Rwanda

Rwanda

Introduction

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 a state-orchestrated genocide, in which Rwandans killed up to a million of their fellow citizens, including approximately three-quarters of the Tutsi population. The genocide ended later that same year when the predominantly Tutsi RPF, operating out of Uganda and northern Rwanda, defeated the national army and Hutu militias, and established an RPF-led government of national unity. 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, but several thousand remained in the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC

the former Zaire) and formed an extremist insurgency bent on retaking Rwanda, much as the RPF tried in 1990. Rwanda held its first local elections in 1999 and its first post-genocide presidential and legislative elections in 2003. Rwanda in 2009 staged a joint military operation with the Congolese Army in DRC to rout out the Hutu extremist insurgency there and Kigali and Kinshasa restored diplomatic relations. Rwanda also joined the Commonwealth in late 2009.

Geography

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
country comparison to the world: 149 land:24,668 sq km
water:1,670 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: 45.56%
permanent crops:10.25%
other:44.19% (2005)

Irrigated land

90 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

5.2 cu km (2003)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.15cu km/yr (24%/8%/68%)
per capita:17cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards

periodic droughts

the volcanic Virunga mountains are in the northwest along the border with Democratic Republic of the Congo
volcanism:Visoke (elev. 3,711 m), located on the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is the country’s only historically active volcano

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, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:Law of the Sea

Geography – note

landlocked

most of the country is savanna grassland with the population predominantly rural

People and Society

Nationality

noun: Rwandan(s)
adjective:Rwandan

Ethnic groups

Hutu (Bantu) 84%, Tutsi (Hamitic) 15%, Twa (Pygmy) 1%

Languages

Kinyarwanda (official, universal Bantu vernacular), French (official), English (official), Kiswahili (Swahili, used in commercial centers)

Religions

Roman Catholic 56.5%, Protestant 26%, Adventist 11.1%, Muslim 4.6%, indigenous beliefs 0.1%, none 1.7% (2001)

Population

11,370,425 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73 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, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected

Age structure

0-14 years: 42.9% (male 2,454,924/female 2,418,504)
15-64 years:54.7% (male 3,097,956/female 3,123,910)
65 years and over:2.4% (male 110,218/female 164,913) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 18.7 years
male:18.5 years
female:19 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

2.792% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16

Birth rate

36.74 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22

Death rate

9.88 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58

Net migration rate

1.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52

Urbanization

urban population: 19% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:4.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

KIGALI (capital) 909,000 (2009)

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:0.67 male(s)/female
total population:0.99 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

540 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 24

Infant mortality rate

total: 64.04 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 25 male:67.64 deaths/1,000 live births
female:60.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 58.02 years
country comparison to the world: 192 male:56.57 years
female:59.52 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.9 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23

Health expenditures

9% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 43

Physicians density

0.024 physicians/1,000 population (2005)
country comparison to the world: 185

Hospital bed density

1.6 beds/1,000 population (2007)
country comparison to the world: 117

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 77% of population
rural: 62% of population
total: 65% of population
unimproved:
urban: 23% of population
rural: 38% of population
total: 35% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 50% of population
rural: 55% of population
total: 54% of population
unimproved:
urban: 50% of population
rural: 45% of population
total: 46% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

2.9% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

170,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31

HIV/AIDS – deaths

4,100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases:bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease:malaria
animal contact disease:rabies (2009)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

18% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 41

Education expenditures

4.1% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 101

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:70.4%
male:76.3%
female:64.7% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 11 years
male:11 years
female:11 years (2009)

People – note

Rwanda is the most densely populated country in Africa

Government

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, German East Africa

Government type

republic

presidential, multiparty system

Capital

name: Kigali
geographic coordinates:1 57 S, 30 04 E
time difference:UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions

4 provinces (in French – provinces, singular – province

in Kinyarwanda – intara for singular and plural) and 1 city* (in French – ville

in Kinyarwanda – umujyi)

Est (Eastern), Kigali*, Nord (Northern), Ouest (Western), Sud (Southern)

Independence

1 July 1962 (from Belgium-administered UN trusteeship)

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 July (1962)

Constitution

new constitution passed by referendum 26 May 2003

Legal system

mixed legal system of civil law, based on German and Belgian models, and customary law

judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration

non-party state to the ICCt

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Paul KAGAME (since 22 April 2000)
head of government:Prime Minister Pierre Damien HABUMUREMYI (since 7 October 2011)
cabinet:Council of Ministers appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:President elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (eligible for a second term)

elections last held on 9 August 2010 (next to be held in 2017)
election results:Paul KAGAME elected to a second term as president

Paul KAGAME 93.1%, Jean NTAWUKURIRYAYO 5.1%, Prosper HIGIRO 1.4%, Alvera MUKABAR 0.4%

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament consists of Senate (26 seats

12 members elected by local councils, 8 appointed by the president, 4 appointed by the Political Organizations Forum, 2 represent institutions of higher learning

members to serve eight-year terms) and Chamber of Deputies (80 seats

53 members elected by popular vote, 24 women elected by local bodies, 3 selected by youth and disability organizations

members to serve five-year terms)
elections:Senate – NA

Chamber of Deputies – last held on 15 September 2008 (next to be held in September 2013)
election results:percent of vote by party – RPF 78.8%, PSD 13.1%, PL 7.5%

seats by party – RPF 42, PSD 7, PL 4, additional 27 members indirectly elected

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

High Courts of the Republic

Provincial Courts

District Courts

mediation committees

Political parties and leaders

Centrist Democratic Party or PDC [Agnes MUKABARANGA]

Democratic Popular Union of Rwanda or UDPR [Gonzague RWIGEMA]

Democratic Republican Movement or MDR [Celestin KABANDA] (officially banned)

Islamic Democratic Party or PDI [Musa Fazil HARERIMANA]

Liberal Party or PL [Protais MITALI]

Party for Democratic Renewal (officially banned)

Party for Progress and Concord or PPC [Alvera MUKABARAMBA]

Rwandan Patriotic Front or RPF [Paul KAGAME]

Rwandan Socialist Party or PSR [Jean Baptist RUCIBIGANGO]

Social Democratic Party or PSD [Vincent BIRUTA]

Socialist Party-Imberakuri or PS-Imberakuri [Christine MUKABUNANI]

Solidarity and Prosperity Party or PSP [Pheobe KANYANGE]

Political pressure groups and leaders

IBUKA (association of genocide survivors)

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CEPGL, COMESA, EAC, EADB, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador James KIMONYO
chancery:1714 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone:[1] (202) 232-2882
FAX:[1] (202) 232-4544

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Donald W. KORAN
embassy:2657 Avenue de la Gendarmerie, Kigali
mailing address:B. P. 28, Kigali
telephone:[250] 596-400
FAX:[250] 596-591

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

blue represents happiness and peace, yellow economic development and mineral wealth, green hope of prosperity and natural resources

the sun symbolizes unity, as well as enlightenment and transparency from ignorance

National anthem

name: “Rwanda nziza” (Rwanda, Our Beautiful Country)
lyrics/music:Faustin MURIGO/Jean-Bosco HASHAKAIMANA
note:adopted 2001

Economy

Economy – overview

Rwanda is a poor rural country with about 90% of the population engaged in (mainly subsistence) agriculture and some mineral and agro-processing. Tourism is now Rwanda’s primary foreign exchange earner and in 2008, minerals overtook coffee and tea as Rwanda’s primary export. Minerals exports declined 40% in 2009-10 due to the global economic downturn. The 1994 genocide decimated Rwanda’s fragile economic base, severely impoverished the population, particularly women, and temporarily stalled 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. GDP has rebounded with an average annual growth of 7-8% since 2003 and inflation has been reduced to single digits. Nonetheless, a significant percent of the population still live below the official poverty line. Despite Rwanda’s fertile ecosystem, food production often does not keep pace with demand, requiring food imports. Agricultural production has increased significantly over the last three years and last year Rwanda was self sufficient in food production. Rwanda continues to receive substantial aid money and obtained IMF-World Bank Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) initiative debt relief in 2005-06. In recognition of Rwanda’s successful management of its macro economy, in 2010, the IMF graduated Rwanda to a Policy Support Instrument (PSI). Rwanda also received a Millennium Challenge Threshold Program in 2008. Africa’s most densely populated country is trying to overcome the limitations of its small, landlocked economy by leveraging regional trade. Rwanda joined the East African Community and is aligning its budget, trade, and immigration policies with its regional partners. The government has embraced an expansionary fiscal policy to reduce poverty by improving education, infrastructure, and foreign and domestic investment and pursuing market-oriented reforms. Energy shortages, instability in neighboring states, and lack of adequate transportation linkages to other countries continue to handicap private sector growth. The Rwandan government is seeking to become regional leader in information and communication technologies. In 2010, Rwanda neared completion of the first modern Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Kigali. The SEZ seeks to attract investment in all sectors, but specifically in agribusiness, information and communications technologies, trade and logistics, mining, and construction. The global downturn hurt export demand and tourism, but economic growth is recovering, driven in large part by the services sector, and inflation has been contained. On the back of this growth, government is gradually ending its fiscal stimulus policy while protecting aid to the poor.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$12.16 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142 $11.42 billion (2009 est.)
$10.97 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$5.622 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

6.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45 4.1% (2009 est.)
11.2% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$1,100 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208 $1,100 (2009 est.)
$1,100 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 33.6%
industry:14.3%
services:52.1% (2010 est.)

Labor force

4.446 million (2007)
country comparison to the world: 81

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 90%
industry and services:10% (2000)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Population below poverty line

60% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.1%
highest 10%:38.2% (2000)

Distribution of family income – Gini index

46.8 (2000)
country comparison to the world: 33 28.9 (1985)

Investment (gross fixed)

22.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88

Budget

revenues: $1.449 billion
expenditures:$1.471 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

25.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-0.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71 10.4% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

7.75% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24 11.25% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

16% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39 16% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$540.2 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159 $512.7 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$1.243 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158 $1.068 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$538.1 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164 $490.9 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

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

7.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50

Electricity – production

160 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185

Electricity – consumption

236.8 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176

Electricity – exports

2 million kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity – imports

88 million kWh (2008 est.)

Oil – production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127

Oil – consumption

6,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165

Oil – exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204

Oil – imports

5,105 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154

Oil – proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182

Natural gas – production

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117

Natural gas – consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168

Natural gas – imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176

Natural gas – proved reserves

56.63 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64

Current account balance

-$629.3 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119 -$379 million (2009 est.)

Exports

$234.2 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177 $193 million (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

coffee, tea, hides, tin ore

Exports – partners

Kenya 36.6%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 14.7%, China 9.1%, Swaziland 5.9%, US 5.3%, Pakistan 4.6% (2010)

Imports

$1.121 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170 $961 million (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

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

Imports – partners

Kenya 19.6%, Uganda 17.7%, UAE 8.4%, Tanzania 5.7%, China 5.3% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$812.8 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138 $742.7 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$NA (31 December 2010 est.)
$747 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates

Rwandan francs (RWF) per US dollar -
586.25 (2010)
568.18 (2009)
550 (2008)
585 (2007)
560 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

9 (2010)
country comparison to the world:160

Airports – with paved runways

total: 4
over 3,047 m:1
914 to 1,523 m:2
under 914 m:1 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 5
914 to 1,523 m:2
under 914 m:3 (2010)

Roadways

total: 14,008 km
country comparison to the world: 124 paved:2,662 km
unpaved:11,346 km (2004)

Waterways

(Lac Kivu navigable by shallow-draft barges and native craft) (2009)

Ports and terminals

Cyangugu, Gisenyi, Kibuye

Military

Military branches

Rwandan Defense Force (RDF): Rwandan Army (Rwandan Land Force), Rwandan Air Force (2011)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service

no conscription

Rwandan citizenship required (2011)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 2,625,917
females age 16-49:2,608,110 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 1,685,066
females age 16-49:1,749,580 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 110,736
female:110,328 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

2.9% of GDP (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

Burundi and Rwanda dispute two sq km (0.8 sq mi) of Sabanerwa, a farmed area in the Rukurazi Valley where the Akanyaru/Kanyaru River shifted its course southward after heavy rains in 1965

fighting among ethnic groups – loosely associated political rebels, armed gangs, and various government forces in Great Lakes region transcending the boundaries of Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda – abated substantially from a decade ago due largely to UN peacekeeping, international mediation, and efforts by local governments to create civil societies

nonetheless, 57,000 Rwandan refugees still reside in 21 African states, including Zambia, Gabon, and 20,000 who fled to Burundi in 2005 and 2006 to escape drought and recriminations from traditional courts investigating the 1994 massacres

the 2005 DROC and Rwanda border verification mechanism to stem rebel actions on both sides of the border remains in place

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 46,272 (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

4,400 (Burundi) (2007)