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Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture-products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $222 million expenditures: $258 million, including capital expenditures of $92 million (1995 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Burundi franc (FBu) = 100 centimes

Debt - external (Debt-external) [time series]

$1.1 billion (1995 est.)

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $NA

Economic overview (Economy-overview) [time series]

Burundi is a landlocked, resource-poor country in an early stage of economic development. 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. 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, attract foreign investment in industry, and modernize government budgetary practices. Since October 1993 the nation has suffered from massive ethnic-based violence which has resulted in the death of perhaps 100,000 persons and the displacement of a million others. Foods, medicines, and electricity remain in short supply. An impoverished and disorganized government can hardly implement the needed reform programs.

Electricity - capacity (Electricity-capacity) [time series]

43,000 kW (1995)

Electricity - consumption per capita (Electricity-consumption per capita) [time series]

32 kWh (1995)

Electricity - production (Electricity-production) [time series]

158 million kWh (1995) note: imports some electricity from Democratic Republic of the Congo

Exchange rates [time series]

Burundi francs (FBu) per US$1-412.59 (January 1998), 352.35 (1997), 302.75 (1996), 249.76 (1995), 252.66 (1994), 242.78 (1993)

Exports [time series]

total value: $40 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: coffee 81%, tea, cotton, hides partners: EU 60%, US 7%, Asia 1%

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year Communications

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

purchasing power parity-$4 billion (1997 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP-composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 56% industry: 18% services: 26% (1995 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP-per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity-$660 (1997 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP-real growth rate) [time series]

4.4% (1997 est.)

Imports [time series]

total value: $127 million (c.i.f., 1996) commodities: capital goods 26%, petroleum products, foodstuffs, consumer goods partners: EU 47%, Asia 25%, US 6%

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate-consumer price index) [time series]

26% (1996 est.)

Labor force [time series]

total: 1.9 million by occupation: agriculture 93.0%, government 4.0%, industry and commerce 1.5%, services 1.5% (1983 est.)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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 - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

7,200 (1987 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

Televisions [time series]

4,500 (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 27,830 sq km land: 25,650 sq km water: 2,180 sq km

Area - comparative (Area-comparative) [time series]

slightly smaller than Maryland

Climate [time series]

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 [time series]

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Lake Tanganyika 772 m highest point: Mount Heha 2,760 m

Environment - current issues (Environment-current issues) [time series]

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

International environmental agreements (Environment-international agreements) [time series]

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 [time series]

3 30 S, 30 00 E

Geography - note (Geography-note) [time series]

landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed

Irrigated land [time series]

140 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 44% permanent crops: 9% permanent pastures: 36% forests and woodland: 3% other: 8% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards [time series]

flooding, landslides

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Constitution [time series]

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

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Morris N. HUGHES, Jr. (27 June l996) embassy: Avenue des Etats-Unis, Bujumbura mailing address: B. P. 1720, Bujumbura telephone: [257] (2) 223454

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Henri SIMBAKWTRA chancery: Suite 212, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 342-2574

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Pierre BUYOYA (interim president since 27 September 1996); note-former President NTIBANTUNGANYA was overthrown in a coup on 25 July 1996 and took refuge for 11 months in the US ambassador's residence in Bujumbura; former Major (retired) Pierre BUYOYA has not been recognized as president of Burundi by the US or most other governments head of government: Prime Minister Pascal-Firmin NDIMIRA (since 31 July 1996) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by prime minister elections: NA

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

[257] (2) 222926

Flag (Flag description) [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)

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration)

International organization participation [time series]

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, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme

Legal system [time series]

based on German and Belgian civil codes and customary law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (81 seats; members are popularly elected on a proportional basis to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 29 June 1993 (scheduled to be held in 1998, although no date has been set) 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

Capital (National capital) [time series]

Bujumbura

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 1 July (1962)

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

Unity for National Progress or UPRONA [Charles MUKASI, president]; Burundi Democratic Front or FRODEBU [Jean MINANI, president]; Socialist Party of Burundi or PSB; People's Reconciliation Party or PRP [Mathias HITIMANA, leader]; opposition parties, legalized in March 1992, include Burundi African Alliance for the Salvation or ABASA; Rally for Democracy and Economic and Social Development or RADDES [Cyrille SIGEJEJE, chairman]; and Party for National Redress or PARENA [Jean-Baptiste BAGAZA, leader]

Suffrage [time series]

NA years of age; universal adult

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Army (includes naval and air units), paramilitary Gendarmerie

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures-dollar figure) [time series]

$25 million (1993)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures-percent of GDP) [time series]

2.6% (1993)

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower-availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,203,518 (1998 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower-fit for military service) [time series]

males: 627,587 (1998 est.)

Military manpower - military age (Military manpower-military age) [time series]

16 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually (Military manpower-reaching military age annually) [time series]

males: 69,030 (1998 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 47% (male 1,313,112; female 1,309,600) 15-64 years: 50% (male 1,331,336; female 1,417,228) 65 years and over: 3% (male 69,718; female 96,393) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

41.61 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate [time series]

17.38 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

101.19 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 45.56 years male: 43.79 years female: 47.38 years (1998 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 35.3% male: 49.3% female: 22.5% (1995 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Burundian(s) adjective: Burundi

Net migration rate [time series]

10.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Population [time series]

5,537,387 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

3.51% (1998 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

6.4 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (Disputes-international) [time series]

none CAMBODIA

Transportation

Airports [time series]

4 (1997 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports-with paved runways) [time series]

total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1997 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports-with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 14,480 km paved: 1,028 km unpaved: 13,452 km (1995 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Bujumbura

Railways [time series]

0 km

Waterways [time series]

Lake Tanganyika