Statistical information Rwanda 1999

Rwanda in the World
top of pageBackground: 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.
top of pageLocation: Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo
Geographic coordinates: 2 00 S, 30 00 E
Map reference:
AfricaAreaTotal: 26,340 km²
Land: 24,950 km²
Water: 1,390 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundariesTotal: 893 km
Border countries: (4) Burundi 290 km;
, Democratic Republic of the Congo 217 km;
, Tanzania 217 km;
, Uganda 169 kmCoastline: 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
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Rusizi River 950 m
Extremes highest point: Volcan Karisimbi 4,519 m
Natural resources: gold, cassiterite (tin ore), wolframite (tungsten ore), methane, hydropower
Land useArable land: 35%
Permanent crops: 13%
Permanent pastures: 18%
Forests and woodland: 22%
Other: 12% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 40 km² (1993 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: periodic droughts; the volcanic Birunga mountains are in the northwest along the border with Democratic Republic of the Congo
GeographyNote: landlocked; predominantly rural population
top of pagePopulation: 8,154,933 (July 1999 est.)
Growth rate: 2.43% (1999 est.)
Below poverty line: 51.2% (1993 est.)
NationalityNoun: Rwandan(s)
Adjective: Rwandan
Ethnic groups: Hutu 80%, Tutsi 19%, Twa (Pygmoid) 1%
Languages: Kinyarwanda (official) universal Bantu vernacular, French (official), English (official), Kiswahili (Swahili) used in commercial centers
Religions: Roman Catholic 65%, Protestant 9%, Muslim 1%, indigenous beliefs and other 25%
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 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.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 2.43% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 38.97 births/1000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 19.53 deaths/1000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 4.91 migrant(s)/1000 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 distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: deforestation results from uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel; overgrazing; soil exhaustion; soil erosion; widespread poaching
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban
International agreements signed but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt 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.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 112.86 deaths/1000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 41.31 years
Male: 40.84 years
Female: 41.8 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.8 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 60.5%
Male: 69.8%
Female: 51.6% (1995 est.)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Rwandese Republic
Conventional short form: Rwanda
Local long form: Republika y'u Rwanda
Local short form: 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, Kigaliville, Umutara, Ruhengeri
Dependent areasIndependence: 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 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
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
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: NA years of age; universal adult
Executive branchChief 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
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 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
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, consists of the Court of Cassation and the Council of State in joint session
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: 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
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Theogene N. RUDASINGWA
In the us chancery: 1714 New Hampshire Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20,009
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 232-2,882
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 232-4,544
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador George M. STAPLES
From the us embassy: Boulevard de la Revolution, Kigali
From the us mailing address: B. P. 28, Kigali
From the us telephone: [250] 756 01 through 03, 721 26, 771 47
From the us FAX: [250] 721 28
Flag description
: 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
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy 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; 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.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 10.5% (1998 est.)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $690 (1998 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 36%
Industry: 24%
Services: 40% (1997 est.)
Agriculture products: coffee, tea, pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums), bananas, beans, sorghum, potatoes; livestock
Industries: production of cement, processing of agricultural products, small-scale beverage production, manufacture of soap, furniture, shoes, plastic goods, textiles, cigarettes
Industrial production growth rate: 4.9% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 3.6 million
By occupation agriculture: 90%
By occupation note: the rest is employed in government, services, industry and commerce
Unemployment rate: NA%
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty line: 51.2% (1993 est.)
Gini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $231 million
Expenditures: $319 million, including capital expenditures of $13 million (1996 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $82.1 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Commodities: coffee 55%, tea 21%, hides, tin ore (1997)
Partners: Brazil 49%, Germany 16%, US, Netherlands, UK (1996)
Imports: $326 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, steel, petroleum products, cement and construction material (1997)
Partners: Italy, Kenya, Tanzania, US, Belgium-Luxembourg (1997)
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $1.2 billion (1998)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Rwandan francs (RF) per US$1_320.63 (February 1999), 312.31 (1998), 301.53 (1997), 306.82 (1996), 262.20 (1995)
top of pageElectricityProduction: 164 million kWh (1996)
Production by source fossil fuel: 2.44%
Production by source hydro: 97.56%
Production by source nuclear: 0%
Production by source other: 0% (1996)
Consumption: 177 million kWh (1996)
Exports: 2 million kWh (1996)
Imports: 15 million kWh (1996)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephones: 6,400 (1983 est.)
Telephone system: 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)
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $92 million (1999)
Percent of gdp: 3.8% (1999)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 7 (1998 est.)
With paved runways total: 4
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 2
With paved runways under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 3
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
HeliportsPipelinesRailways: 0 km
RoadwaysWaterways: Lac Kivu navigable by shallow-draft barges and native craft
Merchant marinePorts and terminalsRwanda - Transnational issues 1999
top of pageDisputes international: Rwandan military forces are supporting the rebel forces in the civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs