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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 integrated defense forces, and established a new constitution and elected a majority Hutu government in 2005. The government of President Pierre NKURUNZIZA, who was reelected in 2010 and 2015, continues to face many political and economic challenges.
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Geography :: BURUNDI
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Central Africa, east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, west of Tanzania
3 30 S, 30 00 E
Africa
total: 27,830 sq km
land: 25,680 sq km
water: 2,150 sq km
country comparison to the world:
147slightly smaller than Maryland
total: 1,140 km
border countries (3): Democratic Republic of the Congo 236 km, Rwanda 315 km, Tanzania 589 km
0 km (landlocked)
none (landlocked)
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)
hilly and mountainous, dropping to a plateau in east, some plains
lowest point: Lake Tanganyika 772 m
highest point: Heha 2,670 m
nickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat, cobalt, copper, platinum, vanadium, arable land, hydropower, niobium, tantalum, gold, tin, tungsten, kaolin, limestone
agricultural land: 73.3%
arable land 38.9%; permanent crops 15.6%; permanent pasture 18.8%
forest: 6.6%
other: 20.1% (2011 est.)
214.3 sq km (2003)
12.54 cu km (2011)
total: 0.29 cu km/yr (15%/5%/79%)
per capita: 43.27 cu m/yr (2005)
flooding; landslides; drought
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
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
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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People and Society :: BURUNDI
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noun: Burundian(s)
adjective: Burundian
Hutu (Bantu) 85%, Tutsi (Hamitic) 14%, Twa (Pygmy) 1%, Europeans 3,000, South Asians 2,000
Kirundi 29.7% (official), Kirundi and other language 9.1%, French (official) and French and other language 0.3%, Swahili and Swahili and other language 0.2% (along Lake Tanganyika and in the Bujumbura area), English and English and other language 0.06%, more than 2 languages 3.7%, unspecified 56.9% (2008 est.)
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.)
10,742,276
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 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
840-14 years: 45.64% (male 2,464,695/female 2,437,923)
15-24 years: 19.23% (male 1,030,773/female 1,035,478)
25-54 years: 28.67% (male 1,536,089/female 1,543,356)
55-64 years: 3.94% (male 198,384/female 224,563)
65 years and over: 2.52% (male 115,187/female 155,828) (2015 est.)
population pyramid:
total dependency ratio: 89.7%
youth dependency ratio: 85%
elderly dependency ratio: 4.7%
potential support ratio: 21.3% (2015 est.)
total: 17 years
male: 16.8 years
female: 17.2 years (2015 est.)
3.28% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
342.01 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
69.27 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
620 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
103urban population: 12.1% of total population (2015)
rate of urbanization: 5.66% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
BUJUMBURA (capital) 751,000 (2015)
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: 1 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
total: 61.89 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 68.55 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 55.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
20total population: 60.09 years
male: 58.45 years
female: 61.78 years (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1976.09 children born/woman (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
221.9% (2010/11)
8% of GDP (2013)
country comparison to the world:
561.9 beds/1,000 population (2011)
improved:
urban: 91.1% of population
rural: 73.8% of population
total: 75.9% of population
unimproved:
urban: 8.9% of population
rural: 26.2% of population
total: 24.1% of population (2015 est.)
improved:
urban: 43.8% of population
rural: 48.6% of population
total: 48% of population
unimproved:
urban: 56.2% of population
rural: 51.4% of population
total: 52% of population (2015 est.)
1.11% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
4384,700 (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
453,900 (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
37degree of risk: very high
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)
2.1% (2014)
country comparison to the world:
17629.1% (2011)
country comparison to the world:
165.8% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world:
50definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 85.6%
male: 88.2%
female: 83.1% (2015 est.)
total: 10 years
male: 11 years
female: 10 years (2010)
total number: 433,187
percentage: 19% (2005 est.)
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Government :: BURUNDI
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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
republic
name: Bujumbura
geographic coordinates: 3 22 S, 29 21 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
18 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura Mairie, Bujumbura Rural, Bururi, Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Gitega, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo, Makamba, Muramvya, Muyinga, Mwaro, Ngozi, Rumonge, Rutana, Ruyigi
1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration)
Independence Day, 1 July (1962)
several previous; latest ratified by popular referendum 28 February 2005 (2012)
mixed legal system of Belgian civil law and customary law
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
18 years of age; universal
chief of state: President Pierre NKURUNZIZA (since 26 August 2005); First Vice President Gaston SINDIMWO (since 25 August 2015); Second Vice President Joseph BUTORE (since 25 August 2015); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Pierre NKURUNZIZA (since 26 August 2005); First Vice President Prosper BAZOMBAZA (since 13 February 2014); Second Vice President Gervais RUFYIKIRI (since 29 August 2010)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by president
elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 21 July 2015(next to be held in 2020); vice presidents nominated by the president, endorsed by Parliament
election results: Pierre NKURUNZIZA reelected president; percent of vote - Pierre NKURUNZIZA (CNDD-FDD) 69.4%, Agathon RWASA (National Liberation Forces) 19%, other 11.6%
description: bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate (54 seats; 34 members indirectly elected by an electoral college of provincial councils using a two-thirds majority vote and 20 seats reserved for former heads of state; members serve 5-year terms) and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (100 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote with a required ethnic mix of 60 percent Hutu and 40 percent Tutsi, and at least 30 percent women; members serve 5-year terms)
elections: last held on 29 June 2015 (next to be held on NA 2020)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - CNDD-FDD 74.8%, The Independents 13.9% UPRONA 3.1%, other 9.2%; seats by party - CNDD-FDD 77, The Independents 21, UPRONA 2
highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 9 judges and organized into judicial, administrative, and cassation chambers)
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
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]
National Liberation Forces or FNL [Agathon RWASA]
Union for National Progress (Union pour le Progress Nationale) or UPRONA [Bonaventure NIYOYANKANA]
note: a multiparty system introduced in 1998 includes:
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]
Forum for the Strengthening of Civil Society or FORSC [Pacifique NININAHAZWE] (civil society umbrella organization)
Observatoire de lutte contre la corruption et les malversations economiques or OLUCOME [Gabriel RUFYIRI] (anti-corruption pressure group)
other: Hutu and Tutsi militias (loosely organized)
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
chief of mission: Ambassador Ernest NDABASHINZE (since 21 May 2014)
chancery: 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 408, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 342-2574
FAX: [1] (202) 342-2578
chief of mission: Ambassador Dawn M. LIBERI (since 10 July 2012)
embassy: Avenue des Etats-Unis, Bujumbura
mailing address: B. P. 1720, Bujumbura
telephone: [257] 22-207-000
FAX: [257] 22-222-926
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
lion; national colors: red, white, green
name: "Burundi Bwacu" (Our Beloved Burundi)
lyrics/music: Jean-Baptiste NTAHOKAJA/Marc BARENGAYABO
note: adopted 1962
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Economy :: BURUNDI
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Burundi is a landlocked, resource-poor country with an underdeveloped manufacturing sector. The economy is predominantly agricultural; agriculture accounts for just over 40% 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. Therefore, 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 until 2005 resulted in more than 200,000 deaths, forced more than 48,000 refugees into Tanzania, and displaced 140,000 others internally. Food, medicine, and electricity remain in short supply. Burundi's GDP grew around 4% annually in 2006-14. 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. Government corruption is hindering the development of a healthy private sector as companies have to deal with ever changing rules. 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 (EAC) in 2009, and regional infrastructure improvements driven by the EAC and funded by the World Bank may help improve Burundi’s transport connections and lower transportation costs.
$8.378 billion (2014 est.)
$7.999 billion (2013 est.)
$7.657 billion (2012 est.)
note: data are in 2014 US dollars
country comparison to the world:
162$3.094 billion (2014 est.)
4.7% (2014 est.)
4.5% (2013 est.)
4% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
57$900 (2014 est.)
$900 (2013 est.)
$800 (2012 est.)
note: data are in 2014 US dollars
country comparison to the world:
2262.4% of GDP (2014 est.)
1.6% of GDP (2013 est.)
2.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
167household consumption: 74.6%
government consumption: 21.9%
investment in fixed capital: 27.9%
investment in inventories: -1.7%
exports of goods and services: 7.1%
imports of goods and services: -29.6%
(2014 est.)
agriculture: 40.3%
industry: 17.1%
services: 42.5% (2014 est.)
coffee, cotton, tea, corn, sorghum, sweet potatoes, bananas, cassava (manioc, tapioca); beef, milk, hides
light consumer goods (blankets, shoes, soap, beer); assembly of imported components; public works construction; food processing
6% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
374.806 million (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
87agriculture: 93.6%
industry: 2.3%
services: 4.1% (2002 est.)
NA%
68% (2002 est.)
lowest 10%: 4.1%
highest 10%: 28% (2006)
42.4 (1998)
country comparison to the world:
49revenues: $847.3 million
expenditures: $933.2 million (2014 est.)
27.9% of GDP (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
100-2.8% of GDP (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
10538.6% of GDP (2014 est.)
38.6% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
99calendar year
4.4% (2014 est.)
7.9% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
16111.25% (31 December 2010)
10% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world:
1415% (31 December 2014 est.)
15.15% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
42$394.9 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$375.2 million (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
169$551.4 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$521.6 million (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
175$691.2 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$617.5 million (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
161$NA
-$544 million (2014 est.)
-$562.9 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
105$113.6 million (2014 est.)
$91.8 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
189coffee, tea, sugar, cotton, hides
Pakistan 12.7%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 12.6%, Uganda 9.6%, Germany 6.5%, Belgium 5.9%, France 5.6%, Rwanda 5.4%, Sweden 5.1%, US 4.6%, China 4.3%, Sudan 4.2% (2014)
$873 million (2014 est.)
$884.3 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
184capital goods, petroleum products, foodstuffs
Saudi Arabia 12.9%, Kenya 11%, Belgium 10.4%, China 8.4%, Tanzania 7.9%, Uganda 6.9%, India 5% (2014)
$321.4 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$329.4 million (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
157$742.1 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$705.8 million (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
169Burundi francs (BIF) per US dollar -
1,548.5 (2014 est.)
1,555.09 (2013 est.)
1,442.51 (2012 est.)
1,261.07 (2011 est.)
1,230.8 (2010 est.)
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Energy :: BURUNDI
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202 million kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
190282.9 million kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1850 kWh (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
11595 million kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
9555,000 kW (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1861.8% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
2050% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
5998.2% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
80% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1650 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1600 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
910 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1670 bbl (1 January 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1130 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1271,500 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1870 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1601,456 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1880 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1110 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1250 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
700 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1680 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
118315,100 Mt (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
191
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Communications :: BURUNDI
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total subscriptions: 21,700
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
182total: 3.2 million
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 31 (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
138general assessment: sparse system of open-wire, radiotelephone communications, and low-capacity microwave radio relays
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)
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)
AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)
1 (2001)
.bi
total: 144,500
percent of population: 1.4% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
165
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Transportation :: BURUNDI
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7 (2013)
country comparison to the world:
165total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2013)
total: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m:
2 (2013)
1 (2012)
total: 12,322 km
paved: 1,286 km
unpaved: 11,036 km (2004)
country comparison to the world:
127(mainly on Lake Tanganyika between Bujumbura, Burundi's principal port, and lake ports in Tanzania, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo) (2011)
lake port(s): Bujumbura (Lake Tanganyika)
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Military :: BURUNDI
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National Defense Forces (Forces de Defense Nationale, FDN): Army (includes maritime wing, Air Wing), National Gendarmerie (2013)
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)
males age 16-49: 2,182,327
females age 16-49: 2,202,125 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 1,398,769
females age 16-49: 1,481,417 (2010 est.)
male: 117,956
female: 116,956 (2010 est.)
2.39% of GDP (2012)
NA% (2011)
2.39% of GDP (2010)
country comparison to the world:
32
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Transnational Issues :: BURUNDI
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Burundi and Rwanda dispute two sq km (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 (country of origin): 53,977 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (2015)
IDPs: undetermined (some ethnic Tutsis remain displaced from intercommunal violence that broke out after the 1993 coup and fighting between government forces and rebel groups; violence since April 2015 has caused internal displacement, but exact figures are unknown because of insecurity and fear of reprisal attacks for self-identification as an IDP) (2015)
stateless persons: 1,302 (2014)
current situation: Burundi is a source country for children and possibly women subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; business people recruit Burundian girls for prostitution domestically, as well as in Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, and the Middle East, and recruit boys and girls for forced labor in Burundi and Tanzania; children and young adults are coerced into forced labor in farming, mining, construction, informal commerce, or fishing; some family members, friends, and neighbors are complicit in exploiting children, luring them in with offers of educational or job opportunities
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List – Burundi does not comply fully with the minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the government has a written plan that, if implemented, would constitute a significant effort toward meeting the minimum standards for eliminating human trafficking; in 2013, the government established a national coordinating body to oversee anti-trafficking efforts, completed a national action plan, and worked to finalize anti-trafficking legislation; law enforcement efforts remained modest, and investigations focused on transnational trafficking; most victim assistance continued to be provided by NGOs without government support; a system for identifying victims among vulnerable populations and referring victims to care providers was not finalized (2014)