Society of Rwanda

KEY FACTS 2011

Population per sq km: 415

Life expectancy: 55 years

Net primary enrolment: 99% (2010)

Population: 10,943,000 (2011); 19 per cent of people live in urban areas; growth 2.1 per cent p.a. 1990–2011; birth rate 41 per 1,000 people (53 in 1970); life expectancy 55 years (44 in 1970).

The main ethnic groups are Hutus, comprising an estimated 85 per cent of the population; Tutsis (14 per cent); and Twa (less than one per cent). Censuses carried out since the conflict of the 1990s have not included ethnicity.

Language: Kinyarwanda, French and English are the official languages, and Kiswahili is widely spoken.

Religion: Christians (mostly Roman Catholics) comprise about half the population and most of the rest hold traditional beliefs, often combined with Christianity. There is a small minority of Muslims, comprising about two per cent of the population, according to the 2012 census.

Media: The New Times (daily), Rwanda Herald and Rwanda Newsline are all published in English; Umuseso in Kinyarwanda.

Radio Rwanda provides public radio services in Kinyarwanda, French, English and Kiswahili, and there are several private commercial or faith radio stations. Télévision Rwandaise provides a public service in the urban areas.

Public holidays: New Year’s Day, Heroes’ Day (1 February), Tutsi Genocide Memorial Day (7 April), Labour Day (1 May), Independence Day (1 July), Liberation Day (4 July), Assumption (15 August), Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Religious festivals whose dates vary from year to year include Good Friday and Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan, two days).