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This page was last updated on
1 August, 2003
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Legend:
 Definition 
Field Listing 
Rank Order
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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, 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 Zaire. Since then, most of
the refugees have returned to Rwanda. Despite substantial
international assistance and political reforms - including
Rwanda's first local elections in March 1999 - the country
continues to struggle to boost investment and agricultural
output and to foster reconciliation. A series of massive
population displacements, a nagging Hutu extremist
insurgency, and Rwandan involvement in two wars over the
past four years in the neighboring DROC continue to hinder
Rwanda's efforts. |
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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
water: 1,390 sq km
land: 24,948 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: 32.43%
permanent crops: 10.13%
other: 57.44% (1998 est.) |
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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,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban,
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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7,810,056
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 2003
est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 42.5% (male 1,667,128; female
1,651,422)
15-64 years: 54.8% (male 2,128,495; female
2,148,694)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 85,576; female
128,741) (2003 est.) |
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Median age:
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total: 18.1 years
male: 17.8 years
female: 18.3 years (2002) |
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Population growth rate:
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1.84% (2003 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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40.1 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Death rate:
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21.72 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 102.61 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 97.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 107.66 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 39.33 years
male: 38.51 years
female: 40.18 years (2003 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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5.6 children born/woman (2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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8.9% (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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500,000 (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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49,000 (2001 est.) |
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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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Country name:
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conventional long form: Rwandese Republic
conventional short form: Rwanda
local short form: Rwanda
former: Ruanda
local long form: Republika y'u Rwanda |
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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 prefectures (in French - prefectures, singular -
prefecture; in Kinyarwanda - plural - NA, singular -
prefegitura); 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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on August 25, 2003, we saw the end of the Transitional
National Assembly adopted as Fundamental Law the
constitution of 18 June 1991, provisions of the 1993
Arusha peace accord, the July 1994 Declaration by the
Rwanda Patriotic Front, and the November 1994 multiparty
protocol of understanding
Rwanda now has a democratically elected
president, Maj. Gen. Paul KAGAME.
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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 Maj. Gen. Paul KAGAME (FPR)
(since 22 April 2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Bernard MAKUZA
(since 8 March 2000)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the
president
elections: normally the president is elected by
popular vote for a seven-year term; special election for
new president by deputies of the National Assembly and
governmental ministers held 17 April 2000 (first national
popular vote election to be held NA July 2003); prime
minister is appointed by the president
election results: Paul KAGAME (FPR) elected
president in a special parliamentary/ministerial ballot
receiving 81 of a possible 86 votes |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral Transitional National Assembly or Assemblee
Nationale de Transition (a power-sharing body with 70
seats established on 12 December 1994 following a
multiparty protocol of understanding; members were named
by their parties, number of seats per party predetermined
by the Arusha peace accord)
note: four additional seats, two for women and two
for youth, added in 2001
election results: seats by party under the Arusha
peace accord - FPR 13, MDR 13, PSD 13, PL 13, PDC 6, RPA
6, PSR 2, PDI 2, UDPR 2; note - the distribution of seats
was predetermined, four additional seats (two for women
and two for youth) added in 2001
elections: the last national legislative elections
were held 16 December 1988 for the National Development
Council (the legislature prior to the advent of the
Transitional National Assembly); no elections have been
held for the Transitional National Assembly as the
distribution of seats was predetermined by the Arusha
peace accord (next to be held NA July 2003) |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court; communal courts; appeals courts |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Centrist Democratic Party or PDC [Jean-Nipomuscene
NAYINZIRA]; Democratic Socialist Party or PSD [J.
Damascene NTAWUKURIRYAYO]; Democratic Popular Union of
Rwanda or UDPR [leader NA]; Democratic Republican Movement
or MDR [Celestin KABANDA]; Islamic Democratic Party or PDI
[Andre BUMAYA]; Liberal Party or PL [Pie MUGABO]; Party
for Democratic Renewal (officially banned) [Pasteur
BIZIMUNGU and Charles NTAKARUTINKA]; Rwanda Patriotic
Front or FPR [Maj. Gen. Paul KAGAME]; Rwandan Socialist
Party or PSR [leader NA] |
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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, CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW
(signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO |
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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
FAX: [1] (202) 232-4544
telephone: [1] (202) 232-2882 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Margaret K. McMILLION
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. Attempts to diversify into non-traditional
agriculture exports such as flowers and vegetables have
been stymied by a lack of adequate transportation
infrastructure. Despite Rwanda's fertile ecosystem, food
production often does not keep pace with population
growth, requiring food to be imported. Rwanda continues to
receive substantial amounts of aid money and was approved
for IMF-World Bank Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC)
initiative debt relief in late 2000. But Kigali's high
defense expenditures cause tension between the government
and international donors and lending agencies. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $9 billion (2002 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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4% (2002 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $1,200 (2002 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 45%
industry: 20%
services: 35% (2002 est.) |
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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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5.5% (2002 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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Budget:
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revenues: $199.3 million
expenditures: $445 million, including capital
expenditures of $NA (2001 est.) |
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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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96.78 million kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 2.3%
hydro: 97.7%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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140 million kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - imports:
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50 million kWh (2001) |
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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 (2001) |
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Oil - imports:
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NA (2001) |
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Oil - proved reserves:
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0 bbl (January 2002 est.) |
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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28.32 billion cu m (January 2002 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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Exports:
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$68 million f.o.b. (2002 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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Germany 17.7%, Pakistan 7.4%, Netherlands 6.7%, Belgium
5.6%, US 5.1% (2000) |
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Imports:
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$253 million f.o.b. (2002 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 22.1%, Belgium 9.0%, US 9.5%, Japan 3.5%, Germany
3.1% (2000) |
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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:
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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 - 475.365 (2002), 442.992
(2001), 389.696 (2000), 333.942 (1999), 312.314 (1998) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year |
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Disputes - international:
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