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This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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| Introduction | Rwanda | Top of Page

Background: | 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.

| Geography | Rwanda | Top of Page

Location: | Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo
Geographic coordinates: | 2 00 S, 30 00 E
Map references: | Africa
Area: | total: 26,338 sq km land: 24,948 sq km water: 1,390 sq km
Area - comparative: | slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries: | total: 893 km border countries: Burundi 290 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 217 km, Tanzania 217 km, Uganda 169 km
Coastline: | 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: | none (landlocked)
Climate: | temperate; two rainy seasons (February to April, November to January); mild in mountains with frost and snow possible
Terrain: | mostly grassy uplands and hills; relief is mountainous with altitude declining from west to east
Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Rusizi River 950 m highest point: Volcan Karisimbi 4,519 m
Natural resources: | gold, cassiterite (tin ore), wolframite (tungsten ore), methane, hydropower, arable land
Land use: | arable land: 40.54% permanent crops: 12.16% other: 47.3% (2001)
Irrigated land: | 40 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: | periodic droughts; the volcanic Virunga mountains are in the northwest along the border with Democratic Republic of the Congo
Environment - current issues: | deforestation results from uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel; overgrazing; soil exhaustion; soil erosion; widespread poaching
Environment - international agreements: | 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
Geography - note: | landlocked; most of the country is savanna grassland with the population predominantly rural

| People | Rwanda | Top of Page

Population: | 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.)
Age structure: | 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.)
Median age: | total: 18.48 years male: 18.26 years female: 18.7 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate: | 2.43% (2005 est.)
Birth rate: | 40.6 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate: | 16.32 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate: | 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio: | 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.)
Infant mortality rate: | 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.)
Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 46.96 years male: 45.92 years female: 48.03 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate: | 5.49 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 5.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 250,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: | 22,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases: | degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria (2004)
Nationality: | noun: Rwandan(s) adjective: Rwandan
Ethnic groups: | Hutu 84%, Tutsi 15%, Twa (Pygmoid) 1%
Religions: | Roman Catholic 56.5%, Protestant 26%, Adventist 11.1%, Muslim 4.6%, indigenous beliefs 0.1%, none 1.7% (2001)
Languages: | Kinyarwanda (official) universal Bantu vernacular, French (official), English (official), Kiswahili (Swahili) used in commercial centers
Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 70.4% male: 76.3% female: 64.7% (2003 est.)
People - note: | Rwanda is the most densely populated country in Africa

| Government | Rwanda | Top of Page

Country name: | conventional long form: Republic of Rwanda conventional short form: Rwanda local long form: Republika y'u Rwanda local short form: Rwanda former: Ruanda
Government type: | republic; presidential, multiparty system
Capital: | Kigali
Administrative divisions: | 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
Independence: | 1 July 1962 (from Belgium-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday: | Independence Day, 1 July (1962)
Constitution: | new constitution adopted 4 June 2003
Legal system: | 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
Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal adult
Executive branch: | 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%
Legislative branch: | 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
Judicial branch: | Supreme Court; High Courts of the Republic; Provincial Courts; District Courts; mediation committees
Political parties and leaders: | 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]
Political pressure groups and leaders: | IBUKA - association of genocide survivors
International organization participation: | 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
Diplomatic representation in the US: | 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
Diplomatic representation from the US: | 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
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

| Economy | Rwanda | Top of Page

Economy - overview: | 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.
GDP (purchasing power parity): | $10.43 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: | 0.9% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita: | purchasing power parity - $1,300 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 41.1% industry: 21.2% services: 37.7% (2004 est.)
Labor force: | 4.6 million (2000)
Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture 90%
Unemployment rate: | NA
Population below poverty line: | 60% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: 4.2% highest 10%: 24.2% (1985)
Distribution of family income - Gini index: | 28.9 (1985)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 7% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed): | 20% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget: | revenues: $354.5 million expenditures: $385 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products: | coffee, tea, pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums), bananas, beans, sorghum, potatoes; livestock
Industries: | cement, agricultural products, small-scale beverages, soap, furniture, shoes, plastic goods, textiles, cigarettes
Industrial production growth rate: | 7% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production: | 166.7 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - consumption: | 195 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports: | 40 million kWh (2002)
Oil - production: | 0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption: | 5,300 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports: | NA
Oil - imports: | NA
Oil - proved reserves: | 0 bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - proved reserves: | 28.32 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance: | $-212.5 million (2004 est.)
Exports: | $69.78 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities: | coffee, tea, hides, tin ore
Exports - partners: | Indonesia 64.2%, China 3.6%, Germany 2.7% (2004)
Imports: | $260 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities: | foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, steel, petroleum products, cement and construction material
Imports - partners: | Kenya 24.4%, Germany 7.4%, Belgium 6.6%, Uganda 6.3%, France 5.1% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $210.9 million (2004 est.)
Debt - external: | $1.3 billion (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: | $372.9 million (1999)
Currency (code): | Rwandan franc (RWF)
Exchange rates: | Rwandan francs per US dollar - 574.62 (2004), 537.66 (2003), 476.33 (2002), 442.8 (2001), 393.44 (2000)
Fiscal year: | calendar year

| Communications | Rwanda | Top of Page

Telephones - main lines in use: | 23,200 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular: | 134,000 note: Rwanda has mobile cellular service between Kigali and several provincial capitals (2003)
Telephone system: | 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)
Radio broadcast stations: | 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)
Television broadcast stations: | 2 (2004)
Internet country code: | .rw
Internet hosts: | 1,495 (2003)
Internet users: | 25,000 (2002)

| Transportation | Rwanda | Top of Page

Highways: | total: 12,000 km paved: 996 km unpaved: 11,004 km (1999 est.)
Waterways: | Lac Kivu navigable by shallow-draft barges and native craft (2004)
Ports and harbors: | Cyangugu, Gisenyi, Kibuye
Airports: | 9 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: | total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.)

| Military | Rwanda | Top of Page

Military branches: | Rwandan Defense Forces: Army, Air Force
Military service age and obligation: | 16 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2001)
Manpower available for military service: | males age 16-49: 2,004,750 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service: | males age 16-49: 1,103,823 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: | $50.1 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 3.2% (2004)

| Transnational Issues | Rwanda | Top of Page

Disputes - international: | 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
Refugees and internally displaced persons: | 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)

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005