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Burundi

Republic of Burundi

French, Kirundi Burundian Franc (BIF) Mixed: Belgian civil law, customary law
AU, EAC, COMESA, AfCFTA, WTO

Burundi is one of Africa's smallest and poorest economies, dependent on subsistence agriculture, coffee and tea exports. The mining sector (nickel at Musongati, gold, rare earths) offers growth potential but remains underdeveloped. The economy faces challenges including limited infrastructure, political tensions, and international sanctions history. EAC membership (joined 2007) provides access to regional markets. The government is pursuing economic reforms and reengagement with international partners.

Snapshot

Population~14.4 MWorld Bank, 2025
GDP (current USD)$3.4 BWorld Bank, 2025
GDP per Capita$234World Bank, 2025
GDP Growth4.24%World Bank, 2025
Inflation (y/y)~34.13%World Bank, 2025
Unemployment0.92%World Bank, ILO modelled estimate, 2025
Internet Use~8.60%World Bank, 2024
Electrification~11.00%World Bank WDI
CPI Score (Rank)19.0/100 (#170)Transparency Intl
HDI (Rank)0.426 (#187)UNDP HDR

World Bank Indicators Compare with another country

GDP (current USD)$3.4 BWorld Bank, 2025
GDP growth (annual)4.24%World Bank, 2025
GDP per capita (USD)$234World Bank, 2025
Population, total14.4 MWorld Bank, 2025
FDI net inflows (USD)$35.1 MWorld Bank, 2025
Inflation (consumer prices)34.13%World Bank, 2025
Unemployment (% labour force)0.92%World Bank, 2025
Internet use (% of people)8.60%World Bank, 2024
Trade (% of GDP)No value publishedWorld Bank, none for 2016 to 2025

Climate Readiness Full ranking

17out of 100
Early-stage
Climate adaptation readiness for Burundi, from 5 of 5 measured indicators.
Energy access1111.0% · 30% weight
Governance readiness1919 / 100 CPI · 20% weight
Human readiness430.426 HDI · 20% weight
Economic readiness0$234, 2025 · 15% weight
Digital readiness88.0% · 15% weight
This scores climate adaptation readiness (adaptive capacity), following the readiness dimension of the ND-GAIN framework. It is built only from measured values already held on this profile and normalised 0-100. It does not measure emissions or physical climate vulnerability: the platform does not yet hold emissions, hazard-exposure or natural-capital series. Energy access is the single most climate-specific indicator held; the other four are governance, economic, human-development and digital readiness proxies. The economic sub-score is relative to the African countries the platform covers.
How this is computed

Adaptive capacity to absorb climate finance and adapt, following the readiness dimension of the ND-GAIN framework. Built only from measured values already held on each country profile. It is not a measure of emissions or physical climate vulnerability, which the platform does not yet hold.

  • Energy access (30%) World Bank, access to electricity (% of population). The single most climate and energy specific signal held: SDG 7 and the clean-energy transition.
  • Governance readiness (20%) Transparency International, Corruption Perceptions Index (0-100). ND-GAIN governance readiness: the capacity to govern and deploy climate finance. Higher is cleaner.
  • Human readiness (20%) UNDP, Human Development Index (0-1). ND-GAIN social readiness: the adaptive capacity of the population.
  • Economic readiness (15%) World Bank, GDP per capita (current US$), latest measured year. ND-GAIN economic readiness: the capacity to finance adaptation. Scored relative to the covered set.
  • Digital readiness (15%) World Bank, individuals using the Internet (% of population). Information systems for early warning and adaptation.

A country is scored only when at least 4 of the five indicators are held. Sub-scores are weighted and renormalised over the indicators that are present; nothing is estimated for one that is absent.

Country Facts

CapitalGitega
RegionEast Africa
CurrencyBurundian Franc (BIF)
FX RegimeManaged float
Legal SystemMixed: Belgian civil law, customary law
Time ZoneAfrica/Bujumbura

Focus Sectors

Agriculture (coffee
tea)
Mining (nickel
gold
rare earths)
Construction
Manufacturing
Telecoms

Regulations & Taxes

Corporate Income Tax30% standard
VAT / Sales Tax18% standard