Rwanda Flag

The flag of Rwanda consists of three horizontal stripes (top to bottom) of blue, yellow, and green. The Upper blue stripe is twice the size of the yellow and green stripes. This flag also contains a yellow sun in the top right-hand corner in a colour known as sun yellow. This national flag was officially adopted on 25 October 2001. The procedure surrounding the adoption of this flag can be accessed through the Rwandan government website and during this process, the Fundamental Law of Rwanda (stated in the 1991 Constitution) were modified.

The blue is a symbol of peace and happiness in Rwanda after the country had a brutal period of instability during the 1990s. The yellow stripe is representative of economic development and the green stripe is a symbol of hope and prosperity for the citizens of the country. The sun is a symbol of the weather and clear skies in the country as well as becoming a sign of hope or new life.

According to the Government of Rwanda, the flag was designed by artist and engineer Alphonse Kirimobenecyo. The symbols and colors he used in this design are meant to cut ties between the new Rwanda and the instability and trouble of the past. News reports had appeared as early as August of 2001 indicating that a new flag had been chosen but the designer was not revealed until the flag was.

The flag prior to the current national banner is very similar to the flag of Guinea which consists of three vertical fields of red, yellow, and green (Pan-African colours) but this flag of Rwanda contained a large black "R" in the centre to distinguish itself. This flag was used from 25 September 1961 until 24 October 2001. Prior to this flag, a flag without the large black "R" was flown and it is known as the flag of the Kingdom of Rwanda.

This page was last modified on May 1st, 2018

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Published on 2019-11-06


Capital	Kigali
Languages	Kinyarwanda only (official, universal Bantu vernacular) 93.2%, Kinyarwanda and other language(s) 6.2%, French (official) and other language(s) 0.1%, English (official) and other language(s) 0.1%, Swahili (or Kiswahili, used in commercial centers) 0.02%, other 0.03%, unspecified 0.3% (2002 est.)
Ethnic Groups	Hutu (Bantu), Tutsi (Hamitic), Twa (Pygmy)
Religion	Roman Catholic 49.5%, Protestant 39.4% (includes Adventist 12.2% and other Protestant 27.2%), other Christian 4.5%, Muslim 1.8%, animist 0.1%, other 0.6%, none 3.6% (2001), unspecified 0.5% (2002 est.)
Government	Presidential republic
Independance	1 July 1962 (from Belgium-administered UN trusteeship)
Area	26,338.00 km²
Water Area	1,670.00 km²
Land Area	24,668.00 km²
Population	12,988,423.00
Location	Central Africa, east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, north of Burundi
No. Bordering Countries	4
Bordering Countries	Burundi 315 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 221 km, Tanzania 222 km, Uganda 172 km
GDP(PPP)	$21,970,000,000.00 (USD)
GDP (Per Capita)	$1,900.00 (USD)
Export Partners	Its major export partners are the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the United States, and China.
Export Commodities	Its main exports are coffee, tea, hides, and tin ore.
Import Partners	Its major import partners are Uganda, Kenya, and India.
Import Commodities	Its major imports include foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, steel, and petroleum products.
Climate	Tropical, with practically no variation in temperature; has two seasons (dry and humid)
Terrain	Mostly grassy uplands and hills; relief is mountainous with altitude declining from west to east
Learn More	Rwanda

Rwanda Flag

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