Part 169

Chapter 1693,574 wordsPublic domain

total: 65.57 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 25 male: 69.21 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 61.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 57.46 years country comparison to the world: 193 male: 56.06 years

female: 58.91 years (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.99 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 23

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

2.8% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 25

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

150,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 37

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

7,800 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 37

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne disease: malaria

animal contact disease: rabies (2009)

Nationality:

noun: Rwandan(s)

adjective: Rwandan

Ethnic groups:

Hutu (Bantu) 84%, Tutsi (Hamitic) 15%, Twa (Pygmy) 1%

Religions:

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

Languages:

Kinyarwanda (official) universal Bantu vernacular, French (official), English (official), Kiswahili (Swahili) used in commercial centers

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 70.4%

male: 76.3%

female: 64.7% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 11 years

male: 9 years

female: 9 years (2008)

Education expenditures:

4.1% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 104

People - note:

Rwanda is the most densely populated country in Africa

Government ::Rwanda

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Rwanda

conventional short form: Rwanda

local long form: Republika y'u Rwanda

local short form: Rwanda

former: Ruanda, German East Africa

Government type:

republic; presidential, multiparty system

Capital:

geographic coordinates: 1 57 S, 30 04 E

time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

4 provinces (in French - provinces, singular - province; in Kinyarwanda - intara for singular and plural) and 1 city* (in French - ville; in Kinyarwanda - umujyi); Est (Eastern), Kigali*, Nord (Northern), Ouest (Western), Sud (Southern)

Independence:

1 July 1962 (from Belgium-administered UN trusteeship)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 1 July (1962)

Constitution:

new constitution passed by referendum 26 May 2003

Legal system:

based on German and Belgian civil law systems and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Paul KAGAME (since 22 April 2000)

head of government: Prime Minister Bernard MAKUZA (since 8 March 2000)

cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: President elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (eligible for a second term); elections last held on 9 August 2010 (next to be held in 2017)

election results: Paul KAGAME elected to a second term as president; Paul KAGAME 93.1%, Jean NTAWUKURIRYAYO 5.1%, Prosper HIGIRO 1.4%, Alvera MUKABAR 0.4%

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consists of Senate (26 seats; 12 members elected by local councils, 8 appointed by the president, 4 appointed by the Political Organizations Forum, 2 represent institutions of higher learning; members to serve eight-year terms) and Chamber of Deputies (80 seats; 53 members elected by popular vote, 24 women elected by local bodies, 3 selected by youth and disability organizations; members to serve five-year terms)

elections: Senate - members appointed as part of the transitional government (next to be held in 2011); Chamber of Deputies - last held on 15 September 2008 (next to be held in September 2013)

election results: percent of vote by party - RPF 78.8%, PSD 13.1%, PL 7.5%; seats by party - RPF 42, PSD 7, PL 4, additional 27 members indirectly elected

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; High Courts of the Republic; Provincial Courts; District Courts; mediation committees

Political parties and leaders:

Centrist Democratic Party or PDC [Alfred MUKEZAMFURA]; Democratic Popular Union of Rwanda or UDPR [Adrien RANGIRA]; Democratic Republican Movement or MDR [Celestin KABANDA] (officially banned); Islamic Democratic Party or PDI [Andre BUMAYA]; Liberal Party or PL [Protais MITALI]; Party for Democratic Renewal (officially banned); Rwandan Patriotic Front or RPF [Paul KAGAME]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Vincent BIRUTA]; Solidarity and Prosperity Party or PSP [Pheobe KANYANGE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

IBUKA (association of genocide survivors)

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CEPGL, COMESA, EAC, EADB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador James KIMONYO

chancery: 1714 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009

telephone: [1] (202) 232-2882

FAX: [1] (202) 232-4544

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador W. Stuart SYMINGTON

embassy: 2657 Avenue de la Gendarmerie, Kigali

mailing address: B. P. 28, Kigali

telephone: [250] 596-400

FAX: [250] 596-591

Flag description:

three horizontal bands of sky blue (top, double width), yellow, and green, with a golden sun with 24 rays near the fly end of the blue band; blue represents happiness and peace, yellow economic development and mineral wealth, green hope of prosperity and natural resources; the sun symbolizes unity, as well as enlightenment and transparency from ignorance

National anthem:

lyrics/music: Faustin MURIGO/Jean-Bosco HASHAKAIMANA

note: adopted 2001

Economy ::Rwanda

Economy - overview:

Rwanda is a poor rural country with about 90% of the population engaged in (mainly subsistence) agriculture and some mineral and agro-processing. In 2008, minerals overtook coffee and tea as Rwanda's primary foreign exchange earner. The 1994 genocide decimated Rwanda's fragile economic base, severely impoverished the population, particularly women, and temporarily stalled the country's ability to attract private and external investment. However, Rwanda has made substantial progress in stabilizing and rehabilitating its economy to pre-1994 levels. GDP has rebounded and inflation has been curbed. Nonetheless, a majority still live below the poverty line of 250 Rwandan francs per day (about US$0.43). Despite Rwanda's fertile ecosystem, food production often does not keep pace with demand, requiring food imports. Rwanda continues to receive substantial aid money and obtained IMF-World Bank Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) initiative debt relief in 2005-06. Rwanda also received a Millennium Challenge Account Compact in 2008. Africa's most densely populated country is trying to overcome the limitations of its small, landlocked economy by leveraging regional trade. Rwanda joined the East African Community and is aligning its budget, trade, and immigration policies with its regional partners. The government has embraced an expansionary fiscal policy to reduce poverty by improving education, infrastructure, and foreign and domestic investment and pursuing market-oriented reforms, although energy shortages, instability in neighboring states, and lack of adequate transportation linkages to other countries continue to handicap growth. The global downturn hurt export demand and tourism, but economic growth is recovering, driven in large part by the services sector, and inflation has been contained. On the back of this growth, government is gradually ending its fiscal stimulus policy while protecting aid to the poor.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$11.84 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 144 $11.17 billion (2009 est.)

$10.69 billion (2008 est.)

note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$5.693 billion (2010 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 38 4.5% (2009 est.)

11.2% (2008 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,100 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 211 $1,000 (2009 est.)

$1,000 (2008 est.)

note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 42.1%

industry: 14.3%

services: 43.6% (2010 est.)

Labor force:

4.446 million (2007) country comparison to the world: 81

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 90%

industry and services: 10% (2000)

Unemployment rate:

NA%

Population below poverty line:

60% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.1%

highest 10%: 38.2% (2000)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

46.8 (2000) country comparison to the world: 35 28.9 (1985)

Investment (gross fixed):

20% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 86

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

6.4% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 168 10.4% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

11.25% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 29 12.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

NA% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 37 16.51% (31 December 2008 est.)

Stock of narrow money:

$602.3 million (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 154 $537.6 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money:

$1.243 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 155 $1.068 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit:

$600.4 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 161 $515.5 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$NA

Agriculture - products:

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

Industries:

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

Industrial production growth rate:

7.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 34

Electricity - production:

120 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 186

Electricity - consumption:

231.6 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 174

Electricity - exports:

10 million kWh (2007)

Electricity - imports:

130 million kWh (2007 est.)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 140

Oil - consumption:

6,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 161

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 155

Oil - imports:

5,623 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 153

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 133

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 140

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 159

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 138

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 143

Natural gas - proved reserves:

56.63 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 63

Current account balance:

-$489 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 116 -$379 million (2009 est.)

Exports:

$226 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 178 $193 million (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities:

coffee, tea, hides, tin ore

Exports - partners:

Kenya 33.88%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 13.56%, Thailand 6.22%, China 5.49%, US 5.47%, Swaziland 5.43%, Belgium 5.19% (2009)

Imports:

$1.047 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 170 $961 million (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, steel, petroleum products, cement and construction material

Imports - partners:

Kenya 16.53%, Uganda 14.92%, China 7.92%, UAE 6.89%, Belgium 5.54%, Germany 5.19%, Tanzania 4.81%, Sweden 4% (2009)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$816 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 113 $742.7 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt - external:

$NA

Exchange rates:

Rwandan francs (RWF) per US dollar - 586.25 (2010), 568.176 (2009), 550 (2008), 585 (2007), 560 (2006)

Communications ::Rwanda

Telephones - main lines in use:

33,500 (2009) country comparison to the world: 174

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2.429 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 123

Telephone system:

general assessment: small, inadequate telephone system primarily serves business, education, and government

domestic: the capital, Kigali, is connected to the centers of the provinces by microwave radio relay and, recently, by cellular telephone service; much of the network depends on wire and HF radiotelephone; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone density has increased to about 25 telephones per 100 persons

international: country code - 250; international connections employ microwave radio relay to neighboring countries and satellite communications to more distant countries; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) in Kigali (includes telex and telefax service)

Broadcast media:

government owns and operates the only TV station; government-owned and operated Radio Rwanda has a national reach; 9 private radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2007)

Internet country code:

.rw

Internet hosts:

815 (2010) country comparison to the world: 171

Internet users:

450,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 118

Transportation ::Rwanda

Airports:

9 (2010) country comparison to the world: 160

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 4

over 3,047 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 2

under 914 m: 1 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 5

914 to 1,523 m: 2

under 914 m: 3 (2010)

Roadways:

total: 14,008 km country comparison to the world: 125 paved: 2,662 km

unpaved: 11,346 km (2004)

Waterways:

Lac Kivu navigable by shallow-draft barges and native craft (2009)

Ports and terminals:

Cyangugu, Gisenyi, Kibuye

Military ::Rwanda

Military branches:

Rwandan Defense Forces (RDF), Rwandan Patriotic Air Force (2009)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2010)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,573,834

females age 16-49: 2,553,707 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,641,563

females age 16-49: 1,696,514 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 98,164

female: 97,839 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures:

2.9% of GDP (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 48

Transnational Issues ::Rwanda

Disputes - international:

fighting among ethnic groups - loosely associated political rebels, armed gangs, and various government forces in Great Lakes region transcending the boundaries of Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda - abated substantially from a decade ago due largely to UN peacekeeping, international mediation, and efforts by local governments to create civil societies; nonetheless, 57,000 Rwandan refugees still reside in 21 African states, including Zambia, Gabon, and 20,000 who fled to Burundi in 2005 and 2006 to escape drought and recriminations from traditional courts investigating the 1994 massacres; the 2005 DROC and Rwanda border verification mechanism to stem rebel actions on both sides of the border remains in place

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 46,272 (Democratic Republic of the Congo); 4,400 (Burundi) (2007)

page last updated on January 20, 2011

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@Saint Barthelemy (Central America and Caribbean)

Introduction ::Saint Barthelemy

Background:

Discovered in 1493 by Christopher COLUMBUS who named it for his brother Bartolomeo, Saint Barthelemy was first settled by the French in 1648. In 1784, the French sold the island to Sweden, who renamed the largest town Gustavia, after the Swedish King GUSTAV III, and made it a free port; the island prospered as a trade and supply center during the colonial wars of the 18th century. France repurchased the island in 1878 and placed it under the administration of Guadeloupe. Saint Barthelemy retained its free port status along with various Swedish appellations such as Swedish street and town names, and the three-crown symbol on the coat of arms. In 2003, the populace of the island voted to secede from Guadeloupe and in 2007, the island became a French overseas collectivity.

Geography ::Saint Barthelemy

Location:

located approximately 125 miles northwest of Guadeloupe

Geographic coordinates:

17 90 N, 62 85 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

21 sq km

Area - comparative:

less than an eighth of the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Climate:

tropical, with practically no variation in temperature; has two seasons (dry and humid)

Terrain:

hilly, almost completely surrounded by shallow-water reefs, with 20 beaches

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Ocean 0 m

highest point: Morne du Vitet 286 m

Natural resources:

has few natural resources, its beaches being the most important

Environment - current issues:

with no natural rivers or streams, fresh water is in short supply, especially in summer, and provided by desalinization of sea water, collection of rain water, or imported via water tanker

People ::Saint Barthelemy

Population:

7,406 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 227

Age structure:

0-14 years: 19.2% (male 734/female 696)

15-64 years: 70.6% (male 2,855/female 2,402)

65 years and over: 10.2% (male 378/female 383) (2010 est.)

Median age:

total: 39.8 years

male: 39.9 years

female: 39.6 years (2010 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.053 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.19 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.98 male(s)/female

total population: 1.14 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Ethnic groups:

white, Creole (mulatto), black, Guadeloupe Mestizo (French-East Asia)

Religions:

Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jehovah's Witness

Languages:

French (primary), English

Government ::Saint Barthelemy

Country name:

conventional long form: Overseas Collectivity of Saint Barthelemy

conventional short form: Saint Barthelemy

local long form: Collectivite d'outre mer de Saint-Barthelemy

local short form: Saint-Barthelemy

Dependency status:

overseas collectivity of France

Capital:

geographic coordinates: 17 53 N, 62 51 W

time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Independence:

none (overseas collectivity of France)

National holiday:

Bastille Day, 14 July (1789); note - local holiday is St. Barthelemy Day, 24 August

Constitution:

4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system:

the laws of France, where applicable, apply

Suffrage:

18 years of age, universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007), represented by Prefect Dominique LACROIX (since 21 March 2007)

head of government: President of the Territorial Council Bruno MAGRAS (since 16 July 2007)

cabinet: Executive Council; note - there is also an advisory, economic, social, and cultural council (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the Territorial Council elected by the members of the Council for a five-year term

election results: Bruno MAGRAS unanimously elected president by the Territorial Council on 16 July 2007

Legislative branch:

unicameral Territorial Council (19 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections: last held on 1 and 8 July 2007 (next to be held in July 2012)

election results: percent of vote by party - SBA 72.2%, Action-Equilibre-Transparence 9.9%, Ensemble pour Saint-Barthelemy 7.9%, Tous Unis pour Saint-Barthelemy 9.9%; seats by party - SBA 16, Action-Equilibre-Transparence 1, Ensemble pour Saint-Barthelemy 1, Tous Unis pour Saint-Barthelemy 1

note: Saint Barthelemy elects one seat to the French Senate; election last held on 21 September 2008 (next to be held in September 2014); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 1

Political parties and leaders:

Action-Equilibre-Transparence [Maxime DESOUCHES]; Ensemble pour Saint-Barthelemy [Benoit CHAUVIN]; Saint-Barth d'Abord! or SBA [Bruno MAGRAS]; Tous Unis pour Saint-Barthelemy [Karine MIOT-RICHARD]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

The Marine Reserve (protection of fish); Rotary Club

International organization participation:

UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas collectivity of France)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (overseas collectivity of France)

Flag description:

the flag of France is used

National anthem:

lyrics/music: Isabelle Massart DERAVIN/Michael VALENTI

note: local anthem in use since 1999; as a collectivity of France, "La Marseillaise" is official (see France)

Economy ::Saint Barthelemy

Economy - overview:

The economy of Saint Barthelemy is based upon high-end tourism and duty-free luxury commerce, serving visitors primarily from North America. The luxury hotels and villas host 70,000 visitors each year with another 130,000 arriving by boat. The relative isolation and high cost of living inhibits mass tourism. The construction and public sectors also enjoy significant investment in support of tourism. With limited fresh water resources, all food must be imported, as must all energy resources and most manufactured goods. Employment is strong and attracts labor from Brazil and Portugal.

Exchange rates:

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7715 (2010), 0.7338 (2009), 0.6827 (2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)

Communications ::Saint Barthelemy

Telephone system:

general assessment: fully integrated access

domestic: direct dial capability with both fixed and wireless systems

international: country code - 590; undersea fiber-optic cable provides voice and data connectivity to Puerto Rico and Guadeloupe

Broadcast media:

no local TV broadcasters; 3 FM radio channels (2 via repeater)

Internet country code:

.bl; note - .gp, the internet country code for Guadeloupe, and .fr, the internet country code for France, might also be encountered

Transportation ::Saint Barthelemy

Airports:

1 (2010) country comparison to the world: 226

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1

under 914 m: 1 (2010)

Ports and terminals:

Gustavia

Transportation - note:

nearest airport for international flights is Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) located in Sint Maarten

Military ::Saint Barthelemy

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,543

females age 16-49: 1,303 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 21

female: 21 (2010 est.)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of France

page last updated on January 12, 2011

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@Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha (Africa)

Introduction ::Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha

Background:

Saint Helena is a British Overseas Territory consisting of Saint Helena and Ascension Islands, and the island group of Tristan da Cunha.