Burundi: Quick Facts

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Last updated

Sep. 29, 2026

Facts

Also Known As	République du Burundi • Republic of Burundi • Republika y’u Burundi
Head Of Government³	Prime minister: Nestor Ntahontuye
Capital	Gitega⁴
Population	(2026 est.) 12,964,000
Head Of State	President: Evariste Ndayishimiye, assisted by Vice President: Prosper Bazombanza
Form Of Government	republic with two legislative bodies (Senate [13¹]; National Assembly [111²])
Official Languages	Rundi; French
Official Religion	none
Official Name	Republika y’u Burundi (Rundi); République du Burundi (French) (Republic of Burundi)
Total Area (Sq Km)	27,834
Total Area (Sq Mi)	10,747
Monetary Unit	Burundi franc (FBu)
Population Rank	(2026) 79
Population Projection 2030	13,123,000
Density: Persons Per Sq Mi	(2026) 1,206.3
Density: Persons Per Sq Km	(2026) 465.8
Urban-Rural Population	Urban: (2024) 15.2% • Rural: (2024) 84.8%
Life Expectancy At Birth	Male: (2021) 62 years • Female: (2020) 66.2 years
Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000)	(2024) 3,606
Gni Per Capita (U.S.$)	(2024) 260
¹Ten seats are indirectly elected; three seats are designated for the Twa ethnic group.²Includes 11 appointed or co-opted seats.³The position of prime minister was reinstated under a 2018 constitutional amendment and was filled after the president elected in 2020 took office.⁴The future move of the capital from Bujumbura to Gitega was announced by the president in March 2007. A law passed by Parliament in January 2019 and promulgated by the president the next month formally designated Gitega as the country’s political capital and Bujumbura as the economic capital. The government’s move to Gitega was expected to be concluded in or about 2022; as of July 2026, it was not complete.

Photos

Map of Burundi showing its national boundaries with Rwanda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as major cities including Bujumbura, Gitega, Ngozi, Bubanza, Muramvya, Bururi, and Nyanza-Lac. Lakes Tanganyika, Kivu, and Victoria are also labeled. An inset locator map highlights Burundi's position within Africa.

Map of central and eastern Africa highlighting Burundi and its capital, Gitega, with surrounding countries labeled, including Rwanda, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and others. Major bodies of water such as the Atlantic and Indian Oceans are also shown.

Map of Burundi and surrounding regions highlighting physical features such as Lake Tanganyika to the west, the Western Rift Valley, major rivers including the Ruvubu and Ruvyironza, and Mount Heha at 2,760 meters. Neighboring countries-Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Tanzania-are labeled, and an inset shows Burundi's location within Africa.

Lake Tanganyika

Burundi highlands

Burundi: Hutu family compound

Burundi: music and dance

Historical map of eastern Africa around 1850 showing major states such as Kefa, Buganda, and the Sultanate of Zanzibar, along with minor states, stateless peoples, and the Maasai. Red lines trace major trade routes connecting inland regions to the Red Sea, Arabian Peninsula, and Indian Ocean, while green arrows indicate directions of expansion by groups like the Oromo and Maasai. Major lakes, rivers, and mountain landmarks are labeled throughout the region.

Historical map of eastern Africa around 1914, showing the region divided among British, German, French, and Italian colonial powers. Different territories are color-coded by colonial ruler, with key locations such as British East Africa (Kenya and Uganda), German East Africa (including present-day Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi), Italian Somaliland, and French Somaliland labeled. Major lakes, rivers, and cities are also marked.

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Topics

Pierre Nkurunziza Sylvie Kinigi Africa Central Africa nation-state East African Community Gitega Bujumbura Karuzi Ngozi United States India United Kingdom China Canada Russia Germany Australia Japan France

Pierre Nkurunziza

Pierre Nkurunziza

president of Burundi

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Sylvie Kinigi

prime minister of Burundi

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Africa

continent

Cluster of small houses in a village nestled among green hills beside the wide Congo River, with more hills visible in the background, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Central Africa

region, Africa

Gitega

Gitega

political capital, Burundi

Bujumbura

Bujumbura

economic capital, Burundi

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Karuzi

Burundi

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Ngozi

Burundi

Historical map of eastern Africa around 1850 showing major states such as Kefa, Buganda, and the Sultanate of Zanzibar, along with minor states, stateless peoples, and the Maasai. Red lines trace major trade routes connecting inland regions to the Red Sea, Arabian Peninsula, and Indian Ocean, while green arrows indicate directions of expansion by groups like the Oromo and Maasai. Major lakes, rivers, and mountain landmarks are labeled throughout the region.

Kingdom of Burundi

historical kingdom, East Africa

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Democratic Republic of the Congo

capital at Kinshasa

Tanzania

country, Africa

Rwanda

country, Africa

East African mountains and lakes

East African mountains

mountains, East Africa

Map showing the location of Lake Tanganyika in East Africa, bordered by Tanzania to the east, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, Burundi to the north, and Zambia to the south. Surrounding features include national parks, game reserves, and nearby major lakes such as Lake Victoria and Lake Rukwa.

Lake Tanganyika

lake, Africa

Kagera River

Kagera River

river, Africa

Imperial partitions of eastern Africa, c. 1914

German East Africa

former German dependency, Africa

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Ruanda-Urundi

historical territory, Africa

10:087 Ocean: The World of Water, two globes showing eastern and western hemispheres

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