. Under the province's Municipal Act of 1997, an area must have a minimum population of 1,000 and a density of less than to incorporate as a rural municipality. Manitoba has 98 RMs, which had a cumulative population of 301,438 as of the 2016 Census. This is a decrease from 116 RMs prior to January 1, 2015, when municipalities with less than 1,000 people were directed by the provincial government to amalgamate with adjoining municipalities to comply with the Municipal Act. The most and least populated RMs as of the 2016 census are Hanover and Victoria Beach with populations of 15,733 and 398 respectively. East St. Paul is the most densely populated RM at The largest and smallest RMs in terms of geography are Reynolds and Victoria Beach with land areas of and respectively. List Notes *Municipal or administrative offices are located in an adjacent independent city, town or village that is outside the jurisdiction of the rural municipality. Former rural municipalities Notes See also List of local urban districts in Manitoba List of communities in Manitoba List of ghost towns in Manitoba List of municipalities in Manitoba List of cities in Manitoba List of towns in Manitoba List of villages in Manitoba Amalgamation of Winnipeg Manitoba municipal amalgamations, 2015 List of rural municipalities in Saskatchewan References External links Manitoba Historical Society - Manitoba Municipalities Government of Manitoba Community Profiles: Regional Map (archived). Census Divisions Map. Municipality Profiles. Municipalities