Location Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo

Geographic coordinates 2 00 S, 30 00 E

Map references Africa

Area
total: 26,338 sq km
water: 1,390 sq km
land: 24,948 sq km

Area - comparative slightly smaller than Maryland

Land boundaries
total: 893 km
border countries: Burundi 290 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 217 km, Tanzania 217 km, Uganda 169 km

Coastline 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims none (landlocked)

Climate temperate; two rainy seasons (February to April, November to January); mild in mountains with frost and snow possible

Terrain mostly grassy uplands and hills; relief is mountainous with altitude declining from west to east

Elevation extremes
lowest point: Rusizi River 950 m
highest point: Volcan Karisimbi 4,519 m

Natural resources gold, cassiterite (tin ore), wolframite (tungsten ore), methane, hydropower, arable land

Land use
arable land: 32%
permanent crops: 10%
other: 58% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land 40 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards periodic droughts; the volcanic Virunga mountains are in the northwest along the border with Democratic Republic of the Congo

Environment - current issues deforestation results from uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel; overgrazing; soil exhaustion; soil erosion; widespread poaching

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

Geography - note landlocked; most of the country is savanna grassland with the population predominantly rural

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 Geography 2002 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Rwanda Geography 2002 should be addressed to the CIA.