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This article is an import from the CIA World Factbook 2002. It's a starting point for creating a real aTRAVELdirectory country article according to our country article template. Please plunge forward and edit it.

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.

Table of contents

1 Geography 2 People 3 Government 4 Economy 5 Communications 6 Transportation 7 Military 8 Transnational Issues

Geography in Rwanda

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
water: 1,390 sq km
land: 24,948 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: 32.43%
permanent crops: 10.13%
other: 57.44% (1998 est.)

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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, 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 in Rwanda

Population

7,398,074
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 2002 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 41.7% (male 1,550,141; female 1,539,375)
15-64 years: 55.4% (male 2,039,573; female 2,057,059)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 84,030; female 127,896) (2002 est.)

Population growth rate

1.16% (2002 est.)

Birth rate

33.28 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate

21.39 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Net migration rate

-0.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 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: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate

117.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 38.66 years
female: 39.2 years (2002 est.)
male: 38.14 years

Total fertility rate

4.72 children born/woman (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

11.21% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

400,000 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

40,000 (1999 est.)

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: 48%
male: 52%
female: 45% (1995 est.)

Government in Rwanda

Country name

conventional long form: Rwandese Republic
conventional short form: Rwanda
local short form: Rwanda
former: Ruanda
local long form: Republika y'u Rwanda

Government type

republic; presidential, multiparty system

Capital

Kigali

Administrative divisions

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

Independence

1 July 1962 (from Belgium-administered UN trusteeship)

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 July (1962)

Constitution

on 5 May 1995, 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

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 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 five-year term; special election for new president by deputies of the National Assembly and governmental ministers held 17 April 2000 (next national election to be held NA June 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

Legislative branch

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 June 2003)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court; communal courts; appeals courts

Political parties and leaders

Centrist Democratic Party or PDC [Jean-Nipomuscene NAYINZIRA]; Democratic Socialist Party or PSD [leader NA]; 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 BIZIMURGI and Charilg NTAKIROTINKA]; Rwanda Patriotic Army or RPA [Maj. Gen. Paul KAGAME, commander]; Rwanda Patriotic Front or FPR [Maj. Gen. Paul KAGAME]; Rwandan Socialist Party or PSR [leader NA]

Political pressure groups and leaders

IBUKA - association of genocide survivors

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Richard SEZIBERA
chancery: 1714 New Hampshire Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20009
FAX: [1] (202) 232-4544
telephone: [1] (202) 232-2882

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

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 in Rwanda

Economy - overview

Rwanda is a 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 exports 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 significant progress in stabilizing and rehabilitating its economy. GDP has rebounded, and inflation has been curbed. Rwanda received approval for debt relief from the IMF in late 2000 and continued to make progress on inflation, privatization, and GDP growth in 2001. However, export earnings were hindered by low global coffee prices, depriving the country of much needed hard currency. President KAGAME is encouraging investors to take advantage of export opportunities in Rwanda based on its membership in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) free trade area and its access to the US and the EU markets through preferential trade agreements.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $7.2 billion (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

5% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,000 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 46%
industry: 20%
services: 34% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line

70% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 4%
highest 10%: 24% (1983-85)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

29 (1983-85 )

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5% (2001 est.)

Labor force

3.6 million

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 90%

Unemployment rate

NA%

Budget

revenues: $199.3 million
expenditures: $445 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)

Industries

cement, agricultural products, small-scale beverages, soap, furniture, shoes, plastic goods, textiles, cigarettes

Industrial production growth rate

7% (2001 est.)

Electricity - production

113 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 3%
hydro: 97%
other: 0% (2000)
nuclear: 0%

Electricity - consumption

174.09 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports

1 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports

70 million kWh (2000)

Agriculture - products

coffee, tea, pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums), bananas, beans, sorghum, potatoes; livestock

Exports

$61 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)

Exports - commodities

coffee, tea, hides, tin ore

Exports - partners

EU 56.9%, Pakistan 12.3%, US 9.2%, China 4.4% Malaysia 4.4% (2000 est.)

Imports

$248 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, steel, petroleum products, cement and construction material

Imports - partners

Kenya 29.4%, EU 28%, US 10%, India 4.4%, Tanzania 2.2% (2000 est.)

Debt - external

$1.3 billion (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$372.9 million (1999)

Currency

Rwandan franc (RWF)

Currency code

RWF

Exchange rates

Rwandan francs per US dollar - 456.81 (January 2002), 442.99 (2001), 389.70 (2000), 333.94 (1999) 312.31 (1998), 301.53 (1997)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use

11,000 (1999)

Telephones - mobile cellular

11,000 (1999)
note: Rwanda has mobile cellular service between Kigali and several prefecture capitals (2002)

Telephone system

general assessment: telephone system primarily serves business and government
domestic: the capital, Kigali, is connected to the centers of the prefectures by microwave radio relay and, recently, by cellular telephone service; much of the network depends on wire and HF radiotelephone
international: 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 3 (two main FM programs are broadcast through a system of repeaters and the third FM program is a 24 hour BBC program), shortwave 1 (2002)

Radios

601,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations

NA

Televisions

NA; probably less than 1,000 (1997)

Internet country code

.rw

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

2 (2002)

Internet users

20,000 (2002)

Transportation in Rwanda

Railways

0 km

Highways

total: 12,000 km
paved: 1,000 km
unpaved: 11,000 km (1997 est.)

Waterways

note: Lac Kivu navigable by shallow-draft barges and native craft

Ports and harbors

Cyangugu, Gisenyi, Kibuye

Airports

8 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 3 (2002)

Military

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 1,858,443 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 946,990 (2002 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$58 million (FY01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

3.1% (FY01)

Transnational Issues in Rwanda

Disputes - international

Tutsi, Hutu and other ethnic groups, political rebels, and various government forces continue fighting in Great Lakes region, transcending the boundaries of Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda

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