Burundi

Background

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 resulted in the deaths of several thousand Tutsi civilians and sparked brutal Tutsi-led military reprisals against Hutu civilians which ultimately killed 100,000-200,000 people. International pressure led to a new constitution in 1992 and democratic elections in 1993. Tutsi military officers feared Hutu domination and assassinated Burundi's first democratically elected president, Hutu Melchior NDADAYE, in 1993 after only 100 days in office, sparking a civil war. In 1994, his successor, Cyprien NTARYAMIRA, died when the Rwandan president’s plane he was traveling on was shot down, 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.

Area

Climate

equatorial; a high plateau featuring significant elevation differences ranging from 772 m to 2,670 m above sea level; the average yearly temperature fluctuates with altitude between 23 and 17 degrees Celsius, yet remains generally temperate; the annual average precipitation is approximately 150 cm, with two wet seasons occurring from February to May and September to November, alongside two dry seasons from June to August and December to January

Terrain

characterized by hilly and mountainous terrain, descending to a plateau in the east, alongside some plains

Land use

Location

located in Central Africa, to the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to the west of Tanzania

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation

Irrigated land

230 sq km (2012)

Map references

Africa

Land boundaries

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

subject to flooding; landslides; and drought

Geography - note

landlocked; positioned over the crest of the Nile-Congo watershed; the Kagera River, which flows into Lake Victoria, is the farthest headstream of the White Nile

Natural resources

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

Area - comparative

slightly less extensive than the state of Maryland

Geographic coordinates

3 30 S, 30 00 E

Population distribution

one of the most densely populated nations in Africa; population concentrations are primarily found in the northern region and along the northern shore of Lake Tanganyika in the west; the majority of inhabitants reside on farms situated near fertile volcanic soil, as illustrated in this population distribution map

Major lakes (area sq km)

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Literacy

Languages

Religions

Christian 93.9% (Roman Catholic 58.6%, Protestant 35.3% [including Adventist 2.7% and other Protestant denominations 32.6%]), Muslim 3.4%, other 1.3%, none 1.3% (estimates from 2016-17)

Sex ratio

Birth rate

35.91 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

5.51 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Median age

Population

Nationality

Tobacco use

Urbanization

Age structure

Ethnic groups

Hutu, Tutsi, Twa, South Asian

Child marriage

Dependency ratios

Physician density

0.08 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Health expenditure

Net migration rate

-0.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.94 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

Education expenditure

Infant mortality rate

Population growth rate

2.96% (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

2.43 (2025 est.)

Population distribution

among the most densely populated nations in Africa; population clusters are primarily found in the northern regions and along the northern banks of Lake Tanganyika in the west; the majority of residents inhabit farms located in areas with fertile volcanic soil, as illustrated in this population distribution map

Life expectancy at birth

Maternal mortality ratio

392 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Sanitation facility access

Alcohol consumption per capita

Major urban areas - population

1.207 million BUJUMBURA (capital) (2023)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

5.4% (2016)

Mother's mean age at first birth

21.5 years (2016/17 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

58.2% (2017 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

28.3% (2024 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

Climate

equatorial; a high plateau characterized by significant altitude differences, ranging from 772 m to 2,670 m above sea level; the average yearly temperature fluctuates with altitude between 23 and 17 degrees Celsius, yet remains predominantly moderate; the average yearly precipitation is approximately 150 cm, featuring two wet seasons (February to May and September to November) and two dry seasons (June to August and December to January)

Land use

Urbanization

Waste and recycling

Environmental issues

soil degradation resulting from overgrazing and the expansion of agriculture; deforestation; loss of wildlife habitats

Total water withdrawal

Carbon dioxide emissions

Particulate matter emissions

26.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

12.536 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

International environmental agreements

Flag

description: features a white diagonal cross dividing red triangles (top and bottom) and green triangles (on either side), with a white circle at the center that displays three six-pointed red stars outlined in green, arranged in a triangular formation

meaning: green symbolizes hope and optimism, white represents purity and peace, while red signifies the blood shed during the fight for independence; the three stars denote the principal ethnic groups (Hutu, Twa, Tutsi) as well as unity, labor, and advancement

Capital

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship

Constitution

Country name

Independence

1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration)

Legal system

a mixed legal system combining Belgian civil law and customary law

Government type

presidential republic

Judicial branch

Executive branch

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 July (1962)

National color(s)

red, white, green

Political parties

Council for Democracy and the Sustainable Development of Burundi or CODEBU 
Front for Democracy in Burundi-Sahwanya or FRODEBU-Sahwanya 
National Council for the Defense of Democracy - Front for the Defense of Democracy or CNDD-FDD 
National Congress for Liberty or CNL 
National Liberation Forces or FNL 
Union for National Progress (Union pour le Progress Nationale) or UPRONA 

Legislative branch

National anthem(s)

National symbol(s)

lion

Administrative divisions

5 provinces: Buhumuza, Bujumbura, Burunga, Butanyerera, Gitega

Legislative branch - lower chamber

Legislative branch - upper chamber

Diplomatic representation in the US

Diplomatic representation from the US

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, ATMIS, AU, CEMAC, CEPGL, CICA, COMESA, EAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICGLR, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

International law organization participation

has not provided a declaration of ICJ jurisdiction; withdrew from ICCt in October 2017

Budget

Exports

Imports

Industries

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

Labor force

6.107 million (2024 est.)

Public debt

Remittances

Exchange rates

Debt - external

Economic overview

a predominantly agricultural, low-income economy in Sub-Saharan Africa; decreasing foreign aid; rising fiscal insolvencies; a dense and still expanding population; COVID-19 hampered economic recovery and reversed two years of deflation

Unemployment rate

Exports - partners

UAE 59%, Uganda 8%, China 5%, Germany 5%, USA 3% (2023)

Imports - partners

Tanzania 26%, China 15%, Uganda 10%, Kenya 10%, India 6% (2023)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP growth rate

Agricultural products

cassava, bananas, sweet potatoes, beans, maize, vegetables, potatoes, rice, sugarcane, fruits (2023)

Exports - commodities

gold, coffee, tea, tin ores, iron bars (2023)

Imports - commodities

fertilizers, cement, packaged medicine, plastic products, cars (2023)

Current account balance

Taxes and other revenues

15.6% (of GDP) (2021 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.162 billion (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use

Population below poverty line

51% (2020 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Industrial production growth rate

-0.2% (2024 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Coal

Petroleum

Electricity

Electricity access

Energy consumption per capita

Electricity generation sources

Internet users

Broadcast media

The state-operated Radio Television Nationale de Burundi (RTNB) runs a television channel along with a national radio network; there are 3 privately-owned television stations and approximately 10 private radio stations; residents of Bujumbura can access broadcasts from multiple international media outlets (2019)

Internet country code

.bi

Telephones - fixed lines

Telephones - mobile cellular

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

Airports

6 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

9U

Military - note

The National Defense Force (FDNB) is tasked with safeguarding the territorial integrity of Burundi and ensuring its sovereignty; it also has a role in internal security, which encompasses the maintenance and restoration of public order when necessary. Additionally, the FDNB engages in providing humanitarian and disaster relief, combating terrorism, narcotics trafficking, piracy, and the illegal arms trade, as well as protecting the environment of the nation. The FDNB undertakes limited training initiatives with international partners, including Russia, and is involved in regional peacekeeping efforts, with its most recent missions taking place in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Somalia. In recent years, the FDNB has carried out operations against anti-government rebel factions operating from the neighboring DRC, which have executed sporadic attacks within Burundi, including groups such as the National Forces of Liberation (FNL), the Resistance for the Rule of Law-Tabara (also known as RED Tabara), and the Popular Forces of Burundi (FPB or FOREBU). Burundi has accused Rwanda of providing support to RED-Tabara.

The Arusha Accords, which concluded the civil war from 1993 to 2005, established a unified military by balancing the predominantly Tutsi ex-Burundi Armed Forces (ex-FAB) with the mainly Hutu-led armed movements, mandating that the military maintain a 50/50 ethnic composition of Tutsis and Hutus (2025).

Military deployments

770 personnel in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA); up to 10,000 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2025).

Military expenditures

Military and security forces

Burundi National Defense Force (BNDF; Force de Defense Nationale du Burundi, FDNB): Land Force (Army), Naval Force, Air Force, and Specialized Units.

Ministry of Interior, Community Development, and Public Security: Burundi National Police (Police Nationale du Burundi, PNB) (2024).

Military service age and obligation

Individuals must be at least 18 years old to voluntarily enlist in military service, applicable to both men and women (2025).

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

The military possesses a combination of primarily older weaponry, largely sourced from French, Russian, and Soviet origins, alongside a limited array of more contemporary equipment from countries such as China, Egypt, South Africa, and the United States (2025).

Military and security service personnel strengths

Information is limited; the estimated number of active-duty Defense Force personnel is between 25,000 and 30,000 (2025).

Refugees and internally displaced persons