2018 Edition

Background

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 a state-orchestrated genocide, in which Rwandans killed up to a million of their fellow citizens, including approximately three-quarters of the Tutsi population. The genocide ended later that 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. Approximately 2 million Hutu refugees - many fearing Tutsi retribution - fled to neighboring Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda, and former Zaire. Since then, most of the refugees have returned to Rwanda, but several thousand remained in the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC, the former Zaire) and formed an extremist insurgency bent on retaking Rwanda, much as the RPF did in 1990. Rwanda held its first local elections in 1999 and its first post-genocide presidential and legislative elections in 2003. Rwanda in 2009 staged a joint military operation with the Congolese Army in DRC to rout out the Hutu extremist insurgency there, and Kigali and Kinshasa restored diplomatic relations. Rwanda also joined the Commonwealth in late 2009. President Paul KAGAME won the presidential election in August 2017 after changing the constitution in 2016 to allow him to run for a third term.

Area

land

24,668 sq km

total

26,338 sq km

water

1,670 sq km

Area Comparative

slightly smaller than Maryland

Climate

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

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation

elevation extremes

950 m lowest point: Rusizi River

mean elevation

1,598 m

note

4519 highest point: Volcan Karisimbi

Environment Current Issues

deforestation results from uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel; overgrazing; land degradation; soil erosion; a decline in soil fertility (soil exhaustion); wetland degradation and loss of biodiversity; widespread poaching

Environment International Agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

Law of the Sea

Geographic Coordinates

2 00 S, 30 00 E

Geography Note

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

Irrigated Land

96 sq km (2012)

Land Boundaries

border countries (4)

Burundi 315 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 221 km, Tanzania 222 km, Uganda 172 km

total

930 km

Land Use

arable land: 47% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 10.1% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 17.4% (2011 est.)

agricultural land

74.5% (2011 est.)

forest

18% (2011 est.)

other

7.5% (2011 est.)

Location

Central Africa, east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, north of Burundi

Map References

Africa

Maritime Claims

note

none (landlocked)

Natural Hazards

periodic droughts; the volcanic Virunga Mountains are in the northwest along the border with Democratic Republic of the Congovolcanism: Visoke (3,711 m), located on the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is the country's only historically active volcano

Natural Resources

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

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

Terrain

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

Age Structure

0-14 years

40.98% (male 2,521,169 /female 2,473,055)

15-24 years

19.45% (male 1,187,249 /female 1,183,278)

25-54 years

32.93% (male 1,903,087 /female 2,109,839)

55-64 years

4.15% (male 225,273 /female 280,545)

65 years and over

2.49% (male 120,952 /female 182,953) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

29.8 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Children Under The Age Of 5 Years Underweight

8.1% (2015)

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate

53.2% (2014/15)

Death Rate

6.3 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Demographic Profile

Rwanda’s fertility rate declined sharply during the last decade, as a result of the government’s commitment to family planning, the increased use of contraceptives, and a downward trend in ideal family size. Increases in educational attainment, particularly among girls, and exposure to social media also contributed to the reduction in the birth rate. The average number of births per woman decreased from a 5.6 in 2005 to 4.5 in 2016. Despite these significant strides in reducing fertility, Rwanda’s birth rate remains very high and will continue to for an extended period of time because of its large population entering reproductive age. Because Rwanda is one of the most densely populated countries in Africa, its persistent high population growth and increasingly small agricultural landholdings will put additional strain on families’ ability to raise foodstuffs and access potable water. These conditions will also hinder the government’s efforts to reduce poverty and prevent environmental degradation.The UNHCR recommended that effective 30 June 2013 countries invoke a cessation of refugee status for those Rwandans who fled their homeland between 1959 and 1998, including the 1994 genocide, on the grounds that the conditions that drove them to seek protection abroad no longer exist. The UNHCR’s decision is controversial because many Rwandan refugees still fear persecution if they return home, concerns that are supported by the number of Rwandans granted asylum since 1998 and by the number exempted from the cessation. Rwandan refugees can still seek an exemption or local integration, but host countries are anxious to send the refugees back to Rwanda and are likely to avoid options that enable them to stay. Conversely, Rwanda itself hosts almost 160,000 refugees as of 2017; virtually all of them fleeing conflict in neighboring Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Dependency Ratios

elderly dependency ratio

5 (2015 est.)

potential support ratio

20.1 (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

77.3 (2015 est.)

youth dependency ratio

72.4 (2015 est.)

Drinking Water Source

improved: urban: 86.6% of population

rural: 71.9% of population

total: 76.1% of population

unimproved: urban: 13.4% of population

rural: 28.1% of population

total: 23.9% of population (2015 est.)

Education Expenditures

3.5% of GDP (2016)

Ethnic Groups

Hutu, Tutsi, Twa (Pygmy)

Health Expenditures

7.5% of GDP (2014)

Hiv Aids Adult Prevalence Rate

2.7% (2017 est.)

Hiv Aids Deaths

3,100 (2017 est.)

Hiv Aids People Living With Hiv Aids

220,000 (2017 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

female

26.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

male

32 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

total

29.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

Kinyarwanda (official, universal Bantu vernacular) 93.2%, French (official) (2002 est.)

Life Expectancy At Birth

female

66.5 years (2018 est.)

male

62.6 years (2018 est.)

total population

64.5 years (2018 est.)

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write (2015 est.)

female

68% (2015 est.)

male

73.2% (2015 est.)

total population

70.5% (2015 est.)

Major Infectious Diseases

animal contact diseases

rabies (2016)

degree of risk

very high (2016)

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever (2016)

vectorborne diseases

malaria and dengue fever (2016)

Major Urban Areas Population

1.058 million KIGALI (capital) (2018)

Maternal Mortality Rate

290 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median Age

female

20 years (2018 est.)

male

18.5 years

total

19.2 years

Mother S Mean Age At First Birth

23 years (2014/15 est.)

note

median age at first birth among women 25-29

Nationality

adjective

Rwandan

noun

Rwandan(s)

Net Migration Rate

0.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

5.8% (2016)

Physicians Density

0.06 physicians/1,000 population (2015)

Population

12,187,400 (July 2018 est.)

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, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected

Population Growth Rate

2.3% (2018 est.)

Religions

Protestant 49.5% (includes Adventist 11.8% and other Protestant 37.7%), Roman Catholic 43.7%, Muslim 2%, other 0.9% (includes Jehovah's Witness), none 2.5%, unspecified 1.3% (2012 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

improved: urban: 58.5% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 62.9% of population (2015 est.)

total: 61.6% of population (2015 est.)

unimproved: urban: 41.5% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 37.1% of population (2015 est.)

total: 38.4% of population (2015 est.)

School Life Expectancy Primary To Tertiary Education

female

11 years (2013)

male

11 years (2013)

total

11 years (2013)

Sex Ratio

0-14 years

1.02 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

15-24 years

1 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

25-54 years

1 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

55-64 years

0.88 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

65 years and over

0.7 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

total population

1 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

3.75 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

female

2.5% (2014 est.)

male

1.4% (2014 est.)

total

1.9% (2014 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

2.86% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

17.2% of total population (2018)

Administrative Divisions

4 provinces (in French - provinces, singular - province; in Kinyarwanda - intara for singular and plural) and 1 city* (in French - ville; in Kinyarwanda - umujyi); Est (Eastern), Kigali*, Nord (Northern), Ouest (Western), Sud (Southern)

Capital

geographic coordinates

1 57 S, 30 03 E

name

Kigali

time difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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

Constitution

amendments

proposed by the president of the republic (with Council of Ministers approval) or by two-thirds majority support 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; amended 2008, 2010, 2015 (2017)

history

several previous; latest adopted by referendum 26 May 2003, effective 4 June 2003 (2017)

Country Name

conventional long form

Republic of Rwanda

conventional short form

Rwanda

etymology

the name translates as "domain" in the native Kinyarwanda language

former

Ruanda, German East Africa

local long form

Republika y'u Rwanda

local short form

Rwanda

Diplomatic Representation From The Us

chief of mission

Ambassador Peter H. VROOMAN (since 5 April 2018)

embassy

2657 Avenue de la Gendarmerie, Kigali

FAX

[250] 252 580 325

mailing address

B.P. 28, Kigali

telephone

[250] 252 596-400

Diplomatic Representation In The Us

chancery

1875 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 418, Washington, DC, 20009

chief of mission

Ambassador Mathilde MUKANTABANA (since 18 July 2013)

FAX

[1] (202) 232-4544

telephone

[1] (202) 232-2882

Executive Branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

chief of state

President Paul KAGAME (since 22 April 2000)

election results

Paul KAGAME reelected president; Paul KAGAME (RPF) 98.8%, Philippe MPAYIMANA (independent) 0.7%, Frank HABINEZA (DGPR)0.5%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by simple majority vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); note - a constitutional amendment approved in December 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; election last held on 4 August 2017 (next to be held in August 2024); prime minister appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Edouard NGIRENTE (since 30 August 2017)

Flag Description

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; blue represents happiness and peace, yellow economic development and mineral wealth, green hope of prosperity and natural resources; the sun symbolizes unity, as well as enlightenment and transparency from ignorance

Government Type

presidential republic

Independence

1 July 1962 (from Belgium-administered UN trusteeship)

International Law Organization Participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International Organization Participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, 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, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial Branch

highest courts

Supreme Court (consists of the chief and deputy chief justices and 15 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

note

 

subordinate courts

High Court of the Republic; commercial courts including the High Commercial Court; intermediate courts; primary courts; and military specialized courts

Legal System

mixed legal system of civil law, based on German and Belgian models, and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court

Legislative Branch

description

bicameral Parliament consists of:Senate or Senat (26 seats; 12 members indirectly elected by local councils, 8 appointed by the president, 4 appointed by the Political Organizations Forum - a body of registered political parties, and 2 selected by institutions of higher learning; members serve 8-year terms) Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (80 seats; 53 members directly elected by proportional representation vote, 24 women selected by special interest groups, and 3 selected by youth and disability organizations; members serve 5-year terms)

election results

Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - Rwandan Patriotic Front Coalition 76.2%, PSD 13%, PL 9.3%, other 1.5%; seats by party - Rwandan Patriotic Front Coalition 41, PSD 7, PL 5, 27 indirectly elected members

elections

Senate - last held on 26-27 September 2011 (next to be held in 2019) Chamber of Deputies - last held on 16-18 September 2013 (next to be held on 3 September 2018)

National Anthem

lyrics/music

Faustin MURIGO/Jean-Bosco HASHAKAIMANA

name

"Rwanda nziza" (Rwanda, Our Beautiful Country)

note

adopted 2001

National Holiday

Independence Day, 1 July (1962)

National Symbol S

traditional woven basket with peaked lid; national colors: blue, yellow, green

Political Parties And Leaders

Democratic Green Party of Rwanda or DGPR [Frank HABINEZA]Liberal Party or PL [Donatille MUKABALISA]Party for Progress and Concord or PPC [Dr. Alivera MUKABARAMBA]Party Imberakuri or PS-Imberakuri [Christine MUKABUNANI]Rwandan Patriotic Front or RPF [Paul KAGAME]Rwandan Patriotic Front Coalition (includes RPF, PPC) [Paul KAGAME]Social Democratic Party or PSD [Vincent BIRUTA]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture Products

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

Budget

expenditures

2.337 billion (2017 est.)

revenues

1.943 billion (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

-4.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Central Bank Discount Rate

7.75% (31 December 2010)

11.25% (31 December 2008)

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

17.17% (31 December 2017 est.)

17.29% (31 December 2016 est.)

Current Account Balance

-$622 million (2017 est.)

-$1.336 billion (2016 est.)

Debt External

$3.258 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$2.611 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Distribution Of Family Income Gini Index

50.4 (2013 est.)

51.3 (2010 est.)

Economy Overview

Rwanda is a rural, agrarian country with agriculture accounting for about 63% of export earnings, and with some mineral and agro-processing. Population density is high but, with the exception of the capital Kigali, is not concentrated in large cities – its 12 million people are spread out on a small amount of land (smaller than the state of Maryland). Tourism, minerals, coffee, and tea are Rwanda's main sources of foreign exchange. Despite Rwanda's fertile ecosystem, food production often does not keep pace with demand, requiring food imports. Energy shortages, instability in neighboring states, and lack of adequate transportation linkages to other countries continue to handicap private sector growth.The 1994 genocide decimated Rwanda's fragile economic base, severely impoverished the population, particularly women, and temporarily stalled the country's ability to attract private and external investment. However, Rwanda has made substantial progress in stabilizing and rehabilitating its economy well beyond pre-1994 levels. GDP has rebounded with an average annual growth of 6%-8% since 2003 and inflation has been reduced to single digits. In 2015, 39% of the population lived below the poverty line, according to government statistics, compared to 57% in 2006.The government has embraced an expansionary fiscal policy to reduce poverty by improving education, infrastructure, and foreign and domestic investment. Rwanda consistently ranks well for ease of doing business and transparency.The Rwandan Government is seeking to become a regional leader in information and communication technologies and aims to reach middle-income status by 2020 by leveraging the service industry. In 2012, Rwanda completed the first modern Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Kigali. The SEZ seeks to attract investment in all sectors, but specifically in agribusiness, information and communications, trade and logistics, mining, and construction. In 2016, the government launched an online system to give investors information about public land and its suitability for agricultural development.

Exchange Rates

Rwandan francs (RWF) per US dollar -

839.1 (2017 est.)

787.25 (2016 est.)

787.25 (2015 est.)

720.54 (2014 est.)

680.95 (2013 est.)

Exports

$1.05 billion (2017 est.)

$745 million (2016 est.)

Exports Commodities

coffee, tea, hides, tin ore

Exports Partners

UAE 38.3%, Kenya 15.1%, Switzerland 9.9%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 9.5%, US 4.9%, Singapore 4.5% (2017)

Fiscal Year

calendar year

Gdp Composition By End Use

exports of goods and services

18.2% (2017 est.)

government consumption

15.2% (2017 est.)

household consumption

75.9% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-32.8% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

22.9% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

0.5% (2017 est.)

Gdp Composition By Sector Of Origin

agriculture

30.9% (2017 est.)

industry

17.6% (2017 est.)

services

51.5% (2017 est.)

Gdp Official Exchange Rate

$9.136 billion (2017 est.) (2017 est.)

Gdp Per Capita Ppp

$2,100 (2017 est.)

$2,000 (2016 est.)

$1,900 (2015 est.)

note

data are in 2017 dollars

Gdp Purchasing Power Parity

$24.68 billion (2017 est.)

$23.26 billion (2016 est.)

$21.94 billion (2015 est.)

note

data are in 2017 dollars

Gdp Real Growth Rate

6.1% (2017 est.)

6% (2016 est.)

8.9% (2015 est.)

Gross National Saving

12.5% of GDP (2017 est.)

6.1% of GDP (2016 est.)

7.5% of GDP (2015 est.)

Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share

highest 10%

43.2% (2011 est.)

lowest 10%

43.2% (2011 est.)

Imports

$1.922 billion (2017 est.)

$2.036 billion (2016 est.)

Imports Commodities

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

Imports Partners

China 20.4%, Uganda 11%, India 7.2%, Kenya 7.1%, Tanzania 5.3%, UAE 5.1% (2017)

Industrial Production Growth Rate

4.2% (2017 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

4.8% (2017 est.)

5.7% (2016 est.)

Labor Force

6.227 million (2017 est.)

Labor Force By Occupation

agriculture

75.3%

industry

6.7%

services

18% (2012 est.)

Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares

note

NA

Population Below Poverty Line

39.1% (2015 est.)

Public Debt

40.5% of GDP (2017 est.)

37.3% of GDP (2016 est.)

Reserves Of Foreign Exchange And Gold

$997.6 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.104 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Broad Money

$963.9 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$895 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad

$113.2 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$26.8 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment At Home

$2.378 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$2.072 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Domestic Credit

$1.861 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.614 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Narrow Money

$963.9 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$895 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Taxes And Other Revenues

21.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

2.7% (2014 est.)

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

985,600 Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Production

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

electrification - rural areas

5% (2013)

electrification - total population

21% (2013)

electrification - urban areas

67% (2013)

population without electricity

9.3 million (2013)

Electricity Consumption

527.3 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

4 million kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

42% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

51% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

7% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

42 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

191,000 kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

525 million kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

56.63 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

6,700 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

6,628 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

less than 1 (2017 est.)

total

21,780 (2017 est.)

Broadcast Media

13 TV stations; 35 radio stations registered, including international broadcasters, government owns most popular TV and radio stations; regional satellite-based TV services available (2016)

Internet Country Code

.rw

Internet Users

percent of population

29.8% (Dec 2017 est.)

total

3,724,678 (Dec 2017 est.)

Telephone System

domestic

the capital, Kigali, is connected to provincial centers by microwave radio relay and, recently, by cellular telephone service; much of the network depends on wire and HF radiotelephone; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone density has increased and now exceeds 70 telephones per 100 persons (2017)

general assessment

small, inadequate telephone system primarily serves business, education, and government (2017)

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) (2017)

Telephones Fixed Lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

less than 1 (December 2017 est.) (2017 est.)

total subscriptions

12,333 (2017 est.)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

74 (2017 est.)

total subscriptions

8,819,217 (2017 est.)

Airports

7 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

914 to 1,523 m

2 (2017)

over 3,047 m

1 (2017)

total

4 (2017)

under 914 m

1 (2017)

Airports With Unpaved Runways

914 to 1,523 m

2 (2013)

total

3 (2013)

under 914 m

1 (2013)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

9XR (2016)

National Air Transport System

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

21,382,897 mt-km (2015)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

645,815 (2015)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

9 (2015)

number of registered air carriers

1 (2015)

Ports And Terminals

lake port(s)

Cyangugu, Gisenyi, Kibuye (Lake Kivu)

Roadways

paved

1,207 km (2012)

total

4,700 km (2012)

unpaved

3,493 km (2012)

Waterways

(Lac Kivu navigable by shallow-draft barges and native craft) (2011)

Military Branches

Rwanda Defense Force (RDF): Rwanda Army (Rwanda Land Force), Rwanda Air Force (Force Aerienne Rwandaise, FAR) (2013)

Military Expenditures

1.21% of GDP (2016)

1.25% of GDP (2015)

1.13% of GDP (2014)

1.08% of GDP (2013)

1.09% of GDP (2012)

Military Service Age And Obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; Rwandan citizenship is required, as is a 9th-grade education for enlisted recruits and an A-level certificate for officer candidates; enlistment is either as contract (5-years, renewable twice) or career; retirement (for officers and senior NCOs) after 20 years of service or at 40-60 years of age (2012)

Disputes International

Burundi and Rwanda dispute two sq km (0.8 sq mi) of Sabanerwa, a farmed area in the Rukurazi Valley where the Akanyaru/Kanyaru River shifted its course southward after heavy rains in 1965fighting among ethnic groups - loosely associated political rebels, armed gangs, and various government forces in Great Lakes region transcending the boundaries of Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DROC), Rwanda, and Uganda - abated substantially from a decade ago due largely to UN peacekeeping, international mediation, and efforts by local governments to create civil societiesnonetheless, 57,000 Rwandan refugees still reside in 21 African states, including Zambia, Gabon, and 20,000 who fled to Burundi in 2005 and 2006 to escape drought and recriminations from traditional courts investigating the 1994 massacresthe 2005 DROC and Rwanda border verification mechanism to stem rebel actions on both sides of the border remains in place

Refugees And Internally Displaced Persons

refugees (country of origin)

80,755 (Democratic Republic of the Congo), 69,089 (Burundi) (2018)