Burundi. English. |
| The World Factbook 2002 | ||
| Burundi | 
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| Introduction | Burundi |
| Background: |
Burundi's first democratically elected president was assassinated in October 1993 after only four months in office. Since then, some 200,000 Burundians have perished in widespread, often intense ethnic violence between Hutu and Tutsi factions. Hundreds of thousands have been internally displaced or have become refugees in neighboring countries. Burundian troops, seeking to secure their borders, intervened in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1998. More recently, many of these troops have been redeployed back to Burundi to deal with periodic upsurges in rebel activity. A new transitional government, inaugurated on 1 November 2001, was to be the first step towards holding national elections in three years. However, the unwillingness of the Hutu rebels to enact a cease fire with Bujumbura continues to obstruct prospects for a sustainable peace. |
| Geography | Burundi |
| Location: |
Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| Geographic
coordinates: |
3 30 S, 30 00 E |
| Map
references: |
Africa |
| Area: |
total: 27,830 sq
km water: 2,180 sq km land: 25,650 sq km |
| Area
- comparative: |
slightly smaller than Maryland |
| Land
boundaries: |
total: 974 km border countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 233 km, Rwanda 290 km, Tanzania 451 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 centigrade but is generally moderate as the average altitude is about 1,700 m; average annual rainfall is about 150 cm; wet seasons from February to May and September to November, and dry seasons from June to August and December to January |
| Terrain: |
hilly and mountainous, dropping to a plateau in east, some plains |
| Elevation
extremes: |
lowest point: Lake
Tanganyika 772 m highest point: Mount Heha 2,670 m |
| Natural
resources: |
nickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat, cobalt, copper, platinum (not yet exploited), vanadium, arable land, hydropower |
| Land
use: |
arable land: 29.98%
permanent crops: 12.85% other: 57.17% (1998 est.) |
| Irrigated
land: |
740 sq km (1998 est.) |
| Natural
hazards: |
flooding, landslides, drought |
| 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, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban |
| 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 |
| People | Burundi |
| Population: |
6,373,002 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2002 est.) |
| Age
structure: |
0-14 years: 46.5%
(male 1,497,865; female 1,466,455) 15-64 years: 50.7% (male 1,592,253; female 1,640,254) 65 years and over: 2.8% (male 71,915; female 104,260) (2002 est.) |
| Population
growth rate: |
2.36% (2002 est.) |
| Birth
rate: |
39.87 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
| Death
rate: |
16.3 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
| Net
migration rate: |
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
| Sex
ratio: |
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2002 est.) |
| Infant
mortality rate: |
69.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) |
| Life
expectancy at birth: |
total population:
45.94 years female: 46.83 years (2002 est.) male: 45.08 years |
| Total
fertility rate: |
6.07 children born/woman (2002 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- adult prevalence rate: |
11.32% (1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- people living with HIV/AIDS: |
360,000 (1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- deaths: |
39,000 (1999 est.) |
| Nationality: |
noun: Burundian(s)
adjective: Burundi |
| Ethnic
groups: |
Hutu (Bantu) 85%, Tutsi (Hamitic) 14%, Twa (Pygmy) 1%, Europeans 3,000, South Asians 2,000 |
| Religions: |
Christian 67% (Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 5%), indigenous beliefs 23%, Muslim 10% |
| Languages: |
Kirundi (official), French (official), Swahili (along Lake Tanganyika and in the Bujumbura area) |
| Literacy: |
definition: age 15
and over can read and write total population: 35.3% male: 49.3% female: 22.5% (1995 est.) |
| Government | Burundi |
| Country
name: |
conventional long form:
Republic of Burundi conventional short form: Burundi local short form: Burundi local long form: Republika y'u Burundi former: Urundi |
| Government
type: |
republic |
| Capital: |
Bujumbura |
| Administrative
divisions: |
16 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura, Bururi, Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Gitega, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo, Makamba, Muramvya, Muyinga, Mwaro, Ngozi, Rutana, Ruyigi |
| Independence: |
1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration) |
| National
holiday: |
Independence Day, 1 July (1962) |
| Constitution: |
13 March 1992; provided for establishment of a plural political system; supplanted on 6 June 1998 by a Transitional Constitution which enlarged the National Assembly and created two vice presidents |
| Legal
system: |
based on German and Belgian civil codes and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
| Suffrage: |
NA years of age; universal adult |
| Executive
branch: |
chief of state: President
Pierre BUYOYA (a Tutsi, was sworn in as president of a transition government
on 1 November 2001; he is scheduled to hold office for 18 months before
transferring power to his vice president, a Hutu); Vice President Domitien
NDAYIZEYE (since 1 November 2001) head of government: President Pierre BUYOYA (a Tutsi, was sworn in as president of a transition government on 1 November 2001; he is scheduled to hold office for 18 months before transferring power to his vice president, a Hutu); Vice President Domitien NDAYIZEYE (since 1 November 2001) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by president elections: NA; current president assumed power following a coup on 25 July 1996 in which former President NTIBANTUNGANYA was overthrown |
| Legislative
branch: |
bicameral, consists of a
National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (expanded from 121 to approximately
140 seats under the transitional government inaugurated 1 November 2001;
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and a Senate
(54 seats; term length is undefined, the current senators will likely
serve out the three-year transition period) elections: last held 29 June 1993 (next was scheduled to be held in 1998, but were suspended by presidential decree in 1996; elections are planned to follow the completion of the three-year transitional government) election results: percent of vote by party - FRODEBU 71.04%, UPRONA 21.4%, other 7.56%; seats by party - FRODEBU 65, UPRONA 16, civilians 27, other parties 13 |
| Judicial
branch: |
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Constitutional Court; Courts of Appeal (there are three in separate locations); Tribunals of First Instance (17 at the province level and 123 small local tribunals) |
| Political
parties and leaders: |
the two national, mainstream,
governing parties are: Unity for National Progress or UPRONA [Luc RUKINGAMA,
president]; Burundi Democratic Front or FRODEBU [Jean MINANI, president]
note: a multiparty system was introduced after 1998, included are: Burundi African Alliance for the Salvation or ABASA [Terrence NSANZE]; Rally for Democracy and Economic and Social Development or RADDES [Joseph NZENZIMANA]; Party for National Redress or PARENA [Jean-Baptiste BAGAZA]; People's Reconciliation Party or PRP [Mathias HITIMANA] |
| Political
pressure groups and leaders: |
Loosely organized Hutu and Tutsi militias, often affiliated with Hutu and Tutsi extremist parties or subordinate to government security forces |
| International
organization participation: |
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO |
| Diplomatic
representation in the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Thomas NDIKUMANA chancery: Suite 212, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 FAX: [1] (202) 342-2578 telephone: [1] (202) 342-2574 |
| Diplomatic
representation from the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador James Howard YELLIN embassy: Avenue des Etats-Unis, Bujumbura mailing address: B. P. 1720, Bujumbura telephone: [257] 223454 FAX: [257] 222926 |
| Flag
description: |
divided by a white diagonal cross into red panels (top and bottom) and green panels (hoist side and outer 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) |
| Economy | Burundi |
| Economy
- overview: |
Burundi is a landlocked, resource-poor country with an underdeveloped manufacturing sector. The economy is predominantly agricultural with roughly 90% of the population dependent on subsistence agriculture. Its economic health depends on the coffee crop, which accounts for 80% of foreign exchange earnings. The ability to pay for imports therefore rests largely on the vagaries of the climate and the international coffee market. Since October 1993 the nation has suffered from massive ethnic-based violence which has resulted in the death of more than 200,000 persons and the displacement of about 800,000 others. Only one in four children go to school, and more than one in ten adults has HIV/AIDS. Foods, medicines, and electricity remain in short supply. Doubts regarding the sustainability of peace continue to impede development. A Geneva donors' conference in November 2001 brought $800 million in pledges, and an IMF-staff-monitored program could lead to a further agreement in 2002. |
| GDP: |
purchasing power parity - $3.7 billion (2001 est.) |
| GDP
- real growth rate: |
1.4% (2001 est.) |
| GDP
- per capita: |
purchasing power parity - $600 (2001 est.) |
| GDP
- composition by sector: |
agriculture: 50%
industry: 18% services: 32% (2001 est.) |
| Population
below poverty line: |
70% (2001 est.) |
| Household
income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%: 3% highest 10%: 27% (1992) (1992) |
| Distribution
of family income - Gini index: |
33 (1992) |
| Inflation
rate (consumer prices): |
14% (2001 est.) |
| Labor
force: |
1.9 million |
| Labor
force - by occupation: |
NA |
| Unemployment
rate: |
NA% |
| Budget: |
revenues: $125 million
expenditures: $176 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.) |
| Industries: |
light consumer goods such as blankets, shoes, soap; assembly of imported components; public works construction; food processing |
| Industrial
production growth rate: |
6.3% (1999 est.) |
| Electricity
- production: |
148 million kWh (2000) |
| Electricity
- production by source: |
fossil fuel: 1% other: 0% (2000) hydro: 99% nuclear: 0% |
| Electricity
- consumption: |
166.64 million kWh (2000) |
| Electricity
- exports: |
0 kWh (2000) |
| Electricity
- imports: |
29 million kWh note: supplied by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2000) |
| Agriculture
- products: |
coffee, cotton, tea, corn, sorghum, sweet potatoes, bananas, manioc (tapioca); beef, milk, hides |
| Exports: |
$24 million f.o.b. (2001 est.) |
| Exports
- commodities: |
coffee, tea, sugar, cotton, hides |
| Exports
- partners: |
EU 52.5%, US 11.5%, Kenya 11.5%, Switzerland 4.9% (2000 est.) |
| Imports: |
$125 million f.o.b. (2001 est.) |
| Imports
- commodities: |
capital goods, petroleum products, foodstuffs |
| Imports
- partners: |
EU 37.6%, Tanzania 10.3%, Zambia 4.3%, India 3.4%, China 3.4% (2000 est.) |
| Debt
- external: |
$1.12 billion (2001 est.) |
| Economic
aid - recipient: |
$74 million (1999) |
| Currency: |
Burundi franc (BIF) |
| Currency
code: |
BIF |
| Exchange
rates: |
Burundi francs per US dollar - 865.14 (January 2002), 830.35 (2001), 720.67 (2000), 563.56 (1999), 477.77 (1998), 352.35 (1997) |
| Fiscal
year: |
calendar year |
| Communications | Burundi |
| Telephones
- main lines in use: |
20,000 (2000) |
| Telephones
- mobile cellular: |
16,300 (2000) |
| Telephone
system: |
general assessment:
primitive system domestic: sparse system of open wire, radiotelephone communications, and low-capacity microwave radio relay international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) |
| Radio
broadcast stations: |
AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001) |
| Radios: |
440,000 (2001) |
| Television
broadcast stations: |
1 (2001) |
| Televisions: |
25,000 (1997) |
| Internet
country code: |
.bi |
| Internet
Service Providers (ISPs): |
1 (2000) |
| Internet
users: |
6,000 (2002) |
| Transportation | Burundi |
| Railways: |
0 km |
| Highways: |
total: 14,480 km
paved: 1,028 km unpaved: 13,452 km (1996) |
| Waterways: |
Lake Tanganyika |
| Ports
and harbors: |
Bujumbura |
| Airports: |
7 (2001) |
| Airports
- with paved runways: |
total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2002) |
| Airports
- with unpaved runways: |
total: 6 6 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 3 (2002) |
| Military | Burundi |
| Military
branches: |
Army (including naval and air units), Gendarmerie |
| Military
manpower - military age: |
16 years of age (2002 est.) |
| Military
manpower - availability: |
males age 15-49: 1,439,032 (2002 est.) |
| Military
manpower - fit for military service: |
males age 15-49: 752,584 (2002 est.) |
| Military
manpower - reaching military age annually: |
males: 79,360 (2002 est.) |
| Military
expenditures - dollar figure: |
$36.9 million (FY01) |
| Military
expenditures - percent of GDP: |
5.3% (FY01) |
| Transnational Issues | Burundi |
| Disputes
- international: |
Tutsi, Hutu, and other conflicting ethnic groups, political rebels, and various government forces continue fighting in Great Lakes region, transcending the boundaries of Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda |
Source:
The World Factbook 2002
Last Updated: 19 March 2003
2000-2007
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