The national ID card of Rwanda is a critical document for all citizens, and its 16 digits carry significant information.
This article breaks down the meaning behind these digits, divided into six distinct groups, each with its specific purpose.
Group 1: National Identifier The first group consists of a single digit that identifies the holder’s status:
- 1 for Rwandan citizens
- 2 for refugees who have been issued an ID
- 3 for foreigners
Group 2: Year of Birth The second group comprises four digits that correspond to the year of birth of the ID holder. This group makes it easy to quickly determine the birth year of the individual.
Group 3: Gender Identifier The third group is a single digit indicating the gender of the ID holder:
- 8 for males
- 7 for females
Group 4: Birth Order Number The fourth group consists of seven digits that represent the sequential order in which the ID was issued to individuals born in the same year. This number indicates how many men or women born in that specific year have registered in the country.
Group 5: Issue Frequency The fifth group contains a single digit indicating the number of times the ID has been issued. If it is the first time the ID is issued to the holder, this digit is 0. This helps track the issuance history of the ID card.
Group 6: Security Code The sixth and final group is composed of two digits. These digits form a unique check sum that serves as a security feature to prevent counterfeiting. The specific meaning of this group is known only to the National Identification Agency (NIDA).
