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Communications

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 primarily serves business and government 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]

2 (1997)

Televisions [time series]

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture--products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $231 million expenditures: $319 million, including capital expenditures of $13 million (1996 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Rwandan franc (RF) = 100 centimes

Debt - external (Debt--external) [time series]

$1.2 billion (1998)

Economic aid (Economic aid--recipient) [time series]

$711.2 million (1995); note?since 1994, World Bank financing to Rwanda has totaled more than $120 million; in June 1998, Rwanda signed an Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility (ESAF) with the IMF; in summer 1998, Rwanda presented its policy objectives and development priorities to donor governments resulting in multi-year pledges in the amount of $250 million

Economic overview (Economy--overview) [time series]

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; is landlocked, and has 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. In June 1998, Rwanda signed an Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility (ESAF) with the IMF. Rwanda has also embarked upon an ambitious privatization program with the World Bank.

Electricity - consumption (Electricity--consumption) [time series]

177 million kWh (1996)

Electricity - exports (Electricity--exports) [time series]

2 million kWh (1996)

Electricity - imports (Electricity--imports) [time series]

15 million kWh (1996)

Electricity - production (Electricity--production) [time series]

164 million kWh (1996)

Electricity - production by source (Electricity--production by source) [time series]

fossil fuel: 2.44% hydro: 97.56% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exchange rates [time series]

Rwandan francs (RF) per US$1--320.63 (February 1999), 312.31 (1998), 301.53 (1997), 306.82 (1996), 262.20 (1995)

Exports [time series]

$82.1 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Exports - commodities (Exports--commodities) [time series]

coffee 55%, tea 21%, hides, tin ore (1997)

Exports - partners (Exports--partners) [time series]

Brazil 49%, Germany 16%, US, Netherlands, UK (1996)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity--$5.5 billion (1998 est.)

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

agriculture: 36% industry: 24% services: 40% (1997 est.)

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

purchasing power parity?$690 (1998 est.)

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

10.5% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 4.2% highest 10%: 24.2% (1983-85)

Imports [time series]

$326 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Imports - commodities (Imports--commodities) [time series]

foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, steel, petroleum products, cement and construction material (1997)

Imports - partners (Imports--partners) [time series]

Italy, Kenya, Tanzania, US, Belgium-Luxembourg (1997)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

4.9% (1995 est.)

Industries [time series]

production of cement, processing of agricultural products, small-scale beverage production, manufacture of soap, furniture, shoes, plastic goods, textiles, cigarettes

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

10% (1998)

Labor force [time series]

3.6 million

Labor force - by occupation (Labor force--by occupation) [time series]

agriculture 90%, government and services, industry and commerce

Population below poverty line [time series]

51.2% (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 26,340 sq km land: 24,950 sq km water: 1,390 sq km

Area - comparative (Area--comparative) [time series]

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)

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Rusizi River 950 m highest point: Volcan Karisimbi 4,519 m

Environment - current issues (Environment--current issues) [time series]

deforestation results from uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel; overgrazing; soil exhaustion; soil erosion; widespread poaching

International environmental agreements (Environment--international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geographic coordinates [time series]

2 00 S, 30 00 E

Geography - note (Geography--note) [time series]

landlocked; predominantly rural population

Irrigated land [time series]

40 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 893 km border countries: Burundi 290 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 217 km, Tanzania 217 km, Uganda 169 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 35% permanent crops: 13% permanent pastures: 18% forests and woodland: 22% other: 12% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards [time series]

periodic droughts; the volcanic Birunga mountains are in the northwest along the border with Democratic Republic of the Congo

Natural resources [time series]

gold, cassiterite (tin ore), wolframite (tungsten ore), methane, hydropower

Terrain [time series]

mostly grassy uplands and hills; relief is mountainous with altitude declining from west to east

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Kigali

Constitution [time series]

on 5 May 1995, the Transitional National Assembly adopted a new constitution which included elements of the constitution of 18 June 1991 as well as provisions of the 1993 Arusha peace accord and the November 1994 multi-party protocol of understanding

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador George M. STAPLES embassy: Boulevard de la Revolution, Kigali mailing address: B. P. 28, Kigali

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Theogene N. RUDASINGWA chancery: 1714 New Hampshire Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20009

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Pasteur BIZIMUNGU (since 19 July 1994); Vice President Maj. Gen. Paul KAGAME (since 19 July 1994) head of government: Prime Minister Celestin RWIGEMA (since 1 September 1995) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: normally the president is elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held in December 1988 (next to be held NA); prime minister is appointed by the president election results: Juvenal HABYARIMANA elected president; percent of vote--99.98% (HABYARIMANA was the sole candidate) note: President HABYARIMANA was killed in a plane crash on 6 April 1994 which ignited the genocide and was replaced by President BIZIMUNGU who was installed by the military forces of the ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front on 19 July 1994

Flag (Flag description) [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

Government type [time series]

republic; presidential, multiparty system

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, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

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 Transitional National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale de Transition (a power-sharing body with 70 seats established on 12 December 1994 following a multi-party protocol understanding; members were predetermined by the Arusha peace accord) 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 election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--RPF 19, MDR 13, PSD 13, PL 13, PDC 6, PSR 2, PDI 2, other 2; note--the distribution of seats was predetermined

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 1 July (1962)

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

significant parties include:

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

Rwanda Patriotic Army or Return (RDR)

Suffrage [time series]

NA years of age; universal adult

Introduction

Background [time series]

Throughout their colonial rule, first Germany and then Belgium favored Rwanda's minority Tutsi ethnic group in education and employment. In 1959, the majority ethnic group, the Hutus, overthrew the ruling Tutsi monarch. The Hutus killed hundreds of Tutsis and drove tens of thousands 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 October 1990. The war, along with several political and economic upheavals, exasperated ethnic tensions culminating in April 1994 in a genocide in which roughly 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed. The Tutsi rebels defeated the Hutu regime and ended the genocide in July 1994, but approximately 2 million Hutu refugees--many fearing Tutsi retribution--fled to neighboring Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zaire, now called the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DROC). According to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees, in 1996 and early 1997 nearly 1.3 million Hutus returned to Rwanda. Even with substantial international aid, these civil dislocations have hindered efforts to foster reconciliation and to boost investment and agricultural output. Although much of the country is now at peace, members of the former regime continue to destabilize the northwest area of the country through a low-intensity insurgency. Rwandan troops are currently involved in a crisis engulfing neighboring DROC.

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Army, Gendarmerie

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures--dollar figure) [time series]

$92 million (1999)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures--percent of GDP) [time series]

3.8% (1999)

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower--availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,964,118 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower--fit for military service) [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,000,204 (1999 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 44% (male 1,807,695; female 1,793,590) 15-64 years: 53% (male 2,148,477; female 2,179,119) 65 years and over: 3% (male 92,490; female 133,562) (1999 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

38.97 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate [time series]

19.53 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

112.86 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 41.31 years male: 40.84 years female: 41.8 years (1999 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Rwandan(s) adjective: Rwandan

Net migration rate [time series]

4.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.) note: following the outbreak of genocidal strife in Rwanda in April 1994 between Tutsi and Hutu factions, more than 2 million refugees fled to neighboring Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda, and Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire); according to the UN High Commission on Refugees, in 1996 and early 1997 nearly 1.3 million Hutus returned to Rwanda--of these 720,000 returned from Democratic Republic of the Congo, 480,000 from Tanzania, 88,000 from Burundi, and 10,000 from Uganda; probably fewer than 100,000 Rwandans remained outside of Rwanda by the end of 1997

Population [time series]

8,154,933 (July 1999 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.43% (1999 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: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

5.8 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (Disputes--international) [time series]

Rwandan military forces are supporting the rebel forces in the civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Transportation

Airports [time series]

7 (1998 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports--with paved runways) [time series]

total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports--with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

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

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Cyangugu, Gisenyi, Kibuye

Railways [time series]

0 km

Waterways [time series]

Lac Kivu navigable by shallow-draft barges and native craft