2015 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 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, continues to face many political and economic challenges. Burundi began holding national elections in June 2015 with a presidential election scheduled for July.

Area

land

25,680 sq km

total

27,830 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 celcius 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

highest point

Heha 2,670 m

lowest point

Lake Tanganyika 772 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)

per capita

43.27 cu m/yr (2005)

total

0.29 cu km/yr (15%/5%/79%)

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

214.3 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

border countries (3)

Democratic Republic of the Congo 236 km, Rwanda 315 km, Tanzania 589 km

total

1,140 km

Land use

arable land 38.9%; permanent crops 15.6%; permanent pasture 18.8%

agricultural land

73.3%

forest

6.6%

other

20.1% (2011 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, 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

12.54 cu km (2011)

Age structure

0-14 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.)

Birth rate

42.01 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Child labor - children ages 5-14

percentage

19% (2005 est.)

total number

433,187

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

29.1% (2011)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

21.9% (2010/11)

Death rate

9.27 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

4.7%

potential support ratio

21.3% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

89.7%

youth dependency ratio

85%

Drinking water source

urban: 91.1% of population

rural: 73.8% of population

total: 75.9% of population

urban: 8.9% of population

rural: 26.2% of population

total: 24.1% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

5.8% of GDP (2012)

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

8% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.11% (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

3,900 (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

84,700 (2014 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.9 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

female

55.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

68.55 deaths/1,000 live births

total

61.89 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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.)

Life expectancy at birth

female

61.78 years (2015 est.)

male

58.45 years

total population

60.09 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

83.1% (2015 est.)

male

88.2%

total population

85.6%

Major infectious diseases

animal contact disease

rabies (2013)

degree 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

Major urban areas - population

BUJUMBURA (capital) 751,000 (2015)

Median age

female

17.2 years (2015 est.)

male

16.8 years

total

17 years

Nationality

adjective

Burundian

noun

Burundian(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

2.1% (2014)

Population

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.)

Population growth rate

3.28% (2015 est.)

Religions

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.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 43.8% of population

rural: 48.6% of population

total: 48% of population

urban: 56.2% of population

rural: 51.4% of population

total: 52% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

10 years (2010)

male

11 years

total

10 years

Sex ratio

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

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

6.09 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

5.66% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

12.1% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

geographic coordinates

3 22 S, 29 21 E

name

Bujumbura

time difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Constitution

several previous; latest ratified by popular referendum 28 February 2005 (2012)

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Burundi

conventional short form

Burundi

former

Urundi

local long form

Republique du Burundi/Republika y'u Burundi

local short form

Burundi

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Dawn M. LIBERI (since 10 July 2012)

embassy

Avenue des Etats-Unis, Bujumbura

FAX

[257] 22-222-926

mailing address

B. P. 1720, Bujumbura

telephone

[257] 22-207-000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 408, Washington, DC 20007

chief of mission

Ambassador Ernest NDABASHINZE (since 21 May 2014)

FAX

[1] (202) 342-2578

telephone

[1] (202) 342-2574

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by president

chief of state

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); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

election results

Pierre NKURUNZIZA reelected president; percent of vote - Pierre NKURUNZIZA (CNDD-FDD ) 69.4%, Agathon RWASA (National Liberation Forces) 19%, other 11.6%

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

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)

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); 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

Government type

republic

Independence

1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

mixed legal system of Belgian civil law and customary law

Legislative branch

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)

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - CNDD-FDD 81.2%, UPRONA 11.6%, FRODEBU 5.9%, other 1.3%; seats by party - CNDD-FDD 81, UPRONA 17, FRODEBU 5, other 3

elections

last held on 23 July 2010 (next to be held on 26 June 2015); note - legislative election delayed because of unrest

National anthem

lyrics/music

Jean-Baptiste NTAHOKAJA/Marc BARENGAYABO

name

"Burundi Bwacu" (Our Beloved Burundi)

note

adopted 1962

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 July (1962)

National symbol(s)

lion; national colors: red, white, green

Political parties and leaders

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]

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]

note

a multiparty system introduced in 1998 includes:

Political pressure groups and leaders

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)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$933.2 million (2014 est.)

revenues

$847.3 million

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2.8% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

11.25% (31 December 2010)

10% (31 December 2009)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

15% (31 December 2014 est.)

15.15% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

-$544 million (2014 est.)

-$562.9 million (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$742.1 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$705.8 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

42.4 (1998)

Economy - overview

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.

Exchange rates

Burundi 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.)

Exports

$113.6 million (2014 est.)

$91.8 million (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

coffee, tea, sugar, cotton, hides

Exports - partners

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)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

7.1%

government consumption

21.9%

household consumption

74.6%

imports of goods and services

-29.6%

investment in fixed capital

27.9%

investment in inventories

-1.7%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

40.3%

industry

17.1%

services

42.5% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$900 (2014 est.)

$900 (2013 est.)

$800 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

4.7% (2014 est.)

4.5% (2013 est.)

4% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$3.094 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$8.378 billion (2014 est.)

$7.999 billion (2013 est.)

$7.657 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

2.4% of GDP (2014 est.)

1.6% of GDP (2013 est.)

2.7% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

28% (2006)

lowest 10%

4.1%

Imports

$873 million (2014 est.)

$884.3 million (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

capital goods, petroleum products, foodstuffs

Imports - partners

Saudi Arabia 12.9%, Kenya 11%, Belgium 10.4%, China 8.4%, Tanzania 7.9%, Uganda 6.9%, India 5% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

6% (2014 est.)

Industries

light consumer goods (blankets, shoes, soap, beer); assembly of imported components; public works construction; food processing

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.4% (2014 est.)

7.9% (2013 est.)

Labor force

4.806 million (2014 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

93.6%

industry

2.3%

services

4.1% (2002 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

68% (2002 est.)

Public debt

38.6% of GDP (2014 est.)

38.6% of GDP (2013 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$321.4 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$329.4 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of broad money

$551.4 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$521.6 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$691.2 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$617.5 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$394.9 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$375.2 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

27.9% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

315,100 Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.)

Electricity - consumption

236.4 million kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

1.9% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

98.1% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - imports

95 million kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

52,000 kW (2011 est.)

Electricity - production

152 million kWh (2011 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

2,270 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

1,429 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Broadcast media

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)

Internet country code

.bi

Internet users

percent of population

1.4% (2014 est.)

total

144,500

Radio broadcast stations

AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)

Telephone system

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

general assessment

sparse system of open-wire, radiotelephone communications, and low-capacity microwave radio relays

international

country code - 257; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

less than 1 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

21,700

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

31 (2014 est.)

total

3.2 million

Television broadcast stations

1 (2001)

Airports

7 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

1 (2013)

total

1

Airports - with unpaved runways

2 (2013)

914 to 1,523 m

4

total

6

Heliports

1 (2012)

Ports and terminals

lake port(s)

Bujumbura (Lake Tanganyika)

Roadways

paved

1,286 km

total

12,322 km

unpaved

11,036 km (2004)

Waterways

(mainly on Lake Tanganyika between Bujumbura, Burundi's principal port, and lake ports in Tanzania, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo) (2011)

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

2,202,125 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

2,182,327

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

1,481,417 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

1,398,769

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

116,956 (2010 est.)

male

117,956

Military branches

National Defense Forces (Forces de Defense Nationale, FDN): Army (includes maritime wing, Air Wing), National Gendarmerie (2013)

Military expenditures

2.39% of GDP (2012)

NA% (2011)

2.39% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

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)

Disputes - international

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 and internally displaced persons

IDPs

79,200 (the majority are ethnic Tutsi displaced by inter-communal violence that broke out after the 1993 coup and fighting between government forces and rebel groups; no new displacements since 2008 when the last rebel group laid down its arms) (2015)

refugees (country of origin)

54,011 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (2015)

stateless persons

1,302 (2014)

Trafficking in persons

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)