Rwanda KEY FACTS Joined Commonwealth: 2009 Population: 11,777,000 (2013) GDP p.c. growth: 2.2% p.a. 1990–2013 UN HDI 2014: World ranking 151 Official languages: Kinyarwanda, French, English Time: GMT plus 2 hrs Currency: Rwandan franc (Rwfr) Geography Area: 26,338 sq km Coastline: None Capital: Kigali The Republic of Rwanda is a landlocked country with land borders with four countries: Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Burundi and Democratic Republic of Congo (clockwise from the north). Water cent and permanent cropland ten per cent of people (53 in 1970); life expectancy 64 years covers 1,390 sq km of the country; the the total land area. (44 in 1970). largest lakes include Bulera, Ihema, Kivu Wildlife: National parks and game reserves The main ethnic groups are Hutus, (straddling the border with the Democratic cover some eight per cent of the country and comprising an estimated 85 per cent of the Republic of Congo), Mugesera and Muhazi, include the Volcanoes National Park (famous population; Tutsis (14 per cent); and Twa (less and there are many rivers. The country for its mountain gorillas) and Akagera than one per cent). Censuses carried out comprises five provinces. National Park (elephants, buffaloes, giraffes since the conflict of the 1990s have not Topography: The terrain is rugged with and zebras). Some 20 mammal species and included ethnicity. steep hills and deep valleys, rising in the 14 bird species are thought to be endangered Language: Kinyarwanda, French and English north to the highest peak, Karisimbi (4,519 (2014). are the official languages, and Kiswahili is metres), which lies in a range of volcanoes. Main towns: Kigali (capital, pop. 1.13m in widely spoken. The country is popularly known as the ‘land 2012), Gisenyi (126,706), Ruhengeri (59,300), Religion: Christians (mostly Roman Catholics) of a thousand hills’. Butare (50,220), Gitarama (49,038), Byumba comprise about half the population and most Climate: Though the country is close to the (34,544), Cyangugu (27,416), Nyanza of the rest hold traditional beliefs, often Equator, the climate is tempered by altitude; (25,417), Rwamagana (18,009), Ruhango combined with Christianity. There is a small it is hot and humid in the valleys, and drier (17,051), Gikongoro (16,695), Kibuye minority of Muslims, comprising about two and cooler in the higher elevations. The rainy (12,325) and Kibungo (11,537). per cent of the population, according to the seasons are March–May and October– Transport: There are 14,000 km of roads, 19 2012 census. November; the hottest season August– per cent paved. There is no railway. Health: Public spending on health was six September. The main international airport is Kigali per cent of GDP in 2012. Some 71 per cent Environment: The most significant International. of the population uses an improved drinking environmental issues are drought, limiting the water source and 64 per cent have access to potential for agriculture; overgrazing; soil adequate sanitation facilities (2012). Infant erosion and degradation; and deforestation Society mortality was 37 per 1,000 live births in 2013 due to almost universal use of wood as a KEY FACTS 2013 (122 in 1960). In 2013, 2.9 per cent of fuel. Population per sq km: 447 people aged 15–49 were HIV positive. Vegetation: Thick equatorial rainforest is Life expectancy: 64 years The King Faisal Hospital, Kigali, is the found in the north and west of the country – country’s principal referral centre and Net primary enrolment: 99% forest covering some 18 per cent of the total teaching hospital, Muhima Hospital is also land area – and savannah in the east. Forest Population: 11,777,000 (2013); 27 per cent located in Kigali, and there are health centres, cover has increased at 1.6 per cent p.a. of people live in urban areas; growth 2.1 per health posts, clinics and dispensaries 1990–2010. Arable land comprises 48 per cent p.a. 1990–2013; birth rate 35 per 1,000 throughout the country. THE COMMONWEALTH YEARBOOK 2015 Rwanda Education: Public spending on education investment in coffee, tea and minerals Real growth in GDP was 5.1 per cent of GDP in 2013. There are production. Foreign direct investment grew % nine years of compulsory education starting % 10 more slowly than aid. at the age of seven. Primary school comprises The 2000s also saw large-scale privatisation six years and secondary six, with two cycles 8 in the utilities, transport and mining sectors each of three years. The school year starts in and the emergence of new industries such as January. Some 37 per cent of pupils complete 6 eco-tourism and electricity generation from primary school (2009). In October 2008 the g methane gas at Lake Kivu. Growth in mining government decided to change the medium 4 activity and o f exp orts of minerals such as of education from French to English. 2 cassiterite (a tin ore), coltan (a metallic ore The National University of Rwanda was containing niobium and tantalum) and established in 1963 with faculties of medicine 0 wolfram (tungsten) reduced the country’s and social sciences, and a teacher-training 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 dependence on exports of coffee and tea. college. Faculties of law, science and Rwanda’s external debt was substantially technology, and the National Institute of Inflation reduced when it reached completion point Education followed, all now located at Butare % 12 under the IMF/World Bank Heavily Indebted in the south. Among other important tertiary Poor Countries Initiative in March 2005 and institutions are the Kigali Health Institute; the 10 qualified for the Multilateral Debt Relief Kigali Institute of Science and Technology; the Initiative in March 2006, bringing about a fall Rwanda Institute of Administration and 8 in external debt to 17 per cent of GDP in Management; and the School of Finance and 6 2006. Banking. The female–male ratio for gross enrolment in tertiary education is 0.70:1 4 With peace and stable democratic (2011). Literacy among people aged 15–24 is government, strong economic growth 77 per cent (2010). 2 ensued, averaging more than ten per cent p.a. over 1996–2002, albeit much less on a Media: The New Times (daily), Rwanda 0 Herald and Rwanda Newsline are all 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 per capita basis. It then slowed to 5.6 per published in English; Umuseso in cent p.a. during 2003–07 before Kinyarwanda. GDP by sector (2013) strengthening to 11.2 per cent in 2008 and an average of about seven per cent p.a. in Radio Rwanda provides public radio services 2009–15. It was hardly affected by the world Agriculture in Kinyarwanda, French, English and economic downturn of 2008–09. Kiswahili, and there are several private 34.7% commercial or faith radio stations. Télévision Industry Rwandaise provides a public service in the 15.5% History urban areas. Services By the 17th century Tutsis had established a Some five per cent of households have TV 49.8% kingdom in present-day Rwanda where sets (2010). There are three personal Hutus, Tutsis and Twa were living. Rwanda computers per 1,000 people (2006). became part of German East Africa in 1899. Rwanda is landlocked and densely populated. After World War I, it came under Belgian Communications : Country code 250 (no It has relatively few exploitable resources and administration under a League of Nations area codes); internet domain ‘.rw’. most people are engaged in subsistence mandate, and, from 1920, as part of a UN For every 1,000 people there are four agriculture, which in 2012 contributed about trust territory, ‘Ruanda–Urundi’. landlines, 568 mobile phone subscriptions 35 per cent of GDP. Water resources are After World War II, Rwanda continued to be and 87 internet users (2013). unevenly spread across the country and some administered by Belgium. In 1959, as the areas experience periodic droughts. Public holidays: New Year’s Day, Heroes’ independence movement gathered pace, the Commercial cultivation of coffee and tea was Day (1 February), Tutsi Genocide Memorial ruling Tutsi elite formed a political party, introduced by the colonial administration in Day (7 April), Labour Day (1 May), Union Nationale Rwandaise. The Belgian the first half of the 20th century. Independence Day (1 July), Liberation Day (4 authorities encouraged the Hutu majority also July), Assumption (15 August), Christmas Day During the long period of intercommunal to aspire to political power and, in the same and Boxing Day. conflict and massive displacement of people year, a rival party, Parti de l’émancipation du that lasted from independence in 1962 to the Religious festivals whose dates vary from year peuple Hutu (Parmehutu), was established. establishment in 1994 of the government of to year include Good Friday and Eid al-Fitr As the 1960 local elections approached, national unity led by the Rwandan Patriotic (End of Ramadan, two days). Parmehutu initiated a Hutu uprising resulting Front, development and diversification of in the death of many Tutsis and forcing King economy and investment in infrastructure Kigeri V and tens of thousands of Tutsis to Economy and education were on hold. flee into exile in Uganda and Burundi. In KEY FACTS 2013 From 1994, with the strong support of the 1961 the monarchy was abolished and GNI: US$7.3bn international donor community and a large Rwanda became a republic, gaining GNI p.c.: US$620 injection of aid, the government embarked independence from Belgium in 1962, with on a programme of economic reforms, which Parmehutu leader Grégoire Kayibanda as GDP growth: 7.0% p.a. 2009–13 aimed to grow the private sector and develop President; many more Tutsis left the country Inflation: 5.7% p.a.