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 government of President Pierre NKURUNZIZA who was reelected in 2010 continues to face many political and economic challenges.

Geographic coordinates: 3 30 S 30 00 E

Area
Rank: 147
Land: 25,680 km²
Water: 2,150 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland

Land boundaries
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 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
Permanent crops: 14.37%
Other: 52.57% (2011)

Irrigated land: 214.3 km² (2003)

Total renewable water resources: 12.54 km³ (2011)

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: 10,888,321 (July 2013 est.)
Rank: 79
Growth rate: 3.08% (2013 est.)
Growth rate rank: 7
Below poverty line: 68% (2002 est.)

Nationality
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 82.8% (Roman Catholic 61.4% Protestant 21.4%) Muslim 2.5% Adventist 2.3% other 6.5% unknown 5.9% (2008 census)

Age structure
15-24 years: 19.7% (male 1,071,135/female 1,074,763)
25-54 years: 28.4% (male 1,533,191/female 1,559,661)
55-64 years: 3.8% (male 186,706/female 225,467)
65 years and over: 2.5% (male 108,243/female 161,592) (2013 est.)

Dependency ratios
Youth dependency ratio: 84 %
Elderly dependency ratio: 4.5 %
Potential support ratio: 22 (2013)

Median age
Male: 16.6 years
Female: 17.2 years (2013 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.08% (2013 est.)
Rank: 7

Birth rate: 40.04 births/1000 population (2013 est.)
Rank: 7

Death rate: 9.12 deaths/1000 population (2013 est.)
Rank: 66

Net migration rate: -0.17 migrant(s)/1000 population (2013 est.)
Rank: 117

Urbanization
Rate of urbanization: 4.45% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: BUJUMBURA (capital) 605,000 (2011)

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 signed but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Sex ratio
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: 0.82 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2013 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth: 21.3

Infant mortality rate
Rank: 26
Male: 63.32 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 54.27 deaths/1000 live births (2013 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Rank: 194
Male: 57.92 years
Female: 61.5 years (2013 est.)

Total fertility rate: 5.99 children born/woman (2013 est.)
Rank: 6

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 21.9% (2010/11)

Drinking water source:

Physicians density: 0.03 physicians/1000 population (2004)

Hospital bed density: 1.9 beds/1000 population (2011)

Sanitation facility access:

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: 3.3% (2009 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 21
People living with hivaids: 180,000 (2009 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 29
Deaths: 15,000 (2009 est.)
Deaths rank: 19

Major infectious diseases
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea hepatitis A and typhoid fever
Vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever
Water contact disease: schistosomiasis
Animal contact disease: rabies (2013)

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 2.9% (2008)
Rank: 176

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 35.2% (2005)
Rank: 7

Education expenditures: 6.1% of GDP (2011)
Rank: 36

Literacy
Total population: 67.2%
Male: 72.9%
Female: 61.8% (2010 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Male: 12 years
Female: 11 years (2010)

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

Government type: republic

Capital
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 Rural 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: several previous; latest ratified by popular referendum 28 February 2005 (2012)

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

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Head of government: President Pierre NKURUNZIZA - Hutu (since 26 August 2005); First Vice President Bernard BUSOKOZA - Tutsi (since 13 October 2013); Second Vice President Gervais RUFYIKIRI - Hutu (since 29 August 2010)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by president
Elections: the president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); elections last held on 28 June 2010 (next to be held in 2015); vice presidents nominated by the president endorsed by parliament
Election results: Pierre NKURUNZIZA elected president by popular vote; Pierre NKURUNZIZA 91.6% other 8.4%; note - opposition parties withdrew from the election due to alleged government interference in the electoral process

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of a Senate (54 seats; 34 members elected by indirect vote to serve five-year terms with remaining seats assigned to ethnic groups and former chiefs of state) and a National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (minimum 100 seats 60% Hutu and 40% Tutsi with at least 30% being women; additional seats appointed by a National Independent Electoral Commission to ensure ethnic representation; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
Elections: last held on 23 July 2010 (next to be held in 2015)
Election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - TBD; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - CNDD-FDD 81.2% UPRONA 11.6% FRODEBU 5.9% others 1.3%; seats by party - CNDD-FDD 81 UPRONA 17 FRODEBU 5 other 3

Judicial branch
Judge selection and term of office: judges nominated by the Judicial Service Commission a 15-member independent body of judicial and legal profession officials); judges appointed by the president with the approval of the Senate; judge tenure NA
Subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; County Courts; Courts of Residence

Political parties and leaders:

International organization participation: ACP AfDB AU CEPGL COMESA EAC FAO G-77 IAEA IBRD ICAO 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 chancery: Suite 408 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 embassy: Avenue des Etats-Unis Bujumbura
From the us mailing address: B. P. 1720 Bujumbura
From the us telephone: [257] 22-207-000
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 anthem
Lyrics and music: Jean-Baptiste NTAHOKAJA/Marc BARENGAYABO

Economy overview: Burundi is a landlocked resource-poor country with an underdeveloped manufacturing sector. The economy is predominantly agricultural; agriculture accounts for just over 30% of GDP and employs more than 90% of the population. Burundi's primary exports are coffee and tea which account for 90% of foreign exchange earnings though exports are a relatively small share of GDP. Burundi's export earnings - and its ability to pay for imports - rests primarily on weather conditions and international coffee and tea prices. 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. Less than 2% of the population has electricity in its homes. Burundi's GDP grew around 4% annually in 2006-12. 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 a poor transportation network overburdened utilities and low administrative capacity - risk undermining planned economic reforms. The purchasing power of most Burundians has decreased as wage increases have not kept up with inflation. Burundi will remain heavily dependent on aid from bilateral and multilateral donors - foreign aid represents 42% of Burundi''s national income the second highest rate in Sub-Saharan Africa. Burundi joined the East African Community in 2009 which should boost Burundi's regional trade ties and also in 2009 received $700 million in debt relief. Government corruption is hindering the development of a healthy private sector as companies seek to navigate an environment with ever changing rules.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 169

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 87

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 225

Gross national saving:
Rank: 141

Gdp composition by end use
Government consumption: 24.9%
Investment in fixed capital: 22.1%
Investment in inventories: -5.5%
Exports of goods and services: 9%
Imports of goods and services: -39.3%: (2012 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Industry: 18.3%
Services: 47% (2012 est.)

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

Industries: light consumer goods such as blankets shoes soap and beer; assembly of imported components; public works construction; food processing

Industrial production growth rate: 4% (2012 est.)
Rank: 72

Labor force: 4.245 million (2007)
Rank: 90
By occupation industry: 2.3%
By occupation services: 4.1% (2002 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Population below poverty line: 68% (2002 est.)

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

Distribution of family income gini index: 42.4 (1998)
Rank: 50

Budget
Expenditures: $880.3 million (2012 est.)
Surplus or deficit: -3.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 139

Taxes and other revenues: 32.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
Rank: 83

Public debt: 54.2% of GDP (2011 est.)
Rank: 65

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 9.7% (2011 est.)
Rank: 215

Central bank discount rate: 10% (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 23

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 13.23% (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 63

Stock of narrow money: $335.7 million (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 167

Stock of broad money: $465.4 million (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 176

Stock of domestic credit: $576.3 million (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 160

Market value of publicly traded shares: $N/A

Current account balance: $-323.4 million (2011 est.)
Rank: 103

Exports: $124 million (2011 est.)
Rank: 186
Commodities: coffee tea sugar cotton hides
Partners: Switzerland 23.9% UK 12.9% Belgium 7.4% Pakistan 7.4% Democratic Republic of the Congo 7.4% Uganda 5.6% Germany 5.2% China 4.9% Egypt 4.7% (2012)

Imports: $771.7 million (2011 est.)
Rank: 181
Commodities: capital goods petroleum products foodstuffs
Partners: Saudi Arabia 11.3% Belgium 10.1% China 9.1% India 7.9% Tanzania 6.5% Kenya 6% Uganda 5.7% Zambia 4.6% US 4.1% (2012)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $295.5 million (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 153

Debt external: $627.7 million (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 170

Exchange rates:

Electricity
Production: 152 million kWh (2010 est.)
Production rank: 188
Consumption: 221.4 million kWh (2010 est.)
Consumption rank: 183
Exports: 0 kWh (2012 est.)
Exports rank: 172
Imports: 80 million kWh (2010 est.)
Imports rank: 93
Installed generating capacity: 52,000 kW (2010 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 186
Generation sources fossil fuels: 1.9% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 202
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 57
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 98.1% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 8
Generation sources other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 163

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 158
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 94
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 167
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 111

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products production rank: 159
Products consumption: 2,290 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Products consumption rank: 187
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products exports rank: 158
Products imports: 1429 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products imports rank: 188

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Production rank: 109
Consumption: 0 m³ (2010 est.)
Consumption rank: 124
Exports: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Exports rank: 73
Imports: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Imports rank: 168
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2013 es)
Proven reserves rank: 119

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 204,700 Mt (2011 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 193

Telephones
Main lines in use: 17,400 (2012)
Main lines in use rank: 193
Mobile cellular: 2.247 million (2012)
Mobile cellular rank: 140

Telephone system
Domestic: 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 roughly 20 per 100 persons
International: country code - 257; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2011)

Broadcast media: state-controlled La Radiodiffusion et Television Nationale de Burundi (RTNB) operates the lone TV station and the only national radio network; about 10 privately owned radio stations; transmissions of several international broadcasters are available in Bujumbura (2007)

Internet
Country code: .bi
Hosts: 229 (2012)
Hosts rank: 198
Users: 157,800 (2009)
Users rank: 147

Military expenditures: 5.9% of GDP (2006 est.)
Rank: 12

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 age 45 (enlisted) 50 (NCOs) and 55 (officers) (2012)

Airports: 7 (2013)
Rank: 165
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1 (2013)
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 4
With unpaved runways: 2 (2013)

Heliports: 1 (2012)

Roadways
Rank: 127
Paved: 1286 km
Unpaved: 11,036 km (2004)

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

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
IDPs: 78,800 (the majority are ethnic Tutsi displaced by inter-communal violence that broke out after the 1993 coup and fighting between government forces and rebel groups; no new displacements since 2008 when the last rebel group laid down its arms) (2012)
Stateless persons: 1302 (2012)