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Rwanda
Overview
| Flag |  |
| Anthem | Rwanda nziza (Beautiful Rwanda) Watch on youtube (with lyrics in video description) |
| Capital | Kigali |
| Largest city | Kigali |
| Official language(s) |
|
| Demonym(a name for a resident of a locality, often the same as the name of the people's native language) | Rwandan, Rwandese |
| Government | Republic |
| Area | 26,338 km2, 10,169 sq mi |
| Population | ~ 11 million |
| Currency | Rwandan franc (RWF) |
| Internet TLD | .rw |
Geography
Society and culture
Unlike many countries in Africa, Rwanda has only one ethnic group and therefore a shared(used by more than one person) cultural heritage(having a certain background and traditions). Music and dance are an integral(constituting a whole together with other parts or factors) part of Rwandan culture.
Population
In 2010, Rwanda's population was estimated to be 10,746,311. This population is young: around 42.7% are under 15 years old. The life expectancy(statistical chances of survival) is 56.77 years. There is only one ethnic group in Rwanda: the Banyarwanda. This group froms three separate(not connected to or attached to anything else) groups: the Hutus, the Tutsis and the Twas. These groups share a common(shared by more than one) history, culture and language.
Languages
There are three official languages in Rwanda: Kinyarwanda, English and French. English is the language of instruction(the teaching of knowledge) in all schools. The country's principal(most important in a group) language, however, is Kinyarwanda. It is spoken by most Rwandans. Also, Swahili, the lingua franca(a common language used by people of diverse backgrounds to communicate with one another) of East Africa, is widely spoken in rural areas.
Religion
Most Rwandans are Christian. As of 2006, Catholics represented 56.5% of the poulation, Protestants 37.1% and Muslims 4.6%. 1.7% claimed(to state a new fact) to have no religious beliefs.
Government and politics
Rwanda is a presidential republic. It is based upon a multi-party system. The current President of Rwanda is Paul Kagame. He is the head of state. Moreover, he commands the armed forces(the military forces of a nation, such as the army, navy, air force and marines). The Parliament, which consists of two chambers, makes legislation(the preparation and enactment of laws). Rwanda is the only country with a female majority(more than half (50%) of a group) parliament. Rwanda's legal system is largely based on German and Belgian civil law(the body of law dealing with the private relations between members of a community) systems.
Economy
Rwanda is a country of few natural resources(any source of wealth that occurs by nature, especially minerals, fossil fuels, etc.). The economy is mostly based on agriculture by local farmers. Major export markets include China, Germany and the United States. Coffee and tea are exported the most. The industrial sector is small. Abundant(in great quantity) wildlife, including rare mountain gorillas, have led to a fast-growing tourism sector. Nevertheless, large numbers of Rwandans live in poverty(the state of having no money).
Source: http://www.learning-english-online.net/cultural-studies/english-speaking-countries/rwanda/
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