Rwanda
Republic of RwandaRepublika y'u Rwanda
presidential republic
Rwanda as the 2025 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 150 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
Rwanda -- a small and centralized country dominated by rugged hills and fertile volcanic soil -- has exerted disproportionate influence over the African Great Lakes region for centuries. A Rwandan kingdom increasingly dominated the region from the mid-18th century onward, with the Tutsi monarchs gradually extending the power of the royal court into peripheral areas and expanding their borders through military conquest.
While the current ethnic labels Hutu and Tutsi predate colonial rule, their flexibility and importance have varied significantly over time and often manifested more as a hierarchical class distinction than an ethnic or cultural distinction. The majority Hutu and minority Tutsi have long shared a common language and culture, and intermarriage was frequent.
The Rwandan royal court centered on the Tutsi king ( mwami ), who relied on an extensive network of political, cultural, and economic relationships. Social categories became more rigid during the reign of RWABUGIRI (1860-1895), who focused on aggressive expansion and solidifying Rwanda’s bureaucratic structures. German colonial conquest began in the late 1890s, but the territory was ceded to Belgian forces in 1916 during World War I. Both European nations quickly realized the benefits of ruling through the already centralized Rwandan Tutsi kingdom.
Colonial rule reinforced existing trends toward autocratic and exclusionary rule, leading to the elimination of traditional positions of authority for Hutus. Belgian administrators significantly increased requirements for communal labor and instituted harsh taxes, which fed the population's frustration. Changing political attitudes in Belgium contributed to colonial and Catholic officials shifting their support from Tutsi to Hutu leaders in the years leading up to independence.
Simmering resentment of minority rule exploded in 1959, three years before independence from Belgium, when Hutus overthrew the Tutsi king. Thousands of Tutsis were killed over the next several years, and some 150,000 were driven into exile in neighboring countries. Army Chief of Staff Juvenal HABYARIMANA seized power in a coup in 1973 and ruled Rwanda as a single-party state for two decades. HABYARIMANA increasingly discriminated against Tutsis, and extremist Hutu factions gained prominence after multiple parties were introduced in the early 1990s.
The children of Tutsi exiles later formed a rebel group, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) and began a civil war in 1990. The civil war exacerbated ethnic tensions and culminated in the shooting down of HABYARIMANA’s private jet in 1994. The event sparked a state-orchestrated genocide in which Rwandans killed more than 800,000 of their fellow citizens, including approximately three-quarters of the Tutsi population.
The genocide ended later the 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. Rwanda held its first local elections in 1999 and its first post-genocide presidential and legislative elections in 2003, formalizing President Paul KAGAME’s de facto role as head of government. KAGAME was formally elected in 2010, and again in 2017 after changing the constitution to allow him to run for a third term.
Geography
Central Africa, east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, north of Burundi
20 fieldsLand useshare of 26,338 sq km
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
Natural resources
gold, cassiterite (tin ore), wolframite (tungsten ore), methane, hydropower, arable land
Major lakes (area sq km)
fresh water lake(s): Lake Kivu (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo) - 2,220 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km)
Nile river source (shared with Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt [m]) - 6,650 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km)
Population distribution
- one of Africa's most densely populated countries;
- large concentrations tend to be in the central regions and along the shore of Lake Kivu in the west, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards
periodic droughts; the volcanic Virunga Mountains are in the northwest along the border with Democratic Republic of the Congo; volcanism: Visoke (3,711 m), on the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is the country's only historically active volcano
Geography - note
landlocked; most of the country is intensively cultivated and rugged, with the population predominantly rural
People and Society
36 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2024 est.)
Per 1,000 population(2025 est.)
Male · female
Languages
Kinyarwanda (official, universal Bantu vernacular) 93.2%, French (official) <0.1%, English (official) <0.1%, Swahili/Kiswahili (official, used in commercial centers) <0.1%, more than one language, other 6.3%, unspecified 0.3% (2002 est.); major-language sample(s): Inkoranya nzimbuzi y'isi, isoko fatizo y'amakuru y'ibanze. (Kinyarwanda); The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions
- Catholic 39.9%, Pentecostal 21.3%, Protestant 14.6%, Adventist 12.2%, other Christians 4.2%, no religion 3.0%, Muslim 2.0%, other religions 2.0%;
- less than 1%: Jehovah Witness, not specified, Animist (2022 est.)
Population distribution
- one of Africa's most densely populated countries;
- large concentrations tend to be in the central regions and along the shore of Lake Kivu in the west, as shown in this population distribution map
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.03 male(s)/female
- 0-14 years:
- 1.02 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 0.95 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.67 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate
- total:
- 27.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
- male:
- 27.3 deaths/1,000 live births
- female:
- 22.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Alcohol consumption per capita
- total:
- 6.35 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- beer:
- 0.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- wine:
- 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- spirits:
- 0.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- other alcohols:
- 6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Child marriage
- women married by age 15:
- 0.3% (2020)
- women married by age 18:
- 5.5% (2020)
- men married by age 18:
- 0.4% (2020)
Environment
10 fieldsLand use(2023 est.)
Environmental issues
- deforestation;
- overgrazing;
- land degradation;
- soil erosion;
- a decline in soil fertility (soil exhaustion);
- wetland degradation and loss of biodiversity;
- widespread poaching
International environmental agreements
- party to:
- Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
- signed, but not ratified:
- Law of the Sea
Climate
- temperate;
- two rainy seasons (February to April, November to January);
- mild in mountains with frost and snow possible
Urbanization
- urban population:
- 17.9% of total population (2023)
- rate of urbanization:
- 3.07% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
1.645 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- from coal and metallurgical coke:
- 226,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- from petroleum and other liquids:
- 1.295 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- from consumed natural gas:
- 124,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Waste and recycling
- municipal solid waste generated annually:
- 4.385 million tons (2024 est.)
- percent of municipal solid waste recycled:
- 11.5% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal
- municipal:
- 230 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
- industrial:
- 10 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
- agricultural:
- 361 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Government
Presidential republic; President Paul KAGAME (since 22 April 2000); Prime Minister Justin NSENGIYUMVA (since 23 July 2025)
25 fieldsCountry name
- conventional long form:
- Republic of Rwanda
- conventional short form:
- Rwanda
- local long form:
- Republika y'u Rwanda
- local short form:
- Rwanda
- former:
- Kingdom of Rwanda, Ruanda, German East Africa
- etymology:
- the country is named for a local people, but the meaning of their own name is obscure
Capital
- name:
- Kigali
- geographic coordinates:
- 1 57 S, 30 03 E
- time difference:
- UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- etymology:
- the city takes its name from nearby Mount Kigali;
- the name is composed of the Bantu prefix ki- and the Rwandan word gali , meaning "broad," which is probably meant to describe the terrain
Administrative divisions
- 4 provinces ( provinces , singular - province (French); intara for singular and plural (Kinyarwanda)) and 1 city* ( ville (French); umujyi (Kinyarwanda));
- Est (Eastern), Kigali*, Nord (Northern), Ouest (Western), Sud (Southern)
Legal system
mixed system of civil law, based on German and Belgian models, and customary law; Supreme Court reviews legislative acts
Constitution
- history:
- several previous; latest adopted by referendum 26 May 2003, effective 4 June 2003
- amendment process:
- proposed by the president of the republic (with Council of Ministers approval) or by two-thirds majority vote of both houses of Parliament;
- passage requires at least three-quarters majority vote in both houses;
- changes to constitutional articles on national sovereignty, the presidential term, the form and system of government, and political pluralism also require approval in a referendum
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship
- citizenship by birth:
- no
- citizenship by descent only:
- the father must be a citizen of Rwanda; if the father is stateless or unknown, the mother must be a citizen
- dual citizenship recognized:
- no
- residency requirement for naturalization:
- 10 years
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President Paul KAGAME (since 22 April 2000)
- head of government:
- Prime Minister Justin NSENGIYUMVA (since 23 July 2025)
- cabinet:
- Council of Ministers appointed by the president
- election/appointment process:
- president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president
- most recent election date:
- 4 August 2017
- election results:
- 2024: Paul KAGAME reelected president; Paul KAGAME (RPF) 99.2%, Frank HABINEZA (DGPR) 0.5%, Philippe MPAYIMANA (independent) 0.3%; 2017: Paul KAGAME reelected president; Paul KAGAME (RPF) 98.8%, Philippe MPAYIMANA (independent), other 1.2%
- expected date of next election:
- 15 July 2029
note: a constitutional amendment in 2016 reduced the presidential term from 7 to 5 years but included an exception that allowed President KAGAME to serve another 7-year term in 2017, potentially followed by two additional 5-year terms
Legislative branch - lower chamber
- chamber name:
- Chamber of Deputies (Chambre des Députés)
- number of seats:
- 80 (53 directly elected; 27 indirectly elected)
- electoral system:
- proportional representation
- scope of elections:
- full renewal
- term in office:
- 5 years
- most recent election date:
- 7/15/2024 to 7/16/2024
- parties elected and seats per party:
- Rwandan Patriotic Front (FPR) and its allies (37);
- Liberal Party (PL) (5);
- Social Democratic Party (PSD) (5);
- Other (6)
- percentage of women in chamber:
- 63.8%
- expected date of next election:
- July 2029
note: 24 women are selected for seats by special-interest groups, and 3 members are selected by youth and disability organizations
Legislative branch - upper chamber
- chamber name:
- Senate (Sénat)
- number of seats:
- 26 (18 indirectly elected; 8 appointed)
- scope of elections:
- full renewal
- term in office:
- 5 years
- most recent election date:
- 9/16/2024 to 9/16/2024
- percentage of women in chamber:
- 53.8%
- expected date of next election:
- September 2029
Judicial branch
- highest court(s):
- Supreme Court (consists of the chief and deputy chief justices and 5 judges; normally organized into 3-judge panels);
- High Court (consists of the court president, vice president, and a minimum of 24 judges and organized into 5 chambers)
- judge selection and term of office:
- Supreme Court judges nominated by the president after consultation with the Cabinet and the Superior Council of the Judiciary (SCJ), a 27-member body of judges, other judicial officials, and legal professionals, and approved by the Senate;
- chief and deputy chief justices appointed for 8-year nonrenewable terms;
- tenure of judges NA;
- High Court president and vice president appointed by the president of the republic upon approval by the Senate;
- judges appointed by the Supreme Court chief justice upon approval of the SCJ;
- judge tenure NA
- subordinate courts:
- High Court of the Republic;
- commercial courts including the High Commercial Court;
- intermediate courts;
- primary courts;
- and military specialized courts
Political parties
- Democratic Green Party of Rwanda or DGPR
- Liberal Party or PL
- Party for Progress and Concord or PPC
- Rwandan Patriotic Front or RPF
- Rwandan Patriotic Front Coalition (includes RPF, PPC, PSP, UDPR, PDI, PSR, PDC)
- Social Democratic Party or PSD
- Social Party Imberakuri or PS-Imberakuri
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Mathilde MUKANTABANA (since 18 July 2013)
- chancery:
- 1714 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 232-2882
- FAX:
- [1] (202) 232-4544
- email address and website:
- [email protected]; https://rwandaembassy.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Eric KNEEDLER (since 3 October 2023)
- embassy:
- 2657 Avenue de la Gendarmerie (Kaciyiru), P. O. Box 28 Kigali
- mailing address:
- 2210 Kigali Place, Washington DC 20521-2210
- telephone:
- [250] 252 596-400
- FAX:
- [250] 252 580-325
- email address and website:
- [email protected]; https://rw.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AU, CEPGL, COMESA, EAC, EADB, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Flag
- description:
- three horizontal bands of sky blue (top, double-width), yellow, and green, with a golden sun with 24 rays on the right end of the blue band
- meaning:
- blue stands for happiness and peace, yellow for economic development and mineral wealth, and green for hope for prosperity and natural resources;
- the sun symbolizes unity and enlightenment
National anthem(s)
- title:
- "Rwanda nziza" (Rwanda, Our Beautiful Country)
- lyrics/music:
- Faustin MURIGO/Jean-Bosco HASHAKAIMANA
- history:
- adopted 2001
National heritage
- total World Heritage Sites:
- 2 (1 cultural, 1 natural)
- selected World Heritage Site locales:
- Memorial sites of the Genocide: Nyamata, Murambi, Gisozi and Bisesero (c); Nyungwe National Park (n)
Economy
31 fieldsTrading partnersexports left, imports right
By end use% of GDP · (2024 est.)
Budget(2023 est.)
Economic overview
- low-income Sub-Saharan economy;
- services, industry, and agriculture sectors driving growth;
- increased government spending on human capital, energy, and healthcare;
- major infrastructure projects including the Bugesera Airport intended to support long-term growth;
- challenges include lack of economic diversification, high inflation, and wide current account deficit
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
- agriculture:
- 24.6% (2024 est.)
- industry:
- 21% (2024 est.)
- services:
- 47.6% (2024 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Agricultural products
bananas, cassava, sweet potatoes, plantains, potatoes, maize, beans, pumpkins/squash, taro, sorghum (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
cement, agricultural products, small-scale beverages, soap, furniture, shoes, plastic goods, textiles, cigarettes
Labor force
5.671 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
Unemployment rate
12% (2024 est.) · 12.4% (2023 est.) · 15.1% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
- total:
- 17.5% (2024 est.)
- male:
- 15.8% (2024 est.)
- female:
- 19.4% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Population below poverty line
38.2% (2016 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
43.7 (2016 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
Remittances
3.6% of GDP (2023 est.) · 3.6% of GDP (2022 est.) · 3.5% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Taxes and other revenues
13.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
Current account balance
-$1.654 billion (2023 est.) · -$1.246 billion (2022 est.) · -$1.209 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Exports
$3.509 billion (2023 est.) · $2.993 billion (2022 est.) · $2.11 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports - commodities
gold, rare earth ores, coffee, tea, tin ores (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$5.783 billion (2023 est.) · $4.978 billion (2022 est.) · $3.856 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports - commodities
broadcasting equipment, fish, corn, packaged medicine, plastic products (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$2.406 billion (2024 est.) · $1.834 billion (2023 est.) · $1.726 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Debt - external
$5.531 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
Exchange rates
Rwandan francs (RWF) per US dollar - 1,318.128 (2024 est.) · 1,160.099 (2023 est.) · 1,030.308 (2022 est.) · 988.625 (2021 est.) · 943.278 (2020 est.)
Energy
7 fieldsElectrification% of population · (2022 est.)
Installed generating capacity, 294,000 kW(2023 est.)
Natural gas
- production:
- 63.666 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
- consumption:
- 63.696 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
- proven reserves:
- 56.634 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Communications
6 fieldsPer 100 inhabitants(2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines
- total subscriptions:
- 8,000 (2023 est.)
- subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
- (2023 est.) less than 1
Broadcast media
- 13 TV stations;
- 35 radio stations, including international broadcasters;
- government owns most popular TV and radio stations;
- regional satellite-based TV available
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
- total:
- 62,000 (2023 est.)
- subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
- (2023 est.) less than 1
Transportation
2 fieldsMilitary and Security
7 fieldsMilitary and security forces
Rwanda Defense Force (RDF; Ingabo z’u Rwanda): Rwanda Army (Rwanda Land Force), Rwanda Air Force (Force Aerienne Rwandaise, FAR), Rwanda Reserve Force, Special Units; Ministry of Internal Security: Rwanda National Police (2025)
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 30-35,000 active Rwanda Defense Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the RDF's inventory is a mix of older and some modern equipment from suppliers such as China, France, Israel, Russia/former Soviet Union, South Africa, and Türkiye (2025)
Military service age and obligation
- typically 18-30 years of age for men and women for voluntary military service (including officer candidates and those with university degrees and specialized qualifications);
- enlistment is either as contract (5-years, renewable twice) or career professional;
- no conscription (2025)
Military deployments
- approximately 3,200 Central African Republic (about 2,200 under MINUSCA, plus some 700 police; approximately 1,000 under a bi-lateral agreement);
- estimated 3-4,000 Democratic Republic of the Congo;
- estimated 3,000 Mozambique (bilateral agreement to assist with combating an insurgency; includes both military and police forces);
- 2,600 (plus about 450 police) South Sudan (UNMISS) (2025)
Military - note
the principle responsibilities of the Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) are ensuring territorial integrity and national sovereignty and preventing infiltrations of illegal armed groups from neighboring countries, particularly the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC); since 2021, Rwanda has deployed RDF troops to the border region with the DRC to combat the rebel Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), which it has accused the DRC of backing;
Rwanda has been accused by the DRC, the UN, and the US of deploying RDF troops in the DRC and providing material support to the March 23 Movement (M23, aka Congolese Revolutionary Army) rebel group; the RDF also participates in UN and regional military operations, as well as multinational exercises;
it has deployed several thousand RDF troops and police personnel to Mozambique to assist in combating an insurgency since 2021; Rwanda has mutual defense treaties with Kenya and Uganda
the Rwandan Armed Forces (FAR) were established following independence in 1962; after the 1990-1994 civil war and genocide, the victorious Tutsi-dominated Rwandan Patriotic Front's military wing, the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA), became the country's military force; the RPA participated in the First (1996-1997) and Second (1998-2003) Congolese Wars;
the RPA was renamed the Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) in 2003, by which time it had assumed a more national character with the inclusion of many former Hutu officers as well as newly recruited soldiers (2025)
Space
3 fieldsSpace agency/agencies
Rwanda Space Agency (L’Agence Spatiale Rwandaise; RSA; established 2020 and approved by legislature in 2021) (2025)
Space program overview
- has a small program focused on developing space technologies, such as satellite communications and imagery for connectivity, disaster management, security, and socioeconomic development;
- operates communications and remote sensing (RS) satellites;
- has established ties with the space agencies or industries of several countries, including France, Israel, Japan, Poland, the UAE, and the US, as well as members of the African Space Agency;
- seeks to establish itself as an African hub for satellite production and has encouraged development of a domestic commercial space sector (2025)
Key space-program milestones
- 2018 - signed cooperation agreement with Japan for training in designing and producing mini-satellites
- 2019 - first remote sensing (RS) nanosatellite (RWASAT-1) built with assistance from and launched by Japan; first commercial communications satellite (Icyerekezo) built and launched by France
- 2022 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space exploration
- 2025 - joined newly formed African Space Agency
Transnational Issues
2 fieldsRefugees and internally displaced persons
- refugees:
- 128,561 (2024 est.)
- IDPs:
- 21,948 (2024 est.)
- stateless persons:
- 14,500 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons
- tier rating:
- Tier 2 Watch List — the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period, therefore Rwanda remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the second consecutive year;
- for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/rwanda
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Rwanda.” The World Factbook 2025. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/rwanda.