2020 Edition

Background

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.

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

highest point

Volcan Karisimbi 4,519 m

lowest point

Rusizi River 950 m

mean elevation

1,598 m

Geographic coordinates

2 00 S, 30 00 E

Geography - note

landlocked; most of the country is intensively cultivated and rugged, with the population predominantly rural

Irrigated land

96 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

border countries

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

total

930 km

Land use

agricultural land

76.3% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 47% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 13.7% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 15.6% (2023 est.)

forest

24.5% (2023 est.)

other

0% (2023 est.)

Location

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

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)

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

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

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, as shown in this population distribution map

Terrain

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

Age structure

0-14 years

37.2% (male 2,561,884/female 2,508,218)

15-64 years

59.7% (male 3,954,608/female 4,179,844)

65 years and over

3.1% (2024 est.) (male 168,163/female 250,585)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

0.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

0.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

6.35 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

25.05 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Child marriage

men married by age 18

0.4% (2020)

women married by age 15

0.3% (2020)

women married by age 18

5.5% (2020)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

7.7% (2020 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

49.9% (2022 est.)

Death rate

4.87 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

5.1 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio

19.4 (2024 est.)

total dependency ratio

67.5 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio

62.3 (2024 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 60.1% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 65.1% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 88.1% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 39.9% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 34.9% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 11.9% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

4.7% of GDP (2024 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

13.9% national budget (2025 est.)

Ethnic groups

Hutu, Tutsi, Twa

Gross reproduction rate

1.58 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

7.3% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

9.5% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

0.7 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

22.5 deaths/1,000 live births

male

27.3 deaths/1,000 live births

total

27.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

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.

Life expectancy at birth

female

68.6 years

male

64.6 years

total population

66.6 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

female

76.7% (2022 est.)

male

81% (2022 est.)

total population

78.8% (2022 est.)

Major urban areas - population

1.248 million KIGALI (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

229 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

female

21.5 years

male

20.1 years

total

21.3 years (2025 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

23 years (2019/20 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Rwandan

noun

Rwandan(s)

Net migration rate

-0.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

5.8% (2016)

Physician density

0.09 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Population

female

6,938,647

male

6,684,655

total

13,623,302 (2024 est.)

Population growth rate

2% (2025 est.)

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.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 87% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 87.8% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 91.4% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 13% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 12.2% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 8.6% of population (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

13 years (2023 est.)

male

13 years (2023 est.)

total

13 years (2023 est.)

Sex ratio

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

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

female

6.3% (2025 est.)

male

17% (2025 est.)

total

11.4% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.2 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

3.07% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

17.9% of total population (2023)

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)

Capital

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

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

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

history

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

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Rwanda

conventional short form

Rwanda

etymology

the country is named for a local people, but the meaning of their own name is obscure

former

Kingdom of Rwanda, Ruanda, German East Africa

local long form

Republika y'u Rwanda

local short form

Rwanda

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Eric KNEEDLER (since 3 October 2023)

email address and website

consularkigali@state.gov https://rw.usembassy.gov/

embassy

2657 Avenue de la Gendarmerie (Kaciyiru), P. O. Box 28 Kigali

FAX

[250] 252 580-325

mailing address

2210 Kigali Place, Washington DC 20521-2210

telephone

[250] 252 596-400

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1714 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009

chief of mission

Ambassador Mathilde MUKANTABANA (since 18 July 2013)

email address and website

info@rwandaembassy.org https://rwandaembassy.org/

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

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%

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

expected date of next election

15 July 2029

head of government

Prime Minister Justin NSENGIYUMVA (since 23 July 2025)

most recent election date

4 August 2017

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

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, 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

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

Legal system

mixed system of civil law, based on German and Belgian models, and customary law; Supreme Court reviews legislative acts

Legislative branch

legislative structure

bicameral

legislature name

Parlement (Parliament)

Legislative branch - lower chamber

chamber name

Chamber of Deputies (Chambre des Députés)

electoral system

proportional representation

expected date of next election

July 2029

most recent election date

7/15/2024 to 7/16/2024

number of seats

80 (53 directly elected; 27 indirectly elected)

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%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

5 years

Legislative branch - upper chamber

chamber name

Senate (Sénat)

expected date of next election

September 2029

most recent election date

9/16/2024 to 9/16/2024

number of seats

26 (18 indirectly elected; 8 appointed)

percentage of women in chamber

53.8%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

5 years

National anthem(s)

history

adopted 2001

lyrics/music

Faustin MURIGO/Jean-Bosco HASHAKAIMANA

title

"Rwanda nziza" (Rwanda, Our Beautiful Country)

National color(s)

blue, yellow, green

National heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

Memorial sites of the Genocide: Nyamata, Murambi, Gisozi and Bisesero (c); Nyungwe National Park (n)

total World Heritage Sites

2 (1 cultural, 1 natural)

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 July (1962)

National symbol(s)

traditional woven basket with peaked lid

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 

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

bananas, cassava, sweet potatoes, plantains, potatoes, maize, beans, pumpkins/squash, taro, sorghum (2023)

Budget

expenditures

$3.996 billion (2023 est.)

revenues

$3.41 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2021

-$1.209 billion (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$1.246 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

-$1.654 billion (2023 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2023

$5.531 billion (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

Exchange rates

Currency

Rwandan francs (RWF) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

943.278 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

988.625 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

1,030.308 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

1,160.099 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

1,318.128 (2024 est.)

Exports

Exports 2021

$2.11 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$2.993 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$3.509 billion (2023 est.)

Exports - commodities

gold, rare earth ores, coffee, tea, tin ores (2023)

Exports - partners

UAE 66%, China 10%, USA 3%, Kenya 3%, Thailand 2% (2023)

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

30.8% (2024 est.)

government consumption

17.1% (2024 est.)

household consumption

64.9% (2024 est.)

imports of goods and services

-39.1% (2024 est.)

investment in fixed capital

29.1% (2024 est.)

investment in inventories

-3.2% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

24.6% (2024 est.)

industry

21% (2024 est.)

services

47.6% (2024 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$14.252 billion (2024 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016

43.7 (2016 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

35.6% (2016 est.)

lowest 10%

2.4% (2016 est.)

Imports

Imports 2021

$3.856 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$4.978 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$5.783 billion (2023 est.)

Imports - commodities

broadcasting equipment, fish, corn, packaged medicine, plastic products (2023)

Imports - partners

China 19%, Kenya 14%, Uganda 13%, Tanzania 9%, UAE 7% (2023)

Industrial production growth rate

10% (2024 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

17.7% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

19.8% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

1.8% (2024 est.)

Labor force

5.671 million (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

38.2% (2016 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2016

37.3% of GDP (2016 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$39.485 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$42.743 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$46.543 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2022

8.2% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

8.2% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

8.9% (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2022

$2,900 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$3,100 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$3,300 (2024 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2021

3.5% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

3.6% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

3.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$1.726 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$1.834 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$2.406 billion (2024 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

13.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2022

15.1% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

12.4% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

12% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

19.4% (2024 est.)

male

15.8% (2024 est.)

total

17.5% (2024 est.)

Coal

consumption

123,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports

89,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

consumption

876.401 million kWh (2023 est.)

exports

8.674 million kWh (2023 est.)

imports

32 million kWh (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity

294,000 kW (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

197.606 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - rural areas

38.2%

electrification - total population

50.6% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas

98%

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

fossil fuels

43.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity

52.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

3.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

1.808 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

63.696 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

production

63.666 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

proven reserves

56.634 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

9,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2023 est.) less than 1

total

62,000 (2023 est.)

Broadcast media

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

Internet country code

.rw

Internet users

percent of population

34% (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2023 est.) less than 1

total subscriptions

8,000 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

80 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

12.8 million (2023 est.)

Airports

8 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

9XR

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)

Military 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 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 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 T&uuml;rkiye (2025)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2020

1.3% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

1.4% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

1.3% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

1.3% of GDP (2024 est.)

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)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

21,948 (2024 est.)

refugees

128,561 (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

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

Space agency/agencies

Rwanda Space Agency (L&rsquo;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)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

226,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas

124,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

1.295 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total emissions

1.645 million metric tonnes of CO2 (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

Particulate matter emissions

35.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

13.3 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

361 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial

10 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

municipal

230 million cubic meters (2022 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.)