Topic: Photos of Burundi

Topic: Introduction
Background: Established in the 1600s, the Burundi Kingdom has had borders similar to those of modern Burundi since the 1800s. Burundi’s two major ethnic groups, the majority Hutu and minority Tutsi, share a common language and culture and largely lived in peaceful cohabitation under Tutsi monarchs in pre-colonial Burundi. Regional, class, and clan distinctions contributed to social status in the Burundi Kingdom, yielding a complex class structure. German colonial rule in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and Belgian rule after World War I preserved Burundi’s monarchy. Seeking to simplify administration, Belgian colonial officials reduced the number of chiefdoms and eliminated most Hutu chiefs from positions of power. In 1961, the Burundian Tutsi king’s oldest son, Louis Rwagasore was murdered by a competing political faction shortly before he was set to become prime minister, triggering increased political competition that contributed to later instability. Burundi gained its independence from Belgium in 1962 as the Kingdom of Burundi. Revolution in neighboring Rwanda stoked ethnic polarization as the Tutsi increasingly feared violence and loss of political power. A failed Hutu-led coup in 1965 triggered a purge of Hutu officials and set the stage for Tutsi officers to overthrow the monarchy in 1966 and establish a Tutsi-dominated republic. A Hutu rebellion in 1972 that resulted in the death of several thousand Tutsi civilians sparked a brutal crackdown on Hutu civilians by the Tutsi-led military, which ultimately killed 100,000-200,000 people. International pressure led to a new constitution in 1992 and democratic elections in June 1993. Burundi's first democratically elected president, Hutu Melchior NDADAYE, was assassinated in October 1993 after only 100 days in office by Tutsi military officers fearing Hutu domination, sparking a civil war. His successor, Cyprien NTARYAMIRA, died when the Rwandan president’s plane he was traveling on was shot down in April 1994, which triggered the Rwandan genocide and further entrenched ethnic conflict in Burundi. The internationally brokered Arusha Agreement, signed in 2000, and subsequent ceasefire agreements with armed movements ended the 1993-2005 civil war. Burundi’s second democratic elections were held in 2005, resulting in the election of Pierre NKURUNZIZA as president. He was reelected in 2010 and again in 2015 after a controversial court decision allowed him to circumvent a term limit. President Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE - from NKURUNZIZA’s ruling party - was elected in 2020.Established in the 1600s, the Burundi Kingdom has had borders similar to those of modern Burundi since the 1800s. Burundi’s two major ethnic groups, the majority Hutu and minority Tutsi, share a common language and culture and largely lived in peaceful cohabitation under Tutsi monarchs in pre-colonial Burundi. Regional, class, and clan distinctions contributed to social status in the Burundi Kingdom, yielding a complex class structure. German colonial rule in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and Belgian rule after World War I preserved Burundi’s monarchy. Seeking to simplify administration, Belgian colonial officials reduced the number of chiefdoms and eliminated most Hutu chiefs from positions of power. In 1961, the Burundian Tutsi king’s oldest son, Louis Rwagasore was murdered by a competing political faction shortly before he was set to become prime minister, triggering increased political competition that contributed to later instability. Burundi gained its independence from Belgium in 1962 as the Kingdom of Burundi.Revolution in neighboring Rwanda stoked ethnic polarization as the Tutsi increasingly feared violence and loss of political power. A failed Hutu-led coup in 1965 triggered a purge of Hutu officials and set the stage for Tutsi officers to overthrow the monarchy in 1966 and establish a Tutsi-dominated republic. A Hutu rebellion in 1972 that resulted in the death of several thousand Tutsi civilians sparked a brutal crackdown on Hutu civilians by the Tutsi-led military, which ultimately killed 100,000-200,000 people. International pressure led to a new constitution in 1992 and democratic elections in June 1993. Burundi's first democratically elected president, Hutu Melchior NDADAYE, was assassinated in October 1993 after only 100 days in office by Tutsi military officers fearing Hutu domination, sparking a civil war. His successor, Cyprien NTARYAMIRA, died when the Rwandan president’s plane he was traveling on was shot down in April 1994, which triggered the Rwandan genocide and further entrenched ethnic conflict in Burundi. The internationally brokered Arusha Agreement, signed in 2000, and subsequent ceasefire agreements with armed movements ended the 1993-2005 civil war. Burundi’s second democratic elections were held in 2005, resulting in the election of Pierre NKURUNZIZA as president. He was reelected in 2010 and again in 2015 after a controversial court decision allowed him to circumvent a term limit. President Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE - from NKURUNZIZA’s ruling party - was elected in 2020.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.

Topic: Geography
Location: Central Africa, east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, west of Tanzania
Geographic coordinates: 3 30 S, 30 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 27,830 sq km

land: 25,680 sq km

water: 2,150 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries: total: 1,140 km

border countries (3): Democratic Republic of the Congo 236 km; Rwanda 315 km; Tanzania 589 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: equatorial; high plateau with considerable altitude variation (772 m to 2,670 m above sea level); average annual temperature varies with altitude from 23 to 17 degrees Celsius but is generally moderate as the average altitude is about 1,700 m; average annual rainfall is about 150 cm; two wet seasons (February to May and September to November), and two dry seasons (June to August and December to January)
Terrain: hilly and mountainous, dropping to a plateau in east, some plains
Elevation: highest point: unnamed elevation on Mukike Range 2,685 m
note - the Factbook map is incorrect; it shows the wrong high elevation

lowest point: Lake Tanganyika 772 m

mean elevation: 1,504 m
Natural resources: nickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat, cobalt, copper, platinum, vanadium, arable land, hydropower, niobium, tantalum, gold, tin, tungsten, kaolin, limestone
Land use: agricultural land: 73.3% (2018 est.)

arable land: 38.9% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 15.6% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 18.8% (2018 est.)

forest: 6.6% (2018 est.)

other: 20.1% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 230 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Lake Tanganyika (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and Zambia) - 32,000 sq km
Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km)
Population distribution: one of Africa's most densely populated countries; concentrations tend to be in the north and along the northern shore of Lake Tanganyika in the west; most people live on farms near areas of fertile volcanic soil as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: flooding; landslides; drought
Geography - note: landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed; the Kagera, which drains into Lake Victoria, is the most remote headstream of the White Nile

Topic: People and Society
Population: 12,696,478 (2022 est.)

note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic
Nationality: noun: Burundian(s)

adjective: Burundian
Ethnic groups: Hutu, Tutsi, Twa (Pygmy)
Languages: Kirundi only 29.7% (official); French only .3% (official); Swahili only .2%; English only .1% (official); Kirundi and French 8.4%; Kirundi, French, and English 2.4%, other language combinations 2%, unspecified 56.9% (2008 est.)

major-language sample(s):
Igitabo Mpuzamakungu c'ibimenyetso bifatika, isoko ntabanduka ku nkuru z'urufatiro. (Kirundi)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

note: data represent languages read and written by people 10 years of age or older; spoken Kirundi is nearly universal
Religions: Roman Catholic 58.6%, Protestant 35.3% (includes Adventist 2.7% and other Protestant 32.6%), Muslim 3.4%, other 1.3%, none 1.3% (2016-17 est.)
Demographic profile: Burundi is a densely populated country with a high population growth rate, factors that combined with land scarcity and poverty place a large share of its population at risk of food insecurity. About 90% of the population relies on subsistence agriculture. Subdivision of land to sons, and redistribution to returning refugees, results in smaller, overworked, and less productive plots. Food shortages, poverty, and a lack of clean water contribute to a 60% chronic malnutrition rate among children. A lack of reproductive health services has prevented a significant reduction in Burundi’s maternal mortality and fertility rates, which are both among the world’s highest. With two-thirds of its population under the age of 25 and a birth rate of about 6 children per woman, Burundi’s population will continue to expand rapidly for decades to come, putting additional strain on a poor country.Historically, migration flows into and out of Burundi have consisted overwhelmingly of refugees from violent conflicts. In the last decade, more than a half million Burundian refugees returned home from neighboring countries, mainly Tanzania. Reintegrating the returnees has been problematic due to their prolonged time in exile, land scarcity, poor infrastructure, poverty, and unemployment. Repatriates and existing residents (including internally displaced persons) compete for limited land and other resources. To further complicate matters, international aid organizations reduced their assistance because they no longer classified Burundi as a post-conflict country. Conditions have deteriorated since renewed violence erupted in April 2015, causing another outpouring of refugees. In addition to refugee out-migration, Burundi has hosted thousands of refugees from neighboring countries, mostly from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and lesser numbers from Rwanda.Burundi is a densely populated country with a high population growth rate, factors that combined with land scarcity and poverty place a large share of its population at risk of food insecurity. About 90% of the population relies on subsistence agriculture. Subdivision of land to sons, and redistribution to returning refugees, results in smaller, overworked, and less productive plots. Food shortages, poverty, and a lack of clean water contribute to a 60% chronic malnutrition rate among children. A lack of reproductive health services has prevented a significant reduction in Burundi’s maternal mortality and fertility rates, which are both among the world’s highest. With two-thirds of its population under the age of 25 and a birth rate of about 6 children per woman, Burundi’s population will continue to expand rapidly for decades to come, putting additional strain on a poor country.Historically, migration flows into and out of Burundi have consisted overwhelmingly of refugees from violent conflicts. In the last decade, more than a half million Burundian refugees returned home from neighboring countries, mainly Tanzania. Reintegrating the returnees has been problematic due to their prolonged time in exile, land scarcity, poor infrastructure, poverty, and unemployment. Repatriates and existing residents (including internally displaced persons) compete for limited land and other resources. To further complicate matters, international aid organizations reduced their assistance because they no longer classified Burundi as a post-conflict country. Conditions have deteriorated since renewed violence erupted in April 2015, causing another outpouring of refugees. In addition to refugee out-migration, Burundi has hosted thousands of refugees from neighboring countries, mostly from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and lesser numbers from Rwanda.
Age structure: 0-14 years: 43.83% (male 2,618,868/female 2,581,597)

15-24 years: 19.76% (male 1,172,858/female 1,171,966)

25-54 years: 29.18% (male 1,713,985/female 1,748,167)

55-64 years: 4.17% (male 231,088/female 264,131)

65 years and over: 3.06% (male 155,262/female 207,899) (2020 est.)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 91

youth dependency ratio: 86.4

elderly dependency ratio: 4.5

potential support ratio: 22 (2020 est.)
Median age: total: 17.7 years

male: 17.4 years

female: 18 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.63% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 35.17 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 5.96 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: 7.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: one of Africa's most densely populated countries; concentrations tend to be in the north and along the northern shore of Lake Tanganyika in the west; most people live on farms near areas of fertile volcanic soil as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization: urban population: 14.4% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 5.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.139 million BUJUMBURA (capital) (2022)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female

total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 21.5 years (2016/17 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-49
Maternal mortality ratio: 548 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 37.84 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 42.02 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 33.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.42 years

male: 65.32 years

female: 69.59 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.03 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 28.5% (2016/17)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 98.7% of population

rural: 78.9% of population

total: 81.6% of population

unimproved: urban: 1.3% of population

rural: 21.1% of population

total: 18.4% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 8% (2019)
Physicians density: 0.1 physicians/1,000 population (2017)
Hospital bed density: 0.8 beds/1,000 population (2014)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 87.4% of population

rural: 53.7% of population

total: 58.4% of population

unimproved: urban: 12.6% of population

rural: 46.3% of population

total: 41.6% of population (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 1% (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 83,000 (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 1,700 (2020 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever

water contact diseases: schistosomiasis

animal contact diseases: rabies
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 5.4% (2016)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 27% (2018/19)
Child marriage: women married by age 15: 2.8% (2017)

women married by age 18: 19% (2017)

men married by age 18: 1.4% (2017 est.)
Education expenditures: 5.1% of GDP (2018)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 68.4%

male: 76.3%

female: 61.2% (2017)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 11 years

male: 11 years

female: 11 years (2018)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 2.9%

male: 4.4%

female: 2% (2014 est.)

Topic: Environment
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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 35.61 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 0.5 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 1.42 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: equatorial; high plateau with considerable altitude variation (772 m to 2,670 m above sea level); average annual temperature varies with altitude from 23 to 17 degrees Celsius but is generally moderate as the average altitude is about 1,700 m; average annual rainfall is about 150 cm; two wet seasons (February to May and September to November), and two dry seasons (June to August and December to January)
Land use: agricultural land: 73.3% (2018 est.)

arable land: 38.9% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 15.6% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 18.8% (2018 est.)

forest: 6.6% (2018 est.)

other: 20.1% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 14.4% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 5.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 10.31% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever

water contact diseases: schistosomiasis

animal contact diseases: rabies
Food insecurity: widespread lack of access: due to floods, and lack of rain - about 1 million people are estimated to be severely food insecure in the June−September 2021 period, mainly due to livelihood losses caused by poor rains in northern areas and by floods in western areas bordering Lake Tanganyika; the socio‑economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has put further constraints on livelihoods of vulnerable households. (2021)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 1,872,016 tons (2002 est.)
Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Lake Tanganyika (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and Zambia) - 32,000 sq km
Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km)
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 43.1 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial: 15 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

agricultural: 222 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 12.536 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Burundi

conventional short form: Burundi

local long form: Republique du Burundi/Republika y'u Burundi

local short form: Burundi

former: Urundi, German East Africa, Ruanda-Urundi, Kingdom of Burundi

etymology: name derived from the pre-colonial Kingdom of Burundi (17th-19th century)
Government type: presidential republic
Capital: name: Gitega (political capital), Bujumbura (commercial capital); note - in January 2019, the Burundian parliament voted to make Gitega the political capital of the country while Bujumbura would remain its economic capital; all branches of the government are expected to have moved from Bujumbura to Gitega by 2022

geographic coordinates: 3 25 S, 29 55 E

time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology: the naming origins for both Gitega and Bujumbura are obscure; Bujumbura's name prior to independence in 1962 was Usumbura
Administrative divisions: 18 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura Mairie, Bujumbura Rural, Bururi, Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Gitega, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo, Makamba, Muramvya, Muyinga, Mwaro, Ngozi, Rumonge, Rutana, Ruyigi
Independence: 1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 July (1962)
Constitution: history: several previous, ratified by referendum 28 February 2005

amendments: proposed by the president of the republic after consultation with the government or by absolute majority support of the membership in both houses of Parliament; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Senate membership and at least four-fifths majority vote by the National Assembly; the president can opt to submit amendment bills to a referendum; constitutional articles including those on national unity, the secularity of Burundi, its democratic form of government, and its sovereignty cannot be amended; amended 2018 (amendments extended the presidential term from 5 to 7 years, reintroduced the position of prime minister, and reduced the number of vice presidents from 2 to 1)
Legal system: mixed legal system of Belgian civil law and customary law
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; withdrew from ICCt in October 2017
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Burundi

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE (since 18 June 2020); Vice President Prosper BAZOMBANZA (since 24 June 2020); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

head of government: President Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE (since 18 June 2020); Vice President Prosper BAZOMBANZA (since 24 June 2020); Prime Minister Alain-Guillaume BUNYONI (since 24 June 2020)

cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by president

elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 20 May 2020 (next to be held in 2025); vice presidents nominated by the president, endorsed by Parliament; note - a 2018 constitutional referendum effective for the 2020 election, increased the presidential term from 5 to 7 years with a 2-consecutive-term limit, reinstated the position of the prime minister position, and reduced the number of vice presidents from 2 to 1

election results: Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE elected president; percent of vote - Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE (CNDD-FDD) 71.5%, Agathon RWASA (CNL) 25.2%, Gaston SINDIMWO (UPRONA) 1.7%, OTHER 1.6%
Legislative branch: description: bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of:
Senate or Inama Nkenguzamateka (39 seats in the July 2020 election); 36 members indirectly elected by an electoral college of provincial councils using a three-round voting system, which requires a two-thirds majority vote in the first two rounds and simple majority vote for the two leading candidates in the final round; 3 seats reserved for Twas, and 30% of all votes reserved for women; members serve 5-year terms)
National Assembly or Inama Nshingamateka (123 seats in the May 2020 election; 100 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 23 co-opted members; 60% of seats allocated to Hutu and 40% to Tutsi; 3 seats reserved for Twas; 30% of total seats reserved for women; members serve 5-year terms)

elections:
Senate - last held on 20 July 2020 (next to be held in 2025)
National Assembly - last held on 20 May 2020 (next to be held in 2025)

election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - CNDD-FDD 87.2%, Twa 7.7%, CNL 2.6%, UPRONA 2.6%; seats by party - CNDD-FDD 34, CNL 1, UPRONA 1, Twa 3; composition - men 23, women 16, percent of women 37.2%
National Assembly - percent of vote by party - CNDD-FDD 70.9%, CNL 23.4%, UPRONA 2.5%, other (co-opted Twa) 3.2%; seats by party - CNDD-FDD 86, CNL 32, UPRONA 2, Twa 3; composition - men 76, women 47, percent of women 38.2%; note - total Parliament percent of women 38%
Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of 9 judges and organized into judicial, administrative, and cassation chambers); Constitutional Court (consists of 7 members)

judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by the Judicial Service Commission, a 15-member independent body of judicial and legal profession officials), appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate and serve 6-year nonrenewable terms

subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; County Courts; Courts of Residence; Martial Court; Court Against Corruption; Commercial Court
Political parties and leaders: Front for Democracy in Burundi-Nyakuri or FRODEBU-Nyakuri [Keffa NIBIZI]
Front for Democracy in Burundi-Sahwanya or FRODEBU-Sahwanya [Pierre Claver NAHIMANA]
National Congress for Liberty or CNL [Agathon RWASA]
National Council for the Defense of Democracy - Front for the Defense of Democracy or CNDD-FDD [Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE]
National Liberation Forces or FNL [Jacques BIGITIMANA]
Union for National Progress (Union pour le Progress Nationale) or UPRONA [Abel GASHATSI]
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, CEMAC, CEPGL, CICA, COMESA, EAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jean de Dieu NDIKUMANA (since 7 July 2021)

chancery: 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007

telephone: [1] (202) 342-2574

FAX: [1] (202) 342-2578

email address and website:
burundiembusadc@gmail.com

https://burundiembassy-usa.com/index.php
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Melanie Harris HIGGINS (since 2 March 2021)

embassy: B.P. 1720, Avenue Des Etats-Unis, Bujumbura

mailing address: 2100 Bujumbura Place, Washington DC  20521-2100

telephone: [257] 22-207-000

FAX: [257] 22-222-926

email address and website:
BujumburaC@state.gov

https://bi.usembassy.gov/
Flag description: divided by a white diagonal cross into red panels (top and bottom) and green panels (hoist side and fly 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); green symbolizes hope and optimism, white purity and peace, and red the blood shed in the struggle for independence; the three stars in the disk represent the three major ethnic groups: Hutu, Twa, Tutsi, as well as the three elements in the national motto: unity, work, progress
National symbol(s): lion; national colors: red, white, green
National anthem: name: "Burundi Bwacu" (Our Beloved Burundi)

lyrics/music: Jean-Baptiste NTAHOKAJA/Marc BARENGAYABO

note: adopted 1962

Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Burundi is a landlocked, resource-poor country with an underdeveloped manufacturing sector. Agriculture accounts for over 40% of GDP and employs more than 90% of the population. Burundi's primary exports are coffee and tea, which account for more than half of foreign exchange earnings, but these earnings are subject to fluctuations in weather and international coffee and tea prices, Burundi is heavily dependent on aid from bilateral and multilateral donors, as well as foreign exchange earnings from participation in the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM). Foreign aid represented 48% of Burundi's national income in 2015, one of the highest percentages in Sub-Saharan Africa, but this figure decreased to 33.5% in 2016 due to political turmoil surrounding President NKURUNZIZA’s bid for a third term. Burundi joined the East African Community (EAC) in 2009.Burundi faces several underlying weaknesses – low governmental capacity, corruption, a high poverty rate, poor educational levels, a weak legal system, a poor transportation network, and overburdened utilities – that have prevented the implementation of planned economic reforms. The purchasing power of most Burundians has decreased as wage increases have not kept pace with inflation, which reached approximately 18% in 2017.Real GDP growth dropped precipitously following political events in 2015 and has yet to recover to pre-conflict levels. Continued resistance by donors and the international community will restrict Burundi’s economic growth as the country deals with a large current account deficit.Burundi is a landlocked, resource-poor country with an underdeveloped manufacturing sector. Agriculture accounts for over 40% of GDP and employs more than 90% of the population. Burundi's primary exports are coffee and tea, which account for more than half of foreign exchange earnings, but these earnings are subject to fluctuations in weather and international coffee and tea prices, Burundi is heavily dependent on aid from bilateral and multilateral donors, as well as foreign exchange earnings from participation in the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM). Foreign aid represented 48% of Burundi's national income in 2015, one of the highest percentages in Sub-Saharan Africa, but this figure decreased to 33.5% in 2016 due to political turmoil surrounding President NKURUNZIZA’s bid for a third term. Burundi joined the East African Community (EAC) in 2009.Burundi faces several underlying weaknesses – low governmental capacity, corruption, a high poverty rate, poor educational levels, a weak legal system, a poor transportation network, and overburdened utilities – that have prevented the implementation of planned economic reforms. The purchasing power of most Burundians has decreased as wage increases have not kept pace with inflation, which reached approximately 18% in 2017.Real GDP growth dropped precipitously following political events in 2015 and has yet to recover to pre-conflict levels. Continued resistance by donors and the international community will restrict Burundi’s economic growth as the country deals with a large current account deficit.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $8.69 billion (2020 est.)

$8.67 billion (2019 est.)

$8.51 billion (2018 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: 0% (2017 est.)

-1% (2016 est.)

-4% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $700 (2020 est.)

$800 (2019 est.)

$800 (2018 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $3.027 billion (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): -0.6% (2019 est.)

-2.5% (2018 est.)

15.9% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 39.5% (2017 est.)

industry: 16.4% (2017 est.)

services: 44.2% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 83% (2017 est.)

government consumption: 20.8% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 16% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.)

exports of goods and services: 5.5% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services: -25.3% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: cassava, bananas, sweet potatoes, plantains, beans, vegetables, potatoes, cashew nuts, maize, taro
Industries: light consumer goods (sugar, shoes, soap, beer); cement, assembly of imported components; public works construction; food processing (fruits)
Industrial production growth rate: -2% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 5.012 million (2017 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 93.6%

industry: 2.3%

services: 4.1% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate: NANA
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 2.9%

male: 4.4%

female: 2% (2014 est.)
Population below poverty line: 64.6% (2014 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 38.6 (2013 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.1%

highest 10%: 28% (2006)
Budget: revenues: 536.7 million (2017 est.)

expenditures: 729.6 million (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -5.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public debt: 51.7% of GDP (2017 est.)

48.4% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 15.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Current account balance: -$418 million (2017 est.)

-$411 million (2016 est.)
Exports: $290 million note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)

$283 million (2018 est.)

$315 million (2017 est.)
Exports - partners: United Arab Emirates 50%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 7% (2019)
Exports - commodities: gold, coffee, tea, raw earth metal ores, wheat flours (2019)
Imports: $910 million note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)

$927 million (2018 est.)

$1.295 billion (2017 est.)
Imports - partners: China 14%, Saudi Arabia 14%, India 9%, Kenya 7%, United Arab Emirates 7%, Tanzania 5%, Zambia 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, packaged medicines, cement, raw sugar, cars (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $97.4 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$95.17 million (31 December 2016 est.)
Debt - external: $610.9 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$622.4 million (31 December 2016 est.)
Exchange rates: Burundi francs (BIF) per US dollar -

1,945 (2020 est.)

1,876.25 (2019 est.)

1,800.495 (2018 est.)

1,571.9 (2014 est.)

1,546.7 (2013 est.)

Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 11% (2019)

electrification - urban areas: 66% (2019)

electrification - rural areas: 2% (2019)
Electricity - production: 304 million kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - consumption: 382.7 million kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - imports: 100 million kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity: 68,000 kW (2016 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels: 14% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 73% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from other renewable sources: 14% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - consumption: 1,500 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 1,374 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 18,300 (2020)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 6,631,154 (2020)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 55.77 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Burundi’s high population density and low telecom penetration rates make it an attractive market for investors; mobile operators have launched 3G and LTE to meet the demand for Internet; mobile subscription remains low; government/World Bank joint project to build a national broadband backbone connecting to submarine cable landings in Kenya and Tanzania; government launched e-health project (2020)

domestic: telephone density one of the lowest in the world; fixed-line connections stand at less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular usage is about 56 per 100 persons (2020)

international: country code - 257; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean); the government, supported by the Word Bank, has backed a joint venture with a number of prominent telecoms to build a national fiber backbone network, offering onward connectivity to submarine cable infrastructure landings in Kenya and Tanzania (2019)

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments
Broadcast media: state-controlled Radio Television Nationale de Burundi (RTNB) operates a TV station and a national radio network; 3 private TV stations and about 10 privately owned radio stations; transmissions of several international broadcasters are available in Bujumbura (2019)
Internet country code: .bi
Internet users: total: 1.82 million (2022 est.)

percent of population: 14.6% (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 4,230 (2021)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.04 less than 1 (2021)

Topic: Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 9U
Airports: total: 7 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1

over 3,047 m: 1 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 6

914 to 1,523 m: 4

under 914 m: 2 (2021)
Heliports: 1 (2021)
Roadways: total: 12,322 km (2016)

paved: 1,500 km (2016)

unpaved: 10,822 km (2016)
Waterways: (mainly on Lake Tanganyika between Bujumbura, Burundi's principal port, and lake ports in Tanzania, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo) (2011)
Ports and terminals: lake port(s): Bujumbura (Lake Tanganyika)

Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: National Defense Forces (Forces de Defense Nationale, FDN): Army (includes maritime wing, air wing); Ministry of Public Security: National Police (Police Nationale du Burundi) (2021)
Military expenditures: 2.1% of GDP (2020 est.)

3% of GDP (approximately $120 million) (2019 est.)

2.3% of GDP (approximately $100 million) (2018 est.)

2.1% of GDP (approximately $95 million) (2017 est.)

2.4% of GDP (approximately $100 million) (2016 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 25,000 active duty troops, the majority of which are ground forces (2021)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the FDN is armed mostly with weapons from Russia and the former Soviet Union, with some Western equipment, largely from France; since 2010, the FDN has received small amounts of mostly second-hand equipment from China, South Africa, and the US (2021)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service (2021)
Military deployments: 750 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 5,400 Somalia (AMISOM) (Jan 2022)
Military - note: in addition to its foreign deployments, the FDN as of 2021 was focused on internal security missions, particularly against rebel groups opposed to the regime such as National Forces of Liberation (FNL), the Resistance for the Rule of Law-Tabara (aka RED Tabara), and Popular Forces of Burundi (FPB or FOREBU); these groups were based in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo and have carried out sporadic attacks in Burundi

Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: cross-border conflicts persist among Tutsi, Hutu, other ethnic groups, associated political rebels, armed gangs, and various government forces in the Great Lakes region

Burundi-Rwanda: Burundi's Ngozi province and Rwanda's Butare province dispute the two-kilometer-square hilly farmed area of Sabanerwa in the Rukurazi Valley where the Akanyaru/Kanyaru River shifted its course southward after heavy rains in 1965 around Kibinga Hill in Rwanda's Butare Province

cross-border conflicts persist among Tutsi, Hutu, other ethnic groups, associated political rebels, armed gangs, and various government forces in the Great Lakes region

Burundi-Rwanda: Burundi's Ngozi province and Rwanda's Butare province dispute the two-kilometer-square hilly farmed area of Sabanerwa in the Rukurazi Valley where the Akanyaru/Kanyaru River shifted its course southward after heavy rains in 1965 around Kibinga Hill in Rwanda's Butare Province

Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 84,961 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2022)

IDPs: 109,169 (some ethnic Tutsis remain displaced from intercommunal violence that broke out after the 1,993 coup and fighting between government forces and rebel groups; violence since April 2015) (2021)

stateless persons: 767 (mid-year 2021)
Trafficking in persons: current situation: human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Burundi and victims from Burundi abroad; traffickers take advantage of Burundians in precarious or desperate situations, including returned refugees; children were reportedly recruited by armed groups and forced to participate in anti-government activities; non-state armed groups allegedly used threats, intimidation, and physical assaults to coerce refugees in a camp in Rwanda to support the Burundian opposition; children and young adults are trafficked by relatives, neighbors, and friends and are subjected to forced labor in agriculture, mining, informal commerce, charcoal production, and fishing; some girls and young women are forced into domestic servitude and sex trafficking in restaurants and bars around Lake Tanganyika; women and girls who go to the Middle East for domestic service jobs report physical and sexual abuse

tier rating: Tier 3 — Burundi does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government worked with an international organization to provide training to immigration officials, identified victims of trafficking abroad, and conducted public awareness campaigns with an international organization; however, authorities did not convict any traffickers for the fifth consecutive year and did not investigate, prosecute, or convict officials allegedly complicit in human trafficking; the government did not have standard operating procedures to identify and refer victims to services and did not have adequate protection services for victims; authorities continued to lack a clear understanding of trafficking despite the government providing training to immigration officials (2020)


This entry, which appears only in the European Union, Government category, provides a listing of all of the European Union member countries, as well as their associated overseas countries and territories.

Topic: European Union27 countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden; note - candidate countries: Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey there are 13 overseas countries and territories (OCTs) (1 with Denmark [Greenland], 6 with France [French Polynesia; French Southern and Antarctic Lands; New Caledonia; Saint Barthelemy; Saint Pierre and Miquelon; Wallis and Futuna], and 6 with the Netherlands [Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten]), all are part of the Overseas Countries and Territories Association (OCTA)

note: there are non-European OCTs having special relations with Denmark, France, and the Netherlands (list is annexed to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union), that are associated with the EU to promote their economic and social development; member states apply to their trade with OCTs the same treatment as they accord each other pursuant to the treaties; OCT nationals are in principle EU citizens, but these countries are neither part of the EU, nor subject to the EU27 countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden; note - candidate countries: Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkeythere are 13 overseas countries and territories (OCTs) (1 with Denmark [Greenland], 6 with France [French Polynesia; French Southern and Antarctic Lands; New Caledonia; Saint Barthelemy; Saint Pierre and Miquelon; Wallis and Futuna], and 6 with the Netherlands [Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten]), all are part of the Overseas Countries and Territories Association (OCTA)


This entry provides the one- or two-character alphanumeric code indicating the nationality of civil aircraft. Article 20 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention), signed in 1944, requires that all aircraft engaged in international air navigation bear appropriate nationality marks. The aircraft registration number consists of two parts: a prefix consisting of a one- or two-character alphanumeric code indicating nationality and a registration suffix of one to five characters for the specific aircraft. The prefix codes are based upon radio call-signs allocated by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to each country. Since 1947, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has managed code standards and their allocation.

Topic: AfghanistanYA

Topic: AlbaniaZA

Topic: Algeria7T

Topic: AndorraC3

Topic: AngolaD2

Topic: AnguillaVP-A

Topic: Antigua and BarbudaV2

Topic: ArgentinaLV

Topic: ArmeniaEK

Topic: ArubaP4

Topic: AustraliaVH

Topic: AustriaOE

Topic: Azerbaijan4K

Topic: Bahamas, TheC6

Topic: BahrainA9C

Topic: BangladeshS2

Topic: Barbados8P

Topic: BelarusEW

Topic: BelgiumOO

Topic: BelizeV3

Topic: BeninTY

Topic: BermudaVP-B

Topic: BhutanA5

Topic: BoliviaCP

Topic: Bosnia and HerzegovinaT9

Topic: BotswanaA2

Topic: BrazilPP

Topic: British Virgin IslandsVP-L

Topic: BruneiV8

Topic: BulgariaLZ

Topic: Burkina FasoXT

Topic: BurmaXY

Topic: Burundi9U

Topic: Cabo VerdeD4

Topic: CambodiaXU

Topic: CameroonTJ

Topic: CanadaC

Topic: Cayman IslandsVP-C

Topic: Central African RepublicTL

Topic: ChadTT

Topic: ChileCC

Topic: ChinaB

Topic: ColombiaHJ, HK

Topic: ComorosD6

Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of the9Q

Topic: Congo, Republic of theTN

Topic: Cook IslandsE5

Topic: Costa RicaTI

Topic: Cote d'IvoireTU

Topic: Croatia9A

Topic: CubaCU

Topic: CuracaoPJ

Topic: Cyprus5B

Topic: CzechiaOK

Topic: DenmarkOY

Topic: DjiboutiJ2

Topic: DominicaJ7

Topic: Dominican RepublicHI

Topic: EcuadorHC

Topic: EgyptSU

Topic: El SalvadorYS

Topic: Equatorial Guinea3C

Topic: EritreaE3

Topic: EstoniaES

Topic: Eswatini3DC

Topic: EthiopiaET

Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)VP-F

Topic: Faroe IslandsOY-H

Topic: FijiDQ

Topic: FinlandOH

Topic: FranceF

Topic: French PolynesiaF-OH

Topic: GabonTR

Topic: Gambia, TheC5

Topic: Georgia4L

Topic: GermanyD

Topic: Ghana9G

Topic: GibraltarVP-G

Topic: GreeceSX

Topic: GreenlandOY-H

Topic: GrenadaJ3

Topic: GuamN

Topic: GuatemalaTG

Topic: Guernsey2

Topic: Guinea3X

Topic: Guinea-BissauJ5

Topic: Guyana8R

Topic: HaitiHH

Topic: HondurasHR

Topic: Hong KongB-H

Topic: HungaryHA

Topic: IcelandTF

Topic: IndiaVT

Topic: IndonesiaPK

Topic: IranEP

Topic: IraqYI

Topic: IrelandEI

Topic: Isle of ManM

Topic: Israel4X

Topic: ItalyI

Topic: Jamaica6Y

Topic: JapanJA

Topic: JordanJY

Topic: KazakhstanUP

Topic: Kenya5Y

Topic: KiribatiT3

Topic: Korea, NorthP

Topic: Korea, SouthHL

Topic: KosovoZ6

Topic: Kuwait9K

Topic: KyrgyzstanEX

Topic: LaosRDPL

Topic: LatviaYL

Topic: LebanonOD

Topic: Lesotho7P

Topic: LiberiaA8

Topic: Libya5A

Topic: LiechtensteinHB

Topic: LithuaniaLY

Topic: LuxembourgLX

Topic: MacauB-M

Topic: Madagascar5R

Topic: Malawi7Q

Topic: Malaysia9M

Topic: Maldives8Q

Topic: MaliTZ, TT

Topic: Malta9H

Topic: Marshall IslandsV7

Topic: Mauritania5T

Topic: Mauritius3B

Topic: MexicoXA

Topic: Micronesia, Federated States ofV6

Topic: MoldovaER

Topic: Monaco3A

Topic: MongoliaJU

Topic: Montenegro4O

Topic: MontserratVP-M

Topic: MoroccoCN

Topic: MozambiqueC9

Topic: NamibiaV5

Topic: NauruC2

Topic: Nepal9N

Topic: NetherlandsPH

Topic: New ZealandZK

Topic: NicaraguaYN

Topic: Niger5U

Topic: Nigeria5N

Topic: North MacedoniaZ3

Topic: NorwayLN

Topic: OmanA4O

Topic: PakistanAP

Topic: PalauT8

Topic: PanamaHP

Topic: Papua New GuineaP2

Topic: ParaguayZP

Topic: PeruOB

Topic: PhilippinesRP

Topic: PolandSP

Topic: PortugalCR, CS

Topic: QatarA7

Topic: RomaniaYR

Topic: RussiaRA

Topic: Rwanda9XR

Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da CunhaVQ-H

Topic: Saint Kitts and NevisV4

Topic: Saint LuciaJ6

Topic: Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesJ8

Topic: Samoa5W

Topic: San MarinoT7

Topic: Sao Tome and PrincipeS9

Topic: Saudi ArabiaHZ

Topic: Senegal6V

Topic: SerbiaYU

Topic: SeychellesS7

Topic: Sierra Leone9L

Topic: Singapore9V

Topic: SlovakiaOM

Topic: SloveniaS5

Topic: Solomon IslandsH4

Topic: Somalia6O

Topic: South AfricaZS

Topic: South SudanZ8

Topic: SpainEC

Topic: Sri Lanka4R

Topic: SudanST

Topic: SurinamePZ

Topic: SwedenSE

Topic: SwitzerlandHB

Topic: SyriaYK

Topic: TaiwanB

Topic: TajikistanEY

Topic: Tanzania5H

Topic: ThailandHS

Topic: Timor-Leste4W

Topic: Togo5V

Topic: TongaA3

Topic: Trinidad and Tobago9Y

Topic: TunisiaTS

Topic: TurkeyTC

Topic: TurkmenistanEZ

Topic: Turks and Caicos IslandsVQ-T

Topic: TuvaluT2

Topic: Uganda5X

Topic: UkraineUR

Topic: United Arab EmiratesA6

Topic: United KingdomG

Topic: United StatesN

Topic: UruguayCX

Topic: UzbekistanUK

Topic: VanuatuYJ

Topic: VenezuelaYV

Topic: VietnamVN

Topic: Yemen7O

Topic: Zambia9J

Topic: ZimbabweZ


Topic: Photos of New Zealand

Topic: Introduction
Background: Polynesian settlers may have arrived in New Zealand in the late 1200s, with widespread settlement in the mid-1300s. They called the land Aotearoa, which legend holds is the name of the canoe that Kupe, the first Polynesian in New Zealand, used to sail to the country; the name Aotearoa is now in widespread use as the local Maori name for the country. Competition for land and resources led to intermittent fighting between different Maori iwi (tribes) by the 1500s as large game became extinct. Dutch explorer Abel TASMAN was the first European to see the islands in 1642 but after an encounter with local Maori, he sailed away. British captain James COOK was the next European to arrive in New Zealand in 1769, followed by whalers, sealers, and traders. The UK only nominally claimed New Zealand and included it as part of New South Wales in Australia. Concerns about increasing lawlessness led the UK to appoint its first British Resident in New Zealand in 1832, although he had few legal powers. In 1835, some Maori iwi from the North Island declared independence as the United Tribes of New Zealand. Fearing an impending French settlement and takeover, they asked the British for protection. In 1840, the British negotiated their protection in the Treaty of Waitangi, which was eventually signed by more than 500 different Maori chiefs, although many chiefs did not or were not asked to sign. In the English-language version of the treaty, the British thought the Maori ceded their land to the UK, but translations of the treaty appeared to give the British less authority, and land tenure issues stemming from the treaty are still present and being actively negotiated in New Zealand.

The UK declared New Zealand a separate colony in 1841 and gave it limited self-government in 1852. Different traditions of authority and land use led to a series of wars from the 1840s to the 1870s fought between Europeans and various Maori iwi. Along with disease, these conflicts halved the Maori population. In the 1890s, New Zealand initially expressed interest in joining independence talks with Australia but ultimately opted against it and changed its status to an independent dominion in 1907. New Zealand provided more than 100,000 troops during each World War, many of whom fought as part of the Australia and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC). New Zealand reaffirmed its independence in 1947, signed the Australia, New Zealand, and US (ANZUS) Treaty, and militarily supported the US in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Beginning in 1984, New Zealand began to adopt nuclear-free policies, contributing to a dispute with the US over naval ship visits that led the US to suspend its defense obligations to New Zealand in 1986.

In recent years, New Zealand has explored reducing some of its ties to the UK. There in an active, minority movement about changing New Zealand to a republic, and in 2015-16, a referendum on changing the New Zealand flag to remove the Union Jack failed 57% to 43%.Polynesian settlers may have arrived in New Zealand in the late 1200s, with widespread settlement in the mid-1300s. They called the land Aotearoa, which legend holds is the name of the canoe that Kupe, the first Polynesian in New Zealand, used to sail to the country; the name Aotearoa is now in widespread use as the local Maori name for the country. Competition for land and resources led to intermittent fighting between different Maori iwi (tribes) by the 1500s as large game became extinct. Dutch explorer Abel TASMAN was the first European to see the islands in 1642 but after an encounter with local Maori, he sailed away. British captain James COOK was the next European to arrive in New Zealand in 1769, followed by whalers, sealers, and traders. The UK only nominally claimed New Zealand and included it as part of New South Wales in Australia. Concerns about increasing lawlessness led the UK to appoint its first British Resident in New Zealand in 1832, although he had few legal powers. In 1835, some Maori iwi from the North Island declared independence as the United Tribes of New Zealand. Fearing an impending French settlement and takeover, they asked the British for protection. In 1840, the British negotiated their protection in the Treaty of Waitangi, which was eventually signed by more than 500 different Maori chiefs, although many chiefs did not or were not asked to sign. In the English-language version of the treaty, the British thought the Maori ceded their land to the UK, but translations of the treaty appeared to give the British less authority, and land tenure issues stemming from the treaty are still present and being actively negotiated in New Zealand.

The UK declared New Zealand a separate colony in 1841 and gave it limited self-government in 1852. Different traditions of authority and land use led to a series of wars from the 1840s to the 1870s fought between Europeans and various Maori iwi. Along with disease, these conflicts halved the Maori population. In the 1890s, New Zealand initially expressed interest in joining independence talks with Australia but ultimately opted against it and changed its status to an independent dominion in 1907. New Zealand provided more than 100,000 troops during each World War, many of whom fought as part of the Australia and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC). New Zealand reaffirmed its independence in 1947, signed the Australia, New Zealand, and US (ANZUS) Treaty, and militarily supported the US in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Beginning in 1984, New Zealand began to adopt nuclear-free policies, contributing to a dispute with the US over naval ship visits that led the US to suspend its defense obligations to New Zealand in 1986.

In recent years, New Zealand has explored reducing some of its ties to the UK. There in an active, minority movement about changing New Zealand to a republic, and in 2015-16, a referendum on changing the New Zealand flag to remove the Union Jack failed 57% to 43%.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.

Topic: Geography
Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia
Geographic coordinates: 41 00 S, 174 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 268,838 sq km

land: 264,537 sq km

water: 4,301 sq km

note: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands
Area - comparative: almost twice the size of North Carolina; about the size of Colorado
Land boundaries: total: 0 km
Coastline: 15,134 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate: temperate with sharp regional contrasts
Terrain: predominately mountainous with large coastal plains
Elevation: highest point: Aoraki/Mount Cook 3,724 m; note - the mountain's height was 3,764 m until 14 December 1991 when it lost about 10 m in an avalanche of rock and ice; erosion of the ice cap since then has brought the height down another 30 m

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

mean elevation: 388 m
Natural resources: natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold, limestone
Land use: agricultural land: 43.2% (2018 est.)

arable land: 1.8% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 41.1% (2018 est.)

forest: 31.4% (2018 est.)

other: 25.4% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 7,210 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Lake Taupo - 610 sq km
Population distribution: over three-quarters of New Zealanders, including the indigenous Maori, live on the North Island, primarily in urban areas
Natural hazards: earthquakes are common, though usually not severe; volcanic activityvolcanism: significant volcanism on North Island; Ruapehu (2,797 m), which last erupted in 2007, has a history of large eruptions in the past century; Taranaki has the potential to produce dangerous avalanches and lahars; other historically active volcanoes include Okataina, Raoul Island, Tongariro, and White Island; see note 2 under "Geography - note"earthquakes are common, though usually not severe; volcanic activityvolcanism: significant volcanism on North Island; Ruapehu (2,797 m), which last erupted in 2007, has a history of large eruptions in the past century; Taranaki has the potential to produce dangerous avalanches and lahars; other historically active volcanoes include Okataina, Raoul Island, Tongariro, and White Island; see note 2 under "Geography - note"
Geography - note: note 1: consists of two main islands and a number of smaller islands; South Island, the larger main island, is the 12th largest island in the world and is divided along its length by the Southern Alps; North Island is the 14th largest island in the world and is not as mountainous, but it is marked by volcanism note 2: New Zealand lies along the Ring of Fire, a belt of active volcanoes and earthquake epicenters bordering the Pacific Ocean; up to 90% of the world's earthquakes and some 75% of the world's volcanoes occur within the Ring of Fire note 3: almost 90% of the population lives in cities and over three-quarters on North Island; Wellington is the southernmost national capital in the worldnote 1: consists of two main islands and a number of smaller islands; South Island, the larger main island, is the 12th largest island in the world and is divided along its length by the Southern Alps; North Island is the 14th largest island in the world and is not as mountainous, but it is marked by volcanismnote 2: New Zealand lies along the Ring of Fire, a belt of active volcanoes and earthquake epicenters bordering the Pacific Ocean; up to 90% of the world's earthquakes and some 75% of the world's volcanoes occur within the Ring of Firenote 3: almost 90% of the population lives in cities and over three-quarters on North Island; Wellington is the southernmost national capital in the world

Topic: People and Society
Population: 5,053,004 (2022 est.)
Nationality: noun: New Zealander(s)

adjective: New Zealand
Ethnic groups: European 64.1%, Maori 16.5%, Chinese 4.9%, Indian 4.7%, Samoan 3.9%, Tongan 1.8%, Cook Islands Maori 1.7%, English 1.5%, Filipino 1.5%, New Zealander 1%, other 13.7% (2018 est.)

note: based on the 2018 census of the usually resident population; percentages add up to more than 100% because respondents were able to identify more than one ethnic group
Languages: English (de facto official) 95.4%, Maori (de jure official) 4%, Samoan 2.2%, Northern Chinese 2%, Hindi 1.5%, French 1.2%, Yue 1.1%, New Zealand Sign Language (de jure official) 0.5%, other or not stated 17.2% (2018 est.)

note: shares sum to 124.1% due to multiple responses on the 2018 census
Religions: Christian 37.3% (Catholic 10.1%, Anglican 6.8%, Presbyterian and Congregational 5.2%, Pentecostal 1.8%, Methodist 1.6%, Church of Jesus Christ 1.2%, other 10.7%), Hindu 2.7%, Maori 1.3%, Muslim, 1.3%, Buddhist 1.1%, other religion 1.6% (includes Judaism, Spiritualism and New Age religions, Baha'i, Asian religions other than Buddhism), no religion 48.6%, objected to answering 6.7% (2018 est.)

note: based on the 2018 census of the usually resident population; percentages add up to more than 100% because respondents were able to identify more than one religion
Age structure: 0-14 years: 19.63% (male 496,802/female 469,853)

15-24 years: 12.92% (male 328,327/female 308,132)

25-54 years: 39.98% (male 996,857/female 972,566)

55-64 years: 11.93% (male 285,989/female 301,692)

65 years and over: 15.54% (male 358,228/female 407,031) (2020 est.)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 55.8

youth dependency ratio: 30.3

elderly dependency ratio: 25.5

potential support ratio: 3.9 (2020 est.)
Median age: total: 37.2 years

male: 36.4 years

female: 37.9 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.17% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 12.78 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 6.89 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: 5.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: over three-quarters of New Zealanders, including the indigenous Maori, live on the North Island, primarily in urban areas
Urbanization: urban population: 86.9% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 0.92% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.652 million Auckland, 419,000 WELLINGTON (capital) (2022)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female

total population: 1 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 27.8 years (2009 est.)

note: median age at first birth
Maternal mortality ratio: 9 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 3.44 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 3.64 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 3.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 82.54 years

male: 80.78 years

female: 84.39 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.86 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 79.9% (2014/15)

note: percent of women aged 16-49
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

unimproved: urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 9.7% (2019)
Physicians density: 3.59 physicians/1,000 population (2018)
Hospital bed density: 2.6 beds/1,000 population (2019)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

unimproved: urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2020)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: <.1% (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 3,600 (2020 est.)

note: estimate does not include children
HIV/AIDS - deaths: <100 (2020 est.)

note: estimate does not include children
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 30.8% (2016)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA
Education expenditures: 6% of GDP (2018)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 20 years

male: 20 years

female: 21 years (2019)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 12.4%

male: 12.2%

female: 12.6% (2020 est.)

Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: water quality and availability; rapid urbanisation; deforestation; soil erosion and degradation; native flora and fauna hard-hit by invasive species; negative effects of climate change
Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: Antarctic Seals, Marine Life Conservation
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 5.73 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 34.38 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 34.3 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: temperate with sharp regional contrasts
Land use: agricultural land: 43.2% (2018 est.)

arable land: 1.8% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 41.1% (2018 est.)

forest: 31.4% (2018 est.)

other: 25.4% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 86.9% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 0.92% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.5% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0.03% of GDP (2018 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 3.405 million tons (2016 est.)
Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Lake Taupo - 610 sq km
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 810 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial: 1.184 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

agricultural: 3.207 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 327 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: none

conventional short form: New Zealand

abbreviation: NZ

etymology: Dutch explorer Abel TASMAN was the first European to reach New Zealand in 1642; he named it Staten Landt, but Dutch cartographers renamed it Nova Zeelandia in 1645 after the Dutch province of Zeeland; British explorer Captain James COOK subsequently anglicized the name to New Zealand when he mapped the islands in 1769
Government type: parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Capital: name: Wellington

geographic coordinates: 41 18 S, 174 47 E

time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in September; ends first Sunday in April

time zone note: New Zealand has two time zones: New Zealand standard time (UTC+12) and Chatham Islands time (45 minutes in advance of New Zealand standard time; UTC+12:45)

etymology: named in 1840 after Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington and victorious general at the Battle of Waterloo
Administrative divisions: 16 regions and 1 territory*; Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Chatham Islands*, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Manawatu-Wanganui, Marlborough, Nelson, Northland, Otago, Southland, Taranaki, Tasman, Waikato, Wellington, West Coast
Dependent areas: Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau
Independence: 26 September 1907 (from the UK)
National holiday: Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840); Anzac Day (commemorated as the anniversary of the landing of troops of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during World War I at Gallipoli, Turkey), 25 April (1915)
Constitution: history: New Zealand has no single constitution document; the Constitution Act 1986, effective 1 January 1987, includes only part of the uncodified constitution; others include a collection of statutes or "acts of Parliament," the Treaty of Waitangi, Orders in Council, letters patent, court decisions, and unwritten conventions

amendments: proposed as bill by Parliament or by referendum called either by the government or by citizens; passage of a bill as an act normally requires two separate readings with committee reviews in between to make changes and corrections, a third reading approved by the House of Representatives membership or by the majority of votes in a referendum, and assent of the governor-general; passage of amendments to reserved constitutional provisions affecting the term of Parliament, electoral districts, and voting restrictions requires approval by 75% of the House membership or the majority of votes in a referendum; amended many times, last in 2020
Legal system: common law system, based on English model, with special legislation and land courts for the Maori
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of New Zealand

dual citizenship recognized: yes

residency requirement for naturalization: 3 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor-General Dame Cindy KIRO (since 21 October 2021)

head of government: Prime Minister Jacinda ARDERN (since 26 October 2017); Deputy Prime Minister Grant ROBERTSON (since 2 November 2020)

cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor-general on the recommendation of the prime minister

elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor-general appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the governor-general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor-general; note - Prime Minister ARDERN heads up a minority coalition government consisting of the Labor and New Zealand First parties with confidence and supply support from the Green Party
Legislative branch: description: unicameral House of Representatives - commonly called Parliament (120 seats for 2020-23 term); 72 members directly elected in 65 single-seat constituencies and 7 Maori constituencies by simple majority vote and 48 directly elected by closed party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 3-year terms)

elections: last held on 17 October 2020 (next scheduled for 2023)

election results: percent of vote by party - Labor Party 49.1%, National Party 26.8%, ACT Party 8%, Green Party 6.3%, Maori Party 1%; seats by party - Labor Party 64, National Party 35, Green Party 10, ACT Party 10, Maori Party 1; composition - men 63, women 57, percent of women 47.5%
Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of 5 justices, including the chief justice); note - the Supreme Court in 2004 replaced the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) as the final appeals court

judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the governor-general upon the recommendation of the attorney- general; justices appointed until compulsory retirement at age 70

subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Court; tribunals and authorities; district courts; specialized courts for issues related to employment, environment, family, Maori lands, youth, military; tribunals
Political parties and leaders: ACT New Zealand [David SEYMOUR]
Green Party [James SHAW]
Mana Movement [Hone HARAWIRA] (formerly Mana Party)
Maori Party [Che WILSON and Kaapua SMITH]
New Zealand First Party or NZ First [Winston PETERS]
New Zealand Labor Party [Jacinda ARDERN]
New Zealand National Party [Christopher LUXON]
United Future New Zealand [Damian LIGHT]
International organization participation: ADB, ANZUS, APEC, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CD, CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, FATF, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club (associate), PCA, PIF, SICA (observer), Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNTSO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Rosemary BANKS (since 11 January 2019)

chancery: 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 328-4800

FAX: [1] (202) 667-5277

email address and website:
wshinfo@mfat.govt.nz

https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/countries-and-regions/americas/united-states-of-america/

consulate(s) general: Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Tom S. UDALL (since 1 December 2021) note - also accredited to Samoa

embassy: 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington 6011

mailing address: 4370 Auckland Place, Washington DC  20521-4370

telephone: [64] (4) 462-6000

FAX: [64] (4) 499-0490

email address and website:
AucklandACS@state.gov

https://nz.usembassy.gov/

consulate(s) general: Auckland
Flag description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant with four red five-pointed stars edged in white centered in the outer half of the flag; the stars represent the Southern Cross constellation
National symbol(s): Southern Cross constellation (four, five-pointed stars), kiwi (bird), silver fern; national colors: black, white, red (ochre)
National anthem: name: God Defend New Zealand

lyrics/music: Thomas BRACKEN [English], Thomas Henry SMITH [Maori]/John Joseph WOODS

note: adopted 1940 as national song, adopted 1977 as co-national anthem; New Zealand has two national anthems with equal status; as a commonwealth realm, in addition to "God Defend New Zealand," "God Save the Queen" serves as a national anthem (see United Kingdom); "God Save the Queen" normally played only when a member of the royal family or the governor-general is present; in all other cases, "God Defend New Zealand" is played
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 natural, 1 mixed)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Te Wahipounamu – South West New Zealand (n), Tongariro National Park (m), New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands (n)

Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Over the past 40 years, the government has transformed New Zealand from an agrarian economy, dependent on concessionary British market access, to a more industrialized, free market economy that can compete globally. This dynamic growth has boosted real incomes, but left behind some at the bottom of the ladder and broadened and deepened the technological capabilities of the industrial sector.Per capita income rose for 10 consecutive years until 2007 in purchasing power parity terms, but fell in 2008-09. Debt-driven consumer spending drove robust growth in the first half of the decade, fueling a large balance of payments deficit that posed a challenge for policymakers. Inflationary pressures caused the central bank to raise its key rate steadily from January 2004 until it was among the highest in the OECD in 2007 and 2008. The higher rate attracted international capital inflows, which strengthened the currency and housing market while aggravating the current account deficit. Rising house prices, especially in Auckland, have become a political issue in recent years, as well as a policy challenge in 2016 and 2017, as the ability to afford housing has declined for many.Expanding New Zealand’s network of free trade agreements remains a top foreign policy priority. New Zealand was an early promoter of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and was the second country to ratify the agreement in May 2017. Following the United States’ withdrawal from the TPP in January 2017, on 10 November 2017 the remaining 11 countries agreed on the core elements of a modified agreement, which they renamed the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). In November 2016, New Zealand opened negotiations to upgrade its FTA with China; China is one of New Zealand’s most important trading partners.Over the past 40 years, the government has transformed New Zealand from an agrarian economy, dependent on concessionary British market access, to a more industrialized, free market economy that can compete globally. This dynamic growth has boosted real incomes, but left behind some at the bottom of the ladder and broadened and deepened the technological capabilities of the industrial sector.Per capita income rose for 10 consecutive years until 2007 in purchasing power parity terms, but fell in 2008-09. Debt-driven consumer spending drove robust growth in the first half of the decade, fueling a large balance of payments deficit that posed a challenge for policymakers. Inflationary pressures caused the central bank to raise its key rate steadily from January 2004 until it was among the highest in the OECD in 2007 and 2008. The higher rate attracted international capital inflows, which strengthened the currency and housing market while aggravating the current account deficit. Rising house prices, especially in Auckland, have become a political issue in recent years, as well as a policy challenge in 2016 and 2017, as the ability to afford housing has declined for many.Expanding New Zealand’s network of free trade agreements remains a top foreign policy priority. New Zealand was an early promoter of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and was the second country to ratify the agreement in May 2017. Following the United States’ withdrawal from the TPP in January 2017, on 10 November 2017 the remaining 11 countries agreed on the core elements of a modified agreement, which they renamed the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). In November 2016, New Zealand opened negotiations to upgrade its FTA with China; China is one of New Zealand’s most important trading partners.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $215.6 billion (2020 est.)

$213.5 billion (2019 est.)

$210.07 billion (2018 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: 2.22% (2019 est.)

3.22% (2018 est.)

3.8% (2017 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $42,400 (2020 est.)

$42,900 (2019 est.)

$42,900 (2018 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $205.202 billion (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.6% (2019 est.)

1.5% (2018 est.)

1.8% (2017 est.)
Credit ratings: Fitch rating: AA (2011)

Moody's rating: Aaa (2002)

Standard & Poors rating: AA (2011)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 5.7% (2017 est.)

industry: 21.5% (2017 est.)

services: 72.8% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 57.2% (2017 est.)

government consumption: 18.2% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 23.4% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories: 0.3% (2017 est.)

exports of goods and services: 27% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services: -26.1% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, beef, kiwi fruit, apples, potatoes, mutton, grapes, wheat, barley, green onions/shallots
Industries: agriculture, forestry, fishing, logs and wood articles, manufacturing, mining, construction, financial services, real estate services, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 1.8% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 2.709 million (2020 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 6.6%

industry: 20.7%

services: 72.7% (2017 est.)
Unemployment rate: 4.13% (2019 est.)

4.32% (2018 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 12.4%

male: 12.2%

female: 12.6% (2020 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 36.2 (1997)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA

highest 10%: NA
Budget: revenues: 74.11 billion (2017 est.)

expenditures: 70.97 billion (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 1.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public debt: 31.7% of GDP (2017 est.)

33.5% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 36.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

note: this is the fiscal year for tax purposes
Current account balance: -$6.962 billion (2019 est.)

-$8.742 billion (2018 est.)
Exports: $50.43 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.)

$57.16 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)

$57.71 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)
Exports - partners: China 28%, Australia 14%, United States 9%, Japan 6% (2019)
Exports - commodities: dairy products, sheep/goat meats, lumber, beef products, fresh fruits (2019)
Imports: $47.86 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.)

$57.75 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)

$58.39 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)
Imports - partners: China 18%, Australia 15%, United States 9%, Japan 6%, Germany 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities: cars, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, delivery trucks, gas turbines (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $20.68 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$17.81 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Debt - external: $190.621 billion (2019 est.)

$192.327 billion (2018 est.)
Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar -

1.41794 (2020 est.)

1.52334 (2019 est.)

1.45709 (2018 est.)

1.4279 (2014 est.)

1.2039 (2013 est.)

Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020)
Electricity - production: 42.53 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - consumption: 39.5 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity: 9.301 million kW (2016 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels: 23% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 58% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from other renewable sources: 20% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Crude oil - production: 24,000 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil - exports: 26,440 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Crude oil - imports: 108,900 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves: 51.8 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 115,100 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Refined petroleum products - consumption: 169,100 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 1,782 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 56,000 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Natural gas - production: 5.097 billion cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - consumption: 5.182 billion cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves: 33.7 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)

Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 1.76 million (2018)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37.11 (2018 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 6.4 million (2018)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 136.1 (2019 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: excellent domestic and international systems with progress in mobile services; LTE rates some of the fastest in the world; growth in mobile broadband and fiber sectors; roll out of 5G; investment and development of infrastructure enabled network capabilities to propel the digital economy, e-government, and e-commerce across the country; new satellite to improve telecom in the Asia Pacific region; importer of broadcasting equipment and computers from China (2020)

domestic: fixed-line roughly 37 per 100 and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership 136 per 100 persons (2019)

international: country code - 64; landing points for the Southern Cross NEXT, Aqualink, Nelson-Levin, SCCN and Hawaiki submarine cable system providing links to Australia, Fiji, American Samoa, Kiribati, Samo, Tokelau, US and around New Zealand; satellite earth stations - 8 (1 Inmarsat - Pacific Ocean, 7 other) (2019)

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments
Broadcast media: state-owned Television New Zealand operates multiple TV networks and state-owned Radio New Zealand operates 3 radio networks and an external shortwave radio service to the South Pacific region; a small number of national commercial TV and radio stations and many regional commercial television and radio stations are available; cable and satellite TV systems are available, as are a range of streaming services (2019)
Internet country code: .nz
Internet users: total: 4.55 million (2021 est.)

percent of population: 90.81% (2019 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 1,764,984 (2021)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 36.6 (2021)

Topic: Transportation
National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 15 (2020)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 199

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 17,249,049 (2018)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1,349,300,000 mt-km (2018)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: ZK
Airports: total: 123 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 39

over 3,047 m: 2

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 12

914 to 1,523 m: 23

under 914 m: 1 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 84

1,524 to 2,437 m: 3

914 to 1,523 m: 33

under 914 m: 48 (2021)
Pipelines: 331 km condensate, 2500 km gas, 172 km liquid petroleum gas, 288 km oil, 198 km refined products (2018)
Railways: total: 4,128 km (2018)

narrow gauge: 4,128 km 1.067-m gauge (506 km electrified) (2018)
Roadways: total: 94,000 km (2017)

paved: 61,600 km (includes 199 km of expressways) (2017)

unpaved: 32,400 km (2017)
Merchant marine: total: 115

by type: container ship 1, general cargo 12, oil tanker 4, other 98 (2021)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Auckland, Lyttelton, Manukau Harbor, Marsden Point, Tauranga, Wellington

Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: New Zealand Defense Force (NZDF): New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force (2021)
Military expenditures: 1.3% of GDP (2021 est.)

1.5% of GDP (2020)

1.4% of GDP (approximately $3.1 billion) (2019)

1.2% of GDP (approximately $2.62 billion) (2018)

1.1% of GDP (approximately $2.43 billion) (2017)
Military and security service personnel strengths: the New Zealand Defense Force (NZDF) has about 9,600 active duty troops (4,700 Army; 2,300 Navy; 2,600 Air Force) (2021)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: NZDF is equipped mostly with imported weapons and equipment from Western suppliers; the US is the leading provider since 2010 (2021)
Military service age and obligation: 17 years of age for voluntary military service (men and women); soldiers cannot be deployed until the age of 18; no conscription (2021)

note - New Zealand opened up all military occupations to women in 2000; in 2019, women accounted for about 18% of the uniformed full-time personnel
Military deployments: up to 220 Antarctica (summer season only) (2021)
Military - note: New Zealand has been part of the Australia, New Zealand, and US Security (ANZUS) Treaty since 1951; however, the US suspended its ANZUS security obligations to New Zealand in 1986 after New Zealand implemented a policy barring nuclear-armed and nuclear-powered warships from its ports; the US and New Zealand signed the Wellington Declaration in 2010, which reaffirmed close ties between the two countries, and in 2012 signed the Washington Declaration, which provided a framework for future security cooperation and defense dialogues; in 2016, a US naval ship conducted the first bilateral warship visit to New Zealand since the 1980s

New Zealand has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US; MNNA is a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; while MNNA status provides military and economic privileges, it does not entail any security commitments

  New Zealand has been part of the Australia, New Zealand, and US Security (ANZUS) Treaty since 1951; however, the US suspended its ANZUS security obligations to New Zealand in 1986 after New Zealand implemented a policy barring nuclear-armed and nuclear-powered warships from its ports; the US and New Zealand signed the Wellington Declaration in 2010, which reaffirmed close ties between the two countries, and in 2012 signed the Washington Declaration, which provided a framework for future security cooperation and defense dialogues; in 2016, a US naval ship conducted the first bilateral warship visit to New Zealand since the 1980s

New Zealand has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US; MNNA is a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; while MNNA status provides military and economic privileges, it does not entail any security commitments

Topic: Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T

Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency)asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency)
Illicit drugs: significant consumer of amphetamines