2002 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2002 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
Background
Burundi's first democratically elected president was assassinated in October 1993 after only four months in office. Since then, some 200,000 Burundians have perished in widespread, often intense ethnic violence between Hutu and Tutsi factions. Hundreds of thousands have been internally displaced or have become refugees in neighboring countries. Burundian troops, seeking to secure their borders, intervened in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1998. More recently, many of these troops have been redeployed back to Burundi to deal with periodic upsurges in rebel activity. A new transitional government, inaugurated on 1 November 2001, was to be the first step towards holding national elections in three years. However, the unwillingness of the Hutu rebels to enact a cease fire with Bujumbura continues to obstruct prospects for a sustainable peace.
Geography
Area
total: 27,830 sq km water: 2,180 sq km land: 25,650 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly smaller than Maryland
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 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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, 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
Irrigated land
740 sq km (1998 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: 30% permanent crops: 13% other: 57% (1998 est.)
Location
Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo
Map references
Africa
Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Natural hazards
flooding, landslides, drought
Natural resources
nickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat, cobalt, copper, platinum (not yet exploited), vanadium, arable land, hydropower
Terrain
hilly and mountainous, dropping to a plateau in east, some plains
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 46.5% (male 1,497,865; female 1,466,455) 15-64 years: 50.7% (male 1,592,253; female 1,640,254) 65 years and over: 2.8% (male 71,915; female 104,260) (2002 est.)
Birth rate
39.87 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Death rate
16.3 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Ethnic groups
Hutu (Bantu) 85%, Tutsi (Hamitic) 14%, Twa (Pygmy) 1%, Europeans 3,000, South Asians 2,000
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
11.32% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
39,000 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
360,000 (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate
69.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Languages
Kirundi (official), French (official), Swahili (along Lake Tanganyika and in the Bujumbura area)
Life expectancy at birth
46.83 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility rate: 6.07 children born/woman (2002 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
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Population
6,373,002 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 and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2002 est.)
Population growth rate
2.36% (2002 est.)
Religions
Christian 67% (Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 5%), indigenous beliefs 23%, Muslim 10%
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
16 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura, Bururi, Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Gitega, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo, Makamba, Muramvya, Muyinga, Mwaro, Ngozi, Rutana, Ruyigi
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
Republic of Burundi conventional short form: former: Urundi
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Carlin YATES embassy: Avenue des B. P. 1720, Bujumbura telephone:
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas NDIKUMANA chancery: Suite 212, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 FAX: [1] (202) 342-2578 telephone: [1] (202) 342-2574
Executive branch
chief of state: President Pierre BUYOYA (a Tutsi, was sworn in as president of a transition government on 1 November 2001; he is scheduled to hold office for 18 months before transferring power to his vice president, a Hutu); Vice President Domitien NDAYIZEYE (since 1 November 2001) head of government: President Pierre BUYOYA (a Tutsi, was sworn in as president of a transition government on 1 November 2001; he is scheduled to hold office for 18 months before transferring power to his vice president, a Hutu); Vice President Domitien NDAYIZEYE (since 1 November 2001) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by president elections: NA; current president assumed power following a coup on 25 July 1996 in which former President NTIBANTUNGANYA was overthrown
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, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Judicial branch
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Constitutional Court; Courts of Appeal (there are three in separate locations); Tribunals of First Instance (17 at the province level and 123 small local tribunals)
Legal system
based on German and Belgian civil codes and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch
bicameral, consists of a National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (expanded from 121 to approximately 140 seats under the transitional government inaugurated 1 November 2001; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and a Senate (54 seats; term length is undefined, the current senators will likely serve out the three-year transition period) elections: last held 29 June 1993 (next was scheduled to be held in 1998, but were suspended by presidential decree in 1996; elections are planned to follow the completion of the three-year transitional government) election results: percent of vote by party - FRODEBU 71.04%, UPRONA 21.4%, other 7.56%; seats by party - FRODEBU 65, UPRONA 16, civilians 27, other parties 13
National holiday
Independence Day, 1 July (1962)
Political parties and leaders
the two national, mainstream, governing parties are: Unity for National Progress or UPRONA [Luc RUKINGAMA, president]; Burundi Democratic Front or FRODEBU [Jean MINANI, president] note: a multiparty system was introduced after 1998, included are: Burundi African Alliance for the Salvation or ABASA [Terrence NSANZE]; Rally for Democracy and Economic and Social Development or RADDES [Joseph NZENZIMANA]; Party for National Redress or PARENA [Jean-Baptiste BAGAZA]; People's Reconciliation Party or PRP [Mathias HITIMANA]
Political pressure groups and leaders
Loosely organized Hutu and Tutsi militias, often affiliated with Hutu and Tutsi extremist parties or subordinate to government security forces
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: $125 million expenditures: $176 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
Currency
Burundi franc (BIF)
Currency code
BIF
Debt - external
$1.12 billion (2001 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index
33.3 (1992)
Economic aid - recipient
$74 million (1999)
Electricity - consumption
166.64 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports
0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports
29 million kWh note: supplied by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2000)
Electricity - production
148 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel: 0.68% other: 0% (2000) hydro: 99.32% nuclear: 0%
Exchange rates
Burundi francs per US dollar - 865.14 (January 2002), 830.35 (2001), 720.67 (2000), 563.56 (1999), 477.77 (1998), 352.35 (1997)
Exports
$24 million (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Exports - commodities
coffee, tea, sugar, cotton, hides
Exports - partners
EU 52.5%, US 11.5%, Kenya 11.5%, Switzerland 4.9% (2000 est.)
Fiscal year
calendar year
GDP
purchasing power parity - $3.7 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: 50% industry: 18% services: 32% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita
purchasing power parity - $600 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
1.4% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 3.4% highest 10%: 26.6% (1992)
Imports
$125 million (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Imports - commodities
capital goods, petroleum products, foodstuffs
Imports - partners
EU 37.6%, Tanzania 10.3%, Zambia 4.3%, India 3.4%, China 3.4% (2000 est.)
Industrial production growth rate
6.3% (1999 est.)
Industries
light consumer goods such as blankets, shoes, soap; assembly of imported components; public works construction; food processing
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
14% (2001 est.)
Labor force
1.9 million
Labor force - by occupation
NA
Population below poverty line
70% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate
NA%
Communications
Internet country code
.bi
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
1 (2000)
Internet users
2,000 (2000)
Radio broadcast stations
AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios
440,000 (2001)
Telephone system
general assessment: 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 - main lines in use
20,000 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular
16,300 (2000)
Television broadcast stations
1 (2001)
Televisions
25,000 (1997)
Transportation
Airports
7 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 3 (2001)
Highways
total: 14,480 km paved: 1,028 km unpaved: 13,452 km (1996)
Ports and harbors
Bujumbura
Railways
0 km
Waterways
Lake Tanganyika
Military and Security
Military branches
Army (including naval and air units), Gendarmerie
Military expenditures - dollar figure
$36.9 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP
5.3% (FY01)
Military manpower - availability
males age 15-49: 1,439,032 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service
males age 15-49: 752,584 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - military age
16 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually
males: 79,360 (2002 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
Tutsi, Hutu, and other conflicting ethnic groups, political rebels, and various government forces continue fighting in Great Lakes region, transcending the boundaries of Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda This page was last updated on 1 January 2002 Canada