Burundi

Republic of BurundiRepublika y'u Burundi

republicIndependence 1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian

Burundi as the 1995 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 79 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalBujumbura

Area27,830 sq km

LocationCentral Africa, east of Zaire

Populationas each edition published it

6.26 million July 1995 est. · 5.65m in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.18% 1995 est. · 2.34% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 16.3 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

39.86 years 1995 est. · 40.75 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

6.63 children per woman 1995 est. · 7 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

111.9 deaths per 1,000 live births 1995 est. · 111 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$600 1994 est. · $205 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

-13.5% 1994 est. · 5% in 1993

Geography

Central Africa, east of Zaire

14 fields

Area

27,830sq km

land area: 25,650 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than Maryland

Coastline

0km

(landlocked)Maritime claims: none; landlocked

Land boundaries

974km

total · Rwanda 290 km, Tanzania 451 km, Zaire 233 km

Irrigated land

720sq km

(1989 est.)

Climate

temperate;
warm;
occasional frost in uplands;
dry season from June to September

Terrain

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

Natural resources

nickel, uranium, rare earth oxide, peat, cobalt, copper, platinum (not yet exploited), vanadium

Land use

arable land:: 43%
permanent crops:: 8%
meadows and pastures:: 35%
forest and woodland:: 2%
other:: 12%

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
natural hazards:: flooding, landslides
international agreements:: party to - Endangered Species; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban

Note

landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed

People

15 fields

Population

6,262,429

(July 1995 est.)growth rate: 2.18% (1995 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1995 est.)

Birth

43.35Death

21.51

Male · female(1995 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years39.86

37.84 · 41.95

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy50%

61% · 40%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Religions

Christian 67% (Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 5%)indigenous beliefs 32%Muslim 1%

Labor force

1.9million

(1983 est.)by occupation: agriculture 93.0%, government 4.0%, industry and commerce 1.5%, services 1.5%

Age structure

0-14 years:: 48% (female 1,489,721; male 1,494,730)
15-64 years:: 50% (female 1,606,307; male 1,498,021)
65 years and over:: 2% (female 105,446; male 68,204) (July 1995 est.)

Net migration rate

NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

note: in a number of waves since April 1994, hundreds of thousands of refugees have fled the civil strife between the Hutu and Tutsi factions in Burundi and crossed into Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zaire;

the refugee flows are continuing in 1995 as the ethnic violence has persisted

Infant mortality rate

111.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Burundian(s)
adjective:: Burundi

Africans

Hutu (Bantu) 85%, Tutsi (Hamitic) 14%, Twa (Pygmy) 1%; non-Africans: Europeans 3,000, South Asians 2,000

Languages

Kirundi (official), French (official), Swahili (along Lake Tanganyika and in the Bujumbura area)

Government

Republic; President Sylvestre NTIBANTUNGANYA (since September 1994); Prime Minister Antoine NDUWAYO (since February 1995)

21 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

71%

FRODEBU 71%UPRONA 21.4%

Names

conventional long form:: Republic of Burundi
conventional short form:: Burundi
local long form:: Republika y'u Burundi
local short form:: Burundi

Administrative divisions

15 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura, Bururi, Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Gitega, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo, Makamba, Muramvya, Muyinga, Ngozi, Rutana, Ruyigi

Independence

1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration)

Constitution

13 March 1992; provides for establishment of a plural political system

Legal system

based on German and Belgian civil codes and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch

chief of state:: President Sylvestre NTIBANTUNGANYA (since September 1994)

note: President Melchior NDADAYE, Burundi's first democratically elected president, died in the military coup of 21 October 1993 and was succeeded on 5 February 1994 by President Cyprien NTARYAMIRA,

who was killed in a mysterious airplane explosion on 6 April 1994

head of government:: Prime Minister Antoine NDUWAYO (since February 1995); selected by President NTIBANTUNGANYA following the resignation of Anatole KANYENKIKO on 15 February 1995
cabinet:: Council of Ministers; appointed by prime minister

National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)

elections last held 29 June 1993 (next to be held NA);
results - FRODEBU 71%, UPRONA 21.4%;
seats - (81 total) FRODEBU 65, UPRONA 16;
other parties won too small shares of the vote to win seats in the assembly

note: The National Unity Charter outlining the principles for constitutional government was adopted by a national referendum on 5 February 1991

Political parties and leaders

Unity for National Progress (UPRONA);
Burundi Democratic Front (FRODEBU);
Organization of the People of Burundi (RBP);
Socialist Party of Burundi (PSB);
People's Reconciliation Party (PRP);
opposition parties, legalized in March 1992, include Burundi African Alliance for the Salvation (ABASA);
Rally for Democracy and Economic and Social Development (RADDES);
and Party for National Redress (PARENA)

Other political or pressure groups

NA;

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:: post vacant since recall of Ambassador Jacques BACAMURWANKO in November 1994
chancery:: Suite 212, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone:: [1] (202) 342-2574

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:: Ambassador Robert C. KRUEGER
embassy:: Avenue des Etats-Unis, Bujumbura
mailing address:: B. P. 1720, Bujumbura
telephone:: [257] (2) 23454

FAX

[257] (2) 22926

Flag

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)

Economy

18 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$600

(1994 est.)

Real growth rate

-13.5%

(1994 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate 11% (1991 est.); accounts for about 15% of GDP

Inflation, consumer prices

10%

(1993 est.)

External debt

$1.05billion

(1994 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$318 millionExpenditures

$326 million (1991 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $150 million

Installed generating capacity, 55,000 kW

Electricity production

100 millionElectricity consumption per capita

20 (1993)

Overview

A landlocked, resource-poor country in an early stage of economic development, Burundi since October 1993 has suffered from massive ethnic-based violence that has displaced an estimated million people, disrupted production, and set back needed reform programs. Burundi is predominately agricultural with roughly 90% of the population dependent on subsistence agriculture.

Its economic health depends on the coffee crop, which accounts for 80% of foreign exchange earnings. The ability to pay for imports therefore continues to rest largely on the vagaries of the climate and the international coffee market. As part of its economic reform agenda, launched in February 1991 with IMF and World Bank support, Burundi is trying to diversify its agricultural exports, attract foreign investment in industry, and modernize government budgetary practices. Although the government remains committed to reforms, it fears new austerity measures would add to ethnic tensions.

National product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $3.7 billion (1994 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Exports

$68 million (f.o.b., 1993)

commodities:: coffee 81%, tea, cotton, hides, and skins
partners:: EC 57%, US 19%, Asia 1%

Imports

$203 million (c.i.f., 1993)

commodities:: capital goods 31%, petroleum products 15%, foodstuffs, consumer goods
partners:: EC 45%, Asia 29%, US 2%

Industries

light consumer goods such as blankets, shoes, soap;
assembly of imported components;
public works construction;
food processing

Agriculture

accounts for 50% of GDP;
cash crops - coffee, cotton, tea;
food crops - corn, sorghum, sweet potatoes, bananas, manioc;
livestock - meat, milk, hides and skins

Economic aid

recipient:: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $71 million;
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $10.2 billion;
OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $32 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $175 million

Currency

1 Burundi franc (FBu) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates

Burundi francs (FBu) per US$1 - 248.51 (December 1994), 252.66 (1994), 242.78 (1993), 208.30 (1992), 181.51 (1991), 171.26 (1990), 158.67 (1989), 140.40 (1988)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Transportation

5 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 4 in all

over 3,047 m

under 914 m

914 to 1,523 m

PavedUnpaved

Networkskm

Highways

5,900Railroads

Highways: paved: 640 km · unpaved: gravel, crushed stone 2,260 km; improved, unimproved earth 3,000 km (1990)

Highways

total:: 5,900 km
paved:: 640 km
unpaved:: gravel, crushed stone 2,260 km; improved, unimproved earth 3,000 km (1990)

Inland waterways

Lake Tanganyika

Ports

Bujumbura

Communications

3 fields

Telephone system

8,000 telephones;
primative system;
telephone density - 1.3 telephones/1,000 persons

local:: NA
intercity:: sparse system of wire, radiocommunications, and low-capacity microwave radio relay links
international:: 1 INTELSAT (Indian Ocean) earth station