Burundi

**Burundi** (officially called the **Republic of Burundi**) is a small country in Africa. The capital of Burundi is Gitega. The official languages of Burundi are Kirundi, Swahili, French and English. There are about 14 million people in Burundi. Burundi is one of the poorest countries in the world.

## History

In 1962, Burundi gained independence from Belgium.

## Provinces, communes and collines

Burundi is divided into 18 provinces, 117 communes, and 2,638 collines (hills). Provincial governments are based on these boundaries.

The provinces are:
<table><td>
- Bubanza
- Bujumbura Mairie
- Bujumbura Rural
- Bururi
- Cankuzo
- Cibitoke
- Gitega
- Karuzi
- Kayanza
</td><td>
- Kirundo
- Makamba
- Muramvya
- Muyinga
- Mwaro
- Ngozi
- Rumonge
- Rutana
- Ruyigi
</td></table>

### Largest cities

These are the largest cities in Burundi:

|style="text-align:center;"|Ranking|style="text-align:center;"|Name|style="text-align:center;"|Population|
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|style="text-align:right;"|1.|Bujumbura|style="text-align:right;"|340,300||
|style="text-align:right;"|2.|Gitega|style="text-align:right;"|46,900||
|style="text-align:right;"|3.|Muyinga|style="text-align:right;"|45,300||
|style="text-align:right;"|4.|Ngozi|style="text-align:right;"|40,200||
|style="text-align:right;"|5.|Ruyigi|style="text-align:right;"|36,800||
|style="text-align:right;"|6.|Kayanza|style="text-align:right;"|26,200||
|style="text-align:right;"|7.|Bururi|style="text-align:right;"|22,900||
|style="text-align:right;"|8.|Rutana|style="text-align:right;"|20,700||
|style="text-align:right;"|9.|Muramvya|style="text-align:right;"|17,600||
|style="text-align:right;"|10.|Makamba|style="text-align:right;"|13,000||

## Geography

One of the smallest countries in Africa, Burundi is landlocked. It is bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. It has an equatorial climate. Burundi is a part of the Albertine Rift, the western extension of the East African Rift.

The country lies on a rolling plateau in the center of Africa. The average elevation of the central plateau is , with lower elevations at the borders.  The highest peak, Mount Heha at , is southeast of Bujumbura. The source of the Nile River is in Burundi province. It is linked from Lake Victoria to its headwaters by the Ruvyironza River. Lake Victoria is also an important water source.  It serves as a fork to the Kagera River. Another major lake is Lake Tanganyika in Burundi's southwestern corner.

Burundi's lands are mostly agricultural or pasture. Settlement by rural populations has led to deforestation, soil erosion, and habitat loss.

There are two national parks: Kibira National Park and Ruvubu National Park. Both were formed in 1982 to keep wildlife populations.

## Related pages

- Burundi at the Olympics
- Burundi national football team
- List of rivers of Burundi

## References

**Notes**

## Infobox (country)

- **conventional long name**: Republic of Burundi
- **common name**: Burundi
- **image flag**: Flag of Burundi.svg
- **image coat**: Coat of arms of Burundi.svg
- **image map**: File:Location Burundi AU Africa.svg
- **map caption**: Location of Burundi (dark blue)

in Africa (light blue)
- **national anthem**:
"Our Burundi"

- **languages type**: Official languages
- **capital**: Gitega
- **largest city**: Bujumbura
- **demonym**: Burundian
- **government type**: Unitary state, Unitary Dominant-party system, dominant-party Presidential system, presidential republic under an authoritarian dictatorship
- **leader title1**: List of Presidents of Burundi, President
- **leader name1**: Évariste Ndayishimiye
- **leader title3**: Vice President of Burundi, Vice President
- **leader name3**: Prosper Bazombanza
- **leader title2**: Prime Minister of Burundi, Prime Minister
- **leader name2**: Gervais Ndirakobuca
- **legislature**: Parliament of Burundi, Parliament
- **upper house**: Senate (Burundi), Senate
- **lower house**: National Assembly (Burundi), National Assembly
- **sovereignty type**: History of Burundi, Establishment history
- **established event1**: Kingdom of Burundi, Kingdom of Urundi
- **established date1**: 1680–1966
- **established event2**: Part of German East Africa
- **established date2**: 1890–1916
- **established event3**: Part of Ruanda-Urundi
- **established date3**: 1916–1962
- **established event4**: Independence from Belgium
- **established date4**: 1 July 1962
- **established event5**: Republic
- **established date5**: 28 November 1966
- **established event6**: Constitution of Burundi, Current constitution
- **established date6**: 17 May 2018
- **area km2**: 27,834
- **area rank**: 142nd
- **percent water**: 10
- **population estimate**: 14,151,540
- **population estimate year**: 2024
- **population estimate rank**: 78th
- **population density km2**: 473
- **population density rank**: 17th
- **gdp ppp**: $12.594 billion
- **gdp ppp year**: 2023
- **gdp ppp rank**: 164th
- **gdp ppp per capita**: $890
- **gdp ppp per capita rank**: 193rd
- **gdp nominal**: $3.184 billion
- **gdp nominal year**: 2023
- **gdp nominal rank**: 173rd
- **gdp nominal per capita**: $322
- **gdp nominal per capita rank**: 192nd
- **gini year**: 2020
- **gini change**: decrease
- **gini**: 37.5
- **hdi year**: 2022
- **hdi change**: decrease
- **hdi**: 0.420
- **hdi rank**: 187th
- **currency**: Burundian franc (FBu)
- **currency code**: BIF
- **time zone**: Central Africa Time, CAT
- **utc offset**: +2
- **drives on**: right
- **calling code**: +257
- **cctld**: .bi
- **religion year**: 2020