Location: Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo Population: 8,440,820.
Total Area: 26,338 sq km - slightly smaller than Maryland
Climate: temperate; two rainy seasons (February to April, November to January); mild in mountains with frost and snow possible
Natural resources: gold, cassiterite (tin ore), wolframite (tungsten ore), methane, hydropower, arable land
Environment - current issues: deforestation results from uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel; overgrazing; soil exhaustion; soil erosion; widespread poaching.
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection. Signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea.
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 July
Economy - brief overview: Rwanda is a poor rural country with about 90% of the population engaged in (mainly subsistence) agriculture. It is the most densely populated country in Africa and is landlocked with few natural resources and minimal industry. Primary foreign exchange earners are coffee and tea. The 1994 genocide decimated Rwanda's fragile economic base, severely impoverished the population, particularly women, and eroded the country's ability to attract private and external investment. However, Rwanda has made substantial progress in stabilizing and rehabilitating its economy to pre-1994 levels, although poverty levels are higher now. GDP has rebounded and inflation has been curbed.
Budget: revenues: $509.9 million. expenditures: $584.6 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2005 est.)Labor force: 4.6 million (2000)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 90%
Agriculture - products: coffee, tea, pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums), bananas, beans, sorghum, potatoes; livestock
Industries: cement, agricultural products, small-scale beverages, soap, furniture, shoes, plastic goods, textiles, cigarettes
Oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - imports: NA
Oil - exports: NA
Oil - proved reserves: NA (2001)
Exports: 98 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - partners: Indonesia 64.2%, China 3.6%, Germany 2.7% (2004)
Imports: $243 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - partners: Kenya 24.4%, Germany 7.4%, Belgium 6.6%, Uganda 6.3%, France 5.1% (2004)
Government departments:
Official Website of the Government of Rwanda
Media:
Rwanda News Agency/Agence Rwandaise d'Information
Rwanda Times
Travel Information:
Rwanda Travel Information Lonely Planet Destination Guide
Other useful links:
Rwanda Information Exchange
Hotel Rwanda
Through the eyes of children
Documentary, God Sleeps in Rwanda, Short Film - Venice, California.
RwandaHope.com - Rwanda Hope Society
Rwanda Civil War
News headlines
Rwanda/gacaca - Prime Minister Calls On Border Residents To Stop Fleeing Reuters AlertNet
Rwanda: Kagame's Was a 'Barn Burning' Meeting AllAfrica.com 17:28 3-Mar-06
Starbucks to offer coffee grown in Rwanda MSNBC 21:26 1-Mar-06
