Sub Saharan Africa

Rwanda
Last reviewed: 25 January 2011

Country information

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Map of Rwanda

Area: 26,338 sq km
Population: approximately 9.3 million
Capital City: Kigali (700,000; 1,000,000 during the day)
Language(s): Kinyarwanda (official), French (official), English (official), Kiswahili used in commercial centres and by the Army.
Religion(s): Roman Catholic 42%, Protestant 12%, Muslim 3%, indigenous beliefs and other 37%.
Currency: 1 Rwandan franc = 100 centimes
Head of State: President Paul Kagame (since 22 April 2000, elected December 2003, re-elected August 2010)
Prime Minister: Bernard Makuza (since 8 March 2000)
Foreign Minister: Louise Mushikiwabo
Major political parties: Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF); Social Democratic Party (PSD); Liberal Party (PL); Centrist Democratic Party (PDC); Ideal Democratic Party (PDI); Rwandan Socialist Party (PSR) and Democratic Union of Rwandan People (UDPR); Congress Progressive Party (PPC), Solidarity and Progress Party (PSP), Social Party Imberakuri (PS - Imberakuri).