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Geography of Burundi

Location:Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo
Geographic coordinates:3 30 S, 30 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 27,830 sq km
land: 25,650 sq km
water: 2,180 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries:total: 974 km
border countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 233 km, Rwanda 290 km, Tanzania 451 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:equatorial; high plateau with considerable altitude variation (772 m to 2,670 m above sea level); average annual temperature varies with altitude from 23 to 17 degrees centigrade but is generally moderate as the average altitude is about 1,700 m; average annual rainfall is about 150 cm; two wet seasons (February to May and September to November), and two dry seasons (June to August and December to January)
Terrain:hilly and mountainous, dropping to a plateau in east, some plains
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Lake Tanganyika 772 m
highest point: Heha 2,670 m
Natural resources:nickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat, cobalt, copper, platinum, vanadium, arable land, hydropower, niobium, tantalum, gold, tin, tungsten, kaolin, limestone
Land use:arable land: 35.57%
permanent crops: 13.12%
other: 51.31% (2005)
Irrigated land:210 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:flooding, landslides, drought
Environment - current issues:soil erosion as a result of overgrazing and the expansion of agriculture into marginal lands; deforestation (little forested land remains because of uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel); habitat loss threatens wildlife populations
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed; the Kagera, which drains into Lake Victoria, is the most remote headstream of the White Nile

Burundi Quickstats

  • Population: 8,390,505
  • Area: 27,830 sq km
  • Density: 271 /km² (43rd)
  • GDP (total): $4.517 billion² (142nd)
  • GDP (per capita): $739 (163rd)
  • Literacy: 59.3%

Languages of Burundi

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  • Currency: Burundi franc (FBu) (BIF)
  • Dial code: +257

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