General Background
Rwanda is a country known as the land of a thousand hills, located in the East-Central Africa. With a total surface area of only 26,338 square kilometers, the country has the population of 8,1million with the population growth of 1.16 % (2002 Estimation of the National Census Office). Rwanda is one of the most densely populated countries in the World (340/sq km) and more than 60% of its population is youth between the age of 15 and 35 years. Over 90% of the Rwandan population lives in rural areas and they primarily rely on subsistence agriculture as a source of livelihood and they have low income.
The literacy level in Rwanda is 48% and the whole population has one common language (Kinyarwanda) spoken all over the country.
French, English and Kinyarwanda (vernacular) are the official languages.
Most of the population is predominantly Christian with 56% Roman Catholic, 26% Protestant, 11.1% Adventist, 4.6% Muslim, 0.1% Indigenous beliefs and 1.7% belonging to no religious denomination (2001 estimation of the National Census office).
The Bible Society work started in 1975 as a depot. In May 1977 it became an office led by an executive committee; in September 1988 it became an associate member of UBS; in 2000 it became full member.