01
Physical geography
Mostly grassy uplands and hills; relief is mountainous with altitude declining from west to east.
Local timeKigali ·
Africa / Eastern Africa · Card 043
Rwanda
Rwanda is a country in Eastern Africa. Its capital is Kigali.
Find Rwanda
● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
At a glance
- Capital
- Kigali
- Languages
- Kinyarwanda, English, French & Kiswahili
- Currency
- Rwandan franc (RWF)
- Population
- 14.6 million2025 · World Bank
- Area
- 26,338 km²10,169 square miles
- Independence
- 1962
Rwanda in context
Africa and its surrounding islands. The dot marks Kigali; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.
Natural Earth · locator mapGeography & languages
02
Languages
Kinyarwanda is the national language. Kinyarwanda, English, French and Kiswahili are official languages.
03
Location
Central Africa, east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, north of Burundi.
Flag
Three horizontal bands of sky blue (top, double-width), yellow, and green, with a golden sun with 24 rays on the right end of the blue band
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived country profile · Rwanda government · country profile
History & independence
Rwanda became independent on 1 July 1962 after Belgian administration of the UN trust territory of Ruanda-Urundi. The 1994 genocide against the Tutsi and killing of moderate Hutu devastated the country. The Rwandan Patriotic Front took control that year, followed by reconstruction.
-
Independence from Belgium
-
Genocide against the Tutsi
-
A new constitution is adopted
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived country profile · Rwanda government · country profile
Economy
Main activities
Agriculture, services, tourism and mining contribute to the economy. Coffee and tea are important farm exports. The landlocked country has invested in infrastructure and business services.
Industry and production
cement, agricultural products, small-scale beverages, soap, furniture, shoes, plastic goods, textiles, cigarettes
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived country profile · Rwanda government · country profile
Population & economic trends
Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.
Population, 1970–2025
Millions of people14.62025 · millions of people
Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.
Sources: World Bank · Population
View data table
| Year | People | Millions of people |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 3,980,669 | 3.981 |
| 1980 | 5,353,259 | 5.353 |
| 1990 | 7,375,307 | 7.375 |
| 2000 | 8,213,931 | 8.214 |
| 2010 | 10,317,553 | 10.318 |
| 2020 | 13,065,837 | 13.066 |
| 2025 | 14,569,341 | 14.569 |
Real GDP, 1990–2025
Billions of constant 2015 US dollars16.32025 · billions of constant 2015 US dollars
Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.
Sources: World Bank · Real GDP
View data table
| Year | Constant 2015 US$ | Billions of constant 2015 US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 2,697,333,931 | 2.697 |
| 1991 | 2,629,512,716 | 2.630 |
| 1992 | 2,783,936,773 | 2.784 |
| 1993 | 2,558,195,918 | 2.558 |
| 1994 | 1,272,751,916 | 1.273 |
| 1995 | 1,721,067,048 | 1.721 |
| 1996 | 1,940,429,018 | 1.940 |
| 1997 | 2,209,173,634 | 2.209 |
| 1998 | 2,404,877,025 | 2.405 |
| 1999 | 2,509,534,587 | 2.510 |
| 2000 | 2,719,605,116 | 2.720 |
| 2001 | 2,950,351,653 | 2.950 |
| 2002 | 3,339,564,215 | 3.340 |
| 2003 | 3,413,114,360 | 3.413 |
| 2004 | 3,667,311,765 | 3.667 |
| 2005 | 4,011,228,564 | 4.011 |
| 2006 | 4,381,347,663 | 4.381 |
| 2007 | 4,715,788,995 | 4.716 |
| 2008 | 5,242,129,868 | 5.242 |
| 2009 | 5,569,671,641 | 5.570 |
| 2010 | 5,978,187,921 | 5.978 |
| 2011 | 6,453,955,353 | 6.454 |
| 2012 | 7,011,674,432 | 7.012 |
| 2013 | 7,342,614,847 | 7.343 |
| 2014 | 7,758,827,558 | 7.759 |
| 2015 | 8,447,064,079 | 8.447 |
| 2016 | 8,925,061,966 | 8.925 |
| 2017 | 9,344,891,026 | 9.345 |
| 2018 | 10,099,102,467 | 10.099 |
| 2019 | 11,036,918,642 | 11.037 |
| 2020 | 10,730,411,839 | 10.730 |
| 2021 | 11,632,990,181 | 11.633 |
| 2022 | 12,775,928,436 | 12.776 |
| 2023 | 13,869,502,291 | 13.870 |
| 2024 | 14,871,874,943 | 14.872 |
| 2025 | 16,266,231,947 | 16.266 |
Human development
The Human Development Index combines health, education and income. Scores range from 0 to 1.
HDI · 20230.578Medium human developmentRank 159 of 193 · 2025 report
Human Development Index over time
20000.340
20100.504
20200.555
20230.578
67.8 yearsLife expectancy at birth
4.9 yearsMean schooling, adults aged 25+
The latest values refer to 2023. All historical scores use the same report edition. HDI does not describe every aspect of inequality or quality of life.
Sources: UNDP · Human Development Report 2025
Government
Presidential republic. Parlement (Parliament) has two chambers (a bicameral legislature). The president holds executive responsibilities; the legislature makes national laws.
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived country profile · Rwanda government · country profile
Knowledge check
Three questions about Rwanda.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
Which currency is listed for Rwanda?
Sources & notes
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived country profile · Rwanda government · country profile
Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.
Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.