Burundi

Republic of BurundiRepublika y'u Burundi

republic

Burundi as the 2000 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 107 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

6.05 million July 2000 est. · 5.65m in 1990

Population growth% a year

3.15% 2000 est. · 2.34% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 16.3 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

46.18 years 2000 est. · 40.75 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

6.25 children per woman 2000 est. · 7 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

71.5 deaths per 1,000 live births 2000 est. · 111 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$730 1999 est. · $205 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

-1% 1999 est. · 5% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

Between 1993 and 1999, ethnic violence between Hutu and Tutsi factions in Burundi created hundreds of thousands of refugees and left at least 250,000 dead. Although many refugees have returned from neighboring countries, continued ethnic strife has forced others to flee. Burundian troops, seeking to secure their borders, have intervened in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

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

2,670m

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

Geographic coordinates

3 30 S, 30 00 E

Map references

Africa

Climate

equatorial;
high plateau with considerable altitude variation (772 m to 2,670 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, arable land, hydropower

Natural hazards

flooding, landslides

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

6,054,714

growth rate: 3.15% (2000 est.)

Note

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 2000 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2000 est.)

Birth

40.46Death

16.44Net migration

7.43

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2000 est.)46.18

45.23 · 47.16

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 23%Muslim 10%

Age structure

0-14 years:: 47% (male 1,442,585; female 1,411,908)
15-64 years:: 50% (male 1,485,177; female 1,541,754)
65 years and over:: 3% (male 71,998; female 101,292) (2000 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population:: 0.98 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Infant mortality rate

71.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

6.25 children born/woman (2000 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

19 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

71.04%

FRODEBU 71.04%UPRONA 21.4%other 7.56%last held 29 June 1993 (next was scheduled to be held in 1998, but suspended by presidential decree in 1996)

National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale, 121 seats, elected 29 June 1993one dot, one seat

FRODEBU 65UPRONA 16various other parties 40

Percent of vote

FRODEBU 71.04%UPRONA 21.4%other 7.56%

Country name

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

Data code

Government type

republic

Capital

Bujumbura

Administrative divisions

15 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura, Bururi, Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Gitega, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo, Makamba, Muramvya, Muyinga, Ngozi, Rutana, Ruyigi note: there may be a new province named Mwaro

Independence

1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration)

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 July (1962)

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

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 Pierre BUYOYA (interim president since 27 September 1996, officially sworn in 11 June 1998), First Vice President Frederic BAMVUGINYUMVIRA (since NA May 1998), Second Vice President Mathias SINAMENYA (since NA May 1998);
note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government:: President Pierre BUYOYA (interim president since 27 September 1996, officially sworn in 11 June 1998), First Vice President Frederic BAMVUGINYUMVIRA (since NA May 1998), Second Vice President Mathias SINAMENYA (since NA May 1998);
note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
cabinet:: Council of Ministers appointed by president
elections:: NA; current president assumed power following a coup on 25 July 1996 in which former President NTIBANTUNGANYA was overthrown

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (121 seats; note - new Transitional Constitution expanded the number of seats from 81 to 121 in 1998; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional basis to serve five-year terms)

elections:: last held 29 June 1993 (next was scheduled to be held in 1998, but suspended by presidential decree in 1996)
election results:: percent of vote by party - FRODEBU 71.04%, UPRONA 21.4%, other 7.56%; seats by party - FRODEBU 65, UPRONA 16, various other parties 40

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme

Political parties and leaders

Unity for National Progress or UPRONA [Luc RUKINGAMA, president]; Burundi Democratic Front or FRODEBU [Jean MINANI, president]

note: opposition parties, legalized in March 1992, include Burundi African Alliance for the Salvation or ABASA [leader NA]; Rally for Democracy and Economic and Social Development or RADDES [Cyrille SIGEJEJE, chairman];

Party for National Redress or PARENA [Jean-Baptiste BAGAZA]; Socialist Party of Burundi or PSB [leader NA]; People's Reconciliation Party or PRP [leader NA]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Loosely organized Tutsi militias

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, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Thomas NDIKUMANA
chancery:: Suite 212, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone:: [1] (202) 342-2574
FAX:: [1] (202) 342-2578

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Mary Catlin YATES
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 with an underdeveloped manufacturing sector.

31 fields

Real growth rate

-1%

(1999 est.)industrial production growth: NA%

Inflation, consumer prices

26%

(1999 est.)

Population below poverty line

36.2%

(1990 est.)

Labor force

1.9million

GDP - composition by sector(1998 est.)

agriculture 46%industry 17%services 37% (1998 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$125 millionExpenditures

$176 million (2000 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Electricity

fossil fuel 1.57%hydro 98.43%nuclear 0% · other 0%

Electricity production

127 million (1998)Electricity consumption

153 million (1998)Electricity imports

35 million

Economy - overview

Burundi is a landlocked, resource-poor country with an underdeveloped manufacturing sector. The economy is predominantely 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. Since October 1993 the nation has suffered from massive ethnic-based violence which has resulted in the death of perhaps 250,000 persons and the displacement of about 800,000 others. Foods, medicines, and electricity remain in short supply.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $4.2 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $730 (1999 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 93%, government 4%, 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

Communications

8 fields

Mobile cellular

343

(1995)

Fixed lines

17,000

(1995)

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)