Discover Fascinating Burundi Facts

Dive into the history, culture, and unique insights about Burundi.

Burundi

Background

๐Ÿฅ Background of Burundi ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฎ

Burundi is a country with a rich yet tumultuous history. It gained independence from Belgium in 1962, beginning its journey as the Kingdom of Burundi. Just a few years later, in 1966, the monarchy was overthrown and a republic was established.

Sadly, the country faced dark times after the assassination of its president in 1993, which sparked 12 years of intense ethnic conflict between the Hutu and Tutsi groups. This period was marked by significant political violence and non-democratic changes in leadership, shaping much of Burundi's past.

Through all this, the spirit of the Burundian people has remained strong, and their story is one of resilience and hope! ๐ŸŒŸ

Year of Independence

1962

Overthrow of Monarchy

1966

Years of Ethnic Violence

12

Exports - commodities

Burundi's exports are an important part of its economy! ๐ŸŒ Here are some cool facts about what the country exports:

  • Gold: A shiny, valuable item for trade! โœจ
  • Coffee: Burundi is famous for its delicious coffee! โ˜•๏ธ
  • Tea: Another tasty beverage that's loved worldwide! ๐Ÿต
  • Rare Earth Ores: These are super important for technology! โš™๏ธ
  • Tobacco: A crop that has been historically significant for trade! ๐Ÿšฌ

Each of these commodities adds color to Burundi's economic picture!

Commodities exported by Burundi

5

Exports - partners

Burundi has some interesting export partners! ๐ŸŒ As of 2022, the largest partner is the United Arab Emirates, making up a whopping 32% of Burundi's exports. The Democratic Republic of the Congo follows with 14%. Other notable partners include China and Sudan, both at 5%, and Germany at 4%. This shows a diverse range of partnerships that help boost Burundi's economy! ๐Ÿ“ˆโœจ

Largest Export Partner

United Arab Emirates (32%)

Second Largest Export Partner

Democratic Republic of the Congo (14%)

Other Notable Export Partners

China (5%), Sudan (5%), Germany (4%)

Export Partners of Burundi (2022)

Capital

Burundi has two important cities serving different roles! ๐ŸŽ‰ The political capital of the country is Gitega, while the bustling Bujumbura serves as the commercial capital. ๐Ÿ™๏ธ Each city plays a unique part in the nation's governance and economy.

Imports - commodities

Burundi imports a variety of commodities to support its economy and meet the needs of its people! ๐Ÿšข Here's a look at some of the key imports in 2022:

  • Refined Petroleum: Energy is crucial for every country, and Burundi relies on imported petroleum to power up its progress!
  • Fertilizers: Helping farmers boost their crop yields, fertilizers are essential for agriculture in Burundi. ๐ŸŒฑ
  • Packaged Medicine: Health is wealth! The country imports medicine to ensure that everyone has access to healthcare. ๐Ÿ’Š
  • Cement: Building infrastructure is important for growth, so cement is a key import for construction projects. ๐Ÿ—๏ธ
  • Plastic Products: From packaging to everyday items, plastic products are commonly used in daily life.

These imports are vital for Burundi's development and economic stability! ๐ŸŒ

Key Imports

Refined Petroleum, Fertilizers, Packaged Medicine, Cement, Plastic Products

Climate

Burundi has a really cool climate! ๐ŸŒ„ It's located on a high plateau with mountains that rise from 772 m to 2,670 m above sea level. This means the weather can change a lot depending on how high you are! โ˜๏ธ

The average temperature in Burundi can go from 23ยฐC to 17ยฐC, mainly depending on the altitude. So if you enjoy a nice moderate temperature, this is the place for you! โ˜€๏ธโ„๏ธ

Rainfall is pretty important too! ๐ŸŒง๏ธ The average annual rainfall is about 150 cm, with two wet seasons: from February to May and September to November. But don't forget, there are two dry seasons too, from June to August and December to January! ๐Ÿž๏ธ

Altitude Variation

772 m to 2670 m

Average Annual Temperature

23ยฐC to 17ยฐC

Average Annual Rainfall

150 cm

Executive branch

In Burundi, the Executive Branch is led by some key figures! ๐Ÿ›๏ธ

The chief of state is President Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE, who has been in office since 18 June 2020. This marks over 3 years of leadership! On the other hand, the head of government is Minister Gervais NDIRAKOBUCA, who took his position on 7 September 2022. This means he has been leading the government's efforts for over a year! ๐ŸŒŸ

These leaders play crucial roles in steering the country towards its goals and responding to its challenges. ๐ŸŒ

Years in Office (President)

3

Years in Office (Minister)

1

Legislative branch

๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฎ The Legislative branch of Burundi is a bicameral Parliament! ๐Ÿ›๏ธ This means it has two parts: the Senate and the National Assembly. Together, they help make important decisions for the country.

The Senate has 39 seats ๐Ÿช‘, while the National Assembly has 123 seats. That's a total of 162 seats in the Parliament! ๐Ÿ—ณ๏ธ

Total Seats in Parliament

162

Seats in the Senate

39

Seats in the National Assembly

123

Seats in Burundi's Parliament

Natural resources

Burundi is rich in natural resources! ๐ŸŒ It has a treasure trove of valuable materials including:

  • Nickel ๐Ÿชจ
  • Uranium โ˜ข๏ธ
  • Rare earth oxides ๐ŸŒˆ
  • Peat ๐ŸŒฟ
  • Cobalt ๐Ÿ”‹
  • Copper โšก
  • Platinum ๐Ÿ’
  • Vanadium ๐Ÿ”ง
  • Arable land ๐ŸŒพ
  • Hydropower ๐Ÿ’ง
  • Niobium ๐Ÿงช
  • Tantalum โณ
  • Gold ๐Ÿ’ฐ
  • Tin ๐Ÿฅซ
  • Tungsten ๐Ÿ”ฉ
  • Kaolin ๐ŸŽจ
  • Limestone ๐Ÿ”๏ธ

With such a variety of natural resources, Burundi has a great potential for economic growth and development! ๐ŸŒŸ

Economic overview

Burundi has an economy that is primarily based on agriculture and is classified as a low-income Sub-Saharan nation. ๐ŸŒพ However, the country is facing some tough challenges! There has been a decline in foreign assistance, leading to an increase in fiscal insolvencies. This means the government is having a hard time balancing its budget. ๐Ÿ“‰ On top of that, the population is dense and still growing, which adds more pressure on resources. Furthermore, the pandemic has affected the economy by reversing two years of price decline, making things even trickier! ๐Ÿ˜Ÿ

Economic classification

Low-income Sub-Saharan economy

Decline in foreign assistance

Declining

Fiscal insolvencies

Increasing

Population status

Dense and still growing

Impact of COVID-19

Weakened economic recovery and flipped two years of deflation

Government type

Burundi is a presidential republic! ๐Ÿ—ณ๏ธ This means that the President is the head of state and also the head of government. In this system, the President is elected by the people and has significant powers in directing the nation's affairs. It's exciting to see how different countries manage their governments, right?

Ethnic groups

In the beautiful country of Burundi, the people come together from different backgrounds and cultures! ๐ŸŒ The ethnic groups that make up Burundi's rich tapestry include:

  • Hutu: The largest ethnic group, known for their agricultural lifestyle.
  • Tutsi: A prominent group often associated with cattle herding.
  • Twa: The smallest group, traditionally known as potters and hunter-gatherers. ๐Ÿž๏ธ
  • South Asian: A minority that adds to the diversity of Burundi! ๐ŸŒˆ

Each group contributes to the colorful fabric of Burundi's identity. Let's celebrate the differences that make this nation unique! ๐ŸŽ‰

Religions

In Burundi, religion plays an important role in the lives of many people. ๐ŸŒ Hereโ€™s how the religious beliefs break down:

  • Christianity is the major faith, with 93.9% of the population embracing it!

    • Within Christianity:
      • Roman Catholics make up 58.6%.
      • Protestants account for 35.3% (including Adventists - 2.7% and other Protestants - 32.6%).
  • Islam is practiced by 3.4% of the population.

  • A small percentage follows other religions (1.3%) or identifies as having no religion (1.3%). โŒ

This diversity in beliefs showcases the rich cultural tapestry of Burundi. ๐ŸŽ‰

Percentage of Christians

93.9%

Percentage of Roman Catholics

58.6%

Percentage of Protestants

35.3%

Percentage of Muslims

3.4%

Percentage of Other Religions

1.3%

Percentage with No Religion

1.3%

Religious Composition in Burundi

Languages

In Burundi, people speak a variety of languages! ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฎ Hereโ€™s a quick rundown:

  • Kirundi: This is the official language and is spoken by most people.
  • French: Another official language that many Burundians use for communication.
  • English: Also official, but itโ€™s the least spoken among them. ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง
  • Swahili: Recognized since 2008, it's becoming more popular as well!

This diverse language scene shows how rich the culture is in Burundi! ๐ŸŽ‰

Number of official languages

3

Year Swahili was estimated to be recognized

2008

Imports - partners

๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฎ Burundi's Import Partners in 2022 ๐ŸŒ
Let's take a peek at where Burundi gets its goods from! Hereโ€™s a fun breakdown of Burundi's top import partners:

  • China: 15%
  • UAE (United Arab Emirates): 14%
  • Saudi Arabia: 13%
  • Tanzania: 12%
  • India: 7%

These countries play a big role in supplying Burundi with essential products! ๐Ÿ›’๐Ÿ’ผ

Isn't it interesting to see how much of these imports add up to 100%? Let's visualize it! ๐Ÿ”๐Ÿ“Š

Total of All Import Percentages

100%

Burundi's Import Partners (2022)

Population

Burundi is home to approximately 13,590,102 people! ๐ŸŽ‰ That's a big number and it reflects the vibrancy and diversity of life in this beautiful country. ๐ŸŒ From bustling markets to peaceful villages, there's so much happening in the heart of Africa!

Total Population

13,590,102

Area

๐ŸŒ Let's explore the area of Burundi! This tiny but beautiful country covers a total land area of 27,830 sq km. ๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ Out of this, 25,680 sq km is land, which means thereโ€™s a lot of room for activities like hiking and exploring nature! ๐ŸŒณ And don't forget the 2,150 sq km of water, where you might spot some amazing wildlife! ๐Ÿฆ†๐ŸŒŠ

Total Area

27830 sq km

Land Area

25680 sq km

Water Area

2150 sq km

Burundi Area Breakdown

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

๐ŸŒ Let's dive into the Real GDP (purchasing power parity) of Burundi! This statistic helps us understand how much the country's economy is growing over the years. ๐Ÿ“ˆ

Hereโ€™s how the Real GDP has changed:

  • 2021: $10.848 billion
  • 2022: $11.048 billion
  • 2023: $11.347 billion

Itโ€™s exciting to see that Burundiโ€™s economy is on the rise! ๐Ÿ“Š

Growth Over the Years:

  • From 2021 to 2022, there was an increase of $200 million.
  • From 2022 to 2023, the growth continued with another increase of $299 million.

This is great news for Burundi's future! ๐ŸŒŸ

GDP in 2023

$11.347 billion

GDP in 2022

$11.048 billion

GDP in 2021

$10.848 billion

Growth from 2021 to 2022

$200 million

Growth from 2022 to 2023

$299 million

Burundi's Real GDP Growth (PPP)

Real GDP per capita

In Burundi, the Real GDP per capita has remained steady at $900 for three consecutive years! ๐Ÿ“ˆ This shows a constant economic status per person in the country from 2021 to 2023. Let's take a closer look at this data over the years.

Burundi's Real GDP per Capita Over Time

Imports

๐Ÿ“Š Burundi's Import Trends Over Time!

Burundi has seen some fluctuations in its import values over the last few years. Let's take a look:

  • In 2017, imports were estimated at $1,295 million! That's quite a lot of goods coming into the country! ๐Ÿ“ฆ
  • However, the estimate for the same year was refined to $885.422 million.
  • By 2018, imports decreased slightly to $905.294 million. ๐Ÿ“‰

These figures show how Burundi's import needs can change over time, reflecting the economic situation and demand for products! ๐ŸŒ

Total Imports in 2018

$905.294 million

Total Imports in 2017 (estimate)

$1,295 million

Total Imports in 2017 (refined estimate)

$885.422 million

Burundi Imports Over Years

Exports

๐ŸŒ Burundi's Export Trends!

Let's dive into the world of exports for Burundi over the recent years! In 2017, the export values had some interesting swings:

  • In one estimate, exports reached $315 million! ๐Ÿ’ฐ
  • However, another estimate for the same year showed a decrease to $270.686 million. ๐Ÿ“‰

By 2018, the exports were estimated at $285.105 million. ๐Ÿ“ˆ

It's fascinating to see how these numbers change over time, reflecting the country's economic shifts. Let's visualize this to better understand the trends!

Exports in 2017 (Estimate 1)

315 million $

Exports in 2017 (Estimate 2)

270.686 million $

Exports in 2018

285.105 million $

Burundi's Export Estimates Over Years

Population growth rate

๐Ÿ“ˆ The population of Burundi is on the rise! As of 2024, the estimated population growth rate is 2.81%. This means that more and more people are calling this beautiful country home! ๐ŸŒโค๏ธ

Estimated Population Growth Rate in 2024

2.81%