Burundi profile

Demography and Health

Burundi is characterized by a very young and growing population. In 2024 the total population stands at about 14.0 million, suggesting a large base of potential workers and consumers but also placing substantial demands on education, health care, and employment creation. The birth rate sits at 33.7 per 1,000 people (2023), indicating a high natural increase and a persistently youthful demographic structure. While life expectancy at birth is about 63.7 years (2023), mortality in children under five remains a pressing challenge, with 49.2 deaths per 1,000 live births recorded in 2023. Simultaneously, the crude death rate is 6.72 per 1,000, reflecting broader health conditions and demographic patterns. Net migration in 2024 is negative by 27,074 people, pointing to outward migration that may reflect limited economic opportunities or political instability and could affect household composition and skills availability over time. Health system capacity appears constrained: physicians number only 0.065 per 1,000 people (2021), with current health expenditure at 8.4% of GDP in 2022 and domestic general government health expenditure per capita (PPP) of 12.8 international dollars (2022). These indicators imply significant gaps in access to care, potential out-of-pocket burdens, and reliance on external or donor funding to sustain basic services. The broader governance context—marked by low scores in political stability and several governance dimensions (Control of Corruption, Regulatory Quality, Rule of Law, Government Effectiveness)—likely compounds health challenges by undermining investment, efficiency, and accountability in health service delivery. The country’s social indicators extend into the digital realm, with only 11.1% of the population using the Internet in 2023, underscoring substantial digital divides that affect information access, education, and health information dissemination. Suicide mortality stands at 7.65 per 100,000 (2021), a data point that underscores the importance of mental health services in a population with notable stressors but limited treatment capacity. The health sector operates within a context of high inflation and a large current account deficit, factors that can influence pharmaceutical prices, import scarcer medicines, and overall affordability of care.

Economy, Trade and Investment

Burundi’s economy, as reflected in 2024 GDP per capita of 154 current US dollars and a GDP per capita (PPP) of 950 current international US dollars, remains among the low-income frontiers globally. The structure appears to be predominantly non-tradable or low-value-added, with exports of goods and services totaling 5.29% of GDP in 2023 and imports at 24.4% of GDP, signaling a persistent trade deficit and strong import dependency. Foreign direct investment, net inflows, stand at 1.3% of GDP in 2023, suggesting limited capital inflows that could otherwise fund infrastructure, productivity improvements, and diversification. The current account balance is deeply negative at -23.8% of GDP in 2023, pointing to ongoing external financing needs and vulnerability to shifts in global capital markets and donor funding. Inflation is elevated, at 20.2% in 2024, signaling macroeconomic instability that raises the cost of living and can deter investment. The country records some competitive advantages, such as a high share of renewable energy for energy consumption (83%), which can reduce energy import bills and foster green growth opportunities, though this is tempered by the country’s dependence on external trade and the scale of industrial output. On the investment front, high-technology exports amount to 279,944 current US$ in 2022 but with a rank of 144, indicating that advanced production remains a very small portion of total exports. The net inflows of FDI at 1.3% of GDP reflect limited integration into regional and global value chains. Overall, Burundi’s economic trajectory is constrained by weak governance indicators, a fragile macroeconomic environment, and a small, export-oriented base, but the substantial renewable energy capacity provides a potential platform for future growth and energy security if complemented by improvements in governance, investment climate, and productive sectors.

Governance and Institutions

Burundi faces significant governance challenges. Political stability and absence of violence/terrorism score at -1.17 (2023), indicating considerable risk and volatility. Control of Corruption at -1.56, Regulatory Quality at -0.986, Rule of Law at -1.25, and Government Effectiveness at -1.2 all reflect a generally weak institutional environment for policy design, implementation, and accountability. These governance weaknesses can undermine investor confidence, hamper the efficiency of public service delivery (including health and education), and complicate fiscal planning. In such a context, even modest reforms to enhance transparency, contract enforcement, and anti-corruption efforts could have outsized returns by stabilizing the investment climate and improving the effectiveness of public spending. The aggregated picture is a country with critical needs in security, governance, and institutions, where progress in governance would likely catalyze improvements in health, education, and economic performance, while macroeconomic stability remains a prerequisite for sustainable development.

Infrastructure and Technology

Infrastructure and technology indicators show a mixed picture. Burundi relies heavily on renewable energy, with 83% of total final energy consumption coming from renewables in 2022, suggesting strong potential for energy independence and minimal carbon intensity in energy supply. Yet, connectivity remains limited: only 11.1% of the population used the Internet in 2023, indicating substantial digital divides and constraints on digital economy development, governance digitization, and online service delivery. High-technology exports total 279,944 current US$ in 2022, with a ranking of 144, illustrating that advanced production capabilities exist but are a small share of overall output. Health infrastructure signals are modest to weak: 0.065 physicians per 1,000 people (2021) and current health expenditure at 8.4% of GDP (2022), coupled with per-capita public health spending of 12.8 international dollars (PPP) per year (2022), suggest narrow access to skilled medical personnel and underfunded public health services. The reliance on imports for goods and services (imports at 24.4% of GDP in 2023) underscores vulnerability to external shocks and the fragility of domestic supply chains. In sum, Burundi has notable renewable energy assets and some digital aspirations but faces substantial gaps in healthcare provision, internet access, and productive infrastructure necessary for broad-based private-sector development.

Environment and Sustainability

Environment and sustainability trends in Burundi include a heavy reliance on renewable energy (83% of final energy consumption in 2022), which favors low domestic greenhouse gas emissions and energy resilience but also reflects a limited traditional energy footprint. Per-capita greenhouse gas emissions are relatively low at 0.515 t CO2e, indicating limited industrial activity and energy use intensity. The Level of water stress measured as freshwater withdrawal as a share of available resources is 10.2% (2021), with a rank of 93, suggesting that current freshwater resources are under manageable pressure, though climate variability and growing demand will necessitate prudent water management and infrastructure to protect agricultural sectors and livelihoods. The combination of a low-emission profile and substantial renewable capacity provides a favorable starting point for climate adaptation strategies, but it will require investments in resilience, irrigation, watershed protection, and infrastructure to ensure that energy and water security support sustainable development. Taken together, Burundi’s environmental indicators point to resilience in some dimensions but also to vulnerability in others, especially given climate risk, population growth, and the need to align environmental stewardship with economic development goals. Conducting prudent environmental planning and improving governance to manage natural resources more effectively could help Burundi translate its environmental assets into broader social and economic gains.