# Demographics of Burundi

Demographic features of the population of Burundi include population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects.
At 206.1 persons per km$^2$, Burundi has the second-largest population density in Sub-Saharan Africa. Most people live on farms near areas of fertile volcanic soil. The population is made up of three major ethnic groups – Hutu (Bahutu), Tutsi (Batutsi or Watusi), and Twa (Batwa). Kirundi is the common language. Intermarriage takes place frequently between the Hutus and Tutsis. The terms "pastoralist" and "agriculturist", often used as ethnic designations for Watusi and Bahutu, respectively, are only occupational titles which vary among individuals and groups. Although Hutus encompass the majority of the population, historically Tutsis have been politically and economically dominant.

## Population

According to the 2022 revision of the World Population Prospects, the total population was 11,891,000 in 2020, compared to only 2 309 000 in 1950. The proportion of children below the age of 15 in 2020 was 45.3%, 52.4% were between 15 and 65 years of age, while 2.4% of the population was 65 years or older. .
| | Total population | Population aged 0–14 (%) | Population aged 15–64 (%) | Population aged 65+ (%) |
| 1950 | 2 309 000 | 40.9 | 55.9 | 3.2 |
| 1955 | 2 537 000 | 42.4 | 54.5 | 3.1 |
| 1960 | 2 798 000 | 43.8 | 53.2 | 2.9 |
| 1965 | 3 094 000 | 45.3 | 51.8 | 3.0 |
| 1970 | 3 479 000 | 45.5 | 51.5 | 3.0 |
| 1975 | 3 701 000 | 45.4 | 51.3 | 3.3 |
| 1980 | 4 157 000 | 44.7 | 52.2 | 3.1 |
| 1985 | 4 751 000 | 46.2 | 50.9 | 3.0 |
| 1990 | 5 439 000 | 47.9 | 49.3 | 2.8 |
| 1995 | 5 987 000 | 50.3 | 47.1 | 2.5 |
| 2000 | 6 379 000 | 50.1 | 47.4 | 2.5 |
| 2005 | 7 365 000 | 47.0 | 50.7 | 2.3 |
| 2010 | 8 676 000 | 45.1 | 52.7 | 2.2 |
| 2015 | 10 160 000 | 45.5 | 52.4 | 2.1 |
| 2020 | 11 891 000 | 45.3 | 52.4 | 2.4 |
Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2015) (Unrevised data.):
| Age Group | Male | Female | Total | % |
| Total | 4 822 838 | 5 000 990 | 9 823 828 | 100 |
| 0–4 | 856 714 | 855 769 | 1 712 483 | 17.43 |
| 5–9 | 679 740 | 699 260 | 1 379 000 | 14.04 |
| 10–14 | 604 457 | 629 629 | 1 234 086 | 12.56 |
| 15–19 | 496 353 | 525 562 | 1 021 915 | 10.40 |
| 20–24 | 467 123 | 507 522 | 974 645 | 9.92 |
| 25–29 | 397 323 | 446 043 | 843 366 | 8.58 |
| 30–34 | 321 348 | 337 758 | 659 106 | 6.71 |
| 35–39 | 236 115 | 230 446 | 466 561 | 4.75 |
| 40–44 | 182 701 | 183 765 | 366 466 | 3.73 |
| 45–49 | 153 796 | 156 798 | 310 594 | 3.16 |
| 50–54 | 134 933 | 130 247 | 265 180 | 2.70 |
| 55–59 | 113 470 | 111 808 | 225 278 | 2.29 |
| 60–64 | 74 556 | 70 655 | 145 211 | 1.48 |
| 65–69 | 44 744 | 46 041 | 90 785 | 0.92 |
| 70–74 | 25 722 | 28 826 | 54 548 | 0.56 |
| 75–79 | 16 056 | 20 164 | 36 220 | 0.37 |
| 80+ | 17 687 | 20 697 | 38 384 | 0.39 |
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Percent |
| 0–14 | 2 140 911 | 2 184 658 | 4 325 569 | 44.03 |
| 15–64 | 2 577 718 | 2 700 604 | 5 278 322 | 53.73 |
| 65+ | 104 209 | 115 728 | 219 937 | 2.24 |
Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2020):
| Age Group | Male | Female | Total | % |
| Total | 6 080 391 | 6 229 209 | 12 309 600 | 100 |
| 0–4 | 874 372 | 864 599 | 1 738 971 | 14.13 |
| 5–9 | 869 861 | 865 182 | 1 735 043 | 14.10 |
| 10–14 | 813 776 | 816 817 | 1 630 593 | 13.25 |
| 15–19 | 635 015 | 647 234 | 1 282 249 | 10.42 |
| 20–24 | 536 485 | 556 280 | 1 092 765 | 8.88 |
| 25–29 | 496 482 | 527 430 | 1 023 911 | 8.32 |
| 30–34 | 443 784 | 481 580 | 925 364 | 7.52 |
| 35–39 | 360 774 | 378 666 | 739 439 | 6.01 |
| 40–44 | 268 219 | 268 291 | 536 510 | 4.36 |
| 45–49 | 190 837 | 196 746 | 387 583 | 3.15 |
| 50–54 | 163 759 | 171 797 | 335 555 | 2.73 |
| 55–59 | 140 489 | 143 340 | 283 830 | 2.31 |
| 60–64 | 118 050 | 122 024 | 240 075 | 1.95 |
| 65–69 | 82 201 | 86 101 | 168 302 | 1.37 |
| 70–74 | 43 526 | 48 289 | 91 815 | 0.75 |
| 75–79 | 24 811 | 30 186 | 54 997 | 0.45 |
| 80+ | 17 951 | 24 649 | 42 600 | 0.35 |
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Percent |
| 0–14 | 2 558 009 | 2 546 598 | 5 104 607 | 41.47 |
| 15–64 | 3 353 893 | 3 871 836 | 7 225 729 | 58.70 |
| 65+ | 168 489 | 189 225 | 357 714 | 2.91 |

## UN population projections

Numbers are in thousands. UN medium variant projections
* 2020 11,891
* 2025 13,764
* 2030 15,773
* 2035 17,932
* 2040 20,253
* 2045 22,728
* 2050 25,325

## Vital statistics

Registration of vital events is in Burundi not complete. The Population Departement of the United Nations prepared the following estimates.
| | Population (thousands) | Live births (thousands) | Deaths (thousands) | Natural change (thousands) | CBR | CDR | NC | TFR | IMR | Life expectancy (years) |
| 1950 | 2 254 | 116 | 53 | 63 | 51.3 | 23.5 | 27.8 | 6.92 | 166.9 | 40.6 |
| 1951 | 2 303 | 117 | 55 | 62 | 50.7 | 23.9 | 26.8 | 6.91 | 166.0 | 40.8 |
| 1952 | 2 352 | 118 | 56 | 62 | 49.9 | 23.8 | 26.1 | 6.90 | 164.0 | 41.0 |
| 1953 | 2 399 | 119 | 57 | 62 | 49.4 | 23.6 | 25.8 | 6.92 | 162.0 | 41.3 |
| 1954 | 2 447 | 120 | 57 | 63 | 48.9 | 23.3 | 25.5 | 6.92 | 160.1 | 41.6 |
| 1955 | 2 495 | 121 | 58 | 63 | 48.4 | 23.0 | 25.4 | 6.93 | 158.2 | 41.9 |
| 1956 | 2 544 | 122 | 58 | 64 | 47.9 | 22.8 | 25.1 | 6.93 | 156.4 | 42.1 |
| 1957 | 2 594 | 123 | 58 | 65 | 47.4 | 22.5 | 24.9 | 6.93 | 154.6 | 42.3 |
| 1958 | 2 643 | 125 | 59 | 66 | 47.0 | 22.2 | 24.8 | 6.95 | 152.8 | 42.6 |
| 1959 | 2 694 | 126 | 59 | 67 | 46.7 | 21.9 | 24.8 | 6.98 | 150.9 | 42.8 |
| 1960 | 2 747 | 128 | 60 | 68 | 46.5 | 21.7 | 24.8 | 7.00 | 149.0 | 43.0 |
| 1961 | 2 816 | 130 | 60 | 70 | 46.3 | 21.4 | 24.9 | 7.02 | 147.2 | 43.3 |
| 1962 | 2 887 | 135 | 61 | 73 | 46.5 | 21.2 | 25.3 | 7.04 | 145.3 | 43.4 |
| 1963 | 2 948 | 137 | 62 | 75 | 46.4 | 21.0 | 25.4 | 7.07 | 143.5 | 43.7 |
| 1964 | 3 033 | 140 | 63 | 77 | 46.3 | 20.7 | 25.5 | 7.09 | 141.7 | 44.0 |
| 1965 | 3 118 | 147 | 69 | 77 | 46.9 | 22.2 | 24.7 | 7.11 | 146.0 | 42.0 |
| 1966 | 3 193 | 150 | 67 | 82 | 46.9 | 21.1 | 25.7 | 7.14 | 144.3 | 43.5 |
| 1967 | 3 274 | 155 | 70 | 85 | 47.1 | 21.3 | 25.8 | 7.16 | 145.5 | 43.3 |
| 1968 | 3 352 | 158 | 72 | 87 | 47.2 | 21.3 | 25.9 | 7.18 | 146.3 | 43.4 |
| 1969 | 3 424 | 163 | 75 | 88 | 47.5 | 21.7 | 25.7 | 7.22 | 147.4 | 42.9 |
| 1970 | 3 498 | 166 | 76 | 90 | 47.3 | 21.6 | 25.7 | 7.21 | 147.9 | 43.0 |
| 1971 | 3 582 | 170 | 78 | 92 | 47.5 | 21.7 | 25.8 | 7.21 | 148.2 | 43.0 |
| 1972 | 3 579 | 173 | 145 | 28 | 47.6 | 39.9 | 7.7 | 7.21 | 161.2 | 25.6 |
| 1973 | 3 571 | 165 | 93 | 72 | 46.3 | 26.1 | 20.2 | 7.22 | 151.5 | 37.3 |
| 1974 | 3 660 | 171 | 79 | 92 | 46.7 | 21.5 | 25.2 | 7.22 | 148.4 | 43.0 |
| 1975 | 3 749 | 178 | 81 | 97 | 47.4 | 21.6 | 25.8 | 7.24 | 148.2 | 43.0 |
| 1976 | 3 831 | 182 | 82 | 100 | 47.5 | 21.5 | 26.0 | 7.25 | 147.4 | 43.1 |
| 1977 | 3 927 | 187 | 83 | 104 | 47.7 | 21.2 | 26.5 | 7.25 | 145.4 | 43.5 |
| 1978 | 4 039 | 194 | 85 | 110 | 48.2 | 21.0 | 27.2 | 7.26 | 142.3 | 43.8 |
| 1979 | 4 137 | 203 | 85 | 118 | 48.9 | 20.4 | 28.5 | 7.31 | 137.9 | 44.6 |
| 1980 | 4 313 | 207 | 84 | 123 | 48.9 | 19.8 | 29.1 | 7.35 | 132.5 | 45.4 |
| 1981 | 4 491 | 228 | 86 | 142 | 50.5 | 19.1 | 31.4 | 7.33 | 126.5 | 46.4 |
| 1982 | 4 602 | 229 | 85 | 144 | 49.7 | 18.5 | 31.2 | 7.31 | 120.5 | 47.3 |
| 1983 | 4 727 | 235 | 85 | 150 | 49.5 | 17.8 | 31.7 | 7.30 | 115.0 | 48.1 |
| 1984 | 4 842 | 237 | 84 | 152 | 48.8 | 17.4 | 31.4 | 7.30 | 110.0 | 48.5 |
| 1985 | 4 948 | 241 | 86 | 155 | 48.3 | 17.2 | 31.2 | 7.29 | 106.2 | 48.5 |
| 1986 | 5 042 | 242 | 88 | 155 | 47.8 | 17.3 | 30.5 | 7.32 | 103.7 | 48.2 |
| 1987 | 5 158 | 245 | 91 | 155 | 47.5 | 17.6 | 29.9 | 7.38 | 102.3 | 47.5 |
| 1988 | 5 272 | 250 | 109 | 141 | 47.2 | 20.6 | 26.7 | 7.38 | 105.5 | 43.0 |
| 1989 | 5 374 | 253 | 101 | 153 | 46.9 | 18.6 | 28.3 | 7.39 | 102.4 | 45.6 |
| 1990 | 5 484 | 256 | 105 | 151 | 46.5 | 19.1 | 27.5 | 7.37 | 103.0 | 44.9 |
| 1991 | 5 595 | 259 | 109 | 150 | 46.1 | 19.4 | 26.7 | 7.34 | 103.7 | 44.2 |
| 1992 | 5 743 | 262 | 112 | 150 | 45.7 | 19.5 | 26.2 | 7.30 | 104.2 | 43.9 |
| 1993 | 5 555 | 272 | 147 | 125 | 46.0 | 24.9 | 21.1 | 7.27 | 108.6 | 37.1 |
| 1994 | 5 586 | 208 | 101 | 107 | 39.1 | 18.9 | 20.2 | 7.23 | 104.4 | 44.1 |
| 1995 | 5 933 | 266 | 113 | 154 | 44.5 | 18.8 | 25.7 | 7.18 | 104.6 | 44.1 |
| 1996 | 5 931 | 265 | 112 | 153 | 43.9 | 18.6 | 25.3 | 7.12 | 104.2 | 44.4 |
| 1997 | 5 924 | 250 | 105 | 145 | 41.9 | 17.6 | 24.2 | 7.04 | 102.1 | 45.4 |
| 1998 | 6 035 | 249 | 100 | 149 | 41.3 | 16.6 | 24.7 | 6.96 | 99.8 | 46.6 |
| 1999 | 6 180 | 260 | 99 | 161 | 42.0 | 16.0 | 26.0 | 6.90 | 97.4 | 47.5 |
| 2000 | 6 308 | 269 | 101 | 168 | 42.5 | 15.9 | 26.6 | 6.87 | 95.3 | 47.5 |
| 2001 | 6 466 | 277 | 99 | 178 | 42.9 | 15.3 | 27.6 | 6.85 | 92.4 | 48.4 |
| 2002 | 6 649 | 292 | 97 | 195 | 43.8 | 14.5 | 29.3 | 6.82 | 89.1 | 49.9 |
| 2003 | 6 861 | 305 | 96 | 209 | 44.5 | 14.0 | 30.5 | 6.79 | 86.0 | 50.9 |
| 2004 | 7 120 | 322 | 95 | 227 | 45.3 | 13.4 | 31.9 | 6.75 | 82.4 | 52.0 |
| 2005 | 7 389 | 340 | 95 | 245 | 46.0 | 12.8 | 33.2 | 6.71 | 78.6 | 53.0 |
| 2006 | 7 658 | 355 | 95 | 260 | 46.4 | 12.4 | 34.0 | 6.66 | 74.4 | 53.9 |
| 2007 | 7 945 | 369 | 94 | 275 | 46.5 | 11.9 | 34.7 | 6.59 | 70.3 | 54.7 |
| 2008 | 8 278 | 384 | 93 | 291 | 46.6 | 11.3 | 35.2 | 6.52 | 66.4 | 55.7 |
| 2009 | 8 709 | 402 | 94 | 308 | 46.7 | 10.9 | 35.8 | 6.41 | 62.8 | 56.4 |
| 2010 | 9 127 | 426 | 96 | 330 | 46.7 | 10.5 | 36.2 | 6.26 | 59.4 | 57.1 |
| 2011 | 9 456 | 432 | 96 | 336 | 45.6 | 10.1 | 35.5 | 6.11 | 56.2 | 57.8 |
| 2012 | 9 795 | 435 | 94 | 340 | 44.4 | 9.6 | 34.8 | 5.99 | 53.3 | 58.5 |
| 2013 | 10 150 | 441 | 93 | 347 | 43.4 | 9.2 | 34.2 | 5.89 | 50.6 | 59.2 |
| 2014 | 10 495 | 445 | 92 | 352 | 42.4 | 8.8 | 33.6 | 5.79 | 48.2 | 59.9 |
| 2015 | 10 727 | 448 | 93 | 355 | 41.3 | 8.6 | 32.8 | 5.70 | 46.3 | 60.2 |
| 2016 | 10 903 | 432 | 90 | 343 | 39.5 | 8.2 | 31.3 | 5.59 | 44.4 | 60.8 |
| 2017 | 11 156 | 427 | 87 | 340 | 38.1 | 7.8 | 30.4 | 5.48 | 42.8 | 61.6 |
| 2018 | 11 493 | 424 | 88 | 336 | 37.0 | 7.6 | 29.4 | 5.38 | 41.3 | 61.7 |
| 2019 | 11 875 | 431 | 87 | 344 | 36.3 | 7.4 | 29.0 | 5.27 | 39.9 | 62.6 |
| 2020 | 12 441 | 452 | 91 | 362 | 35.9 | 7.2 | 28.7 | 5.18 | 38.8 | 62.6 |
| 2021 | 12 793 | 455 | 95 | 360 | 35.1 | 7.3 | 27.8 | 5.08 | 37.6 | 62.1 |
| 2022 | 13 138 | 457 | 93 | 364 | 34.3 | 7.0 | 27.3 | 4.98 | 36.5 | 62.9 |
| 2023 | 13 504 | 461 | 92 | 369 | 33.7 | 6.7 | 26.9 | 4.88 | 35.4 | 63.7 |
| 1 2 3 4 5 CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); CDR = crude death rate (per 1000); NC = natural change (per 1000); TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman); IMR = infant mortality rate per 1000 births |||||||||||
Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects, 2022

### Demographic and Health Surveys

Total Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and Crude Birth Rate (CBR):
| Year | Total | Total | Urban | Urban | Rural | Rural |
| Year | CBR | TFR | CBR | TFR | CBR | TFR |
| 1987 | | 6.6 (5.3) | | 5.2 (4.2) | | 6.6 (5.4) |
| 2010 | 44.5 | 6.4 (4.2) | 37.3 | 4.8 (3.4) | 45.3 | 6.6 (4.3) |
| 2016–17 | 37.9 | 5.5 (3.6) | 33.0 | 4.1 (3.0) | 38.5 | 5.7 (3.7) |
Fertility data as of 2010 (DHS Program): The fertility rate in the Bujumbura Mairie Province fell to 3.7 by 2016–2017; the other regions were not aggregated in the report, for easy reference and comparison to the below chart. Per the 2016-2017 report, the average number of desired children in Burundi, nationwide, by both men and women of 15 to 49 years of age who are either paired up or married, is 4 children or less, and slightly less for men than for women. Per the report, this suggests an excess fecundity (more children than desired) of 1.8 children per couple nationwide; 1.1 in urban areas (where 3.0 children are desired, and the fertility rate is 4.1) and 2.0 in rural areas (where 3.7 children are desired and the fertility rate is 5.7). However, the number of desired children appears to be based on the lowest-desired rate - that of paired but unmarried men (3.7 children) rather than the highest (4.0, desired by married women) or even an overall average.
| Region | Total fertility rate | Percentage of women age 15-49 currently pregnant | Mean number of children ever born to women age 40–49 |
| Bujumbura Mairie | 4.2 | 7.9% | 5.3 |
| Nord | 6.7 | 10.1% | 6.4 |
| Centre-Est | 6.3 | 10.5% | 6.6 |
| Ouest | 7.1 | 11.7% | 7.2 |
| Sud | 6.2 | 10.8% | 6.8 |

## Ethnic groups

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

## Languages

    Kirundi (official) only: 29.7%, French (official) only: 0.3%, Kirundi and French: 8.4%, Kurundi, French and English: 2.4%, Swahili only: 0.2%, other language combinations: 2%, unspecified: 56.9% (2008 est.)
    NOTE: Data represents only languages read and written by people 10 years of age or older; spoken Kirundi is nearly universal.

## Religion

    Roman Catholic 62.1%, Protestant 23.9% (includes Adventist 2.3% and other Protestant 21.6%), Islam 2.5%, Other 3.6%, Unspecified 7.9% (2008 est.)