Geography & environment — Rwanda
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources.
Profile updated 2026-06-02
⚡ Geography & environment at a glance
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources. Key figure for Rwanda: Africa
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Location & size
- Geographic Location
Africa
- Geographic Coordinates
2 00 S, 30 00 E
- Total Area
10,169 Square Miles 26,338 Square Kilometers
- Land Area
9,524 Square Miles 24,668 Square Kilometers
- Water Area
645 Square Miles 1,670 Square Kilometers
- Land Boundaries
555 Miles 893 Kilometers
- Border Countries
Burundi 290 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 217 km, Tanzania 217 km, Uganda 169 km
Physical geography
- Terrain
mostly grassy uplands and hills; relief is mountainous with altitude declining from west to east
- Highest Point
4,519 Meters
- Highest Point Location
Volcan Karisimbi 4,519 m
- Lowest Point
950 Meters
- Lowest Point Location
Rusizi River 950 m
- Natural Resources
gold, cassiterite (tin ore), wolframite (tungsten ore), methane, hydropower, arable land
- Irrigated Land
37 Square Miles 96 Square Kilometers
Climate & time
- Time Zone
UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Climate
- Climate
Despite Rwanda’s location of only two degrees below the equator, the altitude provides a mild, temperate climate for most parts of the country. The average 24-hour temperature in Kigali is 73° F. The higher reaches above 14,700 feet might even experience frost and snow. Two rainy seasons generally occur from February through May, and from September through December; but variations do occur. The rains can be torrential, although brief, and sometimes are accompanied by strong winds and lightning. Annual rainfall averages 31 inches and is generally heavier in the western and northwestern mountains than in the eastern savanna. The long dry summer season from May to September turns the hills around Kigali a reddish ochre, fine dust is everywhere, and the grass dries up.
- Terrain
mostly grassy uplands and hills; relief is mountainous with altitude declining from west to east
- Location
Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Total Area
10,169 Square Miles 26,338 Square Kilometers
- Border Countries
Burundi 290 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 217 km, Tanzania 217 km, Uganda 169 km
Environment
- Environment - Current Issues
deforestation results from uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel
overgrazing
soil exhaustion
soil erosion
widespread poaching
- Environment - International Agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
