Rwanda vs. Burundi
Introduction
| Rwanda | Burundi | |
|---|---|---|
| Background | A Rwandan kingdom dominated the region from the mid-18th century onward, with the Tutsi rulers conquering others militarily, centralizing power, and increasingly enacting anti-Hutu policies. German colonial rule began in 1898, but Belgian forces captured Rwanda in 1916 during World War I. Both European nations ruled through the kings and pursued a pro-Tutsi policy. In 1959, three years before independence from Belgium, the majority ethnic group, the Hutus, overthrew the ruling Tutsi king. Over the next several years, thousands of Tutsis were killed, and some 150,000 driven into exile in neighboring countries. The children of these exiles later formed a rebel group, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), and began a civil war in 1990. The war, along with several political and economic upheavals, exacerbated ethnic tensions, culminating in April 1994 in a state-orchestrated genocide, in which Rwandans killed approximately 800,000 of their fellow citizens, including approximately three-quarters of the Tutsi population. The genocide ended later that same year when the predominantly Tutsi RPF, operating out of Uganda and northern Rwanda, defeated the national army and Hutu militias, and established an RPF-led government of national unity. Rwanda held its first local elections in 1999 and its first post-genocide presidential and legislative elections in 2003. Rwanda joined the Commonwealth in late 2009. President Paul KAGAME won the presidential election in August 2017 after changing the constitution in 2016 to allow him to run for a third term. | Burundi is a small country in Central-East Africa bordered by Tanzania, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Lake Tanganyika. Created in the 17th century, a Burundi Kingdom was preserved under German colonial rule in the late 19th and early 20th century, and then by Belgium after World War I. Burundi gained its independence from Belgium in 1962 as the Kingdom of Burundi, but the monarchy was overthrown in 1966 and a republic established. Political violence and non-democratic transfers of power have marked much of its history; Burundi's first democratically elected president, a Hutu, was assassinated in October 1993 after only 100 days in office. The internationally brokered Arusha Agreement, signed in 2000, and subsequent ceasefire agreements with armed movements ended the 1993-2005 civil war. Burundi's second democratic elections were held in 2005. Pierre NKURUNZIZA was elected president in 2005 and 2010, and again in a controversial election in 2015. Burundi continues to face many economic and political challenges. |
Geography
| Rwanda | Burundi | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Central Africa, east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, north of Burundi | Central Africa, east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, west of Tanzania |
| Geographic coordinates | 2 00 S, 30 00 E | 3 30 S, 30 00 E |
| Map references | Africa | Africa |
| Area | total: 26,338 sq km land: 24,668 sq km water: 1,670 sq km | total: 27,830 sq km land: 25,680 sq km water: 2,150 sq km |
| Area - comparative | slightly smaller than Maryland | slightly smaller than Maryland |
| Land boundaries | total: 930 km border countries (4): Burundi 315 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 221 km, Tanzania 222 km, Uganda 172 km | total: 1,140 km border countries (3): Democratic Republic of the Congo 236 km, Rwanda 315 km, Tanzania 589 km |
| Coastline | 0 km (landlocked) | 0 km (landlocked) |
| Maritime claims | none (landlocked) | none (landlocked) |
| Climate | temperate; two rainy seasons (February to April, November to January); mild in mountains with frost and snow possible | equatorial; high plateau with considerable altitude variation (772 m to 2,670 m above sea level); average annual temperature varies with altitude from 23 to 17 degrees Celsius but is generally moderate as the average altitude is about 1,700 m; average annual rainfall is about 150 cm; two wet seasons (February to May and September to November), and two dry seasons (June to August and December to January) |
| Terrain | mostly grassy uplands and hills; relief is mountainous with altitude declining from west to east | hilly and mountainous, dropping to a plateau in east, some plains |
| Elevation extremes | highest point: Volcan Karisimbi 4,519 m lowest point: Rusizi River 950 m mean elevation: 1,598 m | highest point: Heha 2,670 m lowest point: Lake Tanganyika 772 m mean elevation: 1,504 m |
| Natural resources | gold, cassiterite (tin ore), wolframite (tungsten ore), methane, hydropower, arable land | nickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat, cobalt, copper, platinum, vanadium, arable land, hydropower, niobium, tantalum, gold, tin, tungsten, kaolin, limestone |
| Land use | agricultural land: 74.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 47% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 10.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 17.4% (2018 est.) forest: 18% (2018 est.) other: 7.5% (2018 est.) | agricultural land: 73.3% (2018 est.) arable land: 38.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 15.6% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 18.8% (2018 est.) forest: 6.6% (2018 est.) other: 20.1% (2018 est.) |
| Irrigated land | 96 sq km (2012) | 230 sq km (2012) |
| Natural hazards | periodic droughts; the volcanic Virunga Mountains are in the northwest along the border with Democratic Republic of the Congo volcanism: Visoke (3,711 m), located on the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is the country's only historically active volcano | flooding; landslides; drought |
| Environment - current issues | deforestation results from uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel; overgrazing; land degradation; soil erosion; a decline in soil fertility (soil exhaustion); wetland degradation and loss of biodiversity; widespread poaching | soil erosion as a result of overgrazing and the expansion of agriculture into marginal lands; deforestation (little forested land remains because of uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel); habitat loss threatens wildlife populations |
| Environment - international agreements | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban |
| Geography - note | landlocked; most of the country is intensively cultivated and rugged with the population predominantly rural | landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed; the Kagera, which drains into Lake Victoria, is the most remote headstream of the White Nile |
| Total renewable water resources | 13.3 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) | 12.536 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) |
| Population distribution | one of Africa's most densely populated countries; large concentrations tend to be in the central regions and along the shore of Lake Kivu in the west as shown in this population distribution map | one of Africa's most densely populated countries; concentrations tend to be in the north and along the northern shore of Lake Tanganyika in the west; most people live on farms near areas of fertile volcanic soil as shown in this population distribution map |
Demographics
| Rwanda | Burundi | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 12,943,132 (July 2021 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected | 12,241,065 (July 2021 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected |
| Age structure | 0-14 years: 39.95% (male 2,564,893/female 2,513,993) 15-24 years: 20.1% (male 1,280,948/female 1,273,853) 25-54 years: 33.06% (male 2,001,629/female 2,201,132) 55-64 years: 4.24% (male 241,462/female 298,163) 65 years and over: 2.65% (male 134,648/female 201,710) (2020 est.) | 0-14 years: 43.83% (male 2,618,868/female 2,581,597) 15-24 years: 19.76% (male 1,172,858/female 1,171,966) 25-54 years: 29.18% (male 1,713,985/female 1,748,167) 55-64 years: 4.17% (male 231,088/female 264,131) 65 years and over: 3.06% (male 155,262/female 207,899) (2020 est.) |
| Median age | total: 19.7 years male: 18.9 years female: 20.4 years (2020 est.) | total: 17.7 years male: 17.4 years female: 18 years (2020 est.) |
| Population growth rate | 1.8% (2021 est.) | 3.68% (2021 est.) |
| Birth rate | 27.18 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 35.48 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Death rate | 5.95 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 6.07 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Net migration rate | -3.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 7.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Sex ratio | at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.81 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2020 est.) | at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.87 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2020 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate | total: 27.16 deaths/1,000 live births male: 29.73 deaths/1,000 live births female: 24.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.) | total: 38.96 deaths/1,000 live births male: 43.21 deaths/1,000 live births female: 34.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth | total population: 65.48 years male: 63.55 years female: 67.47 years (2021 est.) | total population: 67.07 years male: 64.98 years female: 69.22 years (2021 est.) |
| Total fertility rate | 3.42 children born/woman (2021 est.) | 5.1 children born/woman (2021 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate | 2.5% (2020 est.) | 1% (2020 est.) |
| Nationality | noun: Rwandan(s) adjective: Rwandan | noun: Burundian(s) adjective: Burundian |
| Ethnic groups | Hutu, Tutsi, Twa (Pygmy) | Hutu, Tutsi, Twa (Pygmy) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS | 220,000 (2020 est.) | 83,000 (2020 est.) |
| Religions | Protestant 49.5% (includes Adventist 11.8% and other Protestant 37.7%), Roman Catholic 43.7%, Muslim 2%, other 0.9% (includes Jehovah's Witness), none 2.5%, unspecified 1.3% (2012 est.) | Roman Catholic 62.1%, Protestant 23.9% (includes Adventist 2.3% and other Protestant 21.6%), Muslim 2.5%, other 3.6%, unspecified 7.9% (2008 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths | 2,500 (2020 est.) | 1,700 (2020 est.) |
| Languages | Kinyarwanda (official, universal Bantu vernacular) 93.2%, French (official) <0.1, English (official) <0.1, Swahili/Kiswahili (official, used in commercial centers) <0.1, more than one language, other 6.3%, unspecified 0.3% (2002 est.) major-language sample(s): Inkoranya nzimbuzi y'isi, isoko fatizo y'amakuru y'ibanze. (Kinyarwanda) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. | Kirundi only 29.7% (official); French only .3% (official); Swahili only .2%; English only .1% (official); Kirundi and French 8.4%; Kirundi, French, and English 2.4%, other language combinations 2%, unspecified 56.9% (2008 est.) major-language sample(s): Igitabo Mpuzamakungu c'ibimenyetso bifatika, isoko ntabanduka ku nkuru z'urufatiro. (Kirundi) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. note: data represent languages read and written by people 10 years of age or older; spoken Kirundi is nearly universal |
| Literacy | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 73.2% male: 77.6% female: 69.4% (2018) | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 68.4% male: 76.3% female: 61.2% (2017) |
| Major infectious diseases | degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever animal contact diseases: rabies | degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever water contact diseases: schistosomiasis animal contact diseases: rabies |
| School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) | total: 11 years male: 11 years female: 11 years (2019) | total: 11 years male: 11 years female: 11 years (2018) |
| Education expenditures | 3.1% of GDP (2018) | 5.1% of GDP (2018) |
| Urbanization | urban population: 17.6% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 3.07% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) | urban population: 14.1% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 5.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) |
| Drinking water source | improved: urban: 92% of population rural: 76.9% of population total: 79.5% of population unimproved: urban: 8% of population rural: 23.1% of population total: 20.5% of population (2017 est.) | improved: urban: 97.6% of population rural: 77.8% of population total: 80.3% of population unimproved: urban: -1.1% of population rural: 22.2% of population total: 19.7% of population (2017 est.) |
| Sanitation facility access | improved: urban: 88.4% of population rural: 79.4% of population total: 80.9% of population unimproved: urban: 11.6% of population rural: 20.6% of population total: 19.1% of population (2017 est.) | improved: urban: 85.2% of population rural: 53.4% of population total: 57.4% of population unimproved: urban: 14.8% of population rural: 46.6% of population total: 42.6% of population (2017 est.) |
| Major cities - population | 1.170 million KIGALI (capital) (2021) | 1.075 million BUJUMBURA (capital) (2021) |
| Maternal mortality rate | 248 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) | 548 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) |
| Children under the age of 5 years underweight | 7.7% (2019/20) | 27% (2018/19) |
| Health expenditures | 7.5% (2018) | 7.7% (2018) |
| Physicians density | 0.13 physicians/1,000 population (2018) | 0.1 physicians/1,000 population (2017) |
| Obesity - adult prevalence rate | 5.8% (2016) | 5.4% (2016) |
| Mother's mean age at first birth | 22.7 years (2014/15 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 | 21.5 years (2016/17 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 |
| Demographic profile | Rwanda's fertility rate declined sharply during the last decade, as a result of the government's commitment to family planning, the increased use of contraceptives, and a downward trend in ideal family size. Increases in educational attainment, particularly among girls, and exposure to social media also contributed to the reduction in the birth rate. The average number of births per woman decreased from a 5.6 in 2005 to 4.5 in 2016. Despite these significant strides in reducing fertility, Rwanda's birth rate remains very high and will continue to for an extended period of time because of its large population entering reproductive age. Because Rwanda is one of the most densely populated countries in Africa, its persistent high population growth and increasingly small agricultural landholdings will put additional strain on families' ability to raise foodstuffs and access potable water. These conditions will also hinder the government's efforts to reduce poverty and prevent environmental degradation. The UNHCR recommended that effective 30 June 2013 countries invoke a cessation of refugee status for those Rwandans who fled their homeland between 1959 and 1998, including the 1994 genocide, on the grounds that the conditions that drove them to seek protection abroad no longer exist. The UNHCR's decision is controversial because many Rwandan refugees still fear persecution if they return home, concerns that are supported by the number of Rwandans granted asylum since 1998 and by the number exempted from the cessation. Rwandan refugees can still seek an exemption or local integration, but host countries are anxious to send the refugees back to Rwanda and are likely to avoid options that enable them to stay. Conversely, Rwanda itself hosts almost 160,000 refugees as of 2017; virtually all of them fleeing conflict in neighboring Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. | Burundi is a densely populated country with a high population growth rate, factors that combined with land scarcity and poverty place a large share of its population at risk of food insecurity. About 90% of the population relies on subsistence agriculture. Subdivision of land to sons, and redistribution to returning refugees, results in smaller, overworked, and less productive plots. Food shortages, poverty, and a lack of clean water contribute to a 60% chronic malnutrition rate among children. A lack of reproductive health services has prevented a significant reduction in Burundi's maternal mortality and fertility rates, which are both among the world's highest. With two-thirds of its population under the age of 25 and a birth rate of about 6 children per woman, Burundi's population will continue to expand rapidly for decades to come, putting additional strain on a poor country. Historically, migration flows into and out of Burundi have consisted overwhelmingly of refugees from violent conflicts. In the last decade, more than a half million Burundian refugees returned home from neighboring countries, mainly Tanzania. Reintegrating the returnees has been problematic due to their prolonged time in exile, land scarcity, poor infrastructure, poverty, and unemployment. Repatriates and existing residents (including internally displaced persons) compete for limited land and other resources. To further complicate matters, international aid organizations reduced their assistance because they no longer classified Burundi as a post-conflict country. Conditions have deteriorated since renewed violence erupted in April 2015, causing another outpouring of refugees. In addition to refugee out-migration, Burundi has hosted thousands of refugees from neighboring countries, mostly from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and lesser numbers from Rwanda. |
| Contraceptive prevalence rate | 53.2% (2014/15) | 28.5% (2016/17) |
| Dependency ratios | total dependency ratio: 74.2 youth dependency ratio: 68.8 elderly dependency ratio: 5.4 potential support ratio: 18.4 (2020 est.) | total dependency ratio: 91 youth dependency ratio: 86.4 elderly dependency ratio: 4.5 potential support ratio: 22 (2020 est.) |
Government
| Rwanda | Burundi | |
|---|---|---|
| Country name | conventional long form: Republic of Rwanda conventional short form: Rwanda local long form: Republika y'u Rwanda local short form: Rwanda former: Ruanda, German East Africa etymology: the name translates as "domain" in the native Kinyarwanda language | conventional long form: Republic of Burundi conventional short form: Burundi local long form: Republique du Burundi/Republika y'u Burundi local short form: Burundi former: Urundi, German East Africa, Ruanda-Urundi, Kingdom of Burundi etymology: name derived from the pre-colonial Kingdom of Burundi (17th-19th century) |
| Government type | presidential republic | presidential republic |
| Capital | name: Kigali geographic coordinates: 1 57 S, 30 03 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the city takes its name from nearby Mount Kigali; the name "Kigali" is composed of the Bantu prefix "ki" and the Rwandan "gali" meaning "broad" and likely refers to the broad, sprawling hill that has been dignified with the title of "mount" | name: Gitega (political capital), Bujumbura (commercial capital); note - in January 2019, the Burundian parliament voted to make Gitega the political capital of the country while Bujumbura would remain its economic capital; all branches of the government are expected to have moved from Bujumbura to Gitega by 2022 geographic coordinates: 3 25 S, 29 55 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the naming origins for both Gitega and Bujumbura are obscure; Bujumbura's name prior to independence in 1962 was Usumbura |
| Administrative divisions | 4 provinces (in French - provinces, singular - province; in Kinyarwanda - intara for singular and plural) and 1 city* (in French - ville; in Kinyarwanda - umujyi); Est (Eastern), Kigali*, Nord (Northern), Ouest (Western), Sud (Southern) | 18 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura Mairie, Bujumbura Rural, Bururi, Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Gitega, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo, Makamba, Muramvya, Muyinga, Mwaro, Ngozi, Rumonge, Rutana, Ruyigi |
| Independence | 1 July 1962 (from Belgium-administered UN trusteeship) | 1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration) |
| National holiday | Independence Day, 1 July (1962) | Independence Day, 1 July (1962) |
| Constitution | history: several previous; latest adopted by referendum 26 May 2003, effective 4 June 2003 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic (with Council of Ministers approval) or by two-thirds majority vote of both houses of Parliament; passage requires at least three-quarters majority vote in both houses; changes to constitutional articles on national sovereignty, the presidential term, the form and system of government, and political pluralism also require approval in a referendum; amended several times, last in 2015 | history: several previous, ratified by referendum 28 February 2005 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic after consultation with the government or by absolute majority support of the membership in both houses of Parliament; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Senate membership and at least four-fifths majority vote by the National Assembly; the president can opt to submit amendment bills to a referendum; constitutional articles including those on national unity, the secularity of Burundi, its democratic form of government, and its sovereignty cannot be amended; amended 2018 (amendments extended the presidential term from 5 to 7 years, reintroduced the position of prime minister, and reduced the number of vice presidents from 2 to 1) |
| Legal system | mixed legal system of civil law, based on German and Belgian models, and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court | mixed legal system of Belgian civil law and customary law |
| Suffrage | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal |
| Executive branch | chief of state: President Paul KAGAME (since 22 April 2000) head of government: Prime Minister Edouard NGIRENTE (since 30 August 2017) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); note - a constitutional amendment approved in December 2016 reduced the presidential term from 7 to 5 years but included an exception that allowed President KAGAME to serve another 7-year term in 2017, potentially followed by two additional 5-year terms; election last held on 4 August 2017 (next to be held in August 2024); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Paul KAGAME reelected president; Paul KAGAME (RPF) 98.8%, Philippe MPAYIMANA (independent) 0.7%, Frank HABINEZA (DGPR)0.5% | chief of state: President Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE (since 18 June 2020); Vice President Prosper BAZOMBANZA (since 24 June 2020); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE (since 18 June 2020); Vice President Prosper BAZOMBANZA (since 24 June 2020); Prime Minister Alain-Guillaume BUNYONI (since 24 June 2020) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by president elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 20 May 2020 (next to be held in 2025); vice presidents nominated by the president, endorsed by Parliament; note - a 2018 constitutional referendum effective for the 2020 election, increased the presidential term from 5 to 7 years with a 2-consecutive-term limit, reinstated the position of the prime minister position, and reduced the number of vice presidents from 2 to 1 election results: Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE elected president; percent of vote - Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE (CNDD-FDD) 71.5%, Agathon RWASA (CNL) 25.2%, Gaston SINDIMWO (UPRONA) 1.7%, OTHER 1.6% |
| Legislative branch | description: bicameral Parliament consists of: Senate or Senat (26 seats; 12 members indirectly elected by local councils, 8 appointed by the president, 4 appointed by the Political Organizations Forum - a body of registered political parties, and 2 selected by institutions of higher learning; members serve 8-year terms) Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (80 seats; 53 members directly elected by proportional representation vote, 24 women selected by special interest groups, and 3 selected by youth and disability organizations; members serve 5-year terms) elections: Senate - last held on 16-18 September 2019 (next to be held in 2027) Chamber of Deputies - last held on 3 September 2018 (next to be held in September 2023) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 16, women 10, percent of women 38.5% Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Rwandan Patriotic Front Coalition 40, PSD 5, PL 4, other 4 indirectly elected 27; composition - men 26, women 54, percent of women 67.5%; note - total Parliament percent of women 60.4% | description: bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of: Senate or Inama Nkenguzamateka (39 seats in the July 2020 election); 36 members indirectly elected by an electoral college of provincial councils using a three-round voting system, which requires a two-thirds majority vote in the first two rounds and simple majority vote for the two leading candidates in the final round; 3 seats reserved for Twas, and 30% of all votes reserved for women; members serve 5-year terms) National Assembly or Inama Nshingamateka (123 seats in the May 2020 election; 100 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 23 co-opted members; 60% of seats allocated to Hutu and 40% to Tutsi; 3 seats reserved for Twas; 30% of total seats reserved for women; members serve 5-year terms) elections: Senate - last held on 20 July 2020 (next to be held in 2025) National Assembly - last held on 20 May 2020 (next to be held in 2025) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - CNDD-FDD 87.2%, Twa 7.7%, CNL 2.6%, UPRONA 2.6%; seats by party - CNDD-FDD 34, CNL 1, UPRONA 1, Twa 3; composition - men 23, women 16, percent of women 37.2% National Assembly - percent of vote by party - CNDD-FDD 70.9%, CNL 23.4%, UPRONA 2.5%, other (co-opted Twa) 3.2%; seats by party - CNDD-FDD 86, CNL 32, UPRONA 2, Twa 3; composition - men 76, women 47, percent of women 38.2%; note - total Parliament percent of women 38% |
| Judicial branch | highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the chief and deputy chief justices and 15 judges; normally organized into 3-judge panels); High Court (consists of the court president, vice president, and a minimum of 24 judges and organized into 5 chambers) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by the president after consultation with the Cabinet and the Superior Council of the Judiciary (SCJ), a 27-member body of judges, other judicial officials, and legal professionals) and approved by the Senate; chief and deputy chief justices appointed for 8-year nonrenewable terms; tenure of judges NA; High Court president and vice president appointed by the president of the republic upon approval by the Senate; judges appointed by the Supreme Court chief justice upon approval of the SCJ; judge tenure NA subordinate courts: High Court of the Republic; commercial courts including the High Commercial Court; intermediate courts; primary courts; and military specialized courts | highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of 9 judges and organized into judicial, administrative, and cassation chambers); Constitutional Court (consists of 7 members) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by the Judicial Service Commission, a 15-member independent body of judicial and legal profession officials), appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate and serve 6-year nonrenewable terms subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; County Courts; Courts of Residence; Martial Court; Court Against Corruption; Commercial Court |
| Political parties and leaders | Democratic Green Party of Rwanda or DGPR [Frank HABINEZA] Liberal Party or PL [Donatille MUKABALISA] Party for Progress and Concord or PPC [Dr. Alivera MUKABARAMBA] Party Imberakuri or PS-Imberakuri [Christine MUKABUNANI] Rwandan Patriotic Front or RPF [Paul KAGAME] Rwandan Patriotic Front Coalition (includes RPF, PPC) [Paul KAGAME] Social Democratic Party or PSD [Vincent BIRUTA] | Front for Democracy in Burundi-Nyakuri or FRODEBU-Nyakuri [Keffa NIBIZI] Front for Democracy in Burundi-Sahwanya or FRODEBU-Sahwanya [Pierre Claver NAHIMANA] National Congress for Liberty or CNL [Agathon RWASA] National Council for the Defense of Democracy - Front for the Defense of Democracy or CNDD-FDD [Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE] National Liberation Forces or FNL [Jacques BIGITIMANA] Union for National Progress (Union pour le Progress Nationale) or UPRONA [Abel GASHATSI] |
| International organization participation | ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CEPGL, COMESA, EAC, EADB, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO | ACP, AfDB, AU, CEMAC, CEPGL, CICA, COMESA, EAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | chief of mission: Ambassador Mathilde MUKANTABANA (since 18 July 2013) chancery: 1714 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 232-2882 FAX: [1] (202) 232-4544 email address and website: info@rwandaembassy.org https://rwandaembassy.org/ | chief of mission: Ambassador Jean de Dieu NDIKUMANA (since 7 July 2021) chancery: 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 342-2574 FAX: [1] (202) 342-2578 email address and website: burundiembusadc@gmail.com https://burundiembassy-usa.com/index.php |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | chief of mission: Ambassador Peter H. VROOMAN (since 5 April 2018) embassy: 2657 Avenue de la Gendarmerie (Kaciyiru), P. O. Box 28 Kigali mailing address: 2210 Kigali Place, Washington DC 20521-2210 telephone: [250] 252 596-400 FAX: [250] 252 580-325 email address and website: consularkigali@state.gov https://rw.usembassy.gov/ | chief of mission: Ambassador Melanie Harris HIGGINS (since 2 March 2021) embassy: B.P. 1720, Avenue Des Etats-Unis, Bujumbura mailing address: 2100 Bujumbura Place, Washington DC 20521-2100 telephone: [257] 22-207-000 FAX: [257] 22-222-926 email address and website: BujumburaC@state.gov https://bi.usembassy.gov/ |
| Flag description | three horizontal bands of sky blue (top, double width), yellow, and green, with a golden sun with 24 rays near the fly end of the blue band; blue represents happiness and peace, yellow economic development and mineral wealth, green hope of prosperity and natural resources; the sun symbolizes unity, as well as enlightenment and transparency from ignorance | divided by a white diagonal cross into red panels (top and bottom) and green panels (hoist side and fly side) with a white disk superimposed at the center bearing three red six-pointed stars outlined in green arranged in a triangular design (one star above, two stars below); green symbolizes hope and optimism, white purity and peace, and red the blood shed in the struggle for independence; the three stars in the disk represent the three major ethnic groups: Hutu, Twa, Tutsi, as well as the three elements in the national motto: unity, work, progress |
| National anthem | name: "Rwanda nziza" (Rwanda, Our Beautiful Country) lyrics/music: Faustin MURIGO/Jean-Bosco HASHAKAIMANA note: adopted 2001 | name: "Burundi Bwacu" (Our Beloved Burundi) lyrics/music: Jean-Baptiste NTAHOKAJA/Marc BARENGAYABO note: adopted 1962 |
| International law organization participation | has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt | has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; withdrew from ICCt in October 2017 |
| National symbol(s) | traditional woven basket with peaked lid; national colors: blue, yellow, green | lion; national colors: red, white, green |
| Citizenship | citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Rwanda; if the father is stateless or unknown, the mother must be a citizen dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years | citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Burundi dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years |
Economy
| Rwanda | Burundi | |
|---|---|---|
| Economy - overview | Rwanda is a rural, agrarian country with agriculture accounting for about 63% of export earnings, and with some mineral and agro-processing. Population density is high but, with the exception of the capital Kigali, is not concentrated in large cities - its 12 million people are spread out on a small amount of land (smaller than the state of Maryland). Tourism, minerals, coffee, and tea are Rwanda's main sources of foreign exchange. Despite Rwanda's fertile ecosystem, food production often does not keep pace with demand, requiring food imports. Energy shortages, instability in neighboring states, and lack of adequate transportation linkages to other countries continue to handicap private sector growth. The 1994 genocide decimated Rwanda's fragile economic base, severely impoverished the population, particularly women, and temporarily stalled the country's ability to attract private and external investment. However, Rwanda has made substantial progress in stabilizing and rehabilitating its economy well beyond pre-1994 levels. GDP has rebounded with an average annual growth of 6%-8% since 2003 and inflation has been reduced to single digits. In 2015, 39% of the population lived below the poverty line, according to government statistics, compared to 57% in 2006. The government has embraced an expansionary fiscal policy to reduce poverty by improving education, infrastructure, and foreign and domestic investment. Rwanda consistently ranks well for ease of doing business and transparency. The Rwandan Government is seeking to become a regional leader in information and communication technologies and aims to reach middle-income status by 2020 by leveraging the service industry. In 2012, Rwanda completed the first modern Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Kigali. The SEZ seeks to attract investment in all sectors, but specifically in agribusiness, information and communications, trade and logistics, mining, and construction. In 2016, the government launched an online system to give investors information about public land and its suitability for agricultural development. | Burundi is a landlocked, resource-poor country with an underdeveloped manufacturing sector. Agriculture accounts for over 40% of GDP and employs more than 90% of the population. Burundi's primary exports are coffee and tea, which account for more than half of foreign exchange earnings, but these earnings are subject to fluctuations in weather and international coffee and tea prices, Burundi is heavily dependent on aid from bilateral and multilateral donors, as well as foreign exchange earnings from participation in the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM). Foreign aid represented 48% of Burundi's national income in 2015, one of the highest percentages in Sub-Saharan Africa, but this figure decreased to 33.5% in 2016 due to political turmoil surrounding President NKURUNZIZA's bid for a third term. Burundi joined the East African Community (EAC) in 2009. Burundi faces several underlying weaknesses - low governmental capacity, corruption, a high poverty rate, poor educational levels, a weak legal system, a poor transportation network, and overburdened utilities - that have prevented the implementation of planned economic reforms. The purchasing power of most Burundians has decreased as wage increases have not kept pace with inflation, which reached approximately 18% in 2017. Real GDP growth dropped precipitously following political events in 2015 and has yet to recover to pre-conflict levels. Continued resistance by donors and the international community will restrict Burundi's economic growth as the country deals with a large current account deficit. |
| GDP (purchasing power parity) | $28.118 billion (2019 est.) $25.695 billion (2018 est.) $23.665 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars | $8.667 billion (2019 est.) $8.51 billion (2018 est.) $8.375 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2010 dollars |
| GDP - real growth rate | 6.1% (2017 est.) 6% (2016 est.) 8.9% (2015 est.) | 0% (2017 est.) -1% (2016 est.) -4% (2015 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP) | $2,227 (2019 est.) $2,089 (2018 est.) $1,975 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars | $752 (2019 est.) $762 (2018 est.) $774 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2010 dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector | agriculture: 30.9% (2017 est.) industry: 17.6% (2017 est.) services: 51.5% (2017 est.) | agriculture: 39.5% (2017 est.) industry: 16.4% (2017 est.) services: 44.2% (2017 est.) |
| Population below poverty line | 38.2% (2016 est.) | 64.6% (2014 est.) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share | lowest 10%: 2.1% highest 10%: 43.2% (2011 est.) | lowest 10%: 4.1% highest 10%: 28% (2006) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 3.3% (2019 est.) -0.3% (2018 est.) 8.4% (2017 est.) | -0.6% (2019 est.) -2.5% (2018 est.) 15.9% (2017 est.) |
| Labor force | 6.227 million (2017 est.) | 5.012 million (2017 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation | agriculture: 75.3% industry: 6.7% services: 18% (2012 est.) | agriculture: 93.6% industry: 2.3% services: 4.1% (2002 est.) |
| Unemployment rate | 2.7% (2014 est.) | NA |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index | 43.7 (2016 est.) 51.3 (2010 est.) | 38.6 (2013 est.) |
| Budget | revenues: 1.943 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 2.337 billion (2017 est.) | revenues: 536.7 million (2017 est.) expenditures: 729.6 million (2017 est.) |
| Industries | cement, agricultural products, small-scale beverages, soap, furniture, shoes, plastic goods, textiles, cigarettes | light consumer goods (sugar, shoes, soap, beer); cement, assembly of imported components; public works construction; food processing (fruits) |
| Industrial production growth rate | 4.2% (2017 est.) | -2% (2017 est.) |
| Agriculture - products | bananas, sweet potatoes, cassava, potatoes, plantains, beans, maize, gourds, milk, taro | cassava, bananas, sweet potatoes, plantains, beans, vegetables, potatoes, cashew nuts, maize, taro |
| Exports | $1.05 billion (2017 est.) $745 million (2016 est.) | $279 million (2019 est.) $283 million (2018 est.) $315 million (2017 est.) |
| Exports - commodities | gold, refined petroleum, coffee, tea, tin (2019) | gold, coffee, tea, raw earth metal ores, wheat flours (2019) |
| Exports - partners | United Arab Emirates 35%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 28%, Uganda 5% (2019) | United Arab Emirates 50%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 7% (2019) |
| Imports | $1.922 billion (2017 est.) $2.036 billion (2016 est.) | $1.04 billion (2019 est.) $927 million (2018 est.) $1.295 billion (2017 est.) |
| Imports - commodities | refined petroleum, gold, raw sugar, packaged medicines, broadcasting equipment (2019) | refined petroleum, packaged medicines, cement, raw sugar, cars (2019) |
| Imports - partners | China 17%, Kenya 10%, Tanzania 9%, United Arab Emirates 9%, India 7%, Saudi Arabia 5% (2019) | China 14%, Saudi Arabia 14%, India 9%, Kenya 7%, United Arab Emirates 7%, Tanzania 5%, Zambia 5% (2019) |
| Debt - external | $3.258 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $2.611 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $610.9 million (31 December 2017 est.) $622.4 million (31 December 2016 est.) |
| Exchange rates | Rwandan francs (RWF) per US dollar - 839.1 (2017 est.) 787.25 (2016 est.) 787.25 (2015 est.) 720.54 (2014 est.) 680.95 (2013 est.) | Burundi francs (BIF) per US dollar - 1,945 (2020 est.) 1,876.25 (2019 est.) 1,800.495 (2018 est.) 1,571.9 (2014 est.) 1,546.7 (2013 est.) |
| Fiscal year | calendar year | calendar year |
| Public debt | 40.5% of GDP (2017 est.) 37.3% of GDP (2016 est.) | 51.7% of GDP (2017 est.) 48.4% of GDP (2016 est.) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold | $997.6 million (31 December 2017 est.) $1.104 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $97.4 million (31 December 2017 est.) $95.17 million (31 December 2016 est.) |
| Current Account Balance | -$622 million (2017 est.) -$1.336 billion (2016 est.) | -$418 million (2017 est.) -$411 million (2016 est.) |
| GDP (official exchange rate) | $9.136 billion (2017 est.) | $3.027 billion (2019 est.) |
| Ease of Doing Business Index scores | Overall score: 76.5 (2020) Starting a Business score: 93.2 (2020) Trading score: 75 (2020) Enforcement score: 69.1 (2020) | Overall score: 46.8 (2020) Starting a Business score: 92.9 (2020) Trading score: 47.3 (2020) Enforcement score: 43 (2020) |
| Taxes and other revenues | 21.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.) | 15.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.) |
| Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) | -4.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.) | -5.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.) |
| Unemployment, youth ages 15-24 | total: 20.5% male: 18.8% female: 22.4% (2019 est.) | total: 2.9% male: 4.4% female: 2% (2014 est.) |
| GDP - composition, by end use | household consumption: 75.9% (2017 est.) government consumption: 15.2% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 22.9% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0.5% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 18.2% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -32.8% (2017 est.) | household consumption: 83% (2017 est.) government consumption: 20.8% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 16% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 5.5% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -25.3% (2017 est.) |
| Gross national saving | 12.5% of GDP (2018 est.) 15.5% of GDP (2017 est.) 7.5% of GDP (2015 est.) | 4.4% of GDP (2018 est.) 6.1% of GDP (2017 est.) -6.7% of GDP (2015 est.) |
Energy
| Rwanda | Burundi | |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity - production | 525 million kWh (2016 est.) | 304 million kWh (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - consumption | 527.3 million kWh (2016 est.) | 382.7 million kWh (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - exports | 4 million kWh (2015 est.) | 0 kWh (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - imports | 42 million kWh (2016 est.) | 100 million kWh (2016 est.) |
| Oil - production | 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) |
| Oil - imports | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Oil - exports | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Oil - proved reserves | 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.) | 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves | 56.63 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) | 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) |
| Natural gas - production | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - installed generating capacity | 191,000 kW (2016 est.) | 68,000 kW (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - from fossil fuels | 42% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) | 14% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - from hydroelectric plants | 51% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 73% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - from nuclear fuels | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - from other renewable sources | 7% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 14% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - production | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - consumption | 6,700 bbl/day (2016 est.) | 1,500 bbl/day (2016 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - exports | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - imports | 6,628 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 1,374 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Electricity access | electrification - total population: 53% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 76% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 48% (2019) | electrification - total population: 11% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 66% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 2% (2019) |
Telecommunications
| Rwanda | Burundi | |
|---|---|---|
| Telephones - main lines in use | total subscriptions: 11,393 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2019 est.) | total subscriptions: 20,936 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2019 est.) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular | total subscriptions: 9,658,548 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 77.53 (2019 est.) | total subscriptions: 6,532,039 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 56.7 (2019 est.) |
| Internet country code | .rw | .bi |
| Internet users | total: 2,653,197 percent of population: 21.77% (July 2018 est.) | total: 298,684 percent of population: 2.66% (July 2018 est.) |
| Telecommunication systems | general assessment: telecom market impacted by energy shortages and instability in neighboring states; government investing in smart city infrastructure; growing economy and foreign aid from South Korea help launch telecom sector, despite widespread poverty; expansion of LTE services; competing operators roll out national fiber optic backbone through connection to submarine cables, ending expensive dependence on satellite; importer of broadcasting equipment from China (2021) (2020)domestic: the capital, Kigali, is connected to provincial centers by microwave radio relay, and recently by cellular telephone service; much of the network depends on wire and HF radiotelephone; fixed-line less than 1 per 100 and mobile-cellular telephone density has increased to 76 telephones per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 250; international connections employ microwave radio relay to neighboring countries and satellite communications to more distant countries; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) in Kigali (includes telex and telefax service); international submarine fiber-optic cables on the African east coast has brought international bandwidth and lessened the dependency on satellites note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments | general assessment: Burundi's high population density and low telecom penetration rates make it an attractive market for investors; mobile operators have launched 3G and LTE to meet the demand for Internet; mobile subscription remains low; government/World Bank joint project to build a national broadband backbone connecting to submarine cable landings in Kenya and Tanzania; government launched e-health project (2021) (2020)domestic: telephone density one of the lowest in the world; fixed-line connections stand at well less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular usage is 58 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 257; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean); the government, supported by the Word Bank, has backed a joint venture with a number of prominent telecoms to build a national fiber backbone network, offering onward connectivity to submarine cable infrastructure landings in Kenya and Tanzania (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments |
| Broadband - fixed subscriptions | total: 8,885 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2018 est.) | total: 3,891 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2018 est.) |
| Broadcast media | 13 TV stations; 35 radio stations registered, including international broadcasters, government owns most popular TV and radio stations; regional satellite-based TV services available | state-controlled Radio Television Nationale de Burundi (RTNB) operates a TV station and a national radio network; 3 private TV stations and about 10 privately owned radio stations; transmissions of several international broadcasters are available in Bujumbura (2019) |
Transportation
| Rwanda | Burundi | |
|---|---|---|
| Roadways | total: 4,700 km (2012) paved: 1,207 km (2012) unpaved: 3,493 km (2012) | total: 12,322 km (2016) paved: 1,500 km (2016) unpaved: 10,822 km (2016) |
| Waterways | (Lac Kivu navigable by shallow-draft barges and native craft) (2011) | (mainly on Lake Tanganyika between Bujumbura, Burundi's principal port, and lake ports in Tanzania, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo) (2011) |
| Ports and terminals | lake port(s): Cyangugu, Gisenyi, Kibuye (Lake Kivu) | lake port(s): Bujumbura (Lake Tanganyika) |
| Airports | total: 7 (2013) | total: 7 (2013) |
| Airports - with paved runways | total: 4 (2019) over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 | total: 1 (2019) over 3,047 m: 1 |
| Airports - with unpaved runways | total: 3 (2013) 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2013) under 914 m: 1 (2013) | total: 6 (2013) 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2013) under 914 m: 2 (2013) |
| Civil aircraft registration country code prefix | 9XR | 9U |
Military
| Rwanda | Burundi | |
|---|---|---|
| Military branches | Rwanda Defense Force (RDF): Rwanda Army (Rwanda Land Force), Rwanda Air Force (Force Aerienne Rwandaise, FAR), Rwanda Reserve Force (2021) | National Defense Forces (Forces de Defense Nationale, FDN): Army (includes maritime wing, air wing), National Police (Police Nationale du Burundi) (2020) |
| Military service age and obligation | 18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; Rwandan citizenship is required; enlistment is either as contract (5-years, renewable twice) or career (2019) | 18 years of age for voluntary military service; the armed forces law of 31 December 2004 did not specify a minimum age for enlistment, but the government claimed that no one younger than 18 was being recruited (2019) |
| Military expenditures - percent of GDP | 1.2% of GDP (2019) 1.2% of GDP (2018) 1.2% of GDP (2017) 1.2% of GDP (2016) 1.2% of GDP (2015) | 1.8% of GDP (2019) 1.9% of GDP (2018) 1.8% of GDP (2017) 2.2% of GDP (2016) 2.1% of GDP (2015) |
| Military and security service personnel strengths | the Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) has approximately 33,000 active personnel (32,000 Army; 1,000 Air Force) (2021) | the National Defense Forces (FDN) have approximately 25,000 active duty troops, the majority of which are ground forces (2020) |
| Military equipment inventories and acquisitions | the RDF's inventory includes mostly Soviet-era and older Western - mostly French and South African - equipment; Rwanda has received a limited supply of imports since 2010 from a variety of countries, including China, Israel, Russia, and Turkey (2020) | the FDN is armed mostly with weapons from Russia and the former Soviet Union, with some Western equipment, largely from France; since 2010, the FDN has received small amounts of mostly second-hand equipment from China, South Africa, and the US (2020) |
| Military deployments | 1,370 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 1,125 Sudan (UNAMID); 2,750 South Sudan (UNMISS) (2021) note - in mid-2021, Rwanda sent about 1,000 combat troops to Mozambique to assist the Mozambique Government in combating an insurgency | 750 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 5,400 Somalia (AMISOM) (Feb 2021) |
Transnational Issues
| Rwanda | Burundi | |
|---|---|---|
| Disputes - international | Burundi and Rwanda dispute two sq km (0.8 sq mi) of Sabanerwa, a farmed area in the Rukurazi Valley where the Akanyaru/Kanyaru River shifted its course southward after heavy rains in 1965; fighting among ethnic groups - loosely associated political rebels, armed gangs, and various government forces in Great Lakes region transcending the boundaries of Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DROC), Rwanda, and Uganda - abated substantially from a decade ago due largely to UN peacekeeping, international mediation, and efforts by local governments to create civil societies; nonetheless, 57,000 Rwandan refugees still reside in 21 African states, including Zambia, Gabon, and 20,000 who fled to Burundi in 2005 and 2006 to escape drought and recriminations from traditional courts investigating the 1994 massacres; the 2005 DROC and Rwanda border verification mechanism to stem rebel actions on both sides of the border remains in place | Burundi and Rwanda dispute two sq km (0.8 sq mi) of Sabanerwa, a farmed area in the Rukurazi Valley where the Akanyaru/Kanyaru River shifted its course southward after heavy rains in 1965; cross-border conflicts persist among Tutsi, Hutu, other ethnic groups, associated political rebels, armed gangs, and various government forces in the Great Lakes region |
| Refugees and internally displaced persons | refugees (country of origin): 74,836 (Democratic Republic of the Congo), 47,911 (Burundi) (2021) | refugees (country of origin): 79,662 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2021) IDPs: 109,169 (some ethnic Tutsis remain displaced from intercommunal violence that broke out after the 1,993 coup and fighting between government forces and rebel groups; violence since April 2015) (2021) stateless persons: 974 (2020) |
Environment
| Rwanda | Burundi | |
|---|---|---|
| Air pollutants | particulate matter emissions: 40.75 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 1.11 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 2.92 megatons (2020 est.) | particulate matter emissions: 35.61 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.5 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 1.42 megatons (2020 est.) |
| Total water withdrawal | municipal: 61.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 20.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 102 million cubic meters (2017 est.) | municipal: 43.1 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 15 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 222 million cubic meters (2017 est.) |
| Revenue from forest resources | forest revenues: 3.75% of GDP (2018 est.) | forest revenues: 10.31% of GDP (2018 est.) |
| Revenue from coal | coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) | coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) |
| Waste and recycling | municipal solid waste generated annually: 4,384,969 tons (2016 est.) | municipal solid waste generated annually: 1,872,016 tons (2002 est.) |
Source: CIA Factbook
