Burundi
Country Guide

Explore Burundi

Burundi with its capital Bujumbura is located in Africa (Central Africa, east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo). It covers some 27,831 square kilometers (slightly smaller than Maryland) with 11,466,800 citizens. French and Rundi are the common languages used in Burundi. Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Tanzania are bordering countries.

Burundi is landlocked, though much of the southwestern border is adjacent to Lake Tanganyika. It is one of the ten poorest countries in the world and it has the lowest per capita GDP of any nation in the world. Burundi has a low GDP rate is because of civil wars, corruption, poor access to education, political instability and the effect of HIV/AIDS. Despite its struggles, it offers a great choice of national parks. The Natural Reserve of Rusizi will most likely be your first visit in Burundi for the simple reason that it is very near to the capital city of Bujumbura. All nationalities require a visa to visit Burundi except citizens of Uganda. A visa costs US$80 on arrival at the airport or can be obtained from embassies prior to travel.

Popular Destinations in Burundi

Administrative regions of Burundi

• Bubanza Province
• Bujumbura Mairie Province
• Bujumbura Rural Province
• Bururi Province
• Cankuzo Province
• Cibitoke Province
• Gitega Province
• Karuzi Province
• Kayanza Province
• Kirundo Province
• Makamba Province
• Muramvya Province
• Muyinga Province
• Mwaro Province
• Ngozi Province
• Rumonge Province
• Rutana Province
• Ruyigi Province

About the country

The topography is hilly and mountainous, dropping to a plateau in east, some plains. The average density of population is about 412 per km². The climate in Burundi can be described as equatorialhigh plateau with considerable altitude variation (772 m to 2,670 m above sea level), average annual temperature varying with altitude from 23 to 17 degrees Celsius but being generally moderate as the average altitude being about 1,700 m, average annual rainfall being about 150 cm, two wet seasons (February to May and September to November), and two dry seasons (June to August and December to January). Potential natural disasters are drought, flooding and landslides.

To reach someone Burundi dial +257 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 3G, 4G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".bi". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 220 V - 50 Hz (plugs: C, E). The sign for the locally used currency Franc is BIF.

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.

Burundi is a small country in East Africa bordered by Tanzania, Rwanda, and Lake Tanganyika. Burundi gained its independence from Belgium in 1962. Much of its history has been turbulent, and Burundi's first democratically elected president was assassinated in October 1993 after only 100 days in office. The internationally brokered Arusha Agreement ended the 1993-2005 civil war, paving the way for a new constitution and 2005 elections. Pierre NKURUNZIZA was elected president in 2005 and 2010 and again in a controversial election in 2015. Burundi continues to face many political and economic challenges.

Geography

Area
Total (World Rank: 147)	27,830	sq km
Land (World Rank: 146)	25,680	sq km
Water (World Rank: 89)	2,150	sq km
Forest (World Rank: 96)	18.80	%
Comparative	slightly smaller than Maryland
Landborder
1140
Elevation
Lowest point (World Rank: 4)	772	m
Highest point (World Rank: 91)	2,670	m
Agricultural land
Total (World Rank: 18)	73.30	%
Arable (World Rank: 16)	38.90	%
Permanent crops (World Rank: 16)	15.60	%
Permanent pastures (World Rank: 96)	18.80	%
Irrigated land (World Rank: 132)	230	sq km
Map reference
Africa
Environment
Issues	- deforestation (little forested land remains because of uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel) - habitat loss threatens wildlife populations - soil erosion as a result of overgrazing and the expansion of agriculture into marginal lands
Agreement party	- Biodiversity - Climate Change - Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol - Desertification - Endangered Species - Hazardous Wastes - Ozone Layer Protection - Wetlands
Agreement signed	Law of the Sea
Hazzards	- drought - flooding - landslides
Location
Central Africa, east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, west of Tanzania
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 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)
Terrain
hilly and mountainous, dropping to a plateau in east, some plains

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People

Population
Total (World Rank: 78)	11,466,800
Deathrate (World Rank: 70)	0.88	%
Birthrate (World Rank: 6)	4.13	%
Growthrate (World Rank: 5)	3.25	%
Fertility rate (World Rank: 4)	5.99	%
Median age
Male (World Rank: 218)	16.80
Female (World Rank: 219)	17.30
Age structure
0 14 male (World Rank: 67)	2,628,770
0 14 female (World Rank: 65)	2,596,720
15 24 male (World Rank: 80)	1,095,210
15 24 female (World Rank: 78)	1,100,310
25 54 male (World Rank: 98)	1,643,320
25 54 female (World Rank: 97)	1,651,680
55 64 male (World Rank: 113)	212,074
55 64 female (World Rank: 112)	237,324
65 x male (World Rank: 122)	129,482
65 x female (World Rank: 122)	171,865
Health
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 19)	5.88	%
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 199)	61	years
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 198)	63	years
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 199)	59	years
Hospital bed per 1000 (World Rank: 112)	1.90
Sanitation access total (World Rank: 161)	48.00	%
Obesity adult (World Rank: 177)	5.40	%
Drinking water access (World Rank: 170)	75.90	%

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Energy

Electricity
Production (World Rank: 181)	230,000,000	kWh
Consumption (World Rank: 182)	303,900,000	kWh
Import (World Rank: 96)	90,000,000	kWh
Source fossil (World Rank: 199)	13.20	%
Source nuclear (World Rank: 13)	83.80	%
Source renew (World Rank: 99)	4.40	%
Refined products
Consumption (World Rank: 198)	1,500	bbl / day
Import (World Rank: 190)	1,636	bbl / day
Natural gas
Consumption (World Rank: 121)	29	m³
Carbon footprint
300000

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Nation

Budget
Education (World Rank: 48)	5	% of GDP
Military (World Rank: 46)	2	% of GDP
Health (World Rank: 66)	8	% of GDP
Surplus (World Rank: 143)	-5	% of GDP
National symbol
lion
National colours
white
Adjective
Burundian
Noun
Burundian(s)
Background
Burundi is a small country in East Africa bordered by Tanzania, Rwanda, and Lake Tanganyika. Burundi gained its independence from Belgium in 1962. Much of its history has been turbulent, and Burundi's first democratically elected president was assassinated in October 1993 after only 100 days in office. The internationally brokered Arusha Agreement ended the 1993-2005 civil war, paving the way for a new constitution and 2005 elections. Pierre NKURUNZIZA was elected president in 2005 and 2010 and again in a controversial election in 2015. Burundi continues to face many political and economic challenges.
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

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Economy

Gdp
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 164)	7,849,000,000	USD
Real growth rate (World Rank: 192)	-1.00	%
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 224)	800	USD
Source agriculture (World Rank: 10)	39.80	%
Source industry (World Rank: 169)	16.60	%
Source service (World Rank: 193)	43.70	%
Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 83)	4,842,000
In poverty (World Rank: 9)	64.60	%
Products
Industries	- assembly of imported components - beer - cement - food processing - fruits - light consumer goods - public works construction - shoes - soap - sugar
Agriculture	- bananas - beans - beef - cassava - coffee - corn - cotton - hides - manioc - milk - sorghum - sweet potatoes - tapioca - tea
Exports	- coffee - cotton - hides - sugar - tea
Imports	- capital goods - foodstuffs - petroleum products

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Communication

Phone
Landline total (World Rank: 176)	19,540
Landline per 100 (World Rank: 213)	1.00
Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 203)	48.00
Assessment	0
Internet
Users (World Rank: 145)	574,236
Population (World Rank: 215)	5.20	%

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Transport

Air
Airports paved (World Rank: 202)	1.00
Airports unpaved (World Rank: 145)	6.00
Heliports (World Rank: 75)	1.00
Road
Total length (World Rank: 129)	12,322
Paved length (World Rank: 133)	1,500
Unpaved length (World Rank: 81)	10,822

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