Area comparison map:

slightly smaller than Maryland

Land boundaries:
total: 930 km
[see also: Land boundaries - total country ranks ]
border countries (4): Burundi 315 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 221 km, Tanzania 222 km, Uganda 172 km

Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)

Climate:
temperate; two rainy seasons (February to April, November to January); mild in mountains with frost and snow possible

Terrain:
mostly grassy uplands and hills; relief is mountainous with altitude declining from west to east

Elevation:
mean elevation: 1,598 m
[see also: Elevation - mean elevation country ranks ]
lowest point: Rusizi River 950 m
highest point: Volcan Karisimbi 4,519 m

Natural resources:
gold, cassiterite (tin ore), wolframite (tungsten ore), methane, hydropower, arable land

Land use:
agricultural land: 74.5% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
arable land: 47% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 10.1% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
permanent pasture: 17.4% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent pasture country ranks ]
forest: 18% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 7.5% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
96 sq km (2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Population distribution:
one of Africa's most densely populated countries; large concentrations tend to be in the central regions and along the shore of Lake Kivu in the west

Natural hazards:
periodic droughts; the volcanic Virunga Mountains are in the northwest along the border with Democratic Republic of the Congo

volcanism: Visoke (3,711 m), located on the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is the country's only historically active volcano

Environment - current issues:
deforestation results from uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel; overgrazing; land degradation; soil erosion; a decline in soil fertility (soil exhaustion); wetland degradation and loss of biodiversity; 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

Geography - note:
landlocked; most of the country is intensively cultivated and rugged with the population predominantly rural