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; landlocked with 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. Rwanda received approval for debt relief from the IMF in late 2000 and continued to make progress on inflation, privatization, and GDP growth in 2001. However, export earnings were hindered by low global coffee prices, depriving the country of much needed hard currency. President KAGAME is encouraging investors to take advantage of export opportunities in Rwanda based on its membership in the COMESA free trade area and its access to the US and the EU markets through preferential trade agreements.

GDP purchasing power parity - $7.2 billion (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate 5% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $1,000 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: 46%
industry: 20%
services: 34% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line 70% (2000 est.)

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

Distribution of family income - Gini index 28.9 (1983-85)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 5% (2001 est.)

Labor force 3.6 million

Labor force - by occupation agriculture 90%

Unemployment rate NA%

Budget
revenues: $199.3 million
expenditures: $445 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)

Industries cement, agricultural products, small-scale beverages, soap, furniture, shoes, plastic goods, textiles, cigarettes

Industrial production growth rate 7% (2001 est.)

Electricity - production 113 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel: 2.65%
hydro: 97.35%
other: 0% (2000)
nuclear: 0%

Electricity - consumption 174.09 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports 1 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports 70 million kWh (2000)

Agriculture - products coffee, tea, pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums), bananas, beans, sorghum, potatoes; livestock

Exports $61 million (f.o.b., 2001 est.)

Exports - commodities coffee, tea, hides, tin ore

Exports - partners EU 56.9%, Pakistan 12.3%, US 9.2%, China 4.4% Malaysia 4.4% (2000 est.)

Imports $248 million (f.o.b., 2001 est.)

Imports - commodities foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, steel, petroleum products, cement and construction material

Imports - partners Kenya 29.4%, EU 28%, US 10%, India 4.4%, Tanzania 2.2% (2000 est.)

Debt - external $1.3 billion (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient $372.9 million (1999)

Currency Rwandan franc (RWF)

Currency code RWF

Exchange rates Rwandan francs per US dollar - 456.81 (January 2002), 442.99 (2001), 389.70 (2000), 333.94 (1999) 312.31 (1998), 301.53 (1997)

Fiscal year calendar year

NOTE: The information regarding Rwanda on this page is re-published from the 2002 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Rwanda Economy 2002 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Rwanda Economy 2002 should be addressed to the CIA.