Official Name: Republic of Rwanda

Alternate Names: Rwanda, Republika y'u Rwanda

Former Names: Ruanda, German East Africa

Capital City: Kigali

Flag: The Rwandan flag has three horizontal bands. One sky blue of double width on top, then yellow and green, with a golden sun with 24 rays.

Date of Independence: July 1, 1962 from Belgium

National Anthem: "Rwanda Nziza" (Rwanda, Our Beautiful Country)

Population: 9,720,694

Size/Area: 26,338 sq km, slightly smaller than Maryland

Land Locked: Yes

Bordering Countries: Burundi, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Uganda

Administrative Divisions: 4 provinces and 1 city. Provinces: Est (Eastern), Nord (Northern), Ouest (Western), Sud (Southern). City: Kigali

Major Cities: Butare, Gisenyi, Kibungo, Ruhengeri, Kigali

Languages: Kinyarwanda (official), French (official), English (official), Kiswahili (Swahili)

Religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant, Adventist, Muslim, indigenous beliefs

Major Holidays: New Year's Day (Jan 1), Heroes' Day (Feb 1), Genocide Memorial Day (Apr 7), Good Friday, Easter Monday, Labour Day (May 1), Independence Day (July 1), Liberation Day (July 4), Patriotism Day (Oct 1), Christmas Day, Boxing Day.

Currency: Rwandan Francs

Currency Code: RWF

Highest Point: Volcan Karisimbi 4,519 m

Lowest Point: Rusizi River 950 m

Bordering Bodies of Water: Lake Kivu

Climate: Rwanda has two rainy seasons and two dry seasons. The short rains lasts from October through November, and the long rains last from mid-March to the end of May. The average daytime temperature is 76° F (24° C).

Major Industries: Pottery, wicker baskets, bricks, shoes, tile, insecticide, cigars, beer, wine, soft drinks, metal products, assembled radios, textile mills, soap factories, auto repair shops, a match factory, a pyrethrum refinery, and plants for producing paint, cement, pharmaceuticals, and furniture.

Major Agricultural Products: Plantains, sweet potatoes, cassava, potatoes, dry beans, sorghum, corn, sugarcane, coffee and tea.

Natural Resources: gold, cassiterite (tin ore), wolframite (tungsten ore), methane, hydropower, arable land

Time Zone: UTC +2

Interesting Facts: Rwanda is the most densely populated country in Africa.


Tribes of Africa eBook


This eBook is the most complete listing of African tribes available on the internet. The first section of this book is the tribes sorted alphabetically by country. The second section is the tribes sorted alphabetically by tribe name.