Background: Established in the 1600s, the Burundi Kingdom has had borders similar to those of modern Burundi since the 1800s. Burundi’s two major ethnic groups, the majority Hutu and minority Tutsi, share a common language and culture and largely lived in peaceful cohabitation under Tutsi monarchs in pre-colonial Burundi. Regional, class, and clan distinctions contributed to social status in the Burundi Kingdom, yielding a complex class structure. German colonial rule in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and Belgian rule after World War I preserved Burundi’s monarchy. Seeking to simplify administration, Belgian colonial officials reduced the number of chiefdoms and eliminated most Hutu chiefs from positions of power. In 1961, the Burundian Tutsi king’s oldest son, Louis RWAGASORE, was murdered by a competing political faction shortly before he was set to become prime minister, triggering increased political competition that contributed to later instability. Burundi gained its independence from Belgium in 1962 as the Kingdom of Burundi. Revolution in neighboring Rwanda stoked ethnic polarization as the Tutsi increasingly feared violence and loss of political power. A failed Hutu-led coup in 1965 triggered a purge of Hutu officials and set the stage for Tutsi officers to overthrow the monarchy in 1966 and establish a Tutsi-dominated republic. A Hutu rebellion in 1972 resulted in the deaths of several thousand Tutsi civilians and sparked brutal Tutsi-led military reprisals against Hutu civilians which ultimately killed 100,000-200,000 people. International pressure led to a new constitution in 1992 and democratic elections in 1993. Tutsi military officers feared Hutu domination and assassinated Burundi's first democratically elected president, Hutu Melchior NDADAYE, in 1993 after only 100 days in office, sparking a civil war. In 1994, his successor, Cyprien NTARYAMIRA, died when the Rwandan president’s plane he was traveling on was shot down, which triggered the Rwandan genocide and further entrenched ethnic conflict in Burundi. The internationally brokered Arusha Agreement, signed in 2000, and subsequent cease-fire agreements with armed movements ended the 1993-2005 civil war. Burundi’s second democratic elections were held in 2005, resulting in the election of Pierre NKURUNZIZA as president. He was reelected in 2010 and again in 2015 after a controversial court decision allowed him to circumvent a term limit. President Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE -- from NKURUNZIZA’s ruling party -- was elected in 2020.

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

Land boundaries
Total: 1,140 km
Border countries (3): (3) Democratic Republic of the Congo 236 km; Rwanda 315 km; Tanzania 589 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 Celsius but is generally moderate; average annual rainfall is about 150 cm with 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
Highest point: unnamed elevation on Mukike Range 2,685 m
Lowest point: Lake Tanganyika 772 m
Mean elevation: 1,504 m

Land use
Agricultural land: 83.9% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 51.4% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 13.6% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 18.8% (2023 est.)
Forest: 10.9% (2023 est.)
Other: 5.2% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land: 230 km² (2012)

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
Total: 13,590,102 (2024 est.)
Male: 6,755,456
Female: 6,834,646
Distribution: one of Africa's most densely populated countries; concentrations tend to be in the north and along the northern shore of Lake Tanganyika in the west; most people live on farms near areas of fertile volcanic soil, as shown in this population distribution map
Growth rate: 2.81% (2024 est.)

Languages: Kirundi (official), French (official), English (official, least spoken), Swahili (2008 est.)
Major-language sample(s): ; Igitabo Mpuzamakungu c'ibimenyetso bifatika, isoko ntabanduka ku nkuru z'urufatiro. (Kirundi); The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Note: data represent languages read and written by people 10 years of age or older; spoken Kirundi is nearly universal

Religions: Christian 93.9% (Roman Catholic 58.6%, Protestant 35.3% [includes Adventist 2.7% and other Protestant religions 32.6%]), Muslim 3.4%, other 1.3%, none 1.3% (2016-17 est.)

Age structure
0-14 years: 42.3% (male 2,895,275/female 2,848,286)
15-64 years: 54.4% (male 3,662,688/female 3,727,022)
65 years and over: 3.4% (2024 est.) (male 197,493/female 259,338)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 83.9 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 77.7 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 6.2 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 16.2 (2024 est.)

Median age
Total: 18.4 years (2024 est.)
Male: 18 years
Female: 18.7 years

Population growth rate: 2.81% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 34.6 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 5.7 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Population distribution: one of Africa's most densely populated countries; concentrations tend to be in the north and along the northern shore of Lake Tanganyika in the west; most people live on farms near areas of fertile volcanic soil, as shown in this population distribution map

Urbanization
Urban population: 14.8% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 5.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 1.207 million BUJUMBURA (capital) (2023)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 392 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 35.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 39.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 31.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 68.1 years (2024 est.)
Male: 66 years
Female: 70.3 years

Total fertility rate: 4.9 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Drinking water source
Urban: 9.3% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 42.3% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 37.6% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 12.6% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 46.3% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 41.4% of population (2022 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 28.3% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 1% (2024 est.); 1% (2023 est.); 1% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Capital
Name: Gitega (political capital), Bujumbura (commercial capital)
Geographic coordinates: 3 25 S, 29 55 E
Time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: the origin of the name Bujumbura is unclear, but 'bu-' is a Bantu prefix meaning 'place'
Note: in January 2019, the Burundian parliament voted to make Gitega the political capital of the country while Bujumbura would remain its economic capital; as of 2023, the government's move to Gitega remains incomplete

Administrative divisions: 5 provinces: Buhumuza, Bujumbura, Burunga, Butanyerera, Gitega

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

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE (since 18 June 2020)
Head of government: Prime Minister Nestor NTAHONTUYE (since 5 August 2025)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by president
Election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); vice presidents nominated by the president, endorsed by Parliament
Most recent election date: 20 May 2020
2020: 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%
2015: Pierre NKURUNZIZA reelected president; percent of vote - Pierre NKURUNZIZA (CNDD-FDD) 69.4%, Agathon RWASA (Hope of Burundians - Amizerio y'ABARUNDI) 19%, other 11.6%
Expected date of next election: May 2,027

Legislative branch
Legislature name: Parliament (Parlement)
Legislative structure: bicameral

Flag description: divided by a white diagonal cross into red triangles (top and bottom) and green triangles (on each side) with a white disk at the center bearing three six-pointed red stars outlined in green and arranged in a triangular design

National anthem
Title: 'Burundi Bwacu' (Our Beloved Burundi)
Lyrics/music: Jean-Baptiste NTAHOKAJA/Marc BARENGAYABO
History: adopted 1962

Real gdp growth rate: 3.5% (2024 est.); 2.7% (2023 est.); 1.8% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: 3.5% (2024 est.); 2.7% (2023 est.); 1.8% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 75.9% (2023 est.)
Government consumption: 30.7% (2023 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 13.1% (2023 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0% (2023 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 5.3% (2023 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -24.4% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 25.3% (2023 est.)
Industry: 9.6% (2023 est.)
Services: 49% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

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

Industrial production growth rate: -0.2% (2024 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 6.107 million (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 1% (2024 est.); 1% (2023 est.); 1% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 1% (2024 est.); 1% (2023 est.); 1% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Budget
Revenues: $713.694 million (2021 est.)
Expenditures: $737.898 million (2021 est.)
Note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 15.6% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Exports: $378.229 million (2023 est.); $333.637 million (2022 est.); $302.752 million (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: gold, coffee, tea, tin ores, iron bars (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $1.433 billion (2023 est.); $1.42 billion (2022 est.); $1.166 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: fertilizers, cement, packaged medicine, plastic products, cars (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Electricity
Installed generating capacity: 131,000 kW (2023 est.)
Consumption: 444.018 million kWh (2023 est.)
Imports: 100 million kWh (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 39.994 million kWh (2023 est.)
Access electrification - total population: 10.3% (2022 est.)
Access electrification - urban areas: 64%
Access electrification - rural areas: 1.7%
Generation sources fossil fuels: 31.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources solar: 0.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 66.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 1.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal
Consumption: 1,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 10,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum
Refined petroleum consumption: 6,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 838,000 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 32,000 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 806,000 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 946,000 Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 14,000 (2023 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 8.65 million (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 58 (2022 est.)

Internet
Users percent of population: 11% (2023 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 3,000 (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1

Military expenditures: 3.5% of GDP (2024 est.); 3% of GDP (2023 est.); 2.6% of GDP (2022 est.); 2% of GDP (2021 est.); 2.1% of GDP (2020 est.)

Airports: 6 (2025)