deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 40.12 years
male: 39.72 years
female: 40.53 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 5.99 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Rwandan(s)
adjective: Rwandan

Ethnic divisions: Hutu 80%, Tutsi 19%, Twa (Pygmoid) 1%

Religions: Roman Catholic 65%, Protestant 9%, Muslim 1%,
indigenous beliefs and other 25%

Languages: Kinyarwanda (official), French (official), Kiswahili
(Swahili) used in commercial centers

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 60.5%
male: 69.8%
female: 51.6%

Government
----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Rwanda
conventional short form: Rwanda
local long form: Republika y'u Rwanda
local short form: Rwanda

Data code: RW

Type of government: republic; presidential system

Capital: Kigali

Administrative divisions: 10 prefectures (prefectures, singular -
prefecture in French; plural - NA, singular - prefegitura in
Kinyarwanda); Butare, Byumba, Cyangugu, Gikongoro, Gisenyi,
Gitarama, Kibungo, Kibuye, Kigali, Ruhengeri

Independence: 1 July 1962 (from Belgium-administered UN
trusteeship)

National holiday: Independence Day, 1 July (1962)

Constitution: 18 June 1991

Legal system: based on German and Belgian civil law systems and
customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme
Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: NA years of age; universal adult

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Pasteur BIZIMUNGU (since 19 July 1994);
installed by force by the Tutsi Rwandan Patriotic Front; no date set
for elections; president is normally elected for a five-year term by
universal suffrage; Vice President Maj. Gen. Paul KAGAME (since NA)
head of government: Prime Minister Celestin RWIGEMA (since NA
September 1995) was appointed by the president
cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral
National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): sworn in on 25 November
1994; seats - (70 total) RPF 19, MDR 13, PSD 13, PL 13, PDC 6, PSR
2, PDI 2, other 2

Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, consists of the Court of
Cassation and the Council of State in joint session

Political parties and leaders: significant parties include:
Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), Alexis KANYARENGW