Burundi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Republic of Burundi Republika y'u Burundi  (Kirundi) République du Burundi  (French)
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Ubumwe, Ibikorwa, Iterambere"  (Kirundi) "Unité, Travail, Progrès"  (French) "Unity, Work, Progress" 1
Anthem: Burundi bwacu (Our Burundi)
Location of  Burundi  (dark blue) – in Africa  (light blue & dark grey) – in the African Union  (light blue)  —  [Legend]
Capital and largest city	Bujumbura
Official languages	Kirundi French
Vehicular languages	Kirundi, Swahili
Ethnic groups	Hutu (Bantu) 85% Tutsi (Hamitic) 14% Twa (Pygmy) 1% Europeans 3,000 South Asians 2,000
Demonym(s)	Burundian
Government	Republic
• President	Pascal Nyabenda (acting)
• First Vice-President	Gaston Sindimwo
• Second Vice-President	Joseph Butore
Independence
• from Belgium	July 1, 1962
Area
• Total	27,834 km2 (10,747 sq mi) (145th)
• Water (%)	7.8
Population
• 2011 estimate	10,216,190 (89th)
• 2008 census	8,053,574
• Density	367.0/km2 (950.5/sq mi) (45th)
GDP (PPP)	2010 estimate
• Total	$3.397 billion
• Per capita	$410
GDP (nominal)	2010 estimate
• Total	$1.489 billion
• Per capita	$180
Gini (1998)	42.4 medium
HDI (2010)	0.282 low · 166th
Currency	Burundi franc (FBu) (BIF)
Time zone	UTC+2 (CAT)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (not observed)
Driving side	right
Calling code	257
ISO 3166 code	BI
Internet TLD	.bi
Before 1966, "Ganza Sabwa". Estimate is based on regression; other PPP figures are extrapolated from the latest International Comparison Program for benchmark estimates.

Burundi (officially called Republic of Burundi) is a small country in Africa. The capital of Burundi is Bujumbura. The official languages of Burundi are Kirundi and French. There are about eight and a half million people in Burundi. Burundi is one of the poorest countries in the world.

Provinces, communes and collines

Burundi is divided into 17 provinces, 117 communes, and 2,638 collines (hills). Provincial governments are based on these boundaries. In 2000, the province encompassing Bujumbura was separated into two provinces, Bujumbura Rural and Bunjumbura Mairie.

The provinces are:

Largest cities

These are the largest cities in Burundi:

Geography

One of the smallest countries in Africa, Burundi is landlocked. It is bordered by Rwanda in the north, Tanzania in the east and south and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the west. It has an equatorial climate. Burundi is a part of the Albertine Rift, the western extension of the East African Rift. The country lies on a rolling plateau in the center of Africa. The average elevation of the central plateau is 5,600 feet (1,707 m), with lower elevations at the borders. The highest peak, Mount Heha at 8,810 feet (2,685 m), is southeast of the capital, Bujumbura. The source of the Nile River is in Burundi province. It is linked from Lake Victoria to its headwaters by the Ruvyironza River Lake Victoria is also an important water source. It serves as a fork to the Kagera River. Another major lake is Lake Tanganyika, in Burundi's southwestern corner.

Burundi's lands are mostly agricultural or pasture. Settlement by rural populations has led to deforestation, soil erosion and habitat loss.

There are two national parks: Kibira National Park and Ruvubu National Park. Both were formed in 1982to keep wildlife populations.

Related pages

• Burundi at the Olympics
• Burundi national football team
• List of rivers of Burundi

Images for kids

• 

  Independence Square and monument in Bujumbura.

• 

  View of the capital city Bujumbura in 2006.

• 

  Map of Burundi.

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  Hippos at Kibira National Park in the Northwest of Burundi

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  Historical development of GDP per capita

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  Fishermen on Lake Tanganyika.

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  Bujumbura International Airport terminal in Bujumbura

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  Bicycles are a popular means of transport in Burundi

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  Men in colourful clothing with drums

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  Children in Bujumbura, Burundi

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  Drums from Gitega.

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  Football in Burundi.

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  Carolus Magnus School in Burundi. The school benefits from the campaign "Your Day for Africa" by Aktion Tagwerk.

See also

In Spanish: Burundi para niños