Burundi

total: 4,230 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.04 (2020 est.)

state-controlled Radio Television Nationale de Burundi (RTNB) operates a TV station and a national radio network; 3 private TV stations and about 10 privately owned radio stations; transmissions of several international broadcasters are available in Bujumbura (2019)

.bi

total: 1,070,170 (2020 est.) percent of population: 9% (2020 est.)

general assessment: Burundi provides an attractive telecom market given its high population density and existing low subscription rates for all services; one downside for investors is that the country has a very low economic output, disposable income is also very low, and fixed-line infrastructure is poor outside the main urban areas; this is a greater motivation for investors to focus on improving mobile networks than in expanding fixed-line infrastructure; to overcome difficulties associated with the poor telecom infrastructure, the government has supported a number of prominent telcos building a national fiber backbone network; this network offers onward connectivity to submarine cable infrastructure landings in Kenya and Tanzania; the first sections of this network were switched on in early 2014, and additional provinces have since been connected; in addition, the government in early 2018 kick-started the Burundi Broadband project, which aims to deliver national connectivity by 2025; based on this improved infrastructure the government and ITU have developed an ICT strategy to make use of telecoms to promote the country s socio-economic development through to 2028; progress made by Tanzania with its own national backbone network has benefited Burundi, which has been provided with onward connectivity to most countries in the region; International bandwidth capacity has continued to increase in recent years, including a 38% increase in the nine months to September 2021, resulting in lower retail prices for consumers; two of the mobile operators have launched 3G and LTE services to capitalize on the growing demand for internet access; the number of mobile subscribers increased 7% in the third quarter of 2021, quarter-on-quarter; similar growth is expected for the next two years at least, which will help bring the mobile level closer to the average for the region (2022) domestic: telephone density one of the lowest in the world; fixed-line connections stand at less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular usage is about 56 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 257; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean); the government, supported by the World Bank, has backed a joint venture with a number of prominent telecoms to build a national fiber backbone network, offering onward connectivity to submarine cable infrastructure landings in Kenya and Tanzania (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress toward 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services

total subscriptions: 18,300 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2020 est.) less than 1

total subscriptions: 6,631,151 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 56 (2020 est.)

cassava, bananas, sweet potatoes, plantains, beans, vegetables, potatoes, cashew nuts, maize, taro

revenues: 536.7 million (2017 est.) expenditures: 729.6 million (2017 est.)

-5.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

-$418 million (2017 est.) -$411 million (2016 est.)

$610.9 million (31 December 2017 est.) $622.4 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Burundi is a landlocked, resource-poor country with an underdeveloped manufacturing sector. Agriculture accounts for over 40% of GDP and employs more than 90% of the population. Burundi's primary exports are coffee and tea, which account for more than half of foreign exchange earnings, but these earnings are subject to fluctuations in weather and international coffee and tea prices, Burundi is heavily dependent on aid from bilateral and multilateral donors, as well as foreign exchange earnings from participation in the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM). Foreign aid represented 48% of Burundi's national income in 2015, one of the highest percentages in Sub-Saharan Africa, but this figure decreased to 33.5% in 2016 due to political turmoil surrounding President NKURUNZIZA s bid for a third term. Burundi joined the East African Community (EAC) in 2009. Burundi faces several underlying weaknesses low governmental capacity, corruption, a high poverty rate, poor educational levels, a weak legal system, a poor transportation network, and overburdened utilities that have prevented the implementation of planned economic reforms. The purchasing power of most Burundians has decreased as wage increases have not kept pace with inflation, which reached approximately 18% in 2017. Real GDP growth dropped precipitously following political events in 2015 and has yet to recover to pre-conflict levels. Continued resistance by donors and the international community will restrict Burundi s economic growth as the country deals with a large current account deficit.

Burundi francs (BIF) per US dollar - 1,945 (2020 est.) 1,876.25 (2019 est.) 1,800.495 (2018 est.) 1,571.9 (2014 est.) 1,546.7 (2013 est.)

$290 million (2018 est.) $283 million (2018 est.) $315 million (2017 est.) note: Data are in current year dollars and do not include illicit exports or re-exports.

gold, coffee, tea, raw earth metal ores, wheat flours (2019)

United Arab Emirates 50%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 7% (2019)

calendar year

$3.027 billion (2019 est.)

household consumption: 83% (2017 est.) government consumption: 20.8% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 16% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 5.5% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -25.3% (2017 est.)

agriculture: 39.5% (2017 est.) industry: 16.4% (2017 est.) services: 44.2% (2017 est.)

38.6 (2013 est.)

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

$910 million (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $927 million (2018 est.) $1.295 billion (2017 est.)

refined petroleum, packaged medicines, cement, raw sugar, cars (2019)

China 14%, Saudi Arabia 14%, India 9%, Kenya 7%, United Arab Emirates 7%, Tanzania 5%, Zambia 5% (2019)

-2% (2017 est.)

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

-0.6% (2019 est.) -2.5% (2018 est.) 15.9% (2017 est.)

5.012 million (2017 est.)

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

64.6% (2014 est.)

51.7% of GDP (2017 est.) 48.4% of GDP (2016 est.)

$8.69 billion (2020 est.) $8.67 billion (2019 est.) $8.51 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars

0% (2017 est.) -1% (2016 est.) -4% (2015 est.)

$700 (2020 est.) $800 (2019 est.) $800 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars

$97.4 million (31 December 2017 est.) $95.17 million (31 December 2016 est.)

15.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

NA

total: 2.9% male: 4.4% female: 2% (2014 est.)

715,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 715,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)

installed generating capacity: 100,000 kW (2020 est.) consumption: 440.774 million kWh (2019 est.) exports: 0 kWh (2019 est.) imports: 100 million kWh (2019 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 15.96 million kWh (2019 est.)

electrification - total population: 11% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 66% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 2% (2019)

fossil fuels: 33.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 2.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 62.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 1.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

1.087 million Btu/person (2019 est.)

production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 5,000 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

1,374 bbl/day (2015 est.)

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

particulate matter emissions: 35.61 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.5 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 1.42 megatons (2020 est.)

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 Celsius 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)

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

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban

widespread lack of access: due to the effects of weather - about 646,000 people are estimated to be severely food insecure between June and September 2022; the main drivers are poor rains in May in some central and southern eastern areas that affected pulses production, the socio-economic impact of the COVID‑19 pandemic, and high food prices due to elevated fuel prices inflating transport costs (2022)

agricultural land: 73.3% (2018 est.) arable land: 38.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 15.6% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 18.8% (2018 est.) forest: 6.6% (2018 est.) other: 20.1% (2018 est.)

degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever water contact diseases: schistosomiasis animal contact diseases: rabies

fresh water lake(s): Lake Tanganyika (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and Zambia) - 32,000 sq km

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km)

coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)

forest revenues: 10.31% of GDP (2018 est.)

12.536 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

municipal: 43.1 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 15 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 222 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

urban population: 14.8% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 5.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

municipal solid waste generated annually: 1,872,016 tons (2002 est.)

total: 27,830 sq km land: 25,680 sq km water: 2,150 sq km

slightly smaller than Maryland

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 Celsius 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)

0 km (landlocked)

highest point: unnamed elevation on Mukike Range 2,685 m lowest point: Lake Tanganyika 772 m mean elevation: 1,504 m

3 30 S, 30 00 E

landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed; the Kagera, which drains into Lake Victoria, is the most remote headstream of the White Nile

230 sq km (2012)

total: 1,140 km border countries (3): Democratic Republic of the Congo 236 km; Rwanda 315 km; Tanzania 589 km

agricultural land: 73.3% (2018 est.) arable land: 38.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 15.6% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 18.8% (2018 est.) forest: 6.6% (2018 est.) other: 20.1% (2018 est.)

Central Africa, east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, west of Tanzania

fresh water lake(s): Lake Tanganyika (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and Zambia) - 32,000 sq km

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km)

Africa

none (landlocked)

flooding; landslides; drought

nickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat, cobalt, copper, platinum, vanadium, arable land, hydropower, niobium, tantalum, gold, tin, tungsten, kaolin, limestone

one of Africa's most densely populated countries; concentrations tend to be in the north and along the northern shore of Lake Tanganyika in the west; most people live on farms near areas of fertile volcanic soil as shown in this population distribution map

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

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

name: Gitega (political capital), Bujumbura (commercial capital); note - in January 2019, the Burundian parliament voted to make Gitega the political capital of the country while Bujumbura would remain its economic capital; as of 2022, the government's move to Gitega remains incomplete geographic coordinates: 3 25 S, 29 55 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the naming origins for both Gitega and Bujumbura are obscure; Bujumbura's name prior to independence in 1962 was Usumbura

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Burundi dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years

history: several previous, ratified by referendum 28 February 2005 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic after consultation with the government or by absolute majority support of the membership in both houses of Parliament; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Senate membership and at least four-fifths majority vote by the National Assembly; the president can opt to submit amendment bills to a referendum; constitutional articles including those on national unity, the secularity of Burundi, its democratic form of government, and its sovereignty cannot be amended; amended 2018 (amendments extended the presidential term from 5 to 7 years, reintroduced the position of prime minister, and reduced the number of vice presidents from 2 to 1)

conventional long form: Republic of Burundi conventional short form: Burundi local long form: Republique du Burundi (French)/ Republika y'u Burundi (Kirundi) local short form: Burundi former: Urundi, German East Africa, Ruanda-Urundi, Kingdom of Burundi etymology: name derived from the pre-colonial Kingdom of Burundi (17th-19th century)

chief of mission: Ambassador Melanie Harris HIGGINS (since 2 March 2021) embassy: B.P. 1720, Avenue Des Etats-Unis, Bujumbura mailing address: 2100 Bujumbura Place, Washington DC 20521-2100 telephone: [257] 22-207-000 FAX: [257] 22-222-926 email address and website: BujumburaC@state.gov https://bi.usembassy.gov/

chief of mission: Ambassador Jean de Dieu NDIKUMANA (since 7 July 2021) chancery: 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 342-2574 FAX: [1] (202) 342-2578 email address and website: burundiembusadc@gmail.com https://burundiembassy-usa.com/index.php

chief of state: President Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE (since 18 June 2020); Vice President Prosper BAZOMBANZA (since 24 June 2020); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE (since 18 June 2020); Vice President Prosper BAZOMBANZA (since 24 June 2020); Prime Minister Gervais NDIRAKOBUCA (since 7 September 2022) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by president elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 20 May 2020 (next to be held in 2027); vice presidents nominated by the president, endorsed by Parliament; note - a 2018 constitutional referendum effective for the 2020 election, increased the presidential term from 5 to 7 years with a 2-consecutive-term limit, reinstated the position of the prime minister position, and reduced the number of vice presidents from 2 to 1 election results: 2020: Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE elected president; percent of vote - Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE (CNDD-FDD) 71.5%, Agathon RWASA (CNL) 25.2%, Gaston SINDIMWO (UPRONA) 1.7%, OTHER 1.6%

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

presidential republic

1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration)

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; withdrew from ICCt in October 2017

ACP, AfDB, ATMIS, 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

highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 9 judges and organized into judicial, administrative, and cassation chambers); Constitutional Court (consists of 7 members) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by the Judicial Service Commission, a 15-member independent body of judicial and legal profession officials), appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate and serve 6-year nonrenewable terms subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; County Courts; Courts of Residence; Martial Court; Court Against Corruption; Commercial Court

mixed legal system of Belgian civil law and customary law

description: bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of: Senate or Inama Nkenguzamateka (39 seats in the July 2020 election); 36 members indirectly elected by an electoral college of provincial councils using a three-round voting system, which requires a two-thirds majority vote in the first two rounds and simple majority vote for the two leading candidates in the final round; 3 seats reserved for Twas, and 30% of all votes reserved for women; members serve 5-year terms) National Assembly or Inama Nshingamateka (123 seats in the May 2020 election; 100 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 23 co-opted members; 60% of seats allocated to Hutu and 40% to Tutsi; 3 seats reserved for Twas; 30% of total seats reserved for women; members serve 5-year terms) elections: Senate - last held on 20 July 2020 (next to be held in 2025) National Assembly - last held on 20 May 2020 (next to be held in 2025) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - CNDD-FDD 87.2%, Twa 7.7%, CNL 2.6%, UPRONA 2.6%; seats by party - CNDD-FDD 34, CNL 1, UPRONA 1, Twa 3; composition - men 23, women 16, percent of women 37.2% National Assembly - percent of vote by party - CNDD-FDD 70.9%, CNL 23.4%, UPRONA 2.5%, other (co-opted Twa) 3.2%; seats by party - CNDD-FDD 86, CNL 32, UPRONA 2, Twa 3; composition - men 76, women 47, percent of women 38.2%; note - total Parliament percent of women 38%

name: "Burundi Bwacu" (Our Beloved Burundi) lyrics/music: Jean-Baptiste NTAHOKAJA/Marc BARENGAYABO note: adopted 1962

Independence Day, 1 July (1962)

lion; national colors: red, white, green

Front for Democracy in Burundi-Nyakuri or FRODEBU-Nyakuri [Keffa NIBIZI] Front for Democracy in Burundi-Sahwanya or FRODEBU-Sahwanya [Pierre Claver NAHIMANA] National Congress for Liberty or CNL [Agathon RWASA] National Council for the Defense of Democracy - Front for the Defense of Democracy or CNDD-FDD [Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE] National Liberation Forces or FNL [Jacques BIGITIMANA] Union for National Progress (Union pour le Progress Nationale) or UPRONA [Abel GASHATSI]

18 years of age; universal

Established in the 1600s, the Burundi Kingdom has had borders similar to those of modern Burundi since the 1800s. Burundi s two major ethnic groups, the majority Hutu and minority Tutsi, share a common language and culture and largely lived in peaceful cohabitation under Tutsi monarchs in pre-colonial Burundi. Regional, class, and clan distinctions contributed to social status in the Burundi Kingdom, yielding a complex class structure. German colonial rule in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and Belgian rule after World War I preserved Burundi s monarchy. Seeking to simplify administration, Belgian colonial officials reduced the number of chiefdoms and eliminated most Hutu chiefs from positions of power. In 1961, the Burundian Tutsi king s oldest son, Louis RWAGASORE was murdered by a competing political faction shortly before he was set to become prime minister, triggering increased political competition that contributed to later instability. Burundi gained its independence from Belgium in 1962 as the Kingdom of Burundi. Revolution in neighboring Rwanda stoked ethnic polarization as the Tutsi increasingly feared violence and loss of political power. A failed Hutu-led coup in 1965 triggered a purge of Hutu officials and set the stage for Tutsi officers to overthrow the monarchy in 1966 and establish a Tutsi-dominated republic. A Hutu rebellion in 1972 that resulted in the death of several thousand Tutsi civilians sparked a brutal crackdown on Hutu civilians by the Tutsi-led military, which ultimately killed 100,000-200,000 people. International pressure led to a new constitution in 1992 and democratic elections in June 1993. Burundi's first democratically elected president, Hutu Melchior NDADAYE, was assassinated in October 1993 after only 100 days in office by Tutsi military officers fearing Hutu domination, sparking a civil war. His successor, Cyprien NTARYAMIRA, died when the Rwandan president s plane he was traveling on was shot down in April 1994, which triggered the Rwandan genocide and further entrenched ethnic conflict in Burundi. The internationally brokered Arusha Agreement, signed in 2000, and subsequent cease-fire agreements with armed movements ended the 1993-2005 civil war. Burundi s second democratic elections were held in 2005, resulting in the election of Pierre NKURUNZIZA as president. He was reelected in 2010 and again in 2015 after a controversial court decision allowed him to circumvent a term limit. President Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE - from NKURUNZIZA s ruling party - was elected in 2020.

in addition to its foreign deployments, the FDN was focused on internal security missions, particularly against rebel groups opposed to the regime such as National Forces of Liberation (FNL), the Resistance for the Rule of Law-Tabara (aka RED Tabara), and Popular Forces of Burundi (FPB or FOREBU); these groups were based in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo and have carried out sporadic attacks in Burundi (2022)

National Defense Forces (Forces de Defense Nationale, FDN): Army (includes maritime wing, air wing); Ministry of Public Security: National Police (Police Nationale du Burundi) (2022)

approximately 30,000 active duty troops, the majority of which are ground forces (2022)

760 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 5,400 Somalia (ATMIS) (2022)

the FDN is armed mostly with weapons from Russia and the former Soviet Union, with some Western equipment, largely from France; since 2010, the FDN has received small amounts of mostly second-hand equipment from China, South Africa, and the US (2021)

2% of GDP (2021 est.) 2.1% of GDP (2020 est.) 3% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $120 million) 2.3% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $100 million) 2.1% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $95 million)

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2021)

0-14 years: 43.83% (male 2,618,868/female 2,581,597) 15-24 years: 19.76% (male 1,172,858/female 1,171,966) 25-54 years: 29.18% (male 1,713,985/female 1,748,167) 55-64 years: 4.17% (male 231,088/female 264,131) 65 years and over: 3.06% (male 155,262/female 207,899) (2020 est.)

total: 4.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 1.84 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 2.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

35.17 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)

women married by age 15: 2.8% women married by age 18: 19% men married by age 18: 1.4% (2017 est.)

27% (2018/19)

28.5% (2016/17)

8% of GDP (2019)

5.96 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)

Burundi is a densely populated country with a high population growth rate, factors that combined with land scarcity and poverty place a large share of its population at risk of food insecurity. About 90% of the population relies on subsistence agriculture. Subdivision of land to sons, and redistribution to returning refugees, results in smaller, overworked, and less productive plots. Food shortages, poverty, and a lack of clean water contribute to a 60% chronic malnutrition rate among children. A lack of reproductive health services has prevented a significant reduction in Burundi’s maternal mortality and fertility rates, which are both among the world’s highest. With two-thirds of its population under the age of 25 and a birth rate of about 6 children per woman, Burundi’s population will continue to expand rapidly for decades to come, putting additional strain on a poor country. Historically, migration flows into and out of Burundi have consisted overwhelmingly of refugees from violent conflicts. In the last decade, more than a half million Burundian refugees returned home from neighboring countries, mainly Tanzania. Reintegrating the returnees has been problematic due to their prolonged time in exile, land scarcity, poor infrastructure, poverty, and unemployment. Repatriates and existing residents (including internally displaced persons) compete for limited land and other resources. To further complicate matters, international aid organizations reduced their assistance because they no longer classified Burundi as a post-conflict country. Conditions have deteriorated since renewed violence erupted in April 2015, causing another outpouring of refugees. In addition to refugee out-migration, Burundi has hosted thousands of refugees from neighboring countries, mostly from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and lesser numbers from Rwanda.

total dependency ratio: 95.2 youth dependency ratio: 90.4 elderly dependency ratio: 4.8 potential support ratio: 20.7 (2021 est.)

improved: urban: 98.7% of population rural: 78.9% of population total: 81.6% of population unimproved: urban: 1.3% of population rural: 21.1% of population total: 18.4% of population (2020 est.)

5% of GDP (2020 est.)

Hutu, Tutsi, Twa (Pygmy)

0.9% (2021 est.)

0.8 beds/1,000 population (2014)

total: 37.84 deaths/1,000 live births male: 42.02 deaths/1,000 live births female: 33.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)

Kirundi only 29.7% (official); French only 0.3% (official); Swahili only 0.2%; English only 0.1% (official); Kirundi and French 8.4%; Kirundi, French, and English 2.4%, other language combinations 2%, unspecified 56.9% (2008 est.) major-language sample(s): Igitabo Mpuzamakungu c'ibimenyetso bifatika, isoko ntabanduka ku nkuru z'urufatiro. (Kirundi) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. note: data represent languages read and written by people 10 years of age or older; spoken Kirundi is nearly universal

total population: 67.42 years male: 65.32 years female: 69.59 years (2022 est.)

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 68.4% male: 76.3% female: 61.2% (2017)

degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever water contact diseases: schistosomiasis animal contact diseases: rabies

1.207 million BUJUMBURA (capital) (2023)

548 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

total: 17.7 years male: 17.4 years female: 18 years (2020 est.)

21.5 years (2016/17 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

noun: Burundian(s) adjective: Burundian

7.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)

5.4% (2016)

0.07 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

12,696,478 (2022 est.)

one of Africa's most densely populated countries; concentrations tend to be in the north and along the northern shore of Lake Tanganyika in the west; most people live on farms near areas of fertile volcanic soil as shown in this population distribution map

3.63% (2022 est.)

Roman Catholic 58.6%, Protestant 35.3% (includes Adventist 2.7% and other Protestant 32.6%), Muslim 3.4%, other 1.3%, none 1.3% (2016-17 est.)

improved: urban: 87.4% of population rural: 53.7% of population total: 58.4% of population unimproved: urban: 12.6% of population rural: 46.3% of population total: 41.6% of population (2020 est.)

total: 11 years male: 11 years female: 11 years (2018)

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2022 est.)

total: 11.8% (2020 est.) male: 17.4% (2020 est.) female: 6.1% (2020 est.)

5.03 children born/woman (2022 est.)

urban population: 14.8% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 5.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

total: 2.9% male: 4.4% female: 2% (2014 est.)

cross-border conflicts persist among Tutsi, Hutu, other ethnic groups, associated political rebels, armed gangs, and various government forces in the Great Lakes region Burundi-Rwanda: Burundi's Ngozi province and Rwanda's Butare province dispute the two-kilometer-square hilly farmed area of Sabanerwa in the Rukurazi Valley where the Akanyaru/Kanyaru River shifted its course southward after heavy rains in 1965 around Kibinga Hill in Rwanda's Butare Province

refugees (country of origin): 85,470 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2022) IDPs: 84,791 (some ethnic Tutsis remain displaced from intercommunal violence that broke out after the 1993 coup and fighting between government forces and rebel groups; violence since April 2015) (2022) stateless persons: 767 (mid-year 2021)

total: 7 (2021)

total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2021)

total: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 2 (2021)

9U

1 (2021)

lake port(s): Bujumbura (Lake Tanganyika)

total: 12,322 km (2016) paved: 1,500 km (2016) unpaved: 10,822 km (2016)

673 km (2022) (mainly on Lake Tanganyika between Bujumbura, Burundi's principal port, and lake ports in Tanzania, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo)