Looking to boost your knowledge of the countries of Africa and increase your chances of winning the next geography quiz? Why not start with these 15 fun facts about Burundi!
1. Burundi has plenty of neighbours.
Burundi is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, and Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west.
2. Want to find Burundi on the map?
To explore the beautiful fields and mountains that this wonderful country has to offer, follow the coordinates of 3.5000° S, 30.0000° E to find yourself in Burundi!
3. Much of Burundi is a brisk walk!
The terrain here is mostly hilly and mountainous, dropping to plateau in the east.
4. Burundi is fairly large – but not in African sizes!
The total land area of Burundi is 10,747 square miles (27,834 square kilometres) – that’s almost 2.5 times the size of Yorkshire. That makes it one of the smallest countries in Africa.
5. Its density also matches up.
Burundi’s population was 12.89 million in 2022 – that’s around double the population of Yorkshire.
6. What’s the capital of Burundi?
The capital is Bujumbura; it covers an area of 34 square miles (87 square kilometres) and had a population of 751,000 in 2015.
7. Burundi climates really do vary.
Burundians enjoy an equatorial climate, although this varies with altitude. There are two rainy seasons from February to May and September to November.
8. It’s a wonderful hotbed for all kinds of wildlife.
Burundi boasts hippopotamuses, monkeys, elephants, lemurs, squirrels, bats, cheetahs, leopards, mongooses, zebras and buffalo, plus several endemic species of plants and animals.
9. Time to brush up!
The official languages of Burundi are Kirundi and French.
10. Burundi’s been independent for 60 years.
After the first world war, Belgium took control of Burundi from Germany, before the country regained independence in 1962.
11. Burundi currency shares similarities with old French money.
If you fancy sipping some banana wine or local beer, you’ll need to exchange your spending money for Burundian Franc, the official currency of Burundi. As of 2024, there are around 2,800 Burundian Francs to USD $1!
12. Burundians love a kickabout.
Football is the national sport of Burundi.
13. The life expectancy here is fairly short.
The average life span here is 61.66 years (2021).
14. First time lucky!
Burundi won a gold medal in the 1996 Olympic Games, the first time it had ever competed, for the Men’s 5,000 metres. It has never won another medal since, despite participating in all 4 of the subsequent games.
15. Burundi has a healthy industrial output.
Burundi grows coffee, tea, sugar, cotton and corn; they also rear cattle. Its industry includes textiles, soap and the assembly of imported components.
The main exports consist of coffee, tea, sugar, cotton and hides.
FAQs about Burundi
Unfortunately, Burundi is not considered one of the safest places to visit in Africa - as it is known for experiencing political tension and violence.
Burundi was once called Ruanda-Urundi, and the name change occurred as a result of independence in the early 1960s.
Burundian cuisine traditionally makes use of lots of spices, and meat such as that from sheep, goats, and vegetables such as cabbage and sweet potato. Is it dangerous to visit Burundi?
What did Burundi used to be called?
What does Burundian cuisine consist of?
Do you know any fun facts about Burundi? Share them in the comments below!
