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Communications

Airports [time series]

total: 5 usable: 3 with permanent-surface runways: 1 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 0

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 6,285 km paved: 1,099 km unpaved: gravel, crushed stone 2,500 km; improved, unimproved earth 2,686 km (1990)

Waterways (Inland waterways) [time series]

Lake Tanganyika

Ports [time series]

Bujumbura (lake port) connects to transportation systems of Tanzania and Zaire

Telecommunication systems (Telecommunications) [time series]

sparse system of wire, radiocommunications, and low-capacity microwave radio relay links; 8,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 2 AM, 2 FM, 1 TV; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Defense Forces

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Army (includes naval and air units), paramilitary Gendarmerie

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

exchange rate conversion - $28 million, 3.7% of GDP (1989)

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49 1,315,660; fit for military service 687,474; reach military age (16) annually 67,949 (1994 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

accounts for 50% of GDP; 90% of population dependent on subsistence farming; marginally self-sufficient in food production; cash crops - coffee, cotton, tea; food crops - corn, sorghum, sweet potatoes, bananas, manioc; livestock - meat, milk, hides and skins

Budget [time series]

revenues: $318 million expenditures: $326 million, including capital expenditures of $150 million (1991 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Burundi franc (FBu) = 100 centimes

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $71 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $10.2 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $32 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $175 million

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 55,000 kW production: 105 million kWh consumption per capita: 20 kWh (1991)

Exchange rates [time series]

Burundi francs (FBu) per US$1 - 247.94 (November 1993), 208.30 (1992), 181.51 (1991), 171.26 (1990), 158.67 (1989), 140.40 (1988)

Exports [time series]

$40.8 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: coffee 81%, tea, cotton, hides, and skins partners: EC 57%, US 19%, Asia 1%

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$970 million (1991)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Imports [time series]

$188 million (c.i.f., 1992 est.) commodities: capital goods 31%, petroleum products 15%, foodstuffs, consumer goods partners: EC 45%, Asia 29%, US 2%

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate 11% (1991 est.); accounts for about 15% of GDP

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

4.7% (1992 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (National product) [time series]

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $4.4 billion (1993 est.)

Real GDP per capita (National product per capita) [time series]

$700 (1993 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (National product real growth rate) [time series]

-3.8% (1991)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

A landlocked, resource-poor country in an early stage of economic development, Burundi is predominately agricultural with only a few basic industries. Its economic health depends on the coffee crop, which accounts for 80% of foreign exchange earnings. The ability to pay for imports therefore continues to rest largely on the vagaries of the climate and the international coffee market. As part of its economic reform agenda, launched in February 1991 with IMF and World Bank support, Burundi is trying to diversify its agricultural exports and attract foreign investment in industry. Several state-owned coffee companies were privatized via public auction in September 1991.

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Geography

Africans [time series]

Hutu (Bantu) 85%, Tutsi (Hamitic) 14%, Twa (Pygmy) 1% (other Africans include about 70,000 refugees, mostly Rwandans and Zairians) non-Africans: Europeans 3,000, South Asians 2,000

Area [time series]

total area: 27,830 sq km land area: 25,650 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland

Birth rate [time series]

44.02 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Climate [time series]

temperate; warm; occasional frost in uplands

Coastline [time series]

0 km (landlocked)

Death rate [time series]

21.38 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: soil exhaustion and erosion; deforestation; habitat loss threatening wildlife populations natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Endangered Species; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban

Infant mortality rate [time series]

113.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

none

Irrigated land [time series]

720 sq km (1989 est.)

Labor force [time series]

1.9 million (1983 est.) by occupation: agriculture 93.0%, government 4.0%, industry and commerce 1.5%, services 1.5% note: 52% of population of working age (1985)

Land boundaries [time series]

total 974 km, Rwanda 290 km, Tanzania 451 km, Zaire 233 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 43% permanent crops: 8% meadows and pastures: 35% forest and woodland: 2% other: 12%

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 40.3 years male: 38.31 years female: 42.35 years (1994 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 50% male: 61% female: 40%

Location [time series]

Central Africa, between Tanzania and Zaire

Map references [time series]

Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World

Maritime claims [time series]

none; landlocked

Nationality [time series]

noun: Burundian(s) adjective: Burundi

Natural resources [time series]

nickel, uranium, rare earth oxide, peat, cobalt, copper, platinum (not yet exploited), vanadium

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Note [time series]

landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed

Population [time series]

6,124,747 (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.26% (1994 est.)

Religions [time series]

Christian 67% (Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 5%), indigenous beliefs 32%, Muslim 1%

Terrain [time series]

mostly rolling to hilly highland; some plains

Total fertility rate [time series]

6.69 children born/woman (1994 est.)

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

15 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura, Bururi, Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Gitega, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo, Makamba, Muramvya, Muyinga, Ngozi, Rutana, Ruyigi

Capital [time series]

Bujumbura

Constitution [time series]

13 March 1992; provides for establishment of a plural political system

Digraph [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Jacques BACAMURWANKO, designated (January 1994) chancery: Suite 212, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: (202) 342-2574

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Interim President Sylvestre NTIBANTUNGANYA, Speaker of the National Assembly, succeeded deceased President NTARYAMIRA in early April 1994 with a mandate for at least 90 days; on 11 July 1994 the mandate was extended by the Constitutional Court for three more months at the request of 12 political parties locked in negotiations on a new broad-based government; elections will be held later in 1994 note: President Melchior NDADAYE died in the military coup of 21 October 1993 and was succeeded on 5 February 1994 by President Cyprien NTARYAMIRA, who was killed in a mysterious airplane explosion on 6 April 1994 head of government: Prime Minister Anatole KANYENKIKO (since 7 February 1994); chosen by the president cabinet: Council of Ministers ; appointed by prime minister

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[257] (222) 926

Flag [time series]

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)

Independence [time series]

1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Country name (Names) [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of Burundi conventional short form: Burundi local long form: Republika y'u Burundi local short form: Burundi

Legislative branch (National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)) [time series]

elections last held 29 June 1993 (next to be held NA): results - FRODEBU 71%, UPRONA 21.4%; seats - (81 total) FRODIBU 65, UPRONA 16; other parties won too small shares of the vote to win seats in the assembly note: The National Unity Charter outlining the principles for constitutional government was adopted by a national referendum on 5 February 1991

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 1 July (1962)

Political parties (Other political or pressure groups) [time series]

opposition parties legalized in March 1992; Burundi African Alliance for the Salvation (ABASA); Rally for Democracy and Economic and Social Development (RADDES)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Unity for National Progress (UPRONA); Burundi Democratic Front (FRODEBU); Organization of the People of Burundi (RBP); Socialist Party of Burundi (PSB); People's Reconciliation Party (PRP)

Suffrage [time series]

universal adult at age NA

Government type (Type) [time series]

republic

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Leonard J. LANGE embassy: Avenue des Etats-Unis, Bujumbura mailing address: B. P. 34, 1720, Bujumbura telephone: [257] (223) 454