Administrative divisions16 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura, Bururi, Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Gitega, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo, Makamba, Muramvya, Muyinga, Mwaro, Ngozi, Rutana, Ruyigi
Age structure
0-14 years: 46.4% (male 1,459,251; female 1,430,332)
15-64 years: 50.9% (male 1,566,274; female 1,607,705)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 66,306; female 101,353) (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products
coffee, cotton, tea, corn, sorghum, sweet potatoes, bananas, manioc (tapioca); beef, milk, hides
Airports
8 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2003 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 3 (2003 est.)
Area
total: 27,830 sq km
water: 2,180 sq km
land: 25,650 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly smaller than Maryland
Background
Burundi's first democratically elected president was assassinated in October 1993 after only four months in office. Since then, some 200,000 Burundians have perished in widespread, often intense ethnic violence between Hutu and Tutsi factions. Hundreds of thousands have been internally displaced or have become refugees in neighboring countries. Burundi troops, seeking to secure their borders, intervened in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1998. More recently, many of these troops have been redeployed back to Burundi to deal with periodic upsurges in rebel activity. A new transitional government, inaugurated on 1 November 2001, was to be the first step toward holding national elections in three years. While the Government of Burundi signed a cease-fire agreement in December 2002 with three of Burundi's four Hutu rebel groups, implementation of the agreement has been problematic and one rebel group refuses to sign on, clouding prospects for a sustainable peace.
Birth rate
39.68 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Budget
revenues: $179.4 million
expenditures: $209 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2003)
Capital
Bujumbura
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 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
0 km (landlocked)
Constitution
13 March 1992; provided for establishment of a plural political system; supplanted on 6 June 1998 by a Transitional Constitution which enlarged the National Assembly and created two vice presidents
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Burundi
conventional short form: Burundi
local short form: Burundi
local long form: Republika y'u Burundi
former: Urundi
Currency
Burundi franc (BIF)
Currency code
BIF
Current account balance
$-35 million (2003)
Death rate
17.61 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Debt - external
$1.133 billion (2002)
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador James Howard YELLIN
embassy: Avenue des Etats-Unis, Bujumbura
mailing address: B. P. 1720, Bujumbura
telephone: [257] 223454
FAX: [257] 222926
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Antoine NTAMOBWA
chancery: Suite 212, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
FAX: [1] (202) 342-2578
telephone: [1] (202) 342-2574
Disputes - international
Tutsi, Hutu, and other conflicting ethnic groups, associated political rebels, armed gangs, and various government forces continue fighting in the Great Lakes region, transcending the boundaries of Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda to gain control over populated and natural resource areas; government heads pledge to end conflict, but localized violence continues despite UN peacekeeping efforts
Distribution of family income - Gini index
42.5 (1998)
Economic aid - recipient
$92.7 million (2000)
Economy - overview
Burundi is a landlocked, resource-poor country with an underdeveloped manufacturing sector. The economy is predominantly agricultural with roughly 90% of the population dependent on subsistence agriculture. Economic growth depends on coffee and tea exports, which account for 90% of foreign exchange earnings. The ability to pay for imports, therefore, rests primarily on weather conditions and international coffee and tea prices. The Tutsi minority, 14% of the population, dominates the government and the coffee trade at the expense of the Hutu majority, 85% of the population. Since October 1993 an ethnic-based war has resulted in more than 200,000 deaths, forced 800,000 refugees into Tanzania, and displaced 525,000 others internally. Doubts about the prospects for sustainable peace continue to impede development. Only one in two children go to school, and approximately one in ten adults has HIV/AIDS. Food, medicine, and electricity remain in short supply.
Electricity - consumption
177.5 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports
33 million kWh; note - supplied by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2001)
Electricity - production
155.4 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel: 0.6%
hydro: 99.4%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Lake Tanganyika 772 m
highest point: Mount Heha 2,670 m
Environment - current issues
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
Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Ethnic groups
Hutu (Bantu) 85%, Tutsi (Hamitic) 14%, Twa (Pygmy) 1%, Europeans 3,000, South Asians 2,000
Exchange rates
Burundi francs per US dollar - 1,082.62 (2003), 930.75 (2002), 830.35 (2001), 720.67 (2000), 563.56 (1999)
Executive branch
chief of state: President Domitien NDAYIZEYE (since 30 April 2003); note - NDAYIZEYE, a Hutu, was sworn in as president for the second half of the three-year transitional government inaugurated on 1 November 2001; Vice President Alphonse KADEGE (since 30 April 2003); note - KADEGE is from the Tutsi minority
head of government: President Domitien NDAYIZEYE (since 30 April 2003); note - NDAYIZEYE, a Hutu, was sworn in as president for the second half of the three-year transitional government inaugurated on 1 November 2001; Vice President Alphonse KADEGE (since 30 April 2003); note - KADEGE is from the Tutsi minority
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by president
elections: NA; current president assumed power on 30 April 2003 as part of the transitional government established by the 2000 Arusha Accord
Exports
$40 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities
coffee, tea, sugar, cotton, hides
Exports - partners
Germany 16.3%, US 14%, Belgium 11.6%, Kenya 9.3%, Netherlands 9.3%, Rwanda 7%, China 4.7%, France 4.7% (2003 est.)
Fiscal year
calendar year
Flag description
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)
GDP
purchasing power parity - $3.78 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: 47.4%
industry: 19.3%
services: 33.3% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita
purchasing power parity - $600 (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
-1.3% (2003 est.)
Geographic coordinates
3 30 S, 30 00 E
Geography - note
landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed; the Kagera, which drains into Lake Victoria, is the most remote headstream of the White Nile
Government type
republic
Highways
total: 14,480 km
paved: 1,028 km
unpaved: 13,452 km (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
6% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
25,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
250,000 (2003 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage shar
lowest 10%: 1.8%
highest 10%: 32.9% (1998)
Imports
$128 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities
capital goods, petroleum products, foodstuffs
Imports - partners
Saudi Arabia 12.7%, Belgium 10.1%, Kenya 7.6%, France 7%, Algeria 5.7%, Tanzania 5.7%, India 4.4% (2003 est.)
Independence
1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration)
Industrial production growth rate
18% (2001)
Industries
light consumer goods such as blankets, shoes, soap; assembly of imported components; public works construction; food processing
Infant mortality rate
total: 70.4 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 63.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 77.15 deaths/1,000 live births
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
10.7% (2003 est.)
International organization participation
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, CEPGL, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Internet country code
.bi
Internet hosts
22 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
1 (2000)
Internet users
14,000 (2003)
Investment (gross fixed)
9.8% of GDP (2003)
Irrigated land
740 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Constitutional Court; Courts of Appeal (there are three in separate locations); Tribunals of First Instance (17 at the province level and 123 small local tribunals)
Labor force
2.99 million (2002)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture 93.6%, industry 2.3%, services 4.1% (2002 est.)
Land boundaries
total: 974 km
border countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 233 km, Rwanda 290 km, Tanzania 451 km
Land use
arable land: 35.05%
permanent crops: 14.02%
other: 50.93% (2001)
Languages
Kirundi (official), French (official), Swahili (along Lake Tanganyika and in the Bujumbura area)
Legal system
based on German and Belgian civil codes and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch
bicameral, consists of a National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (expanded from 121 to approximately 140 seats under the transitional government inaugurated 1 November 2001; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and a Senate (54 seats; term length is undefined, the current senators will likely serve out the three-year transition period)
elections: last held 29 June 1993 (next was scheduled to be held in 1998, but was suspended by presidential decree in 1996; elections are planned to follow the completion of the three-year transitional government)
election results: percent of vote by party - FRODEBU 71.04%, UPRONA 21.4%, other 7.56%; seats by party - FRODEBU 65, UPRONA 16, civilians 27, other parties 13
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 43.36 years
male: 42.73 years
female: 44 years (2004 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 51.6%
male: 58.5%
female: 45.2% (2003 est.)
Location
Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo
Map references
Africa
Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Median age
total: 16.5 years
male: 16.1 years
female: 16.8 years (2004 est.)
Military branches
Army (including Naval Detachment and Air Wing), National Gendarmerie
Military expenditures - dollar figure
$33.3 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP
6% (2003)
Military manpower - availability
males age 15-49: 1,419,755 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service
males age 15-49: 747,400 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - military age
16 years of age (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually
males: 81,862 (2004 est.)
National holiday
Independence Day, 1 July (1962)
Nationality
noun: Burundian(s)
adjective: Burundian
Natural hazards
flooding, landslides, drought
Natural resources
nickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat, cobalt, copper, platinum (not yet exploited), vanadium, arable land, hydropower
Net migration rate
-0.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption
2,750 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports
NA (2001)
Oil - imports
NA (2001)
Oil - production
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Political parties and leaders
the two national, mainstream, governing parties are: Unity for National Progress or UPRONA [Alphonse KADEGE, president]; Burundi Democratic Front or FRODEBU [Jean MINANI, president]
note: a multiparty system was introduced after 1998, included are: Burundi African Alliance for the Salvation or ABASA [Terrence NSANZE]; Rally for Democracy and Economic and Social Development or RADDES [Joseph NZEYIMANA]; Party for National Redress or PARENA [Jean-Baptiste BAGAZA]; People's Reconciliation Party or PRP [Mathias HITIMANA]
Political pressure groups and leaders
loosely organized Hutu and Tutsi militias, often affiliated with Hutu and Tutsi extremist parties or subordinate to government security forces
Population
6,231,221
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2004 est.)
Population below poverty line
68% (2002 est.)
Population growth rate
2.2% (2004 est.)
Ports and harbors
Bujumbura
Radio broadcast stations
AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios
440,000 (2001)
Religions
Christian 67% (Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 5%), indigenous beliefs 23%, Muslim 10%
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold
$67.4 million (2003)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Suffrage
NA years of age; universal adult
Telephone system
general assessment: primitive system
domestic: sparse system of open-wire, radiotelephone communications, and low-capacity microwave radio relay
international: country code - 257; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use
23,900 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular
64,000 (2003)
Television broadcast stations
1 (2001)
Televisions
25,000 (1997)
Terrain
hilly and mountainous, dropping to a plateau in east, some plains
Total fertility rate
5.9 children born/woman (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate
NA
Waterways
Lake Tanganyika