GeoRealityMatch

The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to parts of the country. FCDO travel advice, read 29 October 2026.

Street view of Bujumbura with a prominent palm tree and distant architectural structures.Scenic view of Bujumbura cityscape featuring a prominent church tower and palm tree.

Burundi

Africa · Eastern Africa

Medium safetyLow development

Incomes are low.

Safety

128th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
2.417lower is more peacefulMedium safety
#128 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$240national income per person, US dollarsVery low
World Bank · 2025

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 44% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 7% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$750$1.5K$1,248 PPP$234Inflation, % a year40%0200620102015202020252006, $162 a person, $580 at PPP, inflation 2.7%2007, $166 a person, $594 at PPP, inflation 8.4%2008, $190 a person, $609 at PPP, inflation 24.4%2009, $198 a person, $605 at PPP, inflation 10.6%2010, $217 a person, $614 at PPP, inflation 6.5%2011, $230 a person, $629 at PPP, inflation 9.6%2012, $231 a person, $637 at PPP, inflation 18.2%2013, $235 a person, $687 at PPP, inflation 7.9%2014, $251 a person, $724 at PPP, inflation 4.4%2015, $254 a person, $722 at PPP, inflation 5.5%2016, $233 a person, $764 at PPP, inflation 5.6%2017, $246 a person, $791 at PPP, inflation 16.1%2018, $246 a person, $823 at PPP, inflation -2.8%2019, $234 a person, $868 at PPP, inflation -0.7%2020, $253 a person, $946 at PPP, inflation 7.3%2021, $264 a person, $1,032 at PPP, inflation 8.4%2022, $302 a person, $1,101 at PPP, inflation 18.8%2023, $250 a person, $1,147 at PPP, inflation 26.9%2024, $216 a person, $1,193 at PPP, inflation 20.2%2025, $234 a person, $1,248 at PPP, inflation 34.1%$0$750$1.5KInflation, % a year40%0200620102015202020252006, $162 a person, $580 at PPP, inflation 2.7%2007, $166 a person, $594 at PPP, inflation 8.4%2008, $190 a person, $609 at PPP, inflation 24.4%2009, $198 a person, $605 at PPP, inflation 10.6%2010, $217 a person, $614 at PPP, inflation 6.5%2011, $230 a person, $629 at PPP, inflation 9.6%2012, $231 a person, $637 at PPP, inflation 18.2%2013, $235 a person, $687 at PPP, inflation 7.9%2014, $251 a person, $724 at PPP, inflation 4.4%2015, $254 a person, $722 at PPP, inflation 5.5%2016, $233 a person, $764 at PPP, inflation 5.6%2017, $246 a person, $791 at PPP, inflation 16.1%2018, $246 a person, $823 at PPP, inflation -2.8%2019, $234 a person, $868 at PPP, inflation -0.7%2020, $253 a person, $946 at PPP, inflation 7.3%2021, $264 a person, $1,032 at PPP, inflation 8.4%2022, $302 a person, $1,101 at PPP, inflation 18.8%2023, $250 a person, $1,147 at PPP, inflation 26.9%2024, $216 a person, $1,193 at PPP, inflation 20.2%2025, $234 a person, $1,248 at PPP, inflation 34.1%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Among the shortest life expectancies

Life expectancy
63.8years, at birthVery low
#174 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
48WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100Very lowWHO · 2023
Air pollution
23.6PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageHighWHO · 2023
Work and internet
Unemployment rate
0.9%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Scenic view of Bujumbura cityscape featuring a prominent church tower and palm tree.
How it changed

Burundi's Human Development Index

0.439Low human development

187th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 48th of 54 in Africa.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #185Sierra Leone0.467
  2. #186Burkina Faso0.459
  3. #187Burundi0.439
  4. #188Mali0.419
  5. #188Niger0.419
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.294 in 1990 to 0.439 in 2023.

0.200.350.500.43919902000201020231990: 0.2941991: 0.2961992: 0.2941993: 0.2651994: 0.2981995: 0.2941996: 0.2921997: 0.2971998: 0.3031999: 0.3062000: 0.3082001: 0.3112002: 0.3242003: 0.3322004: 0.3442005: 0.3522006: 0.3762007: 0.3892008: 0.4012009: 0.4092010: 0.4162011: 0.4202012: 0.4252013: 0.4282014: 0.4312015: 0.4322016: 0.4362017: 0.4342018: 0.4342019: 0.4352020: 0.4352021: 0.4352022: 0.4372023: 0.4390.200.350.5019902000201020231990: 0.2941991: 0.2961992: 0.2941993: 0.2651994: 0.2981995: 0.2941996: 0.2921997: 0.2971998: 0.3031999: 0.3062000: 0.3082001: 0.3112002: 0.3242003: 0.3322004: 0.3442005: 0.3522006: 0.3762007: 0.3892008: 0.4012009: 0.4092010: 0.4162011: 0.4202012: 0.4252013: 0.4282014: 0.4312015: 0.4322016: 0.4362017: 0.4342018: 0.4342019: 0.4352020: 0.4352021: 0.4352022: 0.4372023: 0.439

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
63.8 years2024at birthUp 10.8 years from 53 years in 2005
Internet users
9%2024of people onlineUp 8 points from 1% in 2006
Urban population
26%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 16 points from 9% in 2006
Births per woman
4.792024births per womanDown 1.92 from 6.71 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
83%2022of energy usedDown 13 points from 96% in 2004
Access to electricity
20%2024of people with electricityUp 17 points from 3% in 2005
Infant mortality
312024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 43 from 74 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
0.1 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 0.1 t from 0 t in 2005
Forest area
11%2023of land under forestUp 3 points from 8% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

One of Africa's most densely populated, with extreme poverty and political repression. The case against is low incomes, short lives and patchy access to essential health services.

About Burundi

Burundi is one of the smallest and most densely populated countries in Africa, set in the Great Lakes region with beautiful lake scenery along Lake Tanganyika and lush green hills in the interior. The culture has a rich tradition of drumming that is genuinely unique and recognised by UNESCO. It remains one of the least visited countries on the continent, best suited to those with real experience of East Africa and a spirit of independent exploration.

Practical facts

  • CapitalGitega
  • LanguagesFrench, Kirundi
  • CurrencyBurundian franc (BIF)
  • Area25,680 km²
  • Plug typeType C/E
  • Drives on theright
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Quick answers

What is Burundi's Human Development Index?

Burundi's Human Development Index is 0.439 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #187 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Burundi safe?

Burundi scores 2.42 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #128 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

What is life expectancy in Burundi?

Life expectancy at birth in Burundi is 63.8 yrs (World Bank), ranked #174 of 195 countries.