All About Burundi

The Republic of Burundi, in the Great Lakes region of Eastern Africa, is a landlocked country. It is bordered by Tanzania to the east and south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Rwanda to the north. Its population is estimated at 11,465,726 and its area is 28,000 sq. km. Bujumbura is the country’s capital. Lake Tanganyika is on Burundi’s southwestern border.

Since Burundi’s formation 500 years ago, the Twa, Tutsi, and Hutu people have occupied the country. For two hundred years, the country was ruled as a kingdom by the Tutsi. Germany and Belgium occupied the area in the early 20th century. Burundi and Rwanda became Ruanda-Urundi, a European colony.

Social differences between the Hutu and the Tutsi led to regional unrest. This in turn led to a civil war in Burundi in the middle of the 20th century. Burundi is presently a presidential representative democracy. Roman Catholics are 62 percent of the population. 8 percent to 10 percent are Muslim, and the rest follow indigenous religions or other Christian denominations.

Burundi has the lowest per capita GDP in the world and is considered one of the ten poorest world nations. Civil wars, corruption, HIV/AIDS, and poor education have taken their toll on GDP. Burundi’s population is dense and there is high emigration. Natural resources include cobalt and copper. Coffee and sugar are major exports.