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Geography of Rwanda

Location:Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo
Geographic coordinates:2 00 S, 30 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 26,338 sq km
land: 24,948 sq km
water: 1,390 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries:total: 893 km
border countries: Burundi 290 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 217 km, Tanzania 217 km, Uganda 169 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:temperate; two rainy seasons (February to April, November to January); mild in mountains with frost and snow possible
Terrain:mostly grassy uplands and hills; relief is mountainous with altitude declining from west to east
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Rusizi River 950 m
highest point: Volcan Karisimbi 4,519 m
Natural resources:gold, cassiterite (tin ore), wolframite (tungsten ore), methane, hydropower, arable land
Land use:arable land: 45.56%
permanent crops: 10.25%
other: 44.19% (2005)
Irrigated land:90 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:periodic droughts; the volcanic Virunga mountains are in the northwest along the border with Democratic Republic of the Congo
Environment - current issues:deforestation results from uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel; overgrazing; soil exhaustion; soil erosion; widespread poaching
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:landlocked; most of the country is savanna grassland with the population predominantly rural

Rwanda Quickstats

  • Population: 9,907,509
  • Area: 26,338 sq km
  • Density: 320 /km² (27th)
  • GDP (total): $11.24 billion (130th)
  • GDP (per capita): $1,300 (160th)
  • Literacy: 70.4%

Languages of Rwanda

Useful to know

  • Currency: Rwandan franc (RWF)
  • Dial code: +250

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