Country Profile · No. 40

Rwanda

Capital / Admin Capital

KigaliPopulation: ~14.1MIndependence: 1962 (July 1, following the overthrow of the Belgian-backed Tutsi monarchy)

First President

Grégoire Kayibanda (1962–1973)Current President: Paul Kagame (Serving since April 2000)

Geography & Borders

Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Landlocked East African highland nation famously known as the "Land of a Thousand Hills."

Demographics & Language

Christianity (~90%+). Official: Kinyarwanda language, English language, French language, Swahili language. Major groups: Hutu (~84%), Tutsi (~15%), Twa (~1%).

Economy & GDP

Eco-tourism, coffee and tea exports, mining (tantalum, tin, gold), financial services and technology hubs.

Global Diaspora

1. Uganda (~200k), 2. Democratic Republic of the Congo (~150k), 3. United States (~30k). U.S. Hubs (States / Cities): Texas (Dallas/Houston), Washington D.C., Massachusetts (Boston)..

Major Conflicts

Rwandan Civil War (1990–1994), Rwandan Genocide (1994, horrific mass extermination of an estimated 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus), First and Second Congo Wars.

3 Must-See Sites

1. Volcanoes National Park (Famed misty mountain reserve on the Virunga volcano chain where visitors track endangered mountain gorillas), 2. Nyungwe National Park (Vast ancient montane rainforest featuring an exhilarating canopy walkway and chimpanzee tracking), 3. Kigali Genocide Memorial (Deeply moving and educational national historical site honoring the victims of the 1994 tragedy).

Quick Facts

Celebrated for remarkable post-genocide national reconciliation, economic transformation, and pioneering environmental policies (such as being one of the first countries globally to implement a total ban on single-use plastic bags); boasts one of the cleanest and safest capitals in Africa.