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Communications

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Army, Gendarmerie

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

exchange rate conversion - $112.5 million, 7% of GDP (1992)

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,582,656 males fit for military service: 805,722 (1996 est.)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

630,000 (1993 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

telephone system does not provide service to the general public but is intended for business and government use domestic: the capital, Kigali, is connected to the centers of the prefectures by microwave radio relay; the remainder 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)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

6,400 (1983 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

Televisions [time series]

NA Defense

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Rwandan franc (RF) = 100 centimes

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $NA note: in October 1990 Rwanda launched a Structural Adjustment Program with the IMF; since September 1991, the EC has given $46 million and the US $25 million in support of this program (1993)

Economic overview [time series]

Rwanda is a poor African nation suffering bitterly from ethnic-based civil war. The agricultural sector dominates the economy; coffee and tea normally make up 80%-90% of total exports. The amount of fertile land is limited, however, and deforestation and soil erosion continue to create problems. Manufacturing focuses mainly on the processing of agricultural products. Weak international prices since 1986 have caused the economy to contract and per capita GDP to decline. A structural adjustment program with the World Bank began in October 1990. Ethnic-based insurgency since 1990 has devastated wide areas, especially in the north, and displaced hundreds of thousands of people. A peace accord in mid-1993 temporarily ended most of the fighting, but resumption of large-scale civil warfare in April 1994 in the capital city Kigali and elsewhere has been taking thousands of lives and severely affecting short-term economic prospects. The economy suffers massively from failure to maintain the infrastructure, looting, neglect of important cash crops, and lack of health care facilities. GDP in 1994 may have dropped by as much as half. The further decline of GDP in 1995 was much smaller and was more than offset by aid from the outside. Because of the severe damage to real property and the decline in public discipline, recovery of domestic production toward previous levels is proceeding slowly.

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 60,000 kW production: 190 million kWh consumption per capita: 23 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates [time series]

Rwandan francs (RF) per US$1 - 401.27 (2nd quarter 1994), 168.20 (1993), 133.35 (1992), 125.14 (1991)

Exports [time series]

$52 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: coffee 63%, tea, cassiterite, wolframite, pyrethrum partners: Germany, Belgium, Italy, Uganda, UK, France, US

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$873 million (1993 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $3.8 billion (1995 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 52% industry: 13% services: 35% (1994 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP per capita) [time series]

$400 (1995 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP real growth rate) [time series]

-2.7% (1995 est.)

Imports [time series]

$37 million (1994 est.) commodities: textiles, foodstuffs, machines and equipment, capital goods, steel, petroleum products, cement and construction material partners: US, Belgium, Germany, Kenya, Japan

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

-50% (1994 est.)

Industries [time series]

mining of cassiterite (tin ore) and wolframite (tungsten ore), tin, cement, agricultural processing, small-scale beverage production, soap, furniture, shoes, plastic goods, textiles, cigarettes

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

64% (1994 est.)

Labor force [time series]

3.6 million by occupation: agriculture 93%, government and services 5%, industry and commerce 2%

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 26,340 sq km land area: 24,950 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Maryland

Climate [time series]

temperate; two rainy seasons (February to April, November to January); mild in mountains with frost and snow possible

Coastline [time series]

0 km (landlocked)

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: deforestation results from uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel; overgrazing; soil exhaustion; soil erosion natural hazards: periodic droughts; the volcanic Virunga mountains are in the northwest along the border with Zaire international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea

Geographic coordinates [time series]

2 00 S, 30 00 E

Geography - note (Geographic note) [time series]

landlocked; predominantly rural population

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

none

Irrigated land [time series]

40 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 893 km border countries: Burundi 290 km, Tanzania 217 km, Uganda 169 km, Zaire 217 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 29% permanent crops: 11% meadows and pastures: 18% forest and woodland: 10% other: 32%

Location [time series]

Central Africa, east of Zaire

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

none (landlocked)

Natural resources [time series]

gold, cassiterite (tin ore), wolframite (tungsten ore), natural gas, hydropower

Terrain [time series]

mostly grassy uplands and hills; relief is mountainous with altitude declining from west to east lowest point: Rusizi River 950 m highest point: Volcan Karisimbi 4,519 m

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

10 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture in French; plural - NA, singular - prefegitura in Kinyarwanda); Butare, Byumba, Cyangugu, Gikongoro, Gisenyi, Gitarama, Kibungo, Kibuye, Kigali, Ruhengeri

Capital [time series]

Kigali

Constitution [time series]

18 June 1991

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

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

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Pasteur BIZIMUNGU (since 19 July 1994); installed by force by the Tutsi Rwandan Patriotic Front; no date set for elections; president is normally elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage; Vice President Maj. Gen. Paul KAGAME (since NA) head of government: Prime Minister Celestin RWIGEMA (since NA September 1995) was appointed by the president cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[1] (202) 232-4544

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[250] 721 28

Flag [time series]

three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green with a large black letter R centered in the yellow band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Guinea, which has a plain yellow band

Independence [time series]

1 July 1962 (from Belgium-administered UN trusteeship)

International organization participation [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

Constitutional Court, consists of the Court of Cassation and the Council of State in joint session

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral

Country name (Name of country) [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of Rwanda conventional short form: Rwanda local long form: Republika y'u Rwanda local short form: Rwanda

Legislative branch (National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)) [time series]

sworn in on 25 November 1994; seats - (70 total) RPF 19, MDR 13, PSD 13, PL 13, PDC 6, PSR 2, PDI 2, other 2

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 1 July (1962)

Political parties (Other political or pressure groups) [time series]

Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA), the RPF military wing, Maj. Gen. Paul KAGAME, commander; Rally for the Democracy and Return (RDR)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

significant parties include: Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), Alexis KANYARENGWE, chairman; Democratic Republican Movement (MDR); Liberal Party (PL); Democratic and Socialist Party (PSD); Christian Democratic Party (PDC); Islamic Democratic Party (PDI); Rwandan Socialist Party (PSR); National Movement for Democracy and Development (MRND), former ruling party

Suffrage [time series]

NA years of age; universal adult

Government type (Type of government) [time series]

republic; presidential system

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Robert GRIBBIN III embassy: Boulevard de la Revolution, Kigali mailing address: B. P. 28, Kigali telephone: [250] 756 01 through 03, 721 26, 771 47

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 46% (male 1,582,928; female 1,573,536) 15-64 years: 51% (male 1,734,716; female 1,772,722) 65 years and over: 3% (male 78,854; female 110,603) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

38.83 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate [time series]

20.33 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

Hutu 80%, Tutsi 19%, Twa (Pygmoid) 1%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

118.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages [time series]

Kinyarwanda (official), French (official), Kiswahili (Swahili) used in commercial centers

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 40.12 years male: 39.72 years female: 40.53 years (1996 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.) total population: 60.5% male: 69.8% female: 51.6%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Rwandan(s) adjective: Rwandan

Net migration rate [time series]

146.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.) note: since April 1994, more than two million refugees have fled the civil strife between the Hutu and Tutsi factions in Rwanda and crossed into Zaire, Burundi, and Tanzania; close to 800,000 Rwandan Tutsis who fled civil strife in earlier years have returned to Rwanda, and 90,000 of the Hutu refugees are going home despite the perceived danger of doing so; the ethnic violence continues and in 1996 could produce further refugee flows as well as discourage returns

Population [time series]

6,853,359 (July 1996 est.) note: genocide and civil war in 1994 killed more than 1 million Rwandans and forced more than 2 million to flee to neighboring countries

Population growth rate [time series]

16.49% (1996 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 65%, Protestant 9%, Muslim 1%, indigenous beliefs and other 25%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

5.99 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

total: 7 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2 with paved runways under 914 m: 3 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 13,173 km paved: 1,186 km unpaved: 11,987 km (1990 est.)

Ports [time series]

Cyangugu, Gisenyi, Kibuye

Railways [time series]

0 km

Waterways [time series]

Lac Kivu navigable by shallow-draft barges and native craft