Burundi

Republic of BurundiRepublika y'u Burundi

republicIndependence 1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian

Burundi as the 1996 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 85 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

Position3 30 S, 30 00 E

Area27,830 sq km

LocationCentral Africa, east of Zaire

Populationas each edition published it

5.94 million July 1996 est. · 5.65m in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.54% 1996 est. · 2.34% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 16.3 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

49.33 years 1996 est. · 40.75 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

6.55 children per woman 1996 est. · 7 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

102.2 deaths per 1,000 live births 1996 est. · 111 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$600 1995 est. · $205 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

2.7% 1995 est. · 5% in 1993

Geography

Central Africa, east of Zaire

15 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

border countries: 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

lowest point:: Lake Tanganyika 772 m
highest point:: Mount Heha 2,760 m

Natural resources

nickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, 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

Geographic note

landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed

People

15 fields

Population

5,943,057

(July 1996 est.)growth rate: 1.54% (1996 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1996 est.)

Birth

43.02Death

15.15Net migration

-12.47

Net migration: note: in a number of waves since October 1993, 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 1996 as the ethnic violence persists

Male · female(1996 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years49.33

48.28 · 50.42

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy35.3%

49.3% · 22.5%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)

Religions

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

Age structure

0-14 years:: 47% (male 1,404,375; female 1,398,228)
15-64 years:: 50% (male 1,454,545; female 1,527,644)
65 years and over:: 3% (male 62,955; female 95,310) (July 1996 est.)

Net migration rate

-12.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

note: in a number of waves since October 1993, 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 1996 as the ethnic violence persists

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.66 male(s)/female
all ages:: 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate

102.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate

6.55 children born/woman (1996 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 (acting president from 8 April 1994 to 30 September 1994, president since 1 October 1994); Prime Minister Antoine NDUWAYO (since February 1995)

21 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

71%

FRODEBU 71%UPRONA 21.4%

Name of country

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

Data code

Type of government

republic

Capital

Bujumbura

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)

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 July (1962)

Constitution

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

Legal system

based on German and Belgian civil codes and customary law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage

NA years of age; universal adult

Executive branch

chief of state:: President Sylvestre NTIBANTUNGANYA (acting president from 8 April 1994 to 30 September 1994, president since 1 October 1994);
note - NTIBANTUNGANYA, in his capacity as President of the National Assembly, became acting president upon the death of President Cyprien NTARYAMIRE in an airplane crash on 6 April 1994;
NTIBANTUNGANYA was sworn in on 1 October 1994 as president by the "Convention on Government" to serve a four year transitional term
head of government:: Prime Minister Antoine NDUWAYO (since February 1995)
cabinet:: Council of Ministers; appointed by prime minister

Legislative branch

unicameral

National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)

election 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

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

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

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-77, 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, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Severin NTAHOMVUKIYE
chancery:: Suite 212, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone:: [1] (202) 342-2574

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Charles YELLIN
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

Burundi is a landlocked, resource-poor country | in an early stage of economic development.

20 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$600

(1995 est.)

Real growth rate

2.7%

(1995 est.)industrial production growth: NA%

Inflation, consumer prices

10%

(1993 est.)

Labor force

1.9million

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

GDP composition by sector(1993 est.)

agriculture 54.1%industry 16.8%services 29.1% (1993 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)

Economic overview

Burundi is a landlocked, resource-poor country in an early stage of economic development. The economy 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 rests 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.

Since October 1993 the nation has suffered from massive ethnic-based violence which has resulted in the death of perhaps 100,000 persons and the displacement of a million others; production has fallen sharply, and an impoverished and disorganized government can hardly implement these needed reform programs.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $4 billion (1995 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Industries

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

Agriculture

coffee, cotton, tea, corn, sorghum, sweet potatoes, bananas, manioc; meat, milk, hides

Exports

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

commodities:: coffee 81%, tea, cotton, hides
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%

Transportation

5 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 3 in all

over 3 047 m

914 to 1 523 m

PavedUnpaved

Networkskm

Highways

14,473Railways

Highways: paved: 1,028 km · unpaved: 13,445 km (1992 est.)

Highways

total:: 14,473 km
paved:: 1,028 km
unpaved:: 13,445 km (1992 est.)

Waterways

Lake Tanganyika

Ports

Bujumbura

Communications

Army (includes naval and air units), paramilitary | Gendarmerie

9 fields

Fixed lines

7,200

(1987 est.)

Telephone system

primitive system

domestic:: sparse system of open wire, radiotelephone communications, and low-capacity microwave radio relay
international:: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

males age 15-49:: 1,312,458
males fit for military service:: 683,073
males reach military age (16) annually:: 67,990 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $25 million, 2.6% of GDP (1993)

Central Intelligence Agency. “Burundi.” The World Factbook 1996. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/burundi/1996.

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