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Compare Rwanda (2003) - Western Sahara (2003)

Compare Rwanda (2003) z Western Sahara (2003)

 Rwanda (2003)Western Sahara (2003)
 RwandaWestern Sahara
Administrative divisions 12 prefectures (in French - prefectures, singular - prefecture; in Kinyarwanda - plural - NA, singular - prefegitura); Butare, Byumba, Cyangugu, Gikongoro, Gisenyi, Gitarama, Kibungo, Kibuye, Kigali Rurale, Kigali-ville, Umutara, Ruhengeri none (under de facto control of Morocco)
Age structure 0-14 years: 42.5% (male 1,667,128; female 1,651,422)


15-64 years: 54.8% (male 2,128,495; female 2,148,694)


65 years and over: 2.7% (male 85,576; female 128,741) (2003 est.)
0-14 years: NA%


15-64 years: NA%


65 years and over: NA% (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products coffee, tea, pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums), bananas, beans, sorghum, potatoes; livestock fruits and vegetables (grown in the few oases); camels, sheep, goats (kept by nomads)
Airports 9 (2002) 11 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total: 4


over 3,047 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 2


under 914 m: 1 (2002)
total: 3


2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 5


914 to 1,523 m: 2


under 914 m: 3 (2002)
total: 8


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 4


under 914 m: 3 (2002)
Area total: 26,338 sq km


land: 24,948 sq km


water: 1,390 sq km
total: 266,000 sq km


land: 266,000 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Maryland about the size of Colorado
Background 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, and began a civil war in 1990. The war, along with several political and economic upheavals, exacerbated ethnic tensions, culminating in April 1994 in the genocide of roughly 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus. The Tutsi rebels defeated the Hutu regime and ended the killing in July 1994, but approximately 2 million Hutu refugees - many fearing Tutsi retribution - fled to neighboring Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zaire. Since then, most of the refugees have returned to Rwanda. Despite substantial international assistance and political reforms - including Rwanda's first local elections in March 1999 - the country continues to struggle to boost investment and agricultural output and to foster reconciliation. A series of massive population displacements, a nagging Hutu extremist insurgency, and Rwandan involvement in two wars over the past four years in the neighboring DROC continue to hinder Rwanda's efforts. Morocco virtually annexed the northern two-thirds of Western Sahara (formerly Spanish Sahara) in 1976, and the rest of the territory in 1979, following Mauritania's withdrawal. A guerrilla war with the Polisario Front contesting Rabat's sovereignty ended in a 1991 UN-brokered cease-fire; a UN-organized referendum on final status has been repeatedly postponed.
Birth rate 40.1 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) NA births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues: $199.3 million


expenditures: $445 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)
revenues: $NA


expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Capital Kigali none
Climate temperate; two rainy seasons (February to April, November to January); mild in mountains with frost and snow possible hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy dew
Coastline 0 km (landlocked) 1,110 km
Constitution on 5 May 1995, the Transitional National Assembly adopted as Fundamental Law the constitution of 18 June 1991, provisions of the 1993 Arusha peace accord, the July 1994 Declaration by the Rwanda Patriotic Front, and the November 1994 multiparty protocol of understanding -
Country name conventional long form: Rwandese Republic


conventional short form: Rwanda


local long form: Republika y'u Rwanda


local short form: Rwanda


former: Ruanda
conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Western Sahara


former: Spanish Sahara
Currency Rwandan franc (RWF) Moroccan dirham (MAD)
Death rate 21.72 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) NA deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external $1.3 billion (2000 est.) $NA
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador Margaret K. McMILLION


embassy: #337 Boulevard de la Revolution, Kigali


mailing address: B. P. 28, Kigali


telephone: [250] 50 56 01 through 03


FAX: [250] 57 2128
none
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission: Ambassador Zac NSENGA


chancery: 1714 New Hampshire Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20009


telephone: [1] (202) 232-2882


FAX: [1] (202) 232-4544
none
Disputes - international Tutsi, Hutu, and other conflicting ethnic groups, associated political rebels, armed gangs, and various government forces continue fighting in Great Lakes region, transcending the boundaries of Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda to gain control over populated areas and natural resources - government heads pledge to end conflicts, but localized violence continues despite UN peacekeeping efforts Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, but sovereignty remains unresolved; UN-administered cease-fire has remained in effect since September 1991, but attempts to hold a referendum have failed and parties have rejected other proposals; Mauritanian claims to Western Sahara have been dormant in recent years; Morocco allowed Spanish fishermen to fish temporarily off the coast of Western Sahara after an oil spill soiled Spanish fishing grounds
Economic aid - recipient $372.9 million (1999) $NA
Economy - overview Rwanda is a poor rural country with about 90% of the population engaged in (mainly subsistence) agriculture. It is the most densely populated country in Africa; landlocked with few natural resources and minimal industry. Primary foreign exchange earners 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 substantial progress in stabilizing and rehabilitating its economy to pre-1994 levels, although poverty levels are higher now. GDP has rebounded, and inflation has been curbed. Export earnings, however, have been hindered by low beverage prices, depriving the country of much needed hard currency. Attempts to diversify into non-traditional agriculture exports such as flowers and vegetables have been stymied by a lack of adequate transportation infrastructure. Despite Rwanda's fertile ecosystem, food production often does not keep pace with population growth, requiring food to be imported. Rwanda continues to receive substantial amounts of aid money and was approved for IMF-World Bank Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) initiative debt relief in late 2000. But Kigali's high defense expenditures cause tension between the government and international donors and lending agencies. Western Sahara depends on pastoral nomadism, fishing, and phosphate mining as the principal sources of income for the population. The territory lacks sufficient rainfall for sustainable agricultural production, and most of the food for the urban population must be imported. All trade and other economic activities are controlled by the Moroccan Government. Moroccan energy interests in 2001 signed contracts to explore for oil off the coast of Western Sahara, which has angered the Polisario. Incomes and standards of living in Western Sahara are substantially below the Moroccan level.
Electricity - consumption 140 million kWh (2001) 83.7 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 50 million kWh (2001) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 96.78 million kWh (2001) 90 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 2.3%


hydro: 97.7%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Rusizi River 950 m


highest point: Volcan Karisimbi 4,519 m
lowest point: Sebjet Tah -55 m


highest point: unnamed location 463 m
Environment - current issues deforestation results from uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel; overgrazing; soil exhaustion; soil erosion; widespread poaching sparse water and lack of arable land
Environment - international agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection


signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
party to: none of the selected agreements


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups Hutu 84%, Tutsi 15%, Twa (Pygmoid) 1% Arab, Berber
Exchange rates Rwandan francs per US dollar - 475.37 (2002), 442.99 (2001), 389.7 (2000), 333.94 (1999), 312.31 (1998) Moroccan dirhams per US dollar - 11.584 (2002), 11.303 (2001), 10.626 (2000), 9.804 (1999), 9.604 (1998), 9.527 (1997)
Executive branch chief of state: President Maj. Gen. Paul KAGAME (FPR) (since 22 April 2000)


head of government: Prime Minister Bernard MAKUZA (since 8 March 2000)


cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president


elections: last held 25 August 2003 (next to be held NA 2008)


election results: Paul KAGAME elected president in first direct popular vote; Paul KAGAME (RPF) 95.05%, Faustin TWAGIRAMUNGU 3.62%, Jean-Nepomuscene NAYINZIRA 1.33%
none
Exports NA (2001) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities coffee, tea, hides, tin ore phosphates 62%
Exports - partners Indonesia 30.8%, Germany 14.6%, Hong Kong 9%, South Africa 5.5% (2002) Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
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 -
GDP purchasing power parity - $8.92 billion (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 45%


industry: 20%


services: 35% (2002 est.)
agriculture: NA%


industry: NA%


services: 40% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $1,200 (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - real growth rate 9.7% (2002 est.) NA%
Geographic coordinates 2 00 S, 30 00 E 24 30 N, 13 00 W
Geography - note landlocked; most of the country is savanna grassland with the population predominantly rural the waters off the coast are particularly rich fishing areas
Highways total: 12,000 km


paved: 996 km


unpaved: 11,004 km (1999 est.)
total: 6,200 km


paved: 1,350 km


unpaved: 4,850 km (1991 est)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: 4.2%


highest 10%: 24.2% (1985)
lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Imports NA (2001) NA (2001)
Imports - commodities foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, steel, petroleum products, cement and construction material fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs
Imports - partners Kenya 21.8%, Germany 8.4%, Belgium 7.9%, Israel 4.3% (2002) Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts (2000)
Independence 1 July 1962 (from Belgium-administered UN trusteeship) -
Industrial production growth rate 7% (2001 est.) NA%
Industries cement, agricultural products, small-scale beverages, soap, furniture, shoes, plastic goods, textiles, cigarettes phosphate mining, handicrafts
Infant mortality rate total: 102.61 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 107.66 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 97.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
total: NA%


male: NA%


female: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 5.5% (2002 est.) NA%
International organization participation ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO none
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 2 (2002) 1 (2000)
Irrigated land 40 sq km (1998 est.) NA sq km
Judicial branch Supreme Court; communal courts; appeals courts -
Labor force 4.6 million (2000) 12,000
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 90% animal husbandry and subsistence farming 50%
Land boundaries total: 893 km


border countries: Burundi 290 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 217 km, Tanzania 217 km, Uganda 169 km
total: 2,046 km


border countries: Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km
Land use arable land: 32.43%


permanent crops: 10.13%


other: 57.44% (1998 est.)
arable land: 0%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100% (1998 est.)
Languages Kinyarwanda (official) universal Bantu vernacular, French (official), English (official), Kiswahili (Swahili) used in commercial centers Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic
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 -
Legislative branch unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (53 seats; members elected by direct vote)


elections: last held 29 September 2003 (next to be held NA)


election results: seats by party under the Arusha peace accord - FPR 40, PSD 7, PL 6
-
Life expectancy at birth total population: 39.33 years


male: 38.51 years


female: 40.18 years (2003 est.)
total population: NA years


male: NA years


female: NA years (2003 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 70.4%


male: 76.3%


female: 64.7% (2003 est.)
definition: NA


total population: NA%


male: NA%


female: NA%
Location Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco
Map references Africa Africa
Maritime claims none (landlocked) contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue
Military branches Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie -
Military expenditures - dollar figure $59.57 million (FY02) $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 3% (FY02) NA%
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 1,932,637 (2003 est.) -
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 982,909 (2003 est.) -
National holiday Independence Day, 1 July (1962) -
Nationality noun: Rwandan(s)


adjective: Rwandan
noun: Sahrawi(s), Sahraoui(s)


adjective: Sahrawian, Sahraouian
Natural hazards periodic droughts; the volcanic Virunga mountains are in the northwest along the border with Democratic Republic of the Congo hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility
Natural resources gold, cassiterite (tin ore), wolframite (tungsten ore), methane, hydropower, arable land phosphates, iron ore
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) -
People - note Rwanda is the most densely populated country in Africa -
Political parties and leaders Centrist Democratic Party or PDC [Jean-Nipomuscene NAYINZIRA]; Democratic Socialist Party or PSD [J. Damascene NTAWUKURIRYAYO]; Democratic Popular Union of Rwanda or UDPR [leader NA]; Democratic Republican Movement or MDR [Celestin KABANDA]; Islamic Democratic Party or PDI [Andre BUMAYA]; Liberal Party or PL [Pie MUGABO]; Party for Democratic Renewal (officially banned) [Pasteur BIZIMUNGU and Charles NTAKARUTINKA]; Rwanda Patriotic Front or FPR [Maj. Gen. Paul KAGAME]; Rwandan Socialist Party or PSR [leader NA] -
Political pressure groups and leaders IBUKA - association of genocide survivors none
Population 7,810,056


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 and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2003 est.)
261,794 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line 60% (2001 est.) NA%
Population growth rate 1.84% (2003 est.) NA% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors Cyangugu, Gisenyi, Kibuye Ad Dakhla, Cabo Bojador, Laayoune (El Aaiun)
Radio broadcast stations AM 0, FM 3 (two main FM programs are broadcast through a system of repeaters and the third FM program is a 24 hour BBC program), shortwave 1 (2002) AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)
Railways 0 km 0 km
Religions Roman Catholic 56.5%, Protestant 26%, Adventist 11.1%, Muslim 4.6%, indigenous beliefs 0.1%, none 1.7% (2001) Muslim
Sex ratio at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female


total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
NA (2003 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal adult none; a UN-sponsored voter identification campaign not yet completed
Telephone system general assessment: telephone system primarily serves business and government


domestic: the capital, Kigali, is connected to the centers of the prefectures by microwave radio relay and, recently, by cellular telephone service; much of the network depends on wire and HF radiotelephone


international: 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)
general assessment: sparse and limited system


domestic: NA


international: tied into Morocco's system by microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, and satellite; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) linked to Rabat, Morocco
Telephones - main lines in use 600,000 note - 90% in Kigali (2002) about 2,000 (1999 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular 81,000 (2001)


note: Rwanda has mobile cellular service between Kigali and several prefecture capitals (2002)
0 (1999)
Television broadcast stations NA NA
Terrain mostly grassy uplands and hills; relief is mountainous with altitude declining from west to east mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast
Total fertility rate 5.6 children born/woman (2003 est.) NA children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate NA% NA%
Waterways note: Lac Kivu navigable by shallow-draft barges and native craft none
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