Country Profile: Burundi

Geography

Central Africa, landlocked, smaller than Maryland, hilly, mountainous with some plains.

Government

In November 2003, after ten years of conflict in Burundi, the Force for the Defense of Democracy (FDD) opted for peace and elections, and in early 2005 their candidates won elections to both houses of Parliament: the Senate and National Assembly. In August, 2005, parliament elected the leader of the FDD, Pierre Nkurunziza, a Hutu and born against Christian as chief of state.

Economy

Figures unless otherwise stated are from the CIA Factbook.

Estimated per capita GDP:
2007 $800 (Ranks 217th)
2006 $700
2005 $700
2004 $600
2003 $600
1999 $720

GDP annual growth rate estimated for 2007: 5.5 percent. (Ranks 97th.)

War has impeded development. Food, medicine, and electricity remain in short supply.

Exports in small amounts: coffee, tea, sugar, cotton, hides

Estimated Deaths and Births per 1,000 persons

For 2008: deaths: 12.91, down from 17.43 in 2005; births 41.72, up from 39.66 in 2005

Since October 1993 an ethnic-based war has resulted in more than 200,000 deaths.

Estimated in 2005 approximately one in ten adults has HIV/AIDS.

Population

Estimated for July 2008: 8.691 million. Growth rate estimated for 2008: 3.443 percent per year.

Migration estimated for 2008

More arriving than leaving, a net gain of 5.62 persons per 1,000 population.

For 2007: many are arriving from Zimbabwe. Estimated for 2007 a net gain of 7.13 per 1,000 population.

Health

Infant mortality estimated for 2008: 60.77, down from 69.29 in 2005 (deaths before the age of one year, per 1,000 live births).

Average life expectancy estimated for 2008: 51.71 years, up from 43.5 in 2005

Living with HIV/AIDS, ages 15 to 49: 6 percent (2003).

Education

In early 2005 only one in two children were going to school. In August 2005 the new chief of state, Pierre Nkurunziza, a born again Christian, abolished fees for schooling. Many Burundians had not been able to afford those fees. Parents were eager to have their children educated, and now schools are overwhelmed by the numbers of children.

SOURCES:
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/