Rwanda
The Country of the Week
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Kigali
- Population
- 13,623,302 (2024 est.)
- Area
- 26,338 sq km
- Government
- presidential republic
- 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.)
- Ethnic Groups
- Hutu, Tutsi, Twa
- Currency
- Rwandan francs (RWF)
- Life Expectancy
- 66.6 years (2024 est.)
- Internet Domain
- .rw
- Climate
- temperate; two rainy seasons (February to April, November to January); mild in mountains with frost and snow possible
- Terrain
- mostly grassy uplands and hills; relief is mountainous with altitude declining from west to east
- Natural Resources
- gold, cassiterite (tin ore), wolframite (tungsten ore), methane, hydropower, arable land
- Major Exports
- gold, rare earth ores, coffee, tea, tin ores (2023)
Source: CIA World Factbook (public domain)
Overview
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.