Burundi Guide

January 31, 2021 findjobdescriptions

Burundi – country information

Country name	Burundi
Official name	Republic of Burundi
Capital	Bujumbura
Continent	Africa
Area	27,834 km²
Population	10,163,000 (2013)
Foundation of a state	1/7/1962
The highest mountains	Mukike 2670 m
State system	a pluralist republic with a unicameral parliament
The biggest cities	Bujumbura (capital) 375,000, Gitega 140,000
Official language	French, Rundish
Ethnicity/National Composition	Hutus 82%, Tutsis 13.5%, Pygmies 1%, others 3.5%
Religious affiliation	Roman Catholic 65.5%, Protestant 14%, Muslim 1.5%, no religion 18.5%
Currency	1 Burundian franc (Fbu) = 100 centimes
gross domestic product (GDP)	US$619 (2012)
Average life expectancy of the population	50.81 years (2006)

Burundi – neighboring countries

State	Capital	Area	Population
Democratic Republic of the Congo	Kinshasa	2,344,860 km²	67,514,000
Rwanda	Kigali	26,338 km²	10,537,222
Tanzania	At home	945,087 km²	44,928,923

Country overview

According to Abbreviationfinder, Burundi is a small, populous landlocked country in central Africa on the northeastern shore of Lake Tanganyika. It is bordered by Zaire and Tanzania, and to the north by Rwanda, with which it was previously connected.

Burundi is a small state in Central Africa. Common borders with Rwanda – in the north, Congo – in the west, Tanzania – in the east, southeast.

The capital is Bujumbura. The official languages are Rundi and French. The official religion is Catholicism. Has no access to the sea.

The climate of Burundi is mostly tropical with significant daily temperature ranges. Temperatures also vary markedly with elevation in different regions of the country. The average temperature in the central plateau is +20*C, in the area around Lake Tanganyika +23*C, in the areas of the highest mountains +16*C. The average annual temperature in Bujumbura is +23*C.

There are four seasons depending on precipitation: long dry season (June – August), short wet season (September – November), short dry season (December – January) and long wet season (February – May).

Despite the poverty, Burundi has many sites visited by tourists. This is the capital of Bujumbura with the parliament building and the former colonial administration, the city of Gitega with the royal palace. Popular natural tourist sites include Kagero waterfalls, Kibabi hot springs, Ruzizi and Ruvubu national parks, Makamba and Bururi nature reserves, and Lake Tanganyika.

There are two national parks in Burundi – Kibira National Park, Ruvubu National Park.

Kibira National Park (37,870 ha) is located in the northwest of the country adjacent to the Nyungwe Forest National Park in Rwanda. Officially under protection since 1933, it retains a small region of montane rainforests, occupying 96% of the park’s area.

Ruvubu National Park (area 43,630 ha) is located in the northeast of Burundi along the river of the same name. Created in 1980. The valley of the Ruvubu River forms several meanders surrounded by marsh vegetation, forests and savannahs.

Interesting facts about Burundi

Tourists are interested in the capital of Bujumbura, the city of Gitega, Kagera waterfalls, Kibabi hot springs, national parks Ruzizi, Ruvubu, Lake Tanganyika.

One of the poorest countries in the world, over half of the population lives below the poverty line. Due to the high level of illiteracy of the population, there is no literature in the country. Narratives and stories are a way of conveying news. Speech is valued, not the accuracy of the facts conveyed.
The only institution of higher education is the University of Burundi.

Burundi has 1 doctor per 37,581 inhabitants and 1 hospital bed per 1,657 inhabitants.

Country data

Location: Central Africa

Time zone: CET + 1 (during summer time: CET)

Total area: 27,830 km²

Land area: 25,680 km²

Water area: 2,150 km²

Length of the state border: 1,140 km

Bordering countries:
Democratic Republic of the Congo: 236 km
Rwanda: 315 km
Tanzania: 589 km

Coastline: 0 km

Capital: Bujumbura

Provinces: 17
Bubanza, Bujumbura Mairie, Bujumbura Rural, Bururi, Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Gitega, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo, Makamba, Muramvya, Muyinga, Mwaro, Ngozi, Rutana, Ruyigi

Telephone code: 00 257 (Source: Allcitycodes)

Highest point: Mount Heha 2,670 m

Population

Population: approx. 10.4 million residents (Countryaah, 2021)

Population growth: 3.3% per year

Population density (residents per km²): 373

Life expectancy: 58 (male), 61 (female)

Official language: Kirundi and French

Religions:

62% Catholic
24% Protestants
2% Muslim
12% other

Climate

In the tropical climate there is high humidity all year round.

The rainy seasons last from October to early January and from late February to late May. The dry seasons last from June to September and from mid-January to mid-February.

In the highlands, the temperatures are somewhat milder than in the lower regions.

It is often windy near the coast.

Currency / finance

Currency unit: Burundi Franc (BIF)

Classification: 1 Franc = 100 Centimes

ATMs: not available

International credit cards: These are rarely accepted.

Regulations: The national currency can be imported and exported up to an amount of 2,000 Burundi Francs.

There is no limit to the amount of foreign currency that can be imported and exported, but it can only be exchanged in banks in the capital Bujumbura.

All exchange receipts should be kept until departure.

Hotel bills often have to be paid in foreign currency or by credit card.

Customs regulations

The following may be carried duty-free:

1,000 g tobacco or 1,000 cigarettes
1 liter of alcoholic beverages

(Information applies to people aged 18 and over)

Tourists and people in transit can bring items of personal use with them duty-free.

For items of particular value (cameras, video cameras, laptops), a deposit may be required. This serves as security that these objects will be executed again.

Travel advice

Due to the tense political situation and the constantly changing security situation, Burundi should not be visited by tourists at the moment.

German citizens are recommended to leave the country.

The security situation in Burundi is very confusing. There are always violent, politically motivated arguments.

Economy

The agricultural state of Burundi is one of the poorest countries in the world.

Around 90% of the population work in agriculture, the main export Bordering countries is coffee (export share 80%).

The unstable political situation had brought the country to the brink of economic ruin.

Industries: clothing, housewares, food

Natural resources: ores, agricultural land, hydropower

Land use:

Land: 44%
Grain cultivation: 9%
Pasture area: 36%
Forests: 3%
other: 8%

Plants

The predominant form of the vegetation is the grass savannah. A large part of the extensive forest areas was severely decimated by deforestation in order to make space for pasture and cultivation areas.

The most common tree species are eucalyptus trees, acacias and oil palms.