Burundi

• 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;
• average annual rainfall is about 150 cm with two wet seasons (February to May and September to November) and two dry seasons (June to August and December to January)

• 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

• flooding;
• landslides;
• drought

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

noun:

Burundian(s)

adjective:

Burundian

total:

17.6 years (2025 est.)

male:

18 years

female:

18.7 years

• 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

at birth:

1.03 male(s)/female

0-14 years:

1.02 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

0.98 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.76 male(s)/female

total population:

0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

total:

35.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

male:

39.7 deaths/1,000 live births

female:

31.5 deaths/1,000 live births

total population:

68.1 years (2024 est.)

male:

66 years

female:

70.3 years

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.)

total:

9.1% (2025 est.)

male:

14% (2025 est.)

female:

4.3% (2025 est.)

women married by age 15:

2.8% (2017)

women married by age 18:

19% (2017)

men married by age 18:

1.4% (2017)

• soil erosion from overgrazing and agricultural expansion;
• deforestation;
• wildlife habitat loss

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

• 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;
• average annual rainfall is about 150 cm with two wet seasons (February to May and September to November) and two dry seasons (June to August and December to January)

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 million tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled:

7.1% (2022 est.)

municipal:

43.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial:

15 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

agricultural:

222 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

conventional long form:

Republic of Burundi

conventional short form:

Burundi

local long form:

République du Burundi (French)/ Republika y'u Burundi (Kirundi)

local short form:

Burundi

former:

Urundi, German East Africa, Ruanda-Urundi, Kingdom of Burundi

etymology:

• name dates from 1966 and is derived from the name of the local Bantu people, the Rundi or Barundi;
• ba - is the prefix for the people, and bu - is the prefix for the country;
• the former name, Urundi, is the Swahili version

history:

several previous, ratified by referendum 28 February 2005

amendment process:

• 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

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

chief of state:

President Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE (since 18 June 2020)

head of government:

Prime Minister Nestor NTAHONTUYE (since 5 August 2025)

cabinet:

Council of Ministers appointed by president

election/appointment process:

• president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term);
• vice presidents nominated by the president, endorsed by Parliament

most recent election date:

20 May 2020

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%

;

• 2015: Pierre NKURUNZIZA reelected president;
• percent of vote - Pierre NKURUNZIZA (CNDD-FDD) 69.4%, Agathon RWASA (Hope of Burundians - Amizerio y'ABARUNDI) 19%, other 11.6%

expected date of next election:

May 2027

legislature name:

Parliament (Parlement)

legislative structure:

bicameral

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 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;
• Commercial Court

• 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

chief of mission:

Ambassador Jean Bosco BAREGE (since 27 February 2024)

chancery:

2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007

telephone:

[1] (202) 342-2574

FAX:

[1] (202) 342-2578

email address and website:

[email protected]; Burundi Embassy Washington D.C. (burundiembassy-usa.com)

chief of mission:

Ambassador Lisa PETERSON (since 27 June 2024)

embassy:

No 50 Avenue Des Etats-Unis, 110-01-02, Bujumbura

mailing address:

2100 Bujumbura Place, Washington DC 20521-2100

telephone:

[257] 22-207-000

FAX:

[257] 22-222-926

email address and website:

[email protected]; https://bi.usembassy.gov/

description:

divided by a white diagonal cross into red triangles (top and bottom) and green triangles (on each side) with a white disk at the center bearing three six-pointed red stars outlined in green and arranged in a triangular design

meaning:

• green stands for hope and optimism, white for purity and peace, and red for the blood shed in the struggle for independence;
• the three stars represent the major ethnic groups (Hutu, Twa, Tutsi), as well as unity, work, and progress

title:

"Burundi Bwacu" (Our Beloved Burundi)

lyrics/music:

Jean-Baptiste NTAHOKAJA/Marc BARENGAYABO

history:

adopted 1962

• highly agrarian, low-income Sub-Saharan economy;
• declining foreign assistance;
• increasing fiscal insolvencies;
• dense and still growing population;
• COVID-19 weakened economic recovery and flipped two years of deflation

agriculture:

25.3% (2023 est.)

industry:

9.6% (2023 est.)

services:

49% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

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

total:

1.6% (2024 est.)

male:

2.1% (2024 est.)

female:

1.2% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

lowest 10%:

2.9% (2020 est.)

highest 10%:

29.9% (2020 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

consumption:

1,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports:

10,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

total subscriptions:

14,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:

(2023 est.) less than 1

• 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)

total:

3,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:

(2023 est.) less than 1

refugees:

91,164 (2024 est.)

IDPs:

92,174 (2024 est.)

stateless persons:

791 (2024 est.)