Rwanda is the most densely populated country in Africa and is landlocked with few natural resources and minimal industry. Primary foreign exchange earners are coffee and tea. The 1994 genocide decimated Rwanda's fragile economic base, severely impoverished the population, particularly women, and eroded 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, although poverty levels are higher now. GDP has rebounded and inflation has been curbed. Despite Rwanda's fertile ecosystem, food production often does not keep pace with population growth, 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. Kigali's high defense expenditures have caused tension between the government and international donors and lending agencies. An energy shortage and instability in neighbouring states may slow growth in 2006, while the lack of adequate transportation linkages to other countries continues to handicap export growth.
GDP (purchasing power parity): $12.54 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $1.817 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 5.2% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP): $1,500 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 40.1%
industry: 22.9%
services: 37% (2005 est.)
Labour force: 4.6 million (2005 est.)
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