Economy of Burundi
Bujumbura, Burundi's largest city | |
| Currency | Burundian franc (BIF, FBu) |
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| Calendar year | |
Trade organisations | AU, AfCFTA (signed), WTO |
Country group |
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| Statistics | |
| GDP | |
| GDP rank | |
GDP growth |
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GDP per capita |
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GDP per capita rank | |
GDP by sector | agriculture (32.9%), industry (21.3%), services (45.8%) (2008) |
| 200% (2024 est.) | |
Population below poverty line | 53% (2010) |
Labour force | 4.08 million (2010) |
Labour force by occupation | agriculture (89%), industry (5.3%, services (4.1%) (2002) |
| Unemployment | 1% (2020) |
Main industries | light consumer goods such as blankets, shoes, soap, assembly of imported components, public works construction, food processing Agriculture: coffee, cotton, tea, corn, sorghum, sweet potatoes, bananas, manioc (tapioca); beef, milk, hides |
| External | |
| Exports | $208 million (2022) |
Export goods | coffee, tea, sugar, cotton, hides |
Main export partners | Germany 15.2% Pakistan 9.3% Kenya 8.5% China 7.8% Sweden 7.3% Belgium 5.3% Canada 4.6% Rwanda 4.5% United States 4.2% (2018 est.) |
| Imports | $1.260 billion (2022) |
Import goods | capital goods, petroleum products, foodstuffs |
Main import partners | Saudi Arabia 17.3% China 8.1% Uganda 7.8% Belgium 7.2% Kenya 6.9% Zambia 6.7% India 5.6% United Arab Emirates 5.3% (2018 est.) |
Gross external debt | $820 million (2010) |
| Public finances | |
| $412.2 million | |
| Revenues | $350.4 million (2018) |
| Expenses | $351.3 million (2017) |
| Economic aid | $90.7 million (2010) |
All values, unless otherwise stated, are in US dollars. | |
The economy of Burundi is $9.21 billion by gross domestic product as of 2026, being heavily dependent on agriculture, which accounts for 32.9% of gross domestic product as of 2008. Burundi itself is a landlocked country lacking resources, and with almost nonexistent industrialization. Agriculture supports more than 70% of the labor force, the majority of whom are subsistence farmers.
Although Burundi is potentially self-sufficient in food production, issues such as civil unrest, overpopulation, and soil erosion have contributed to the contraction of the subsistence economy by 25% in recent years. Large numbers of internally displaced persons have been unable to produce their own food and are largely dependent on international humanitarian assistance. Burundi is a net food importer, with food accounting for 17% of imports in 1997. Burundi is a least developed country according to the United Nations.