Burundi

Republic of BurundiRepublika y'u Burundi

republicIndependence 1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian

Burundi as the 1998 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 95 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 Democratic Republic of the Congo

Populationas each edition published it

5.54 million July 1998 est. · 5.65m in 1990

Population growth% a year

3.51% 1998 est. · 2.34% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 16.3 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

45.56 years 1998 est. · 40.75 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

6.4 children per woman 1998 est. · 7 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

101.19 deaths per 1,000 live births 1998 est. · 111 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$660 1997 est. · $205 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

4.4% 1997 est. · 5% in 1993

Geography

Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo

18 fields

Land useshare of 27,830 sq km

arable land 44%permanent crops 9%permanent pastures 36%forests and woodland 3%other 8% (1993 est.)irrigated 140 sq km (1993 est.)

Area

27,830sq km

land: 25,650 sq kmwater: 2,180 sq kmslightly smaller than Maryland

Coastline

0km

(landlocked)Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Highest point

2,760m

Mount Hehalowest point: Lake Tanganyika 772 m

Land boundaries

974km

border countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 233 km, Rwanda 290 km, Tanzania 451 km

Location

Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo

Climate

equatorial;
high plateau with considerable altitude variation (772 m to 2,760 m);
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

Terrain

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

Natural resources

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

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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified:: Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban

Geography-note

landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed

People

15 fields

Population

5,537,387

(July 1998 est.)growth rate: 3.51% (1998 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1998 est.)

Birth

41.61Death

17.38Net migration

10.84

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (1998 est.)45.56

43.79 · 47.38

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1995 est.)35.3%

49.3% · 22.5%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Religions

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

Age structure

0-14 years:: 47% (male 1,313,112; female 1,309,600)
15-64 years:: 50% (male 1,331,336; female 1,417,228)
65 years and over:: 3% (male 69,718; female 96,393) (July 1998 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.72 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Infant mortality rate

101.19 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Burundian(s)
adjective:: Burundi

Ethnic groups

Hutu (Bantu) 85%, Tutsi (Hamitic) 14%, Twa (Pygmy) 1%, Europeans 3,000, South Asians 2,000

Languages

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

Government

Republic; President Pierre BUYOYA (interim president since 27 September 1996); Prime Minister Pascal-Firmin NDIMIRA (since 31 July 1996)

19 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

71%

FRODEBU 71%UPRONA 21.4%last held 29 June 1993 (scheduled to be held in 1998, although no date has been set)

Legislature, elected 29 June 1993percent of vote

FRODEBU 71%UPRONA 21.4%

Country name

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; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch

chief of state:: President Pierre BUYOYA (interim president since 27 September 1996);
note-former President NTIBANTUNGANYA was overthrown in a coup on 25 July 1996 and took refuge for 11 months in the US ambassador's residence in Bujumbura;
former Major (retired) Pierre BUYOYA has not been recognized as president of Burundi by the US or most other governments
head of government:: Prime Minister Pascal-Firmin NDIMIRA (since 31 July 1996)
cabinet:: Council of Ministers appointed by prime minister
elections:: NA

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (81 seats; members are popularly elected on a proportional basis to serve five-year terms)

elections:: last held 29 June 1993 (scheduled to be held in 1998, although no date has been set)
election results:: percent of vote by party-FRODEBU 71%, UPRONA 21.4%;
seats by party - FRODEBU 65, UPRONA 16;
other parties won too small shares of the vote to win seats in the assembly

Political parties and leaders

Unity for National Progress or UPRONA [Charles MUKASI, president];
Burundi Democratic Front or FRODEBU [Jean MINANI, president];
Socialist Party of Burundi or PSB;
People's Reconciliation Party or PRP [Mathias HITIMANA, leader];
opposition parties, legalized in March 1992, include Burundi African Alliance for the Salvation or ABASA;
Rally for Democracy and Economic and Social Development or RADDES [Cyrille SIGEJEJE, chairman];
and Party for National Redress or PARENA [Jean-Baptiste BAGAZA, leader]

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, ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Henri SIMBAKWTRA
chancery:: Suite 212, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone:: [1] (202) 342-2574

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Morris N. HUGHES, Jr. (27 June l996)
embassy:: Avenue des Etats-Unis, Bujumbura
mailing address:: B. P. 1720, Bujumbura
telephone:: [257] (2) 223454

FAX

[257] (2) 222926

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)

Economy

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

28 fields

GDP, purchasing power parity

-$4billion

purchasing power parity · (1997 est.)

GDP per capita, PPP

-$660

purchasing power parity · (1997 est.)

Real growth rate

4.4%

(1997 est.)industrial production growth: NA%

Inflation, consumer prices

26%

(1996 est.)

GDP-composition by sector(1995 est.)

agriculture 56%industry 18%services 26% (1995 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$222 millionExpenditures

$258 million (1995 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $92 million

Fixed lines

7,200

(1987 est.)

Economy-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. Foods, medicines, and electricity remain in short supply. An impoverished and disorganized government can hardly implement the needed reform programs.

Labor force

total:: 1.9 million
by occupation:: agriculture 93.0%, government 4.0%, industry and commerce 1.5%, services 1.5% (1983 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Industries

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

Electricity-capacity

43,000 kW (1995)

Electricity-production

158 million kWh (1995) note: imports some electricity from Democratic Republic of the Congo

Electricity-consumption per capita

32 kWh (1995)

Agriculture-products

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

Exports

total value:: $40 million (f.o.b., 1996)
commodities:: coffee 81%, tea, cotton, hides
partners:: EU 60%, US 7%, Asia 1%

Imports

total value:: $127 million (c.i.f., 1996)
commodities:: capital goods 26%, petroleum products, foodstuffs, consumer goods
partners:: EU 47%, Asia 25%, US 6%

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