Burundi Overview
Burundi is located in Africa and borders Congo-Kinshasa, Rwanda and Tanzania. Burundi was part of the German East African colony, but together with Rwanda became a Belgian territory between 1919 and 1961. The following year, Burundi became an independent kingdom, and in 1966 became a republic, in effect a military dictatorship.
| Capital: | Bujumbura |
| Biggest city: | Bujumbura |
| State: | republic |
| Language: | kirundi, French |
| Religion: | catholicism |
| Surface: | 27,830 km² |
| Population: | 10.9 million (2013) |
| Population density: | 342 residents per km² |
| Life expectancy: | 58 years |
| Illiteracy: | 41% |
| Currency: | Burundian franc (BIF) 1 franc = 0.0049 kr |
| GDP per capita: | $ 400 (2010) |
| Time difference: | +1 hour |
| Electricity: | 220 V AC, 50Hz |
| National Day: | July 1st |
| Country area code: | 257 |
| 2-Letter country abbreviation: | BI (See more abbreviations on Abbreviationfinder) |
| Business: | agriculture 93%, service sector 5.5%, industry 1.5% |
| Climate: | tropical, with rainy seasons from March to May and from September to December |
The civil war, which lasted for eleven years, between 1993-2004, cost the lives of hundreds of thousands of people and exacerbated poverty in the country. The conflict also left deep scars in the infrastructure. Many schools, hospitals, roads, etc. were completely or partially destroyed. Agriculture and animal husbandry were also seriously damaged.
The country has major problems with excessive deforestation. There is only a small part of forested land left in the country, as most of the forest has been felled to be used as fuel. This also threatens the wildlife found in the forest. The country is short of food, medicine and electricity. Only half of the children go to school.
ELECTRICAL OUTLET
Electricity and electrical outlets in Burundi
Voltage: 220 V
Frequency: 50 Hz
Type of plug: C, E
Need an adapter: No, you do not need an adapter.
CLIMATE AND WEATHER
Weather in Bujumbura
| Climate | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Christmas | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Average temperature °C | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 23 |
| Rain (mm) | 79 | 104 | 132 | 130 | 62 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 30 | 74 | 89 | 102 |
Bujumbura
According to Countryaah, Bujumbura is the capital of Burundi, located on Lake Tanganyika on the country’s eastern border with Congo, and has approximately 330,500 residents (2004). The city is the country’s administrative, infrastructural and economic center as well as its main port city and export center, from which, for example, coffee, cotton, hides and tin ore are exported. The city mainly produces cement, textiles and soap. Extensive agriculture is practiced in the region, including bananas, cassava, maize and cotton.
Bujumbura grew out of being a small village when a military outpost to German East Africa was founded there in 1889. After the First World War, the city became an administrative center in the Belgian NF mandate Ruanda-Urundi. The city changed its name from Usumbura to Bujumbura when Burundi became independent in 1962. After independence, the city has experienced battles between the country’s main ethnic groups: the Hutu guerrillas and the state-led Tutsi army.
The city center contains a large market, the country’s national stage, a large mosque and a cathedral. There are also several museums, and near the city there is Rusizi National Park. From the city there are ferries to Kigoma in Tanzania.
