Rwanda Geography Profile 2008

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)

Total renewable water resources

5.2 cu km (2003)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.15 cu km/yr (24%/8%/68%)
per capita: 17 cu m/yr (2000)

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