Rwanda
-- Demography
Rwanda
is one of
the most
densely
populated
countries
in Africa.
The average
population
density
is estimated
at 274.6
people per
square kilometer.
But Rwanda's
demographic
profile
was seriously
affected
by the events
of 1994.
Up to one
million
of the country's
estimated
7.6 million
inhabitants
were killed
and another
two million
forced to
flee in
the violent
exchanges
between
the Hutu
and Tutsi
peoples.
Since then,
there have
been further
large-scale
population
movements.
Nearly two
million
refugees
have returned,
including
700,000
"old
refugees"
from Uganda
and Burundi.
Some 220,000
orphans
have either
joined,
or are seeking
to join,
other families.
At least
110,000
people are
in prison
on suspicion
of contributing
to the genocide.
The
Hutu comprise
more than
80% of the
population.
The only
other major
ethnic group
is the Tutsi,
whose numbers
have markedly
declined
because
of the massacres
of 1959-61,
1964, and
1990-1994.
At the 1978
census,
the male/female
ratio was
48.9:51.1.
The median
age of the
population
was 15.5
years. The
largest
age group
was that
of persons
under 30
years of
age, constituting
74.2% of
the population.
A total
of 24.3%
were between
30 and 64,
and 0.9
were 75
or over.
Other
demographic
data
Population:
7,956,172
(July 1998
est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years:
45% (male
1,785,650;
female 1,772,609)
15-64 years:
53% (male
2,070,401;
female 2,106,809)
65 years
and over:
2% (male
90,941;
female 129,762)
(July 1998
est.)
Population
growth rate:
2.5%
(1998 est.)
Birth
rate: 38.99
births/1,000
population
(1998 est.)
Death
rate:
19 deaths/1,000
population
(1998 est.)
Infant
mortality
rate:
113.31 deaths/1,000
live births
(1998 est.)
Life
expectancy
at birth:
total population:
41.93 years
male:
41.49
years
female:
42.4
years (1998
est.)
Total
fertility
rate: 5.86
children
born/woman
(1998 est.)
Source:
CIA World
Fact Book
1999