View Intelligence Dossier Back to 2005 CSV Excel Print All Years

Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.rw

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

1,495 (2003)

Internet users [time series]

25,000 (2002)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 0, FM 8 (two main FM programs are broadcast through a system of repeaters, three international FM programs include the BBC, VOA, and Deutchewelle), shortwave 1 (2005)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: telephone system primarily serves business and government domestic: the capital, Kigali, is connected to the centers of the provinces by microwave radio relay and, recently, by cellular telephone service; much of the network depends on wire and HF radiotelephone international: country code - 250; 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 - main lines in use) [time series]

23,200 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

134,000 note: Rwanda has mobile cellular service between Kigali and several provincial capitals (2003)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

2 (2004)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $354.5 million expenditures: $385 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

Rwandan franc (RWF)

Current account balance [time series]

$-212.5 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$1.3 billion (2000 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

28.9 (1985)

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

$372.9 million (1999)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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. Despite Rwanda's fertile ecosystem, food production often does not keep pace with population growth, requiring food imports. Rwanda continues to receive substantial aid money and was approved for IMF-World Bank Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) initiative debt relief in late 2000. Kigali's high defense expenditures have caused tension between the government and international donors and lending agencies. An energy shortage and instability in neighboring states may slow growth in 2005, while the lack of adequate transportation linkages to other countries continues to handicap export growth.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

195 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports [time series]

40 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production [time series]

166.7 million kWh (2002)

Exchange rates [time series]

Rwandan francs per US dollar - 574.62 (2004), 537.66 (2003), 476.33 (2002), 442.8 (2001), 393.44 (2000)

Exports [time series]

$69.78 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

coffee, tea, hides, tin ore

Exports - partners [time series]

Indonesia 64.2%, China 3.6%, Germany 2.7% (2004)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

$10.43 billion (2004 est.)

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

agriculture: 41.1% industry: 21.2% services: 37.7% (2004 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $1,300 (2004 est.)

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

0.9% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 4.2% highest 10%: 24.2% (1985)

Imports [time series]

$260 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

Kenya 24.4%, Germany 7.4%, Belgium 6.6%, Uganda 6.3%, France 5.1% (2004)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

7% (2001 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

7% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

20% of GDP (2004 est.)

Labor force [time series]

4.6 million (2000)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture 90%

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

28.32 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Oil - consumption [time series]

5,300 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

Oil - imports [time series]

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2002)

Population below poverty line [time series]

60% (2001 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$210.9 million (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 26,338 sq km land: 24,948 sq km water: 1,390 sq km

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 [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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geographic coordinates [time series]

2 00 S, 30 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

40 sq km (1998 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: 40.54% permanent crops: 12.16% other: 47.3% (2001)

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 Virunga 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, arable land

Terrain [time series]

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

12 provinces (in French - provinces, singular - province; in Kinyarwanda - prefigintara for singular and plural); Butare, Byumba, Cyangugu, Gikongoro, Gisenyi, Gitarama, Kibungo, Kibuye, Kigali Rurale, Kigali-ville, Umutara, Ruhengeri

Capital [time series]

Kigali

Constitution [time series]

new constitution adopted 4 June 2003

Country name [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Henderson PATRICK embassy: 337 Boulevard de la Revolution, Kigali mailing address: B. P. 28, Kigali telephone: [250] 50 56 01 through 03 FAX: [250] 57 2128

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

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

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Paul KAGAME (since 22 April 2000) head of government: Prime Minister Bernard MAKUZA (since 8 March 2000) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: last held 25 August 2003 (next to be held NA 2008) election results: Paul KAGAME elected president in first direct popular vote; Paul KAGAME 95.05%, Faustin TWAGIRAMUNGU 3.62%, Jean-Nepomuscene NAYINZIRA 1.33%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

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, AU, CEPGL, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court; High Courts of the Republic; Provincial Courts; District Courts; mediation committees

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 National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (53 seats; members elected by direct vote) elections: last held 29 September 2003 (next to be held Chamber of Deputies - NA 2008; Senate - NA 2011) election results: seats by party under the 2003 Constitution - RPF 40, PSD 7, PL 6

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 1 July (1962)

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

Centrist Democratic Party or PDC [Alfred MUKEZAMFURA]; Democratic Popular Union of Rwanda or UDPR [Adrien RANGIRA]; Democratic Republican Movement or MDR (officially banned) [Celestin KABANDA]; Islamic Democratic Party or PDI [Andre BUMAYA]; Liberal Party or PL [Prosper HIGIRO]; Party for Democratic Renewal (officially banned) [Pasteur BIZIMUNGU and Charles NTAKARUTINKA]; Rwandan Patriotic Front or RPF [Paul KAGAME]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Vincent BIRUTA]

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

IBUKA - association of genocide survivors

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal adult

Introduction

Background [time series]

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 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 the former Zaire. Since then, most of the refugees have returned to Rwanda, but about 10,000 that remain in the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo have formed an extremist insurgency bent on retaking Rwanda, much as the RPF tried in 1990. Despite substantial international assistance and political reforms - including Rwanda's first local elections in March 1999 and its first post-genocide presidential and legislative elections in August and September 2003, respectively - the country continues to struggle to boost investment and agricultural output, and ethnic reconciliation is complicated by the real and perceived Tutsi political dominance. Kigali's increasing centralization and intolerance of dissent, the nagging Hutu extremist insurgency across the border, and Rwandan involvement in two wars in recent years in the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo continue to hinder Rwanda's efforts to escape its bloody legacy.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 2,004,750 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 1,103,823 (2005 est.)

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

Rwandan Defense Forces: Army, Air Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$50.1 million (2004)

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

3.2% (2004)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

16 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2001)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 41.9% (male 1,777,178/female 1,762,252) 15-64 years: 55.5% (male 2,328,686/female 2,356,572) 65 years and over: 2.6% (male 87,155/female 128,977) (2005 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

40.6 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate [time series]

16.32 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Hutu 84%, Tutsi 15%, Twa (Pygmoid) 1%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

5.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

22,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

250,000 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 91.23 deaths/1,000 live births male: 96.37 deaths/1,000 live births female: 85.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 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: 46.96 years male: 45.92 years female: 48.03 years (2005 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Major infectious diseases [time series]

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria (2004)

Median age [time series]

total: 18.48 years male: 18.26 years female: 18.7 years (2005 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Rwandan(s) adjective: Rwandan

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

People - note [time series]

Rwanda is the most densely populated country in Africa

Population [time series]

8,440,820 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 2005 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.43% (2005 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

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: 0.68 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

5.49 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

Tutsi, Hutu, Hema, Lendu, and other conflicting ethnic groups, associated political rebels, armed gangs, and various government forces continue fighting in Great Lakes region, transcending the boundaries of Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda to gain control over populated areas and natural resources - government heads pledge to end conflicts, but localized violence continues despite UN peacekeeping efforts; DROC and Rwanda established a border verification mechanism in 2005 to address accusations of Rwandan military supporting Congolese rebels and the Congo providing rebel Rwandan "Interhamwe" forces the means and bases to attack Rwandan forces; as of 2004, Rwandan refugees lived in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and Zambia

Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]

refugees (country of origin): 37,691 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) IDPs: 4,158 (incursions by Hutu rebels from Democratic Republic of the Congo, 1997-99; most IDPs in northwest) (2004)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

9 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 12,000 km paved: 996 km unpaved: 11,004 km (1999 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Cyangugu, Gisenyi, Kibuye

Waterways [time series]

Lac Kivu navigable by shallow-draft barges and native craft (2004)