Rwanda Alive > Teachers & Students > Rwanda Facts > Fast Facts

The Flag: In 2001, the Rwandan government organized a nationwide competition, asking Rwandans to design their own flag. The result (seen above) was designed by Alphonse Kirimobenecyoa, a native artist. The green and yellow represent the light of the sun, and Rwanda 's lush vegetation. The sky blue represents peace and the hope that it will last. Green and Yellow were both present in the previous flag of Rwanda , but the sky blue replaces red, which too strongly echoed the blood spilt in the 1994 killings.

Climate: Rwanda 's altitude combined with its close proximity to the equator provide for a temperate climate. The average annual temperature is 65–75 degrees Fahrenheit. Rainfall can be massive—up to 5 feet a year (by comparison, Seattle , one of the US 's rainiest cities gets about 3 feet annually). There are two rainy seasons from February to April and from November to January.

Geography:Rwanda is a mountainous country. Most of it lies above 3300 feet,

with half of it being 5000–6500 feet above sea level. The total size of the country is 16,366 square miles, or slightly smaller than the state of Maryland .

Capital City : Kigali

Population: 7,810,056
note: Rwanda is the most densely populated country in Africa.

Male: 46%
Female: 54%
…of these an estimated 42% are widowed;

Average age of population : 18 years old

Total population under 14 years old: 49%
Total population under 20 years old: 60%

…of these an estimated 400,000 are orphans; 20% of whom are the head of their respective households.

Average life expectancy: Male: 39 years

Average life expectancy: Female: 41 years

Ethnic groups: Hutu 84%, Tutsi 15%, Ba'Twa (Pygmoid) 1%

Religions: Roman Catholic 56.5%, Protestant 26%, Adventist 11.1%, Muslim 4.6%, indigenous beliefs 0.1%, none 1.7% (2001)

Languages: Kinyarwanda (official) universal Bantu vernacular, French (official), English (official), Kiswahili (Swahili) used in commercial centers

Literacy:

52% (1998) of population 15 years of age or older
42% (1998) among women
40% of population has no access or severely limited access to education.

Economy:  Rwanda is not only a third world country, it is one of the poorest countries in Africa. Its economy is overwhelmingly agricultural, with most of the workers engaged in subsistence farming. Economic development in Rwanda is hindered by the needs of its large population and by its lack of easy access to the sea (and thus to foreign markets). Food must be imported, as domestic production has fallen below subsistence levels. Food shortages were dramatically increased by the civil strife and severe refugee problems of the early 1990s, and exports were devastated. 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, in recent years Rwanda has made significant progress in stabilizing and rehabilitating its economy.

Main Exports: coffee and tea.

Currency: Rwandan Franc.

$1 US Dollar = 560 Rwandan Francs (approximately)

The average yearly income of a Rwandan citizen is $220 (US)

• History
• Sites of interest