1999 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1999 (Internet Archive)
Introduction
Background
Since the end of the Belgian trusteeship in 1962, Burundi has suffered from ethnic uprisings, coups, and other societal dislocations. In a series of waves since October 1993, hundreds of thousands of refugees have fled the ethnic violence between the Hutu and Tutsi factions in Burundi and have crossed into Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zaire (now called the Democratic Republic of the Congo or DROC). Since October 1996, an estimated 120,000 Burundian Hutu refugees from the DROC have been compelled to return to Burundi because of insecurity in the region. Continuing ethnic violence with the Tutsi has caused additional Hutu to flee to Tanzania, thus raising their numbers in the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) camps in that country to about 260,000. Burundian troops have joined armies from Rwanda and Uganda and Congolese Tutsi in trying to overthrow DROC President KABILA and restore security to their borders with the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Geography
Area
total: 27,830 sq km land: 25,650 sq km water: 2,180 sq km
Area--comparative
slightly smaller than Maryland
Climate
equatorial; high plateau with considerable altitude variation (772 m to 2,760 m); average annual temperature varies with altitude from 23 to 17 degrees centigrade but is generally moderate as the average altitude is about 1,700 m; average annual rainfall is about 150 cm; wet seasons from February to May and September to November, and dry seasons from June to August and December to January
Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Lake Tanganyika 772 m highest point: Mount Heha 2,670 m
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
Environment--international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
Geographic coordinates
3 30 S, 30 00 E
Geography--note
landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed
Irrigated land
140 sq km (1993 est.)
Land boundaries
total: 974 km border countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 233 km, Rwanda 290 km, Tanzania 451 km
Land use
arable land: 44% permanent crops: 9% permanent pastures: 36% forests and woodland: 3% other: 8% (1993 est.)
Location
Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo
Map references
Africa
Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Natural hazards
flooding, landslides
Natural resources
nickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat, cobalt, copper, platinum (not yet exploited), vanadium
Terrain
hilly and mountainous, dropping to a plateau in east, some plains
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 47% (male 1,349,995; female 1,345,201) 15-64 years: 50% (male 1,392,880; female 1,479,835) 65 years and over: 3% (male 69,748; female 98,278) (1999 est.)
Birth rate
41.27 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate
17.23 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Ethnic groups
Hutu (Bantu) 85%, Tutsi (Hamitic) 14%, Twa (Pygmy) 1%, Europeans 3,000, South Asians 2,000
Infant mortality rate
99.36 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Languages
Kirundi (official), French (official), Swahili (along Lake Tanganyika and in the Bujumbura area)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 45.44 years male: 43.54 years female: 47.41 years (1999 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 35.3% male: 49.3% female: 22.5% (1995 est.)
Nationality
noun: Burundian(s) adjective: Burundi
Net migration rate
11.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Population
5,735,937 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate
3.54% (1999 est.)
Religions
Christian 67% (Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 5%), indigenous beliefs 32%, Muslim 1%
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate
6.33 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
15 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura, Bururi, Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Gitega, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo, Makamba, Muramvya, Muyinga, Ngozi, Rutana, Ruyigi note: there may be a new province named Mwaro
Capital
Bujumbura
Constitution
13 March 1992; provided for establishment of a plural political system; supplanted on 6 June 1998 by a Transitional Constitution which enlarged the National Assembly and created two vice presidents
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Burundi conventional short form: Burundi local long form: Republika y'u Burundi local short form: Burundi
Data code
BY
Executive branch
chief of state: President Pierre BUYOYA (interim president since 27 September 1996 and officially sworn in on 11 June 1998) is chief of state and head of government and is assisted by First Vice President Frederic BAMVUGINYUMVIRA (since NA) and Second Vice President Mathias SINAMENYA (since NA); note--former President NTIBANTUNGANYA was overthrown in a coup on 25 July 1996 head of government: President Pierre BUYOYA is both chief of state and head of government; assisted by First Vice President Frederic BAMVUGINYUMVIRA (since NA) and Second Vice President Mathias SINAMENYA (since NA) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by president elections: NA
Flag description
divided by a white diagonal cross into red panels (top and bottom) and green panels (hoist side and outer 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)
Government type
republic
Independence
1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration)
International organization participation
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas NDIKUMANA chancery: Suite 212, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Morris N. HUGHES, Jr. embassy: Avenue des Etats-Unis, Bujumbura mailing address: B. P. 1720, Bujumbura
Judicial branch
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme Political parties and leaders: Unity for National Progress or note: opposition parties, legalized in March 1992, include Burundi African Alliance for the Salvation or ABASA; Rally for Democracy and BAGAZA]
Legal system
based on German and Belgian civil codes and customary law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (81 seats; note--new Transitional Constitution calls for 121 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional basis to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 29 June 1993 (next was scheduled to be held in 1998, but suspended by presidential decree in 1996) election results: percent of vote by party--FRODEBU 71%, UPRONA 21.4%; seats by party--FRODEBU 65, UPRONA 16; other parties won too small shares of the vote to win seats in the assembly
National holiday
Independence Day, 1 July (1962)
Suffrage
NA years of age; universal adult
Economy
Agriculture--products
coffee, cotton, tea, corn, sorghum, sweet potatoes, bananas, manioc (tapioca); beef, milk, hides
Budget
revenues: $NA expenditures: $165 million, including capital expenditures of $42.6 million (1998 est.)
Currency
1 Burundi franc (FBu) = 100 centimes
Debt--external
$1.1 billion (1995 est.)
Economic aid--recipient
$286.1 million (1995)
Economy--overview
Burundi is a landlocked, resource-poor country with a poorly developed manufacturing sector. The economy is predominately agricultural with roughly 90% of the population dependent on subsistence agriculture. Its economic health depends on the coffee crop, which accounts for 80% of foreign exchange earnings. The ability to pay for imports therefore rests largely on the vagaries of the climate and the international coffee market. Since October 1993 the nation has suffered from massive ethnic-based violence which has resulted in the death of perhaps 250,000 persons and the displacement of about 800,000 others. Foods, medicines, and electricity remain in short supply.
Electricity--consumption
152 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports
30 million kWh (1996) note: imports some electricity from Democratic Republic of the Congo
Electricity--production
122 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source
fossil fuel: 1.64% hydro: 98.36% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Exchange rates
Burundi francs (FBu) per US$1--508 (January 1999), 477.77 (1998), 352.35 (1997), 302.75 (1996), 249.76 (1995), 252.66 (1994)
Exports
$49 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities
coffee, tea, cotton, hides
Exports--partners
UK, Germany, Benelux, Switzerland (1997)
Fiscal year
calendar year
GDP
purchasing power parity--$4.1 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector
agriculture: 58% industry: 18% services: 24% (1997 est.)
GDP--per capita
purchasing power parity?$740 (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate
4.5% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$102 million f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities
capital goods, petroleum products, foodstuffs, consumer goods
Imports--partners
Benelux, France, Germany, Japan (1997)
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
light consumer goods such as blankets, shoes, soap; assembly of imported components; public works construction; food processing
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
17% (1998 est.)
Labor force
1.9 million
Labor force--by occupation
agriculture 93%, government 4%, industry and commerce 1.5%, services 1.5% (1983 est.)
Population below poverty line
36.2% (1990 est.)
Unemployment rate
NA%
Communications
Radio broadcast stations
AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios
NA
Telephone system
primitive system domestic: sparse system of open wire, radiotelephone communications, and low-capacity microwave radio relay international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Telephones
7,200 (1987 est.)
Television broadcast stations
1 (1997)
Televisions
4,500 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Airports
4 (1998 est.) Airports--with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.) Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Highways
total: 14,480 km paved: 1,028 km unpaved: 13,452 km (1996 est.)
Railways
0 km
Waterways
Lake Tanganyika Ports and harbors: Bujumbura
Military and Security
Military branches
Army (includes naval and air units), paramilitary Gendarmerie
Military expenditures--dollar figure
$25 million (1993)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP
2.6% (1993)
Military manpower--availability
males age 15-49: 1,260,909 (1999 est.) Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 658,115 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--military age
16 years of age
Military manpower--reaching military age annually
males: 73,271 (1999 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international
none