Rwanda
Population facts The population of this African country is more than 12,208,407 people. The majority of Rwanda's inhabitants reside in Kigali which is the country's most populous city. Rwanda has a fairly high population when compared to most other countries across the world, its overall population density is approximately 395 people per sq km. The estimated population of Africa is approximately 1,186,178,000 inhabitants, making it the continent with the second largest population in the world. The continents in order of population, starting with highest population first, are: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Europe, Australia (Oceania Region) and Antarctica. The total population of the entire world is in excess of 7.6 billion people.
Capital & major cities Rwanda's capital city is called Kigali. The names of other major cities situated in this country are Butare, Gitarama, Ruhengeri, Gisenyi and Byumba.
National symbol(s): traditional woven basket with peaked lid
National colors: blue, yellow and green
National Anthem/Song: Rwanda nziza (Translation: Rwanda, Our Beautiful Country)
National Holiday(s): Independence Day, 1 July (1962)
National Motto(s): Ubumwe, Umurimo, Gukunda Igihugu (Translation: Unity, Work, Patriotism)
Map of Rwanda
Geography
Rwanda forms part of the continent of Africa, where it has a landlocked position and is bordered by Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania and Uganda. There are seven continents in the world: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Europe, Antarctica, Australia (Oceania). Africa is the world's second largest continent, occupying a total area of 30,370,000 km2. Africa has 54 countries, and forms 20.4% of the world's landmass. Rwanda is a landlocked country that spans a total area of approximately 26,338 km2. It is a small country in mainland Africa that is slightly smaller than Burundi but bigger than Djibouti.
The following border information provides details on the length of Rwanda's borders:
Burundi 315 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 221 km, Tanzania 222 km, Uganda 172 km.
Climate
Rwanda has a temperate climate with two seasons of rain that occur from February to April, and November to January. The mountainous regions of Rwanda experience milder conditions and sometimes even snowfall. The geography of Rwanda is dominated by it savanna grasslands and hills. The lowest point of Rwanda is the Rusizi River at 950m, and the highest point of elevation is Volcan Karisimbi at 4,519m.
Culture
The official languages of Rwanda are Kinyarwanda, French and English. Another language that is spoken in this country is Swahili.
The main religion of Rwanda is Protestant, including Adventist, at approximately 50% of the population. Around 44% are Roman Catholic and 2% Muslim. The rest of the population either belongs to other religions or no religion at all.
Economy
Natural resources can be described as materials and substances found naturally occurring on Earth. Natural resources are very important across the world, and can be exploited for economic gain. The level of resources that occur naturally in an individual country are influenced by varying factors such as the geography, climate and location of that country. Some countries are very rich in natural resources, where as others have limited to none. Countries that have particularly rich resources include Russia, The United States, Saudi Arabia and Canada. Three of the primary uses of natural resources are food, transport and construction. The following examples provide information on the everyday uses of natural resources: Fish occurs naturally in many bodies of water and can be caught for food consumption. Crude oils can be refined into various fuels in order to power vehicles/cars. Wood/timber can be extracted from forests and used to construct houses and furniture. The natural resources of Rwanda include gold, cassiterite, wolframite, methane, hydropower (water power), and arable land suitable for growing crops.
The flag
Each country has its own individual culture, history and identity. Flags, emblems, symbols, colors, anthems, songs and mottos represent the national pride and identity of countries across the globe. These national symbols are formed through the unique history of a nation and are symbolic of both hardship and prosperity, embodying freedom, strength and unity. Flags, emblems, songs, mottos and colors reflect the past, present and future hopes of a country, and create an important image to the rest of the world. National symbols can include a mixture of things that are symbolic to a nation such as wildlife, plants, geographical features, crops, tools of agriculture, and tools of war. The following facts and information provide a guide to some of the most important national symbols, songs and colors of Rwanda: