Statistics on Rwanda

Statistics of the Genocide

The Rwandan Genocide of 1994 was a truly traumatic and horrifying event. It was one of the most brutal acts of murder ever committed.

  • Over the course of 100 days from April 6 to July 16 2004, an estimated 800,000 to 1 million Tutsis and some moderate Hutus were slaughtered in the Rwandan genocide.1 A recent report has estimated the number to be close to 2 million.2
  • During this period of terrible slaughter, more than 6 men, women and children were murdered every minute of every hour of every day. This brutally efficient killing was maintained for more than 3 months.3
  • There are between 300,000 to 400,000 survivors of the genocide.4
  • Between 250,000 and 500,000 women were raped during the 100 days of genocide.5 Up to 20,000 children were born to women as a result of rape.6
  • More than 67% of women who were raped in 1994 during the genocide were infected with HIV and AIDS.7 In many cases, this resulted from a systematic and planned use of rape by HIV+ men as a weapon of genocide.8
  • There are 10 times as many widows than widowers – almost 50,000 widows of the genocide.9
  • Nearly 100,000 survivors are aged between 14 and 21, of which 60,000 are categorised as very vulnerable.10
  • 75,000 of survivors were orphaned as a result of the genocide.11
  • Of those that survived the genocide over half the children stopped their schooling, because of poverty.12
  • 40,000 survivors are still without shelter, many whose homes were destroyed in the genocide.13
  • 7 in 10 survivors earn a monthly income of less than 5000 Rwandan Francs (Equivalent to 8 (eight) American Dollars)

1 The UN estimate the number killed as 800,000. The Rwandan Government estimate is 1,071,000. http://www.democraticcentral.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=1862

2 A 2008 AERG Report estimates the number killed to be 1,952,078 people (http://allafrica.com/stories/200810040044.html)

3 A statistical average on the basis of the estimate of 800,000 to 1 million people killed in 100 days. (6 people x 60 minutes x 24 hours x 100 days = 864,000 people)

4 Rwandan Ministry of Social Affairs, 2007 census estimates the number to be 309,368 (http://www.hirondellenews.com/content/view/2328/182/). IBUKA (the umbrella body of survivors’ organisations in Rwanda) estimates the number to be nearer to 400,000.

5 http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/AFR47/007/2004/en/dom-AFR470072004en.pdf, page 6

6 Foundation Rwanda, 2008: www.foundationrwanda.com

7 http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/AFR47/007/2004/en/dom-AFR470072004en.pdf, page 2

8 http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0140673602118046

9 Rwandan Ministry of Social Affairs, 2007: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwandan_Survivors

10 http://www.hirondellenews.com/content/view/2328/182/

11 http://www.hirondellenews.com/content/view/1084/182/

12 http://www.kbc.co.ke/story.asp?ID=54939

13 Rwandan Ministry of Social Affairs, 2007: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwandan_Survivors

General Demographics

The statistics and figures below are all provided by the World Fact Book and were updated in February 2006.

Geographic size:

26,338 km2

Language:

Kinyarwanda (French, English and Kiswahili are also spoken)

Religion:

Roman Catholic 56.5%, Protestant 26%, Adventist 11.1%, Muslim 4.6%, indigenous beliefs 0.1%, none 1.7% (2001)

Borders with:

Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania and Uganda.

Arable land:

40.54%

Crops:

12.16%

Other:

47.3% (2001)

Population:

8,440,820 people

Average life expectancy:

46.96 years (male 45.92, female 48.03 years)

Sex ratio:

0.99 Males/female

HIV/AIDS prevalence:

5.1% (est. 2003)

Literacy:

70.4%

Percentage of people below poverty line:

60% (est. 2001)

GDP per capita:

purchasing power parity - $1,300 (2005 est.)

Rate of inflation:

8%

Currency:

Rwandan franc

Main exports:

Coffee and Tea

Labour force:

4.6 million (90% in agriculture)

Ethnic groups:

Hutu 84%, Tutsi 15%, Other 1%

Independence:

1st July 1962

Government:

republic; presidential, multiparty system

Voting age:

18

President:

Paul Kagame

Prime Minister:

Bernard Makuza

Flag:

The flag has a golden sun with 24 rays on a field of green, yellow and blue.