Burundi
Africa ยท Capital: Gitega
How it is run: Burundi is a member of the United Nations, so it gets one vote in the General Assembly. Use the research links below to find out exactly who makes the laws there.
Burundi is home to 14.4 million people in Eastern Africa, where people speak French, Kirundi.
Numbers that tell a story ๐ข
๐ฅ People
14.4 million people
That is 0.2% of everybody alive (counted in 2025).
๐บ๏ธ Land
27,834 kmยฒ
About the size of a small US state such as Vermont or New Hampshire.
๐๏ธ How crowded
About 517 people share every square kilometre โ very crowded, so cities grow upward with apartments.
๐ Size in its region
30th most people in Africa
46th largest by land in Africa.
๐ฃ๏ธ Official languages
French, Kirundi
More than one language is used for official business.
๐ฐ Money
Burundian franc (Fr)
Life here today ๐ฉบ
These come from World Bank open data โ the same numbers governments use when they argue about budgets.
โค๏ธ How long people live
63.8 years on average
Doctors, clean water and food supply all change this number over time.
๐ผ Money made per person each year
about US$234
A lower-income country: money for schools, clinics and roads has to stretch a very long way.
๐ข Living in cities
25.7% of people
Many people still live in villages and farming towns.
๐ Kids under 15
44% of the population
A very young country โ schools have to be built quickly.
Everyday details ๐งญ
๐ Phone code
+257
Dial this before the number to call from another country.
๐ Websites end in
.bi
๐ง People here are called
Burundian
๐ท๏ธ Name at home
Burundi ยท Uburundi
Also written: Republic of Burundi, Republika y'Uburundi, Rรฉpublique du Burundi.
๐ Coast or inland
Landlocked โ no coastline
๐๏ธ UN voting group
African Group
Countries in the same group often plan votes together.
Neighbours & borders ๐ค
Burundi is landlocked โ it has no coastline, so anything arriving by sea must cross a neighbour's border first.
Say its name around the world ๐ฃ๏ธ
Countries have different names in different languages. Try these with a penpal.
Spanish
Burundi
French
Burundi
Arabic
ุจูุฑููุฏู
Chinese
ๅธ้่ฟช
Japanese
ใใซใณใธ
Russian
ะัััะฝะดะธ
Portuguese
Burundi
German
Burundi
Put it in perspective ๐
- Nigeria โ the most populated country in Africa โ has about 16.5ร as many people as Burundi.
- Burundi covers roughly 265 times the area of Hong Kong Island.
- If everyone in Burundi lined up shoulder to shoulder, the line would stretch about 7,195 km.
Fast facts ๐ง
Fact of the day: Burundi is an independent country, meaning it makes its own laws.
๐ท๏ธ Official name
Republic of Burundi
๐๏ธ Capital
Gitega
๐ Region
Africa ยท Eastern Africa
๐ค Country code
BI
๐๏ธ UN status
UN member state
๐ฉ Independence
Independent country
More about Burundi ๐
๐งญ Where on the map
3.5ยฐ S, 30.0ยฐ E
๐ Half of the world
Southern & Eastern hemisphere
๐ฐ๏ธ Clock check
Roughly UTC+2 โ when it is noon in London it is about 14:00 in Gitega.
- Burundi lies in the tropics, between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, so the sun gets very high overhead.
- Burundi shares its part of the world with Ethiopia. Countries close together often trade the most with each other.
- Burundi is an independent country, meaning it makes its own laws.
- ๐ง๐ฎ is the flag of Burundi. Its country code โ the short name used on the internet and at the Olympics โ is BI.
- The capital of Burundi is Gitega โ that's where the country's big decisions get made.
Countries nearby ๐ค
Talk about it ๐ฌ
- Burundi has 2 official languages. How would your school day change if lessons were taught in more than one language?
- Being landlocked means paying neighbours to move goods to the sea. What deal would you offer a neighbour if you led Burundi?
- If Burundi spoke at the General Assembly tomorrow, what one problem should its delegate ask the world to help fix?
Quick quiz ๐งช
Guess first, then tap to check your answer.
What is the capital of Burundi?
Gitega
Which money do people spend in Burundi?
Burundian franc (Fr)
How many countries share a land border with Burundi?
3 โ DR Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania.
Roughly how many people live in Burundi?
14.4 million people
Keep researching ๐
Everything here is a starting point. These trusted sites, databases and libraries will take you further โ and they are the kind of sources a teacher will accept in a report.
Start here โ kid-friendly encyclopedias ๐
Short articles written for students, with maps and photos you can use in a report.
Official data & government sources ๐๏ธ
Primary sources. Cite these when your teacher asks for real data.
News & current policy ๐ฐ
Use two different outlets before you decide what you think.
Your library card ๐ซ
Libraries give you books, databases and librarians โ all free.
Library tip: Ask your school or public librarian for their online databases (like Gale in Context or EBSCO Explora). Your library card unlocks them for free at home, and they are already checked by adults for school use.