Statistical information Burundi 1999

Burundi in the World
top of pageBackground: Since the end of the Belgian trusteeship in 1962, Burundi has suffered from ethnic uprisings, coups, and other societal dislocations. In a series of waves since October 1993, hundreds of thousands of refugees have fled the ethnic violence between the Hutu and Tutsi factions in Burundi and have crossed into Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zaire (now called the Democratic Republic of the Congo or DROC). Since October 1996, an estimated 120,000 Burundian Hutu refugees from the DROC have been compelled to return to Burundi because of insecurity in the region. Continuing ethnic violence with the Tutsi has caused additional Hutu to flee to Tanzania, thus raising their numbers in the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) camps in that country to about 260,000 Burundian troops have joined armies from Rwanda and Uganda and Congolese Tutsi in trying to overthrow DROC President KABILA and restore security to their borders with the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
top of pageLocation: Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo
Geographic coordinates: 3 30 S, 30 00 E
Map reference:
AfricaAreaTotal: 27,830 km²
Land: 25,650 km²
Water: 2,180 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundariesTotal: 974 km
Border countries: (3) Democratic Republic of the Congo 233 km;
, Rwanda 290 km;
, Tanzania 451 kmCoastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: equatorial; high plateau with considerable altitude variation (772 m to 2,760 m; average annual temperature varies with altitude from 23 to 17 degrees centigrade but is generally moderate as the average altitude is about 1,700 m; average annual rainfall is about 150 cm; wet seasons from February to May and September to November, and dry seasons from June to August and December to January
Terrain: hilly and mountainous, dropping to a plateau in east, some plains
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Lake Tanganyika 772 m
Extremes highest point: Mount Heha 2,670 m
Natural resources: nickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat, cobalt, copper, platinum (not yet exploited), vanadium
Land useArable land: 44%
Permanent crops: 9%
Permanent pastures: 36%
Forests and woodland: 3%
Other: 8% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 140 km² (1993 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: flooding, landslides
GeographyNote: landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed
top of pagePopulation: 5,735,937 (July 1999 est.)
Growth rate: 3.54% (1999 est.)
Below poverty line: 36.2% (1990 est.)
NationalityNoun: Burundian(s)
Adjective: Burundi
Ethnic groups: Hutu (Bantu) 85%, Tutsi (Hamitic) 14%, Twa (Pygmy) 1%, Europeans 3,000, South Asians 2,000
Languages: Kirundi (official), French (official), Swahili (along Lake Tanganyika and in the Bujumbura area)
Religions: Christian 67% (Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 5%), indigenous beliefs 32%, Muslim 1%
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years: 47% (male 1,349,995; female 1,345,201)
15-64 years: 50% (male 1,392,880; female 1,479,835)
65 years and over: 3% (male 69,748; female 98,278) (1999 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 3.54% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 41.27 births/1000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 17.23 deaths/1000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 11.33 migrant(s)/1000 population (1999 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: soil erosion as a result of overgrazing and the expansion of agriculture into marginal lands; deforestation (little forested land remains because of uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel; habitat loss threatens wildlife populations
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
International agreements signed but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 99.36 deaths/1000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 45.44 years
Male: 43.54 years
Female: 47.41 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.33 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 35.3%
Male: 49.3%
Female: 22.5% (1995 est.)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Republic of Burundi
Conventional short form: Burundi
Local long form: Republika y'u Burundi
Local short form: Burundi
Government type: republic
Capital: Bujumbura
Administrative divisions: 15 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura, Bururi, Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Gitega, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo, Makamba, Muramvya, Muyinga, Ngozi, Rutana, Ruyigi
Note: there may be a new province named Mwaro
Dependent areasIndependence: 1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 July (1962)
Constitution: 13 March 1992; provided for establishment of a plural political system; supplanted on 6 June 1998 by a Transitional Constitution which enlarged the National Assembly and created two vice presidents
Legal system: based on German and Belgian civil codes and customary law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: NA years of age; universal adult
Executive branchChief of state: President Pierre BUYOYA (interim president since 27 September 1996 and officially sworn in on 11 June 1998) is chief of state and head of government and is assisted by First Vice President Frederic BAMVUGINYUMVIRA (since NA) and Second Vice President Mathias SINAMENYA (since NA); note_former President NTIBANTUNGANYA was overthrown in a coup on 25 July 1996
Head of government: President Pierre BUYOYA is both chief of state and head of government; assisted by First Vice President Frederic BAMVUGINYUMVIRA (since NA) and Second Vice President Mathias SINAMENYA (since NA)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by president
Elections: NA
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (81 seats; note_new Transitional Constitution calls for 121 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional basis to serve five-year terms)
Elections: last held 29 June 1993 (next was scheduled to be held in 1998, but suspended by presidential decree in 1996)
Election results: percent of vote by party_FRODEBU 71%, UPRONA 21.4%; seats by party_FRODEBU 65, UPRONA 16; other parties won too small shares of the vote to win seats in the assembly
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas NDIKUMANA
In the us chancery: Suite 212, 2,233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,007
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 342-2,574
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 342-2,578
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Morris N. HUGHES, Jr.
From the us embassy: Avenue des Etats-Unis, Bujumbura
From the us mailing address: B. P. 1720, Bujumbura
From the us telephone: [257] (2) 223,454
From the us FAX: [257] (2) 222,926
Flag description
: divided by a white diagonal cross into red panels (top and bottom) and green panels (hoist side and outer side) with a white disk superimposed at the center bearing three red six-pointed stars outlined in green arranged in a triangular design (one star above, two stars below)
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: Burundi is a landlocked, resource-poor country with a poorly developed manufacturing sector. The economy is predominately agricultural with roughly 90% of the population dependent on subsistence agriculture. Its economic health depends on the coffee crop, which accounts for 80% of foreign exchange earnings. The ability to pay for imports therefore rests largely on the vagaries of the climate and the international coffee market. Since October 1993 the nation has suffered from massive ethnic-based violence which has resulted in the death of perhaps 250,000 persons and the displacement of about 800,000 others. Foods, medicines, and electricity remain in short supply.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 4.5% (1998 est.)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $740 (1998 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 58%
Industry: 18%
Services: 24% (1997 est.)
Agriculture products: coffee, cotton, tea, corn, sorghum, sweet potatoes, bananas, manioc (tapioca; beef, milk, hides
Industries: light consumer goods such as blankets, shoes, soap; assembly of imported components; public works construction; food processing
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Labor force: 1.9 million
By occupation agriculture: 93%
By occupation government: 4%
By occupation industry and commerce: 1.5%
By occupation services: 1.5% (1983est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty line: 36.2% (1990 est.)
Gini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $N/A
Expenditures: $165 million, including capital expenditures of $42.6 million (1998 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $49 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Commodities: coffee, tea, cotton, hides
Partners: UK, Germany, Benelux, Switzerland (1997)
Imports: $102 million f.o.b., 1998)
Commodities: capital goods, petroleum products, foodstuffs, consumer goods
Partners: Benelux, France, Germany, Japan (1997)
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $1.1 billion (1995 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Burundi francs (FBu) per US$1_508 (January 1999), 477.77 (1998), 352.35 (1997), 302.75 (1996), 249.76 (1995), 252.66 (1994)
top of pageElectricityProduction: 122 million kWh (1996)
Production by source fossil fuel: 1.64%
Production by source hydro: 98.36%
Production by source nuclear: 0%
Production by source other: 0% (1996)
Consumption: 152 million kWh (1996)
Exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Imports: 30 million kWh (1996)
Imports note: imports some electricity from Democratic Republic of the Congo
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephones: 7,200 (1987 est.)
Telephone system: primitive system
Domestic: sparse system of open wire, radiotelephone communications, and low-capacity microwave radio relay
International: satellite earth station_1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $25 million (1993)
Percent of gdp: 2.6% (1993)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 4 (1998 est.)
With paved runways total: 1
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 3
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 2
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
HeliportsPipelinesRailways: 0 km
RoadwaysWaterways: Lake Tanganyika
Merchant marinePorts and terminalsBurundi - Transnational issues 1999
top of pageDisputes international: none
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs