evard de la Revolution, Kigali
mailing address: B. P. 28, Kigali

Flag description: three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side),
yellow, and green with a large black letter R centered in the yellow
band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to
the flag of Guinea, which has a plain yellow band

Economy

Economy--overview: Rwanda is a rural country with about 90% of the
population engaged in (mainly subsistence) agriculture. It is the
most densely populated country in Africa; is landlocked, and has few
natural resources and minimal industry. Primary exports are coffee
and tea. The 1994 genocide decimated Rwanda's fragile economic base,
severely impoverished the population, particularly women, and eroded
the country's ability to attract private and external investment.
However, Rwanda has made significant progress in stabilizing and
rehabilitating its economy. GDP has rebounded, and inflation has
been curbed. In June 1998, Rwanda signed an Enhanced Structural
Adjustment Facility (ESAF) with the IMF. Rwanda has also embarked
upon an ambitious privatization program with the World Bank.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$5.5 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 10.5% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$690 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 36%
industry: 24%
services: 40% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line: 51.2% (1993 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4.2%
highest 10%: 24.2% (1983-85)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10% (1998)

Labor force: 3.6 million

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 90%, government and
services, industry and commerce

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $231 million
expenditures: $319 million, including capital expenditures of $13
million (1996 est.)

Industries: production of cement, processing of agricultural
products, small-scale beverage production, manufacture of soap,
furniture, shoes, plastic goods, textiles, cigarettes

Industrial production growth rate: 4.9% (1995 est.)

Electricity--production: 164 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 2.44%
hydro: 97.56%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 177 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 2 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 15 million kWh (1996)

Agriculture--prod