Republika y'u Burundi

Origin of Name derived from Rundi (Kirundi), the most common language in the country

Location eastern Africa
Bordered By Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania

Area 10,747 sq mi (27,834 sq km)
Greatest Distance E-W 135 mi (217 km)
Greatest Distance N-S 150 mi (241 km)
Highest Point Mount Heha; 8,760 ft (2,670 m)
Lowest Point Lake Tanganyika; 2,533 ft (772 m)
Natural Resources nickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat, cobalt, copper, platinum, vanadium, arable land, hydropower, niobium, tantalum, gold, tin, tungsten, kaolin, limestone

Nationality Burundian
Population (July 2014 est) 10,395,931
Largest Cities Bujumbura, Bubanza, Bururi, Cibitoke, Gitega, Muyinga, Ngozi
Ethnic Groups Hutu, Tutsi
Religions Catholic, Protestant, Muslim
Languages Kirundi (official), English (official)

Capital Bujumbura
Form of Government republic
Present Constitution Adopted February 28, 2005
Chief of State and Head of Government President Pierre Nkurunziza - Hutu (since August 26, 2005)
Cabinet Council of Ministers appointed by the President
Legislature bicameral parliament
Judiciary Supreme Court
Administrative Divisions 17 provinces

Currency franc
Per Capita Income $600
Industries light consumer goods (blankets, shoes, soap, beer), assembly of imported components, public works construction, food processing
Agricultural Products coffee, cotton, tea, corn, sorghum, sweet potatoes, bananas, cassava; beef, milk, hides
Export Commodities coffee, tea, sugar, cotton, hides
Import Commodities capital goods, petroleum products, foodstuffs

Independence from U.N. Trusteeship under Belgian Administration Achieved July 1, 1962
National Holiday Independence Day, July 1
Flag green symbolizes hope and optimism, white purity and peace, and red the blood shed in the struggle for independence; the three stars in the disk represent the three major ethnic groups: Hutu, Twa, Tutsi, as well as the three elements in the national motto: unity, work, progress

SEE ALSO
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Rwanda
Tanzania

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This page was last updated on 05/29/2017.