Economy Overview
Burundi is a landlocked, resource-poor country with an underdeveloped manufacturing sector. Agriculture accounts for over 40% of GDP and employs more than 90% of the population. Burundi's primary exports are coffee and tea, which account for more than half of foreign exchange earnings, but these earnings are subject to fluctuations in weather and international coffee and tea prices, Burundi is heavily dependent on aid from bilateral and multilateral donors, as well as foreign exchange earnings from participation in the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM). Foreign aid represented 48% of Burundi's national income in 2015, one of the highest percentages in Sub-Saharan Africa, but this figure decreased to 33.5% in 2016 due to political turmoil surrounding President NKURUNZIZA’s bid for a third term. Burundi joined the East African Community (EAC) in 2009.; Burundi faces several underlying weaknesses – low governmental capacity, corruption, a high poverty rate, poor educational levels, a weak legal system, a poor transportation network, and overburdened utilities – that have prevented the implementation of planned economic reforms. The purchasing power of most Burundians has decreased as wage increases have not kept pace with inflation, which reached approximately 18% in 2017.; Real GDP growth dropped precipitously following political events in 2015 and has yet to recover to pre-conflict levels. Continued resistance by donors and the international community will restrict Burundi’s economic growth as the country deals with a large current account deficit.;
Agriculture Products
coffee, cotton, tea, corn, beans, sorghum, sweet potatoes, bananas, cassava (manioc, tapioca); beef, milk, hides
Industries
light consumer goods (sugar, shoes, soap, beer); cement, assembly of imported components; public works construction; food processing (fruits)
Industrial Production Growth Rate
-2% (2017 est.); country comparison to the world: 182;
Labor Force
5.012 million (2017 est.); country comparison to the world: 83;
Population Below Poverty Line
64.6% (2014 est.);
Household Income or Consumption by Percentage Share
Lowest 10%: 28% (2006)
Highest 10%: 28% (2006)
Distribution of Family Income Gini Index
42.4 (1998); country comparison to the world: 51;
Budget
Revenues: 536.7 million (2017 est.)
Expenditures: 729.6 million (2017 est.)
Public Debt
51.7% of GDP (2017 est.); 48.4% of GDP (2016 est.); country comparison to the world: 96;
Central Bank Discount Rate
11.25% (31 December 2010); 10% (31 December 2009); country comparison to the world: 16;
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate
Stock of Narrow Money
$540 million (31 December 2017 est.); $476.7 million (31 December 2016 est.); country comparison to the world: 169;
Stock of Broad Money
$540 million (31 December 2017 est.); $476.7 million (31 December 2016 est.); country comparison to the world: 174;
Stock of Domestic Credit
$1.116 billion (31 December 2017 est.); $1.03 billion (31 December 2016 est.); country comparison to the world: 167;
Market Value of Publicly Traded Shares
NA;
Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold
$97.4 million (31 December 2017 est.); $95.17 million (31 December 2016 est.); country comparison to the world: 181;
Debt External
$610.9 million (31 December 2017 est.); $622.4 million (31 December 2016 est.); country comparison to the world: 174;
Stock of Direct Foreign Investment at Home
Stock of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad
Exchange Rates
Burundi francs (BIF) per US dollar -; 1,731 (2017 est.); 1,654.63 (2016 est.); 1,654.63 (2015 est.); 1,571.9 (2014 est.); 1,546.7 (2013 est.);
