Map of Burundi | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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Background: Burundi is a small country in Central-East Africa bordered by Tanzania, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Lake Tanganyika. Created in the 17th century, a Burundi Kingdom was preserved under German colonial rule in the late 19th and early 20th century, and then by Belgium after World War I. Burundi gained its independence from Belgium in 1962 as the Kingdom of Burundi, but the monarchy was overthrown in 1966 and a republic established. Political violence and non-democratic transfers of power have marked much of its history; Burundi's first democratically elected president, a Hutu, was assassinated in October 1993 after only 100 days in office. The internationally brokered Arusha Agreement, signed in 2000, and subsequent ceasefire agreements with armed movements ended the 1993-2005 civil war. Burundi’s second democratic elections were held in 2005. Pierre NKURUNZIZA was elected president in 2005 and 2010, and again in a controversial election in 2015. Burundi continues to face many economic and political challenges.


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Location: Central Africa, east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, west of Tanzania

Geographic coordinates: 3 30 S, 30 00 E

Map reference: Africa

Area
Total: 27,830 km²
Land: 25,680 km²
Water: 2,150 km²
Rank: 146
Comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland

Land boundaries
Total: 1140 km
Border countries: (3) Democratic Republic of the Congo 236 km; , Rwanda 315 km; , Tanzania 589 km

Coastline: 0 km
Note: (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Climate: equatorial; high plateau with considerable altitude variation (772 m to 2,670 m above sea level); average annual temperature varies with altitude from 23 to 17 degrees Celsius but is generally moderate as the average altitude is about 1,700 m; average annual rainfall is about 150 cm; two wet seasons (February to May and September to November), and two dry seasons (June to August and December to January)

Terrain: hilly and mountainous, dropping to a plateau in east, some plains

Elevation
Mean elevation: 1504 m
Lowest point: Lake Tanganyika 772 m
Highest point: Heha 2,670 m

Natural resources: nickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat, cobalt, copper, platinum, vanadium, arable land, hydropower, niobium, tantalum, gold, tin, tungsten, kaolin, limestone

Land use
Agricultural land: 73.3% (2011 est.)
Forest: 6.6% (2011 est.)
Other: 20.1% (2011 est.)

Irrigated land: 230 km² (2012)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: flooding; landslides; drought

Geography
Note: landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed; the Kagera, which drains into Lake Victoria, is the most remote headstream of the White Nile


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Population
Distribution rank: population distribution map: 11,865,821 (July 2020 est.)
Note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected
Rank: 77
Growth rate: 2.85% (2020 est.)
Growth rate rank: 11
Below poverty line: 64.6% (2014 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Burundian(s)
Adjective: Burundian

Ethnic groups: Hutu, Tutsi, Twa (Pygmy)

Languages: Kirundi only 29.7% (official); French only .3% (official); Swahili only .2%; English only .1% (official); Kirundi and French 8.4%; Kirundi, French, and English 2.4%, other language combinations 2%, unspecified 56.9% (2008 est.)
Note: data represent languages read and written by people 10 years of age or older; spoken Kirundi is nearly universal

Religions: Roman Catholic 62.1%, Protestant 23.9% (includes Adventist 2.3% and other Protestant 21.6%), Muslim 2.5%, other 3.6%, unspecified 7.9% (2008 est.)

Demographic profile: Burundi is a densely populated country with a high population growth rate, factors that combined with land scarcity and poverty place a large share of its population at risk of food insecurity. About 90% of the population relies on subsistence agriculture. Subdivision of land to sons, and redistribution to returning refugees, results in smaller, overworked, and less productive plots. Food shortages, poverty, and a lack of clean water contribute to a 60% chronic malnutrition rate among children. A lack of reproductive health services has prevented a significant reduction in Burundi’s maternal mortality and fertility rates, which are both among the world’s highest. With two-thirds of its population under the age of 25 and a birth rate of about 6 children per woman, Burundi’s population will continue to expand rapidly for decades to come, putting additional strain on a poor country.Historically, migration flows into and out of Burundi have consisted overwhelmingly of refugees from violent conflicts. In the last decade, more than a half million Burundian refugees returned home from neighboring countries, mainly Tanzania. Reintegrating the returnees has been problematic due to their prolonged time in exile, land scarcity, poor infrastructure, poverty, and unemployment. Repatriates and existing residents (including internally displaced persons) compete for limited land and other resources. To further complicate matters, international aid organizations reduced their assistance because they no longer classified Burundi as a post-conflict country. Conditions have deteriorated since renewed violence erupted in April 2015, causing another outpouring of refugees. In addition to refugee out-migration, Burundi has hosted thousands of refugees from neighboring countries, mostly from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and lesser numbers from Rwanda.

Age structure
0-14 years: 43.83% (male 2,618,868/female 2,581,597)
15-24 years: 19.76% (male 1,172,858/female 1,171,966)
25-54 years: 29.18% (male 1,713,985/female 1,748,167)
55-64 years: 4.17% (male 231,088/female 264,131)
65 years and over: 3.06% (male 155,262/female 207,899) (2020 est.)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 91
Youth dependency ratio: 86.4
Elderly dependency ratio: 4.5
Potential support ratio: 22 (2020 est.)

Median age
Total: 17.7 years
Male: 17.4 years
Female: 18 years (2020 est.)
Rank: 217

Population growth rate: 2.85% (2020 est.)
Rank: 11

Birth rate: 36.5 births/1000 population (2020 est.)
Rank: 16

Death rate: 6.2 deaths/1000 population (2020 est.)
Rank: 153

Net migration rate: -0.8 migrant(s)/1000 population (2020 est.)
Rank: 133

Population distribution
Rank: population distribution map

Urbanization
Urban population: 13.7% of total population
Note: (2015-20 est.)
Rate of urbanization: 5.68% annual rate of change

Major urban areas
Population: 1,013,000 BUJUMBURA (capital) (2020)

Environment
Current 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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
International agreements signed but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.87 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth: 21.3 years (2010 est.)
Note: median age at first birth among women 25-29

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Total: 40.1 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 44.4 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 35.7 deaths/1000 live births (2020 est.)
Rank: 38

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 66.7 years
Male: 64.6 years
Female: 68.8 years (2020 est.)
Rank: 184

Total fertility rate: 5.28 children born/woman (2020 est.)
Rank: 12

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 28.5% (2016/17)

Drinking water source
Urban: -1.1% of population
Rural: 22.2% of population
Total: 19.7% of population (2017 est.)

Current health expenditure: 7.5% (2017)

Physicians density: 0.1 physicians/1000 population (2017)

Hospital bed density: 0.8 beds/1000 population (2014)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 14.8% of population
Rural: 46.6% of population
Total: 42.6% of population (2017 est.)

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: 1.2% (2019 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 37
People living with hivaids: 85,000 (2019 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 51
Deaths: 1800 (2019 est.)
Deaths rank: 47

Major infectious diseases
Degree of risk: very high (2020)
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
Vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever
Water contact diseases: schistosomiasis
Animal contact diseases: rabies

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 5.4% (2016)
Rank: 178

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 27.2% (2018/19)
Rank: 10

Education expenditures: 5.1% of GDP (2018)
Rank: 54

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 68.4%
Male: 76.3%
Female: 61.2% (2017)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 11 years
Male: 11 years
Female: 11 years (2018)

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Burundi
Conventional short form: Burundi
Local long form: Republique du Burundi/Republika yu Burundi
Local short form: Burundi
Former: Urundi, German East Africa, Ruanda-Urundi, Kingdom of Burundi
Etymology: name derived from the pre-colonial Kingdom of Burundi (17th-19th century)

Government type: presidential republic

Capital
Name: Gitega (political capital), Bujumbura (commercial capital); note - in January 2019, the Burundian parliament voted to make Gitega the political capital of the country while Bujumbura would remain its economic capital; all branches of the government are expected to have moved from Bujumbura to Gitega by 2021
Geographic coordinates: 3 25 S, 29 55 E
Time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time): etymology: the naming origins for both Gitega and Bujumbura are obscure; Bujumbura's name prior to independence in 1962 was Usumbura

Administrative divisions: 18 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura Mairie, Bujumbura Rural, Bururi, Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Gitega, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo, Makamba, Muramvya, Muyinga, Mwaro, Ngozi, Rumonge, Rutana, Ruyigi

Dependent areas

Independence: 1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration)

National holiday: Independence Day, 1 July (1962)

Constitution
History: several previous; latest ratified by referendum 28 February 2005
Amendments: proposed by the president of the republic after consultation with the government or by absolute majority support of the membership in both houses of Parliament; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Senate membership and at least four-fifths majority vote by the National Assembly; the president can opt to submit amendment bills to a referendum; constitutional articles including those on national unity, the secularity of Burundi, its democratic form of government, and its sovereignty cannot be amended; amended 2018 (amendments extended the presidential term from 5 to 7 years, reintroduced the position of prime minister, and reduced the number of vice presidents from 2 to 1)

Legal system: mixed legal system of Belgian civil law and customary law

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; withdrew from ICCt in October 2017

Citizenship
Citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Burundi
Dual citizenship recognized: no
Residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE (since 18 June 2020); Vice President Prosper BAZOMBANZA (since 24 June 2020); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
Head of government: President Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE (since 18 June 2020); Vice President Prosper BAZOMBANZA (since 24 June 2020); Prime Minister Alain-Guillaume BUNYONI (since 24 June 2020)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by president
Electionsappointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 20 May 2020 (next to be held in 2025); vice presidents nominated by the president, endorsed by Parliament; note - a 2018 constitutional referendum effective for the 2020 election, increased the presidential term from 5 to 7 years with a 2-consecutive-term limit, reinstated the position of the prime minister position, and reduced the number of vice presidents from 2 to 1
Election results: Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE elected president; percent of vote - Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE (CNDD-FDD) 71.5%, Agathon RWASA (CNL) 25.2%, Gaston SINDIMWO (UPRONA) 1.7%, OTHER 1.6%

Legislative branch
Description:
Elections:
Election results:

Judicial branch
Highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of 9 judges and organized into judicial, administrative, and cassation chambers); Constitutional Court (consists of 7 members)
Judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by the Judicial Service Commission, a 15-member independent body of judicial and legal profession officials), appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate and serve 6-year nonrenewable terms
Subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; County Courts; Courts of Residence; Martial Court; Court Against Corruption; Commercial Court

Political parties and leaders: Front for Democracy in Burundi-Nyakuri or FRODEBU-Nyakuri [Keffa NIBIZI]Front for Democracy in Burundi-Sahwanya or FRODEBU-Sahwanya [Pierre Claver NAHIMANA]National Congress for Liberty or CNL [Agathon RWASA]National Council for the Defense of Democracy - Front for the Defense of Democracy or CNDD-FDD [Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE]National Liberation Forces or FNL [Jacques BIGITIMANA]Union for National Progress (Union pour le Progress Nationale) or UPRONA [Abel GASHATSI]

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, CEMAC, CEPGL, CICA, COMESA, EAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador S.E. Gandence SINDAYIGAYA (since 20 September 2019)
In the us chancery: 2,233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 408, 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 (vacant); Charge d’Affaires Eunice S. REDDICK (since May 2019)
From the us telephone: [257] 22-207-000
From the us embassy: Avenue Des Etats-Unis, Bujumbura, BP1720
From the us mailing address: B.P. 1720, Bujumbura
From the us FAX: [257] 22-222-926

Flag description: divided by a white diagonal cross into red panels (top and bottom) and green panels (hoist side and fly 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); green symbolizes hope and optimism, white purity and peace, and red the blood shed in the struggle for independence; the three stars in the disk represent the three major ethnic groups: Hutu, Twa, Tutsi, as well as the three elements in the national motto: unity, work, progress

National symbols: lion; national colors: red, white, green

National anthem
Name: Burundi Bwacu (Our Beloved Burundi)
Lyricsmusic: Jean-Baptiste NTAHOKAJA/Marc BARENGAYABO
Note: adopted 1962

National heritage


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Economy overview

Real gdp purchasing power parity
Real:
Real note: data are in 2010 dollars

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 193

Real gdp per capita:
Note: data are in 2010 dollars
Rank: 225

Gross national saving:
Rank: 183

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 83% (2017 est.)
Government consumption: 20.8% (2017 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 16% (2017 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 5.5% (2017 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -25.3% (2017 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 39.5% (2017 est.)
Industry: 16.4% (2017 est.)
Services: 44.2% (2017 est.)

Agriculture products: coffee, cotton, tea, corn, beans, sorghum, sweet potatoes, bananas, cassava (manioc, tapioca); beef, milk, hides

Industries: light consumer goods (sugar, shoes, soap, beer); cement, assembly of imported components; public works construction; food processing (fruits)

Industrial production growth rate: -2% (2017 est.)
Rank: 182

Labor force: 5.012 million (2017 est.)
Rank: 78
By occupation agriculture: 93.6%
By occupation industry: 2.3%
By occupation services: 4.1% (2002 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: 64.6% (2014 est.)

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 4.1%
Highest 10: 28% (2006)

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: 536.7 million (2017 est.)
Expenditures: 729.6 million (2017 est.)
Surplus or deficit: -5.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 177

Taxes and other revenues: 15.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Rank: 186

Public debt:
Rank: 96

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices:
Rank: 10

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance:
Rank: 118

Exports:
Rank: 186
Partners: Democratic Republic of the Congo 25.5%, Switzerland 18.4%, UAE 14.9%, Belgium 6% (2017)
Commodities: coffee, tea, sugar, cotton, hides

Imports:
Rank: 185
Commodities: capital goods, petroleum products, foodstuffs
Partners: India 18.5%, China 13%, Kenya 7.9%, UAE 6.8%, Saudi Arabia 6.8%, Uganda 6%, Tanzania 5.4%, Zambia 4.6% (2017)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Rank: 181

Debt external:
Rank: 173

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Access population without electricity: 10 million (2019)
Access electrification total population: 11% (2019)
Access electrification urban areas: 66% (2019)
Access electrification rural areas: 2% (2019)
Production: 304 million kWh (2016 est.)
Production rank: 183
Consumption: 382.7 million kWh (2016 est.)
Consumption rank: 176
Exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Exports rank: 114
Imports: 100 million kWh (2016 est.)
Imports rank: 100
Installed generating capacity: 68,000 kW (2016 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 186
Generation sources fossil fuels: 14% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 199
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 59
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 73% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 14
Generation sources other renewable sources: 14% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 61

Coal

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 117
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 101
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 104
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 113

Crude oil

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products production rank: 125
Products consumption: 1500 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Products consumption rank: 199
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products exports rank: 138
Products imports: 1374 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products imports rank: 195

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Production rank: 111
Consumption: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Consumption rank: 127
Exports: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Exports rank: 76
Imports: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Imports rank: 100
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2014 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 117

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 217,000 Mt (2017 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 198

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 20,758 (2019 est.)
Fixed lines rank: 175
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 6,644,833
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 57.62 (2019 est.)
Mobile cellular rank: 105

Telephone system

Broadcast media: state-controlled Radio Television Nationale de Burundi (RTNB) operates a TV station and a national radio network; 3 private TV stations and about 10 privately owned radio stations; transmissions of several international broadcasters are available in Bujumbura (2019)

Internet
Country code: .bi
Users total: 298,684
Users percent of population: 2.66% (July 2018 est.)
Users rank: 165

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 3,935 (2018 est.)
Rank: 184


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Military expenditures:
Rank: 59

Military and security forces: National Defense Forces (Forces de Defense Nationale, FDN): Army (includes maritime wing, air wing), National Police (Police Nationale du Burundi) (2019)

Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; the armed forces law of 31 December 2004 did not specify a minimum age for enlistment, but the government claimed that no one younger than 18 was being recruited; mandatory retirement ages: 45 (enlisted), 50 (NCOs), 55 (officers), and 60 (officers with the rank of general) (2017)

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 9U (2016)

Airports: 7 (2013)
Rank: 166
With paved runways total: 1 (2019)
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With unpaved runways total: 6 (2013)
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 4 (2013)
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 2 (2013)

Heliports: 1 (2012)

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways
Total: 12,322 km (2016)
Paved: 1500 km (2016)
Unpaved: 10,822 km (2016)
Rank: 130

Waterways
Note: (mainly on Lake Tanganyika between Bujumbura Burundi's principal port and lake ports in Tanzania Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo) (2011)

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals
Lake port: Bujumbura (Lake Tanganyika)


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Disputes international: Burundi and Rwanda dispute two km² (0.8 sq mi) of Sabanerwa, a farmed area in the Rukurazi Valley where the Akanyaru/Kanyaru River shifted its course southward after heavy rains in 1965; cross-border conflicts persist among Tutsi, Hutu, other ethnic groups, associated political rebels, armed gangs, and various government forces in the Great Lakes region

Refugees and internally displaced persons
Refugees: 77,757 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2020)
IDPs: 135,058 (some ethnic Tutsis remain displaced from intercommunal violence that broke out after the 1,993 coup and fighting between government forces and rebel groups; violence since April 2015) (2020)
Stateless persons: 974 (2019)

Illicit drugs