2009 Edition

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 new government, led by President Pierre NKURUNZIZA, signed a South African brokered ceasefire with the country's last rebel group in September of 2006 but still faces many challenges.

Area

total: 27,830 sq km country comparison to the world: 146 land: 25,680 sq km water: 2,150 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; two wet seasons (February to May and September to November), and two dry seasons (June to August and December to January)

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Lake Tanganyika 772 m highest point: 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, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.29 cu km/yr (17%/6%/77%) per capita: 38 cu m/yr (2000)

Geographic coordinates

3 30 S, 30 00 E

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

Irrigated land

210 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

total: 974 km border countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 233 km, Rwanda 290 km, Tanzania 451 km

Land use

arable land: 35.57% permanent crops: 13.12% other: 51.31% (2005)

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, vanadium, arable land, hydropower, niobium, tantalum, gold, tin, tungsten, kaolin, limestone

Terrain

hilly and mountainous, dropping to a plateau in east, some plains

Total renewable water resources

3.6 cu km (1987)

Age structure

0-14 years: 46.2% (male 2,087,315/female 2,063,518) 15-64 years: 51.3% (male 2,291,123/female 2,320,839) 65 years and over: 2.5% (male 89,444/female 135,852) (2009 est.)

Birth rate

41.42 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 14

Death rate

12.67 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 34

Education expenditures

5.1% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 69

Ethnic groups

Hutu (Bantu) 85%, Tutsi (Hamitic) 14%, Twa (Pygmy) 1%, Europeans 3,000, South Asians 2,000

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

2% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 32

HIV/AIDS - deaths

11,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 31

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

110,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 44

Infant mortality rate

total: 59.64 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 38 male: 66.32 deaths/1,000 live births female: 52.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Languages

Kirundi (official), French (official), Swahili (along Lake Tanganyika and in the Bujumbura area)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 52.09 years country comparison to the world: 202 male: 51.2 years female: 53.01 years (2009 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 59.3% male: 67.3% female: 52.2% (2000 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria water contact disease: schistosomiasis animal contact disease: rabies (2009)

Median age

total: 16.7 years male: 16.5 years female: 17 years (2009 est.)

Nationality

noun: Burundian(s) adjective: Burundian

Net migration rate

4.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 26

Population

8,988,091 country comparison to the world: 89 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 2009 est.)

Population growth rate

3.279% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 7

Religions

Christian 67% (Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 5%), indigenous beliefs 23%, Muslim 10%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 7 years male: 8 years female: 7 years (2006)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate

6.33 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 6

Urbanization

urban population: 10% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 6.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Administrative divisions

17 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura Mairie, Bujumbura Rurale, Bururi, Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Gitega, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo, Makamba, Muramvya, Muyinga, Mwaro, Ngozi, Rutana, Ruyigi

Capital

name: Bujumbura geographic coordinates: 3 22 S, 29 21 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

ratified by popular referendum 28 February 2005

Country name

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Patricia Newton MOLLER embassy: Avenue des Etats-Unis, Bujumbura mailing address: B. P. 1720, Bujumbura telephone: [257] 223454

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Celestin NIYONGABO chancery: Suite 212, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 342-2574

Executive branch

chief of state: President Pierre NKURUNZIZA (since 26 August 2005); First Vice President Yves SAVINGUVU - Tutsi (since 9 November 2007); Second Vice President Gabriel NTISEZERANA - Hutu (since 9 February 2007); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of

FAX

[1] (202) 342-2578

[257] 222926

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)

Government type

republic

Independence

1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration)

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, CEPGL, COMESA, EAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (subscriber), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Constitutional Court; High Court of Justice (composed of the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court)

Legal system

based on German and Belgian civil codes and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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: Senate - last held 29 July 2005 (next to be held in July 2010); National Assembly - last held 4 July 2005 (next to be held in July 2010) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CNDD-FDD 30, FRODEBU 3, CNDD 1; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - CNDD-FDD 58.6%, FRODEBU 21.7%, UPRONA 7.2%, CNDD 4.1%, MRC-Rurenzangemero 2.1%, others 6.2%; seats by party - CNDD-FDD 59, FRODEBU 25, UPRONA 10, CNDD 4, MRC-Rurenzangemero 2

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 July (1962)

Political parties and leaders

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]; Unity for National Progress or UPRONA [Aloys RUBUKA] note: a multiparty system was introduced after 1998, included are: 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]

Political pressure groups and leaders

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)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal (adult)

Agriculture - products

coffee, cotton, tea, corn, sorghum, sweet potatoes, bananas, manioc (tapioca); beef, milk, hides

Budget

revenues: $295.2 million expenditures: $355 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (2008 est.)

Central bank discount rate

10.08% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 36 10.12% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

16.52% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 32 16.84% (31 December 2007)

Current account balance

-$182 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 86 -$116.8 million (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$1.2 billion (2003) country comparison to the world: 151

Distribution of family income - Gini index

42.4 (1998) country comparison to the world: 54

Economy - overview

Burundi is a landlocked, resource-poor country with an underdeveloped manufacturing sector. The economy is predominantly agricultural with more than 90% of the population dependent on subsistence agriculture. Economic growth depends on coffee and tea exports, which account for 90% of foreign exchange earnings. The ability to pay for imports rests primarily on weather conditions and international coffee and tea prices. The Tutsi minority, 14% of the population, dominates the coffee trade. 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. Burundi's GDP grew around 4% annually in 2006-08. 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, and low administrative capacity - risk undermining planned economic reforms. Burundi will continue to remain heavily dependent on aid from bilateral and multilateral donors; the delay of funds after a corruption scandal cut off bilateral aid in 2007 reduced government's revenues and its ability to pay salaries.

Electricity - consumption

125.6 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 185

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

40 million kWh; note - supplied by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

92 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 191

Exchange rates

Burundi francs (BIF) per US dollar - 1,198 (2008 est.), 1,065 (2007), 1,030 (2006), 1,138 (2005), 1,100.91 (2004)

Exports

$79 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 198 $52.9 million (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

coffee, tea, sugar, cotton, hides

Exports - partners

Switzerland 27.9%, UK 11%, Pakistan 9.5%, Belgium 5.1%, Rwanda 5%, Egypt 4.7% (2008)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 33.4% industry: 21% services: 45.6% (2008 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$300 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 227 $300 (2007 est.) $300 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

4.5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 96 3.6% (2007 est.) 5.1% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.097 billion (2008 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$3.109 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 173 $2.976 billion (2007 est.) $2.872 billion (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 4.1% highest 10%: 28% (2006)

Imports

$350 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 188 $257.6 million (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

capital goods, petroleum products, foodstuffs

Imports - partners

Saudi Arabia 20.7%, Belgium 12.6%, Uganda 8.4%, Kenya 7.4%, China 5.9%, France 5.4%, Germany 4.9%, India 4.1%, Tanzania 4.1%, Japan 4% (2008)

Industrial production growth rate

5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 46

Industries

light consumer goods such as blankets, shoes, soap; assembly of imported components; public works construction; food processing

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

24.1% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 210 8.3% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

12.5% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 142

Labor force

4.245 million (2007) country comparison to the world: 84

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 93.6% industry: 2.3% services: 4.1% (2002 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 115

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 197

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 198

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 202

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 199

Oil - consumption

3,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 174

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 204

Oil - imports

2,495 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 174

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 202

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 200

Population below poverty line

68% (2002 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$266.7 million (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 141 $177.1 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$370 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 118 $342 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$261.6 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 102 $208.7 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$189.9 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 116 $141 million (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Internet country code

.bi

Internet hosts

191 (2009) country comparison to the world: 189

Internet users

65,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 167

Radio broadcast stations

AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)

Telephone system

general assessment: primitive system; 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 a meager 5 per 100 persons domestic: sparse system of open-wire, radiotelephone communications, and low-capacity microwave radio relay international: country code - 257; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2008)

Telephones - main lines in use

30,400 (2008) country comparison to the world: 178

Telephones - mobile cellular

480,600 (2008) country comparison to the world: 156

Television broadcast stations

1 (2001)

Airports

8 (2009) country comparison to the world: 161

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 3 (2009)

Heliports

1 (2009)

Ports and terminals

Bujumbura

Roadways

total: 12,322 km country comparison to the world: 131 paved: 1,286 km unpaved: 11,036 km (2004)

Waterways

mainly on Lake Tanganyika (2008)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,878,544 females age 16-49: 1,851,676 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 1,124,072 females age 16-49: 1,102,729 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 101,402 female: 101,897 (2009 est.)

Military expenditures

5.9% of GDP (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 11

Military service age and obligation

military service is voluntary; the armed forces law of 31 December 2004 did not specify a minimum age for enlistment, but the government had previously specified that each recruit would need to have a primary school leaving certificate (2009)

National Defense Force (Forces de Defense Nationale, FDN)

Army (includes naval detachment and Air Wing), Gendarmerie (2009)

Disputes - international

Burundi and Rwanda dispute sections of border on the Akanyaru/Kanyaru and the Kagera/Nyabarongo rivers, which have changed course since the 1960s, when the boundary was delimited; cross-border conflicts among Tutsi, Hutu, other ethnic groups, associated political rebels, armed gangs, and various government forces persist in the Great Lakes region

IDPs

100,000 (armed conflict between government and rebels; most IDPs in northern and western Burundi) (2007)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 9,849 (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

Trafficking in persons

current situation: Burundi is a source country for children trafficked for the purposes of child soldiering, domestic servitude, and commercial sexual exploitation; a small number of Burundian children may be trafficked internally for domestic servitude or commercial sexual exploitation; in early 2008, Burundian children were allegedly trafficked to Uganda, via Rwanda, for agricultural labor and commercial sexual exploitation tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Burundi is on the Tier 2 Watch List for the second consecutive year for its failure to provide sufficient evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking in persons in 2007; the government's inability to provide adequate protective services to children accused of association with armed groups and to conduct anti-trafficking law enforcement activities continue to be causes for concern; Burundi has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2008) page last updated on November 11, 2009