Background: Burundi's first democratically elected president was assassinated in October 1993 after only 100 days in office triggering widespread ethnic violence between Hutu and Tutsi factions. More than 200,000 Burundians perished during the conflict that spanned almost a dozen years. Hundreds of thousands of Burundians were internally displaced or became refugees in neighboring countries. An internationally brokered power-sharing agreement between the Tutsi-dominated government and the Hutu rebels in 2003 paved the way for a transition process that led to an integrated defense force established a new constitution in 2005 and elected a majority Hutu government in 2005. The new government led by President Pierre NKURUNZIZA signed a South African brokered ceasefire with the country's last rebel group in September of 2006 but still faces many challenges.

Geographic coordinates: 3 30 S 30 00 E

Map reference: Africa

Area
Total: 27,830 km²
Land: 25,650 km²
Water: 2,180 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland

Land boundaries
Total: 974 km
Border countries: (3) Democratic Republic of the Congo 233 km; , Rwanda 290 km; , Tanzania 451 km

Coastline: 0 km (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 centigrade but is generally moderate as the average altitude is about 1700 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
Extremes lowest point: Lake Tanganyika 772 m
Extremes 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
Arable land: 35.57%
Permanent crops: 13.12%
Other: 51.31% (2005)

Irrigated land: 210 km² (2003)

Total renewable water resources: 3.6 km³ (1987)

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

Population
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 (July 2008 est.)
Growth rate: 3.443% (2008 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Burundian
Adjective: Burundian

Ethnic groups: Hutu (Bantu) 85% Tutsi (Hamitic) 14% Twa (Pygmy) 1% Europeans 3,000 South Asians 2000

Languages: Kirundi (official) French (official) Swahili (along Lake Tanganyika and in the Bujumbura area)

Religions: Christian 67% (Roman Catholic 62% Protestant 5%) indigenous beliefs 23% Muslim 10%

Age structure
0-14 years: 46.3% (male 2,021,320/female 1,998,502)
15-64 years: 51.2% (male 2,210,157/female 2,240,921)
65 years and over: 2.5% (male 87,600/female 132,505) (2008 est.)

Median age
Total: 16.7 years
Male: 16.4 years
Female: 17 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.443% (2008 est.)

Birth rate: 41.72 births/1000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate: 12.91 deaths/1000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate: 5.62 migrant(s)/1000 population (2008 est.)

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

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.03 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.01 male/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male/female
Total population: 0.99 male/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 60.77 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 67.6 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 53.73 deaths/1000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 51.71 years
Male: 50.86 years
Female: 52.6 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.4 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: 6% (2003 est.)
People living with hivaids: 250,000 (2003 est.)
Deaths: 25,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases
Degree of risk: very high
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
Vectorborne disease: malaria (2008)

Education expenditures: 5.1% of GDP (2005)

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 59.3%
Male: 67.3%
Female: 52.2% (2000 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 7 years
Male: 8 years
Female: 7 years (2006)

Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Burundi
Conventional short form: Burundi
Local long form: Republique du Burundi/Republika y'u Burundi
Local short form: Burundi
Former: Urundi

Government type: republic

Capital
Name: Bujumbura
Geographic coordinates: 3 22 S, 29 21 E
Time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions: 17 provinces; Bubanza Bujumbura Mairie Bujumbura Rurale Bururi Cankuzo Cibitoke Gitega Karuzi Kayanza Kirundo Makamba Muramvya Muyinga Mwaro Ngozi Rutana Ruyigi

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

National holiday: Independence Day 1 July (1962)

Constitution: 28 February 2005; ratified by popular referendum

Legal system: based on German and Belgian civil codes and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: NA years of age; universal (adult)

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Pierre NKURUNZIZA (since 26 August 2005); First Vice President Yves SAVINGUVU - Tutsi (since 9 November 2007); Second Vice President Gabriel NTISEZERANA - Hutu (since 9 February 2007); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
Head of government: President Pierre NKURUNZIZA (since 26 August 2005); First Vice President Yves SAVINGUVU - Tutsi (since 9 November 2007); Second Vice President Gabriel NTISEZERANA - Hutu (since 9 February 2007)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by president
Elections: the president is elected by popular vote to a five-year term (eligible for a second term); note - the constitution adopted in February 2005 permits the post-transition president to be elected by a two-thirds majority of the parliament; vice presidents nominated by the president, endorsed by parliament
Election results: Pierre NKURUNZIZA was elected president by the parliament by a vote of 151 to 9; note - the constitution adopted in February 2005 permits the post-transition president to be elected by a two-thirds majority of the legislature

Legislative branch
Elections: National Assembly - last held 4 July 2005 (next to be held in 2010); Senate - last held 29 July 2005 (next to be held in 2010)
Election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - CNDD-FDD 58.6%, FRODEBU 21.7%, UPRONA 7.2%, CNDD 4.1%, MRC-Rurenzangemero 2.1%, others 6.2%; seats by party - CNDD-FDD 59, FRODEBU 25, UPRONA 10, CNDD 4, MRC-Rurenzangemero 2; Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CNDD-FDD 30, FRODEBU 3, CNDD 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Constitutional Court; High Court of Justice (composed of the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court)

Political parties and leaders
Governing parties: Burundi Democratic Front or FRODEBU [Leonce NGENDAKUMANA]; National Council for the Defense of Democracy - Front for the Defense of Democracy or CNDD-FDD [Jeremie NGENDAKUMANA]; Unity for National Progress or UPRONA [Aloys RUBUKA]
Note: a multiparty system was introduced after 1998, included are: National Council for the Defense of Democracy or CNDD [Leonard NYANGOMA]; National Resistance Movement for the Rehabilitation of the Citizen or MRC-Rurenzangemero [Epitace BANYAGANAKANDI]; Party for National Redress or PARENA [Jean-Baptiste BAGAZA]

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

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Celestin NIYONGABO
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 Patricia Newton MOLLER
From the us embassy: Avenue des Etats-Unis, Bujumbura
From the us mailing address: B. P. 1720, Bujumbura
From the us telephone: [257] 223,454
From the us fax: [257] 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)

Economy overview: Burundi is a landlocked resource-poor country with an underdeveloped manufacturing sector. The economy is predominantly agricultural with more than 90% of the population dependent on subsistence agriculture. Economic growth depends on coffee and tea exports which account for 90% of foreign exchange earnings. The ability to pay for imports therefore rests primarily on weather conditions and international coffee and tea prices. The Tutsi minority 14% of the population dominates the government and the coffee trade at the expense of the Hutu majority 85% of the population. An ethnic-based war that lasted for over a decade resulted in more than 200,000 deaths forced more than 48,000 refugees into Tanzania and displaced 140,000 others internally. Only one in two children go to school and approximately one in 15 adults has HIV/AIDS. Food medicine and electricity remain in short supply. Burundi's GDP grew around 5% annually in 2006-07. Political stability and the end of the civil war have improved aid flows and economic activity has increased but underlying weaknesses - a high poverty rate poor education rates a weak legal system and low administrative capacity - risk undermining planned economic reforms. Burundi will continue to remain heavily dependent on aid from bilateral and multilateral donors; the delay of funds after a corruption scandal cut off bilateral aid in 2007 reduced government's revenues and its ability to pay salaries.

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $2.907 billion (2007 est.)

Real gdp growth rate: 3.6% (2007 est.)

Real gdp per capita: $300 (2007 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 33.7%
Industry: 20.9%
Services: 45.4% (2007 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: 6.4% (2007 est.)

Labor force: 2.99 million (2002)
By occupation agriculture: 93.6%
By occupation industry: 2.3%
By occupation services: 4.1% (2002 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 1.7%
Highest 10: 32.8% (1998)

Distribution of family income gini index: 42.4 (1998)

Budget
Revenues: $264.2 million
Expenditures: $335.4 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (2007 est.)

Inflation rate consumer prices: 8.3% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate: 10.12% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 16.84% (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit: $342 million (31 December 2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares: $NA

Current account balance: -$101 million (2007 est.)

Exports: $44 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Commodities: coffee tea sugar cotton hides
Partners: Germany 31.3% Pakistan 6.8% Belgium 5.8% Sweden 4.3% Rwanda 4.3% France 4.2% Sudan 4% (2007)

Imports: $272 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Commodities: capital goods petroleum products foodstuffs
Partners: Saudi Arabia 17% Kenya 11.4% Belgium 8.7% France 6.1% Uganda 5.4% Germany 5.4% India 4.8% Pakistan 4.2% (2007)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $177.1 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt external: $1.2 billion (2003)

Exchange rates: Burundi francs (BIF) per US dollar - 1065 (2007) 1030 (2006) 1138 (2005) 1100.91 (2004) 1082.62 (2003)

Electricity
Production: 87 million kWh (2006 est.)
Consumption: 120.9 million kWh (2006 est.)
Exports: 0 kWh (2007 est.)
Imports: 40 million kWh; note - supplied by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2007 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2007 est.)
Consumption: 0 m³ (2007 est.)
Exports: 0 m³ (2007 est.)
Imports: 0 m³ (2007 est.)
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2006 est.)

Telephones
Main lines in use: 35,000 (2006)
Mobile cellular: 250,000 (2007)

Telephone system
General assessment: primitive system; telephone density one of the lowest in the world; fixed-line connections stand at well less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular usage is increasing but remains at a meager 3 per 100 persons
Domestic: sparse system of open-wire, radiotelephone communications, and low-capacity microwave radio relay
International: country code - 257; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2007)

Internet
Country code: .bi
Hosts: 162 (2008)
Users: 60,000 (2006)

Military expenditures: 5.9% of GDP (2006 est.)

Military service age and obligation: 16 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; children as young as 10 years of age have been conscripted into the armed forces; the enrollment of children is still not prohibited (2007)

Airports: 8 (2007)
With paved runways total: 1
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1 (2007)
With unpaved runways total: 7
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 4
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 3 (2007)

Heliports: 1 (2007)

Roadways
Total: 12,322 km
Paved: 1,286 km
Unpaved: 11,036 km (2004)

Waterways: mainly on Lake Tanganyika (2005)

Ports and terminals: Bujumbura

Disputes international: Burundi and Rwanda dispute sections of border on the Akanyaru/Kanyaru and the Kagera/Nyabarongo rivers which have changed course since the 1960s when the boundary was delimited; cross-border conflicts among Tutsi Hutu other ethnic groups associated political rebels armed gangs and various government forces persist in the Great Lakes region

Refugees and internally displaced persons
Refugees country of origin: 9,849 (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Idps: 100,000 (armed conflict between government and rebels; most IDPs in northern and western Burundi) (2007)