World Factbook
Rwanda
Republika y'u Rwanda
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: three horizontal bands of sky blue (top, double-width), yellow, and green, with a golden sun with 24 rays on the right end of the blue band meaning: blue stands for happiness and peace, yellow for economic development and mineral wealth, and green for hope for prosperity and natural resources; the sun symbolizes unity and enlightenment
Capital
name
Kigali
etymology
the city takes its name from nearby Mount Kigali; the name is composed of the Bantu prefix ki- and the Rwandan word gali , meaning "broad," which is probably meant to describe the terrain
time difference
UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
1 57 S, 30 03 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
the father must be a citizen of Rwanda; if the father is stateless or unknown, the mother must be a citizen
dual citizenship recognized
no
residency requirement for naturalization
10 years
Constitution
history
several previous; latest adopted by referendum 26 May 2003, effective 4 June 2003
amendment process
proposed by the president of the republic (with Council of Ministers approval) or by two-thirds majority vote of both houses of Parliament; passage requires at least three-quarters majority vote in both houses; changes to constitutional articles on national sovereignty, the presidential term, the form and system of government, and political pluralism also require approval in a referendum
Country name
former
Kingdom of Rwanda, Ruanda, German East Africa
etymology
the country is named for a local people, but the meaning of their own name is obscure
local long form
Republika y'u Rwanda
local short form
Rwanda
conventional long form
Republic of Rwanda
conventional short form
Rwanda
Independence
1 July 1962 (from Belgium-administered UN trusteeship)
Legal system
mixed system of civil law, based on German and Belgian models, and customary law; Supreme Court reviews legislative acts
Government type
presidential republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court (consists of the chief and deputy chief justices and 5 judges; normally organized into 3-judge panels); High Court (consists of the court president, vice president, and a minimum of 24 judges and organized into 5 chambers)
subordinate courts
High Court of the Republic; commercial courts including the High Commercial Court; intermediate courts; primary courts; and military specialized courts
judge selection and term of office
Supreme Court judges nominated by the president after consultation with the Cabinet and the Superior Council of the Judiciary (SCJ), a 27-member body of judges, other judicial officials, and legal professionals, and approved by the Senate; chief and deputy chief justices appointed for 8-year nonrenewable terms; tenure of judges NA; High Court president and vice president appointed by the president of the republic upon approval by the Senate; judges appointed by the Supreme Court chief justice upon approval of the SCJ; judge tenure NA
Executive branch
note
note: a constitutional amendment in 2016 reduced the presidential term from 7 to 5 years but included an exception that allowed President KAGAME to serve another 7-year term in 2017, potentially followed by two additional 5-year terms
cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the president
chief of state
President Paul KAGAME (since 22 April 2000)
election results
2024: Paul KAGAME reelected president; Paul KAGAME (RPF) 99.2%, Frank HABINEZA (DGPR) 0.5%, Philippe MPAYIMANA (independent) 0.3% 2017: Paul KAGAME reelected president; Paul KAGAME (RPF) 98.8%, Philippe MPAYIMANA (independent), other 1.2%
head of government
Prime Minister Justin NSENGIYUMVA (since 23 July 2025)
most recent election date
4 August 2017
election/appointment process
president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president
expected date of next election
15 July 2029
National holiday
Independence Day, 1 July (1962)
National color(s)
blue, yellow, green
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
2 (1 cultural, 1 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Memorial sites of the Genocide: Nyamata, Murambi, Gisozi and Bisesero (c); Nyungwe National Park (n)
Political parties
Democratic Green Party of Rwanda or DGPR Liberal Party or PL Party for Progress and Concord or PPC Rwandan Patriotic Front or RPF Rwandan Patriotic Front Coalition (includes RPF, PPC, PSP, UDPR, PDI, PSR, PDC) Social Democratic Party or PSD Social Party Imberakuri or PS-Imberakuri
Legislative branch
legislature name
Parlement (Parliament)
legislative structure
bicameral
National anthem(s)
title
"Rwanda nziza" (Rwanda, Our Beautiful Country)
history
adopted 2001
lyrics/music
Faustin MURIGO/Jean-Bosco HASHAKAIMANA
National symbol(s)
traditional woven basket with peaked lid
Administrative divisions
4 provinces ( provinces , singular - province (French); intara for singular and plural (Kinyarwanda)) and 1 city* ( ville (French); umujyi (Kinyarwanda)); Est (Eastern), Kigali*, Nord (Northern), Ouest (Western), Sud (Southern)
Legislative branch - lower chamber
note
note: 24 women are selected for seats by special-interest groups, and 3 members are selected by youth and disability organizations
chamber name
Chamber of Deputies (Chambre des Députés)
term in office
5 years
number of seats
80 (53 directly elected; 27 indirectly elected)
electoral system
proportional representation
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
7/15/2024 to 7/16/2024
expected date of next election
July 2029
percentage of women in chamber
63.8%
parties elected and seats per party
Rwandan Patriotic Front (FPR) and its allies (37); Liberal Party (PL) (5); Social Democratic Party (PSD) (5); Other (6)
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
Senate (Sénat)
term in office
5 years
number of seats
26 (18 indirectly elected; 8 appointed)
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
9/16/2024 to 9/16/2024
expected date of next election
September 2029
percentage of women in chamber
53.8%
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 232-4544
chancery
1714 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone
[1] (202) 232-2882
chief of mission
Ambassador Mathilde MUKANTABANA (since 18 July 2013)
email address and website
info@rwandaembassy.org https://rwandaembassy.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[250] 252 580-325
embassy
2657 Avenue de la Gendarmerie (Kaciyiru), P. O. Box 28 Kigali
telephone
[250] 252 596-400
mailing address
2210 Kigali Place, Washington DC 20521-2210
chief of mission
Ambassador Eric KNEEDLER (since 3 October 2023)
email address and website
consularkigali@state.gov https://rw.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AU, CEPGL, COMESA, EAC, EADB, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt