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National Map
Of |
Rwanda |
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National Flag
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Rwanda |
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Flag Description:
three horizontal bands of sky blue (top, double width),
yellow, and green, with a golden sun with 24 rays near the
fly end of the blue band
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National Emblem(Coat Of Arms)
Of |
Rwanda |
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National Anthem
Of |
Rwanda |
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Categories National Symbol Of |
Rwanda |
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Background:
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In 1959,
three years before independence from Belgium, the
majority ethnic group, the Hutus, overthrew the ruling
Tutsi king. Over the next several years, thousands of
Tutsis were killed, and some 150,000 driven into exile
in neighboring countries. The children of these exiles
later formed a rebel group, the Rwandan Patriotic Front
(RPF), and began a civil war in 1990. The war, along
with several political and economic upheavals,
exacerbated ethnic tensions, culminating in April 1994
in the genocide of roughly 800,000 Tutsis and moderate
Hutus. The Tutsi rebels defeated the Hutu regime and
ended the killing in July 1994, but approximately 2
million Hutu refugees - many fearing Tutsi retribution -
fled to neighboring Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda, and the
former Zaire. Since then, most of the refugees have
returned to Rwanda, but about 10,000 that remain in the
neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo have formed
an extremist insurgency bent on retaking Rwanda, much as
the RPF tried in 1990. Despite substantial international
assistance and political reforms - including Rwanda's
first local elections in March 1999 and its first
post-genocide presidential and legislative elections in
August and September 2003, respectively - the country
continues to struggle to boost investment and
agricultural output, and ethnic reconciliation is
complicated by the real and perceived Tutsi political
dominance. Kigali's increasing centralization and
intolerance of dissent, the nagging Hutu extremist
insurgency across the border, and Rwandan involvement in
two wars in recent years in the neighboring Democratic
Republic of the Congo continue to hinder Rwanda's
efforts to escape its bloody legacy. |
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Location:
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Central
Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo |
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Geographic coordinates:
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2 00 S,
30 00 E |
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Map references:
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Africa
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Area:
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total:
26,338 sq km
land: 24,948 sq km
water: 1,390 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly
smaller than Maryland |
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Land boundaries:
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total:
893 km
border countries: Burundi 290 km, Democratic
Republic of the Congo 217 km, Tanzania 217 km, Uganda
169 km |
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Coastline:
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0 km
(landlocked) |
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Maritime claims:
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none
(landlocked) |
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Climate:
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temperate; two rainy seasons (February to April,
November to January); mild in mountains with frost and
snow possible |
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Terrain:
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mostly
grassy uplands and hills; relief is mountainous with
altitude declining from west to east |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest
point: Rusizi River 950 m
highest point: Volcan Karisimbi 4,519 m |
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Natural resources:
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gold,
cassiterite (tin ore), wolframite (tungsten ore),
methane, hydropower, arable land |
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Land use:
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arable
land: 40.54%
permanent crops: 12.16%
other: 47.3% (2001) |
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Irrigated land:
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40 sq km
(1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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periodic
droughts; the volcanic Virunga mountains are in the
northwest along the border with Democratic Republic of
the Congo |
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Environment - current issues:
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deforestation results from uncontrolled cutting of trees
for fuel; overgrazing; soil exhaustion; soil erosion;
widespread poaching |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party
to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea |
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Geography - note:
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landlocked; most of the country is savanna grassland
with the population predominantly rural |
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Population:
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8,440,820
note: estimates for this country explicitly take
into account the effects of excess mortality due to
AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher
infant mortality and death rates, lower population and
growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be
expected (July 2005 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14
years: 41.9% (male 1,777,178/female 1,762,252)
15-64 years: 55.5% (male 2,328,686/female
2,356,572)
65 years and over: 2.6% (male 87,155/female
128,977) (2005 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
18.48 years
male: 18.26 years
female: 18.7 years (2005 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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2.43%
(2005 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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40.6
births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Death rate:
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16.32
deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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0
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at
birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
91.23 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 96.37 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 85.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2005
est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 46.96 years
male: 45.92 years
female: 48.03 years (2005 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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5.49
children born/woman (2005 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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5.1%
(2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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250,000
(2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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22,000
(2003 est.) |
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Major infectious diseases:
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degree
of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria (2004) |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Rwandan(s)
adjective: Rwandan |
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Ethnic groups:
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Hutu 84%,
Tutsi 15%, Twa (Pygmoid) 1% |
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Religions:
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Roman
Catholic 56.5%, Protestant 26%, Adventist 11.1%, Muslim
4.6%, indigenous beliefs 0.1%, none 1.7% (2001) |
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Languages:
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Kinyarwanda (official) universal Bantu vernacular,
French (official), English (official), Kiswahili
(Swahili) used in commercial centers |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 70.4%
male: 76.3%
female: 64.7% (2003 est.) |
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People - note:
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Rwanda is
the most densely populated country in Africa |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of Rwanda
conventional short form: Rwanda
local long form: Republika y'u Rwanda
local short form: Rwanda
former: Ruanda |
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Government type:
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republic;
presidential, multiparty system |
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Capital:
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Kigali
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Administrative divisions:
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12
provinces (in French - provinces, singular - province;
in Kinyarwanda - prefigintara for singular and plural);
Butare, Byumba, Cyangugu, Gikongoro, Gisenyi, Gitarama,
Kibungo, Kibuye, Kigali Rurale, Kigali-ville, Umutara,
Ruhengeri |
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Independence:
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1 July
1962 (from Belgium-administered UN trusteeship) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 1 July (1962) |
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Constitution:
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new
constitution adopted 4 June 2003 |
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Legal system:
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based on
German and Belgian civil law systems and customary law;
judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme
Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
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Suffrage:
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18 years
of age; universal adult |
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Executive branch:
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chief
of state: President Paul KAGAME (since 22 April
2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Bernard MAKUZA
(since 8 March 2000)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the
president
elections: last held 25 August 2003 (next to be
held NA 2008)
election results: Paul KAGAME elected president
in first direct popular vote; Paul KAGAME 95.05%,
Faustin TWAGIRAMUNGU 3.62%, Jean-Nepomuscene NAYINZIRA
1.33% |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (53
seats; members elected by direct vote)
elections: last held 29 September 2003 (next to
be held Chamber of Deputies - NA 2008; Senate - NA 2011)
election results: seats by party under the 2003
Constitution - RPF 40, PSD 7, PL 6 |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme
Court; High Courts of the Republic; Provincial Courts;
District Courts; mediation committees |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Centrist
Democratic Party or PDC [Alfred MUKEZAMFURA]; Democratic
Popular Union of Rwanda or UDPR [Adrien RANGIRA];
Democratic Republican Movement or MDR (officially
banned) [Celestin KABANDA]; Islamic Democratic Party or
PDI [Andre BUMAYA]; Liberal Party or PL [Prosper
HIGIRO]; Party for Democratic Renewal (officially
banned) [Pasteur BIZIMUNGU and Charles NTAKARUTINKA];
Rwandan Patriotic Front or RPF [Paul KAGAME]; Social
Democratic Party or PSD [Vincent BIRUTA] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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IBUKA -
association of genocide survivors |
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International organization participation:
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ACCT,
ACP, AfDB, AU, CEPGL, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador Zac NSENGA
chancery: 1714 New Hampshire Ave. NW, Washington,
DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 232-2882
FAX: [1] (202) 232-4544 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires
Henderson PATRICK
embassy: 337 Boulevard de la Revolution, Kigali
mailing address: B. P. 28, Kigali
telephone: [250] 50 56 01 through 03
FAX: [250] 57 2128 |
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Flag description:
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three
horizontal bands of sky blue (top, double width),
yellow, and green, with a golden sun with 24 rays near
the fly end of the blue band |
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Economy - overview:
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Rwanda is
a poor rural country with about 90% of the population
engaged in (mainly subsistence) agriculture. It is the
most densely populated country in Africa; landlocked
with few natural resources and minimal industry. Primary
foreign exchange earners are coffee and tea. The 1994
genocide decimated Rwanda's fragile economic base,
severely impoverished the population, particularly
women, and eroded the country's ability to attract
private and external investment. However, Rwanda has
made substantial progress in stabilizing and
rehabilitating its economy to pre-1994 levels, although
poverty levels are higher now. GDP has rebounded and
inflation has been curbed. Export earnings, however,
have been hindered by low beverage prices, depriving the
country of much needed hard currency. Despite Rwanda's
fertile ecosystem, food production often does not keep
pace with population growth, requiring food imports.
Rwanda continues to receive substantial aid money and
was approved for IMF-World Bank Heavily Indebted Poor
Country (HIPC) initiative debt relief in late 2000.
Kigali's high defense expenditures have caused tension
between the government and international donors and
lending agencies. An energy shortage and instability in
neighboring states may slow growth in 2005, while the
lack of adequate transportation linkages to other
countries continues to handicap export growth. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$10.43
billion (2004 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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0.9%
(2004 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $1,300 (2004 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 41.1%
industry: 21.2%
services: 37.7% (2004 est.) |
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Labor force:
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4.6
million (2000) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 90% |
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Unemployment rate:
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NA |
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Population below poverty line:
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60% (2001
est.) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest
10%: 4.2%
highest 10%: 24.2% (1985) |
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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28.9
(1985) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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7% (2004
est.) |
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Investment (gross fixed):
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20% of
GDP (2004 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $354.5 million
expenditures: $385 million, including capital
expenditures of NA (2004 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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coffee,
tea, pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums),
bananas, beans, sorghum, potatoes; livestock |
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Industries:
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cement,
agricultural products, small-scale beverages, soap,
furniture, shoes, plastic goods, textiles, cigarettes
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Industrial production growth rate:
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7% (2001
est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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166.7
million kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil
fuel: 2.3%
hydro: 97.7%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001) |
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Electricity - consumption:
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195
million kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh
(2002) |
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Electricity - imports:
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40
million kWh (2002) |
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day
(2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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5,300
bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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NA |
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Oil - imports:
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NA |
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Oil - proved reserves:
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0 bbl (1
January 2002) |
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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28.32
billion cu m (1 January 2002) |
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Current account balance:
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$-212.5
million (2004 est.) |
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Exports:
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$69.78
million f.o.b. (2004 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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coffee,
tea, hides, tin ore |
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Exports - partners:
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Indonesia
64.2%, China 3.6%, Germany 2.7% (2004) |
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Imports:
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$260
million f.o.b. (2004 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, steel, petroleum
products, cement and construction material |
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Imports - partners:
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Kenya
24.4%, Germany 7.4%, Belgium 6.6%, Uganda 6.3%, France
5.1% (2004) |
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$210.9
million (2004 est.) |
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Debt - external:
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$1.3
billion (2000 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$372.9
million (1999) |
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Currency (code):
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Rwandan
franc (RWF) |
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Currency code:
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RWF |
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Exchange rates:
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Rwandan
francs per US dollar - 574.62 (2004), 537.66 (2003),
476.33 (2002), 442.8 (2001), 393.44 (2000) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar
year |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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23,200
(2002) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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134,000
note: Rwanda has mobile cellular service between
Kigali and several provincial capitals (2003) |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: telephone system primarily
serves business and government
domestic: the capital, Kigali, is connected to
the centers of the provinces by microwave radio relay
and, recently, by cellular telephone service; much of
the network depends on wire and HF radiotelephone
international: country code - 250; international
connections employ microwave radio relay to neighboring
countries and satellite communications to more distant
countries; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian
Ocean) in Kigali (includes telex and telefax service)
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 0, FM
8 (two main FM programs are broadcast through a system
of repeaters, three international FM programs include
the BBC, VOA, and Deutchewelle), shortwave 1 (2005) |
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Radios:
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601,000
(1997) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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2 (2004)
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Televisions:
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NA;
probably less than 1,000 (1997) |
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Internet country code:
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.rw |
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Internet hosts:
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1,495
(2003) |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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2 (2002)
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Internet users:
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25,000
(2002) |
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Highways:
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total:
12,000 km
paved: 996 km
unpaved: 11,004 km (1999 est.) |
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Waterways:
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Lac Kivu
navigable by shallow-draft barges and native craft
(2004) |
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Ports and harbors:
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Cyangugu,
Gisenyi, Kibuye |
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Airports:
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9 (2004
est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total:
4
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total:
5
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.) |
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Military branches:
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Rwandan
Defense Forces: Army, Air Force |
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Military service age and obligation:
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16 years
of age for voluntary military service; no conscription
(2001) |
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Manpower available for military service:
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males
age 16-49: 2,004,750 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males
age 16-49: 1,103,823 (2005 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$50.1
million (2004) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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3.2%
(2004) |
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Disputes - international:
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Tutsi,
Hutu, Hema, Lendu, and other conflicting ethnic groups,
associated political rebels, armed gangs, and various
government forces continue fighting in Great Lakes
region, transcending the boundaries of Burundi,
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda to
gain control over populated areas and natural resources
- government heads pledge to end conflicts, but
localized violence continues despite UN peacekeeping
efforts; DROC and Rwanda established a border
verification mechanism in 2005 to address accusations of
Rwandan military supporting Congolese rebels and the
Congo providing rebel Rwandan "Interhamwe" forces the
means and bases to attack Rwandan forces; as of 2004,
Rwandan refugees lived in the Democratic Republic of the
Congo, Uganda, and Zambia |
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Refugees and internally displaced persons:
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refugees (country of origin): 37,691 (Democratic
Republic of the Congo)
IDPs: 4,158 (incursions by Hutu rebels from
Democratic Republic of the Congo, 1997-99; most IDPs in
northwest) (2004) |
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This page was last updated on
20 October, 2005 |
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