Rwanda

Full name of country: Republic of Rwanda

Region: Africa

Official language: Kinyarwanda, French, English, Kiswahili

Population: 13,623,302 (2024 est.)

Nationality: Rwandan(s) (noun), Rwandan (adjective)

Land area: 24,668 sq km (9,524 sq miles)

Water area: 1,670 sq km (645 sq miles)

Capital: Kigali

National anthem: "Rwanda nziza" (Rwanda, Our Beautiful Country), by Faustin Murigo/Jean-Bosco Hashakaimana

National holiday: Independence Day, July 1 (1962)

Population growth: 1.62% (2024 est.)

Time zone: UTC +2

Flag: Rwanda’s flag was adopted in 2001 and features a broad strip of blue, standing for peace and happiness, across most of the top half of the flag, with a sun shining in the right. Below the blue stripe is a stripe of yellow, signifying the country’s current and potential economic development and another of green, representing the country’s prosperity and resources. The sun stands for the country’s enlightenment and unity.

Motto: “Ubumwe, Umurimo, Gukunda Igihugu” (Unity, Work, Patriotism)

Independence: July 1, 1962 (from Belgium-administered UN trusteeship)

Government type: presidential republic

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

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

Located in Central Africa near the equator, Rwanda is a small, densely populated country bordered by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Tanzania, and Burundi.

The conflict between the country's two main ethnic groups, the Hutus and Tutsis, drew the world's attention to Rwanda at the end of the twentieth century. In 1994, the Hutu majority carried out a genocide against the Tutsis, killing as many as one million people. The United Nations and Western powers did little to prevent the atrocities.

The war spread to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which was accepting Tutsi refugees, before a peace accord was signed in 2002. The following year, a new constitution was drafted, giving equal political power to both Hutus and Tutsis, and in subsequent years the country enjoyed economic growth and improved stability.

Note: unless otherwise indicated, statistical data in this article is sourced from the CIA World Factbook, as cited in the bibliography.

People and Culture

Population: There are three main ethnic groups in Rwanda: Hutu, Tutsi, and Twa (or Batwa). The Hutus are the majority group, accounting for approximately 84 percent of the population prior to the genocide. The Tutsis are the next largest, then representing 15 percent of the population; the Twa, a central African forager people, made up only 1 percent of the population. Since the genocide, the national census has ceased tracking ethnicity as part of a broader national effort to reduce ethnic tensions and to encourage a national Rwandan identity.

Tutsi and Hutu people are largely indistinguishable—they speak the same language, share similar cultures, and have a history of intermarriage. The essentially arbitrary cultural distinction was emphasized during the early twentieth century by Belgian administrators, who used class conflict to control the population. Historically, the cultural division was economic: the term "Tutsi" referred to the upper class of cattle farmers, while "Hutu" was used for the peasant class. Under the Belgians, only the Tutsi could hold political office, which furthered hostility and resentment between the ethnic groups. By the time Rwanda gained its independence in 1962, the Hutus had become the dominant group.

Rwanda has four official languages: Kinyarwanda, French, English, and Kiswahili (Swahili). Kinyarwanda, a Bantu language, is the most widely spoken by far, although Kiswahili is commonly used in business.

Approximately 17.9 percent of Rwandans live in urban areas (2023 estimate). Kigali, the capital, is the largest city, with an estimated population of 1.25 million in 2023. Other large cities include Butare, Gisenyi, and Ruhengeri.

Most Rwandans are Christian, with an estimated 57.7 percent identifying as Protestant and 38.2 percent identifying as Roman Catholic in 2019 and 2020. There is also a small minority of Muslims, representing around 2.1 percent of the population.

Indigenous People: The oldest ethnic group of Rwanda is the Twa, who are believed to represent less than 1 percent of the country's total population. They are among the central African forager peoples sometimes referred to as a pygmy people, who are usually short in stature and are seldom taller than 1.5 meters (5 feet). The Twa were living in the mountains and forests of what is today Rwanda before they were displaced by the arrival of the Hutu and Tutsi beginning around the eleventh century.

Today, a majority of Twa make a meager living as day laborers or potters. They have largely been sidelined in Rwandan society, struggling to overcome historic marginalization in a country where acknowledging ethnic differences has been criminalized and forced to navigate a dense bureaucracy just to receive basic services such as health care and education. Large numbers of Twa were killed during the 1994 genocide—as many as one-third of all those living in Rwanda at the time, according to anthropologist Jerome Lewis—but no official records of their deaths were kept in the aftermath of the genocide. Advocacy groups such as the Communauté des Potiers du Rwanda (COPORWA; Rwandese Community of Potters), founded in 1995, arose in subsequent decades to assist the Twa. (COPORWA refers to Twa people as "potters," a traditional occupation among the community, in order to skirt Rwandan laws against promoting "ethnic divisionism.")

Despite their hardships, the Twa have made significant contributions to Rwandan culture. Their songs and dances are well known and have been integrated into modern music. They also have extensive knowledge of traditional medicine.

Education: Education in Rwanda is free, and in principle the first nine years of schooling (six years of primary, three years of lower secondary) are compulsory beginning at age seven. However, a significant percent of Rwandans do not complete their primary education. The average literacy rate among adult Rwandans is about 75.9 percent, and higher among men (78.7 percent) than among women (73.3 percent) (2021 estimates).

Many schools in Rwanda are run by Christian missionaries. Most schools were closed during the ethnic violence that began in 1994, and many were destroyed in the fighting, although efforts to restore the country's educational system got underway after the end of the genocide. The University of Rwanda, founded in 1963, is the country's main institution of higher education.

Health Care: Still trying to overcome a lack of medical staff as well as the lingering effects of war, Rwanda introduced a community-based health insurance program in 2004. By the 2010s, a large percentage of the population was insured through the program.

While the health status of Rwandans has increased since the end of the war, disease, often due to unsanitary conditions, is still a major cause of death. Common infections include malaria, diarrheal diseases, hepatitis A, typhoid fever, dengue fever, and rabies The prevalence of preventable disease is due to the high rates of poverty and malnutrition throughout the country.

HIV/AIDS remains a problem in Rwanda, especially in urban areas, with an estimated 2.5 percent of the adult population living with the disease in 2020. However, the government has developed a relatively effective education and treatment program to combat the spread of the disease.

The Catholic Church and other international groups have often provided support for Rwandan hospitals and clinics. However, with limited access to modern medical care, many Rwandans resort to traditional remedies. Rwandan umufumu, traditional sorcerer-healers, provide herbal remedies and perform exorcisms.

Rwanda was ranked 165th out of 191 countries on the 2021–2 United Nations Human Development Index, which measures quality-of-life indicators.

Food: As in many African countries, manioc (or cassava) is a staple of the Rwandan diet. Manioc flour is used in many dishes, and the plant's green leaves, called isombe, are often cooked like spinach and served with meals. A popular Rwandan dish is isombe with dried fish.

Most Rwandan cuisine incorporates fruits and vegetables that are easily grown. Beans and bananas are used in a wide range of Rwandan dishes. Meat is seldom eaten.

Arts & Entertainment: Traditional folk music is a significant part of Rwandan culture. The ikinimba is a native musical tradition that involves storytelling accompanied by stringed instruments, including the harp-like lulunga, and drums. The period of Belgian occupation added European influences to the country's traditional music, and modern Rwandan music is a combination of styles.

The centuries-old Intore Dance Troupes help keep traditional Rwandan music and dance alive by performing throughout the country and abroad.

In addition to typical traditional African crafts, such as basketry, pottery, and weaving, rural Rwandans are famous for producing abstract paintings using cow dung. The National Museum in Butare exhibits both traditional and modern works.

The 2004 film Hotel Rwanda, starring Don Cheadle as real-life Rwandan hotel manager Paul Rusesabagina, dramatizes the events surrounding the 1994 genocide. Parts of the movie were filmed on location in Kigali. The film was nominated for three Academy Awards and helped promote awareness of the atrocities committed against the Tutsis.

Football (soccer) is the most popular sport in Rwanda. The national football team, the Wasps, has participated in the Africa Nations Cup tournament.

Holidays: National holidays observed in Rwanda include National Heroes' Day (February 1), National Mourning Day (April 7), Labor Day (May 1), Independence Day (July 1), Liberation Day (July 4), and Boxing Day (December 26). Many traditional Christian holidays, such as Easter and Christmas, and Muslim holidays such as Eid are also widely celebrated.

Environment and Geography

Topography: Rwanda lies on the East African plateau, and is characterized by grasslands, hills, valleys, and mountains. The grassy central plateau descends into swampland in the eastern part of the country, near the Kagera River.

Most of the country lies at an elevation of more than 1.5 kilometers (1 mile) above sea level. Its highest point is in the northwest Virunga volcanic mountain range, at the peak of Mount Karisimbi 4,519 meters (14,827 feet) above sea level. The country's lowest point is at the Ruzizi River, 950 meters (3,117 feet) above sea level.

The country's largest lake is Lake Kivu, along Rwanda's border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Virunga Mountains lie between the Nile and the Congo River. Other important rivers in Rwanda include the Akanyaru, the Kagera, and the Nyabarongo.

Natural Resources: In addition to arable land and hydropower, Rwanda has valuable deposits of gold, tin ore, and tungsten ore. Mining operations are generally small in scale, and mineral exports are not economically significant.

The preservation of endangered animals, particularly the mountain gorilla population, is a major conservation issue in Rwanda. Also, the large cattle population has put considerable strain on Rwanda's grasslands, and has contributed to soil erosion. In the twenty-first century, deforestation remained a major environmental concern, as more and more trees were cut down for fuel or to clear new land.

The lingering effects of the war are still evident in Rwanda's natural areas. A great deal of arable land was lost in the fighting, and the return of Tutsi refugees lead to a shortage of land. Rwanda's previously protected Akagera National Park was opened to settlement to help alleviate this crisis.

Plants & Animals: Lake Kivu, located in a warm valley surrounded by hills on the western border, is home to many species of plant and animal life. Most agriculture takes place in the fertile western region of the country. To the east, dry savannah takes over. Forests of acacia and bamboo, along with eucalyptus and banana trees, dominate the landscape.

More than half the world's remaining population of mountain gorillas live in Rwanda's Parc National des Volcans (Volcanoes National Park). This endangered species is best known as the subject of study by American primatologist Dian Fossey.

In addition to gorillas, Rwanda is home to such typical African animals as elephants, crocodiles, and hippopotamuses. Colobus monkeys and several species of orchids are found in the Nyungwe Forest. At one time, Rwanda had more protected national park land than any other country in Africa. This changed following the 1994 war, however, with more areas being opened to settlement.

Climate: Despite its close proximity to the equator, Rwanda has a temperate climate due to its high elevation. Though the temperature is usually mild, frost and snow are possible at high altitudes in the Virunga Mountains.

The temperature in the central part of the country averages around 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit) and varies little throughout the year. Temperatures are generally a few degrees cooler at higher elevations.

There are four seasons, though they only consist of mild temperature changes. The two rainy seasons occur between February and May, and between September and December. Rainfall amounts vary by region; the northeastern part of the country typically receives 102 centimeters (40 inches) annually, while the wetter southwest receives 152 centimeters (60 inches).

Economy

Rwanda remains one of the least-developed countries in Africa, especially after the devastating ethnic violence of 1994. Much of the population is engaged in subsistence agriculture, and 38.2 percent lived below the poverty line in 2016. It is estimated that a significant portion of the population lives on less than US$2 a day.

The national economy relies on exports of coffee and tea. Rwanda receives international economic aid and has been designated as a Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HPIC) by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Foreign investment in Rwanda all but disappeared following the outbreak of war in 1994, though the country made efforts to increase investment in the twenty-first century. A lack of transportation infrastructure also made economic growth challenging.

Despite these challenges, Rwanda saw strong average annual economic growth and lowered inflation after 2003. In 2023 Rwanda's gross domestic product (GDP) in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP) was estimated at US$42.701 billion, or US$3,000 per capita.

Industry: Rwandan industry accounts for a relatively small part of GDP, and most goods and foods are imported. Products manufactured in the country include cement, beverages, footwear, textiles, furniture, soap, plastic items, and cigarettes.

Agriculture: Agriculture is a lifestyle passed down through generations in Rwanda. Nearly all Rwandan farmers obtained their farmland through family inheritance. Droughts are a constant threat to the rural farming community. Overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion also threaten the nation's agriculture.

Roughly 47 percent of Rwanda's land is arable, but this percentage is shrinking due to the strain placed on the land by the growing cattle population. Overplanting in an attempt to ease food shortages has also eroded the country's available farmland.

Coffee and tea are the most important crops grown in Rwanda, though their prices fluctuate according to the world market. Other notable crops include bananas, beans, sorghum, potatoes, and chrysanthemum flowers for pyrethrum insecticide. Animal products (mostly from cattle), especially meat and skins, are also important.

Tourism: The combination of a lack of infrastructure and the specter of the 1994 genocide long prevented Rwanda from developing a profitable tourism sector. Still, the country does offer rewarding experiences for travelers and tourism grew during the first decades of the twenty-first century. In 2018 travel and tourism contributed 14.9 percent of Rwanda's GDP and supported 13 percent of total employment. However, the sector contracted in 2020 due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent decline in global travel.

Rwanda's main attraction is its mountain gorilla population at Volcanoes National Park. The park is part of the Virunga Conservation Area located in the Virunga Mountains, in the northwestern part of the country. The bulk of Rwanda's tourism revenue comes from "gorilla tourism." Lake Kivu is another popular tourist destination.

Government

Prior to the nineteenth century, historic Rwanda was ruled for centuries by a Tutsi monarchy, which expanded its territory by assimilating other peoples in the region. The country became part of German East Africa in the late nineteenth century, and was administered by Belgium after World War I (1914–18).

Belgium maintained the traditional structure of the monarchy, but the class distinctions fostered by the Belgians erupted into violence during the mid-twentieth century, as the Hutu population rose up against the Tutsi aristocracy. The violent struggle for equal rights for Hutus resulted in the flight of thousands of Tutsis from Rwanda, and the Hutus eventually gained power. The monarchy was abolished, and Rwanda became independent in 1962.

A one-party military government was installed in 1978, and ethnic violence continued as exiled Tutsis began working to regain their footing in Rwanda. After a period of civil war, a new constitution was adopted in 1991, creating a multiparty, more representative system of government. The Hutu military regained control, however, with the genocide carried out against the Tutsis in 1994.

Eventually, military action by the Tutsi Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) defeated the Hutus. Elections were held in 1999 and 2003 for a new, more inclusive government. The United Nations eventually declared itself and its member nations, including the United States, partially responsible for the genocide for failing to act to stop the atrocities.

Today, Rwanda is a republic with a multiparty government. Suffrage is universal for all Rwandans over the age of eighteen. The executive branch consists of a president, who serves as chief of state; a prime minister, who is appointed by the president and serves as head of government; and a cabinet, the Council of Ministers, also appointed by the president. A 2016 constitutional amendment shortened the presidential term to five years, down from seven years.

Rwanda's legislature is the bicameral Parliament of Rwanda, which is divided into a twenty-six-seat Senate and an eighty-seat Chamber of Deputies. Senators serve for eight years, while deputies serve five-year terms.

The judicial branch is headed by the Supreme Court and the High Court. The legal system of Rwanda is largely based on the civil law system, which differs from Western common law in that it relies on legislative decisions rather than legal precedent.

In the July 2024 election President Kagame won a landslide victory. However, as in previous votes he faced no meaningful opposition with leading figures banned.

Interesting Facts

• Rwanda is sometimes called by the French nickname "Pays des Mille Collines" ("Land of a Thousand Hills").
• By the early 2020s Rwanda had become the most densely populated country in mainland Africa.
• DNA analysis has proven that the Twa people of Rwanda are one of the oldest surviving ethnic groups on Earth.
• Rwanda was the first country to impose a national ban on plastic bags for environmental reasons.

Bibliography

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Human Development Insights, United Nations Development Programme, 13 Mar. 2024, hdr.undp.org/data-center/country-insights#/ranks. Accessed 16 Jan. 2025.

Lacey, Marc. "A Decade after Massacres, Rwanda Outlaws Ethnicity." The New York Times, 9 Apr. 2004, www.nytimes.com/2004/04/09/world/a-decade-after-massacres-rwanda-outlaws-ethnicity.html. Accessed 18 July 2018.

"Rwanda." Human Development Reports, United Nations Development Programme, 13 Mar. 2024, hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/Country-Profiles/RWA.pdf. Accessed 16 Jan. 2025.

"Rwanda." UNICEF Data: Monitoring the Situation of Children and Women, UNICEF, data.unicef.org/country/rwa/. Accessed 8 Jul. 2022.

"Rwanda." The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency, 23 Dec. 2024, www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/rwanda/. Accessed 16 Jan. 2025..

"Rwanda Country Profile." BBC News, 16 Jul. 2024, www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-14093238. Accessed 16 Jan. 2025.

"Rwanda Country Profile." World Development Indicators, World Bank, data.worldbank.org/country/RW. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.