Economy of Burundi

The economy of Burundi is heavily dependent on agriculture, which accounts for 32.9% of GDP in 2008. Burundi itself is a landlocked, resource-poor country with an underdeveloped manufacturing sector. Agriculture supports more than 70% of the labour force, the majority of whom are subsistence farmers. Although Burundi is potentially self-sufficient in food production, the ongoing 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.

Economy of Burundi

Fisherman on Lake Tanganyika
Currency	Burundian franc (BIF, FBu)
Fiscal year	Calendar year
Trade organisations	AU, AfCFTA (signed), WTO
Country group	Least Developed[1] Low-income economy[2]
Statistics
GDP	$3.436 billion (nominal, 2018 est.)[3] $8.202 billion (PPP, 2018 est.)[3]
GDP growth	−0.6% (2016) 0.5% (2017) 1.6% (2018e) 1.8% (2019f)[4]
GDP per capita	$307 (nominal, 2018 est.)[3] $733 (PPP, 2018 est.)[3]
GDP by sector	agriculture (32.9%), industry (21.3%), services (45.8%) (2008)
Inflation (CPI)	1.238% (2018 est.)[3]
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	N/A (2008)
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
Ease-of-doing-business rank	166th (below average, 2020)[5]
External
Exports	$88 million f.o.b. (2010)
Export goods	coffee, tea, sugar, cotton, hides
Main export partners	Germany 14.8%  Pakistan 9.1%  Kenya 8.6%  China 7.5%  Sweden 7.2%  Belgium 5.1%  Canada 4.9%  Rwanda 4.4%  United States 4.3% (2013 est.)[6]
Imports	$286 million f.o.b. (2010)
Import goods	capital goods, petroleum products, foodstuffs
Main import partners	Saudi Arabia 16.3%  China 7.9%  Uganda 7.7%  Belgium 7.0%  Kenya 6.7%  Zambia 6.6%  India 5.5%  United Arab Emirates 5.1% (2013 est.)[7]
Gross external debt	$820 million (2010)
Public finances
Revenues	$280.4 million (2009)
Expenses	$351.3 million (2008)
Economic aid	$90.7 million (2010)
Main data source: CIA World Fact Book All values, unless otherwise stated, are in US dollars.

Industry

Little industry exists except for the processing of agricultural exports. Although potential wealth in petroleum, nickel, copper, and other natural resources is being explored, the uncertain security situation has prevented meaningful investor interest. Industrial development also is hampered by Burundi's distance from the sea and high transport costs. Lake Tanganyika remains an important trading point. The trade embargo, lifted in 1999, negatively impacted trade and industry. Since October 1993 the nation has suffered from massive ethnic-based violence which has resulted in the death of perhaps 250,000 people and the displacement of about 800,000 others. Foods, medicines, and electricity remain in short supply.

Burundi is heavily dependent on bilateral and multilateral aid, with external debt totaling $1.247 billion (1.247 G$) in 1997. A series of largely unsuccessful 5-year plans initiated in July 1986 in partnership with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund attempted to reform the foreign exchange system, liberalize imports, reduce restrictions on international transactions, diversify exports, and reform the coffee industry.

Goat rearing has been promoted as a source of income for rural-dwelling Burundians.

IMF structural adjustment programs in Burundi were suspended following the outbreak of the crisis in 1993. The World Bank has identified key areas for potential growth, including the productivity of traditional crops and the introduction of new exports, light manufactures, industrial mining, and services. Other serious problems include the state's role in the economy, the question of governmental transparency, and debt reduction.

To protest the 1996 coup by President Pierre Buyoya, neighboring countries imposed an economic embargo on Burundi. Although the embargo was never officially ratified by the United Nations Security Council, most countries refrained from official trade with Burundi. Following the coup, the United States also suspended all but humanitarian aid to Burundi. The regional embargo was lifted on January 23, 1999, based on progress by the government in advancing national reconciliation through the Burundi peace process.

In an article titled "The Blood Cries Out," Foreign Policy (FP) reported that the Burundian population growth rate is 2.5 percent per year, more than double the average global pace, and that a Burundian woman has on average 6.3 children, nearly triple the international fertility rate. FP further reported that "The vast majority of Burundians rely on subsistence farming, but under the weight of a booming population and in the long-standing absence of coherent policies governing land ownership, many people barely have enough earth to sustain themselves." In 2014, the average size for a farm was about one acre. FP added that "The consequence is remarkable scarcity: In the 2013 Global Hunger Index, Burundi had the severest hunger and malnourishment rates of all 120 countries ranked."[8]

Macro-economic trend

The following table shows the main economic indicators in 1980–2017.[9]

Year	1980	1985	1990	1995	2000	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017
GDP in bil. $ (PPP)	1.39 bil.	2.31 bil.	3.23 bil.	3.23 bil.	3.50 bil.	4.54 bil.	4.94 bil.	5.24 bil.	5.60 bil.	5.86 bil.	6.24 bil.	6.62 bil.	7.04 bil.	7.58 bil.	8.07 bil.	7.84 bil.	7.85 bil.	7.99 bil.
GDP per capita in $ (PPP)	339	488	592	540	524	605	638	658	681	689	711	731	755	788	814	767	745	735
GDP Growth (real)	−6.8 %	11.8 %	3.5 %	7.9 %	1.8 %	4.4 %	5.4 %	3.5 %	4.9 %	3.9 %	5.1 %	4.0 %	4.4 %	5.9 %	4.5 %	−4.0 %	−1.0 %	0.0 %
Government debt (Percentage of GDP)	...	...	...	...	136 %	137 %	130 %	130 %	103 %	26 %	47 %	43 %	41 %	36 %	36 %	45 %	47 %	57 %

See also

• United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
• List of companies based in Burundi
•  Burundi portal

References

1. "World Economic Outlook Database, April 2019". IMF.org. International Monetary Fund. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
2. "World Bank Country and Lending Groups". datahelpdesk.worldbank.org. World Bank. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
3. "World Economic Outlook Database, October 2019". IMF.org. International Monetary Fund. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
4. "Global Economic Prospects, June 2019: Heightened Tensions, Subdued Investment. p. 127" (PDF). openknowledge.worldbank.org. World Bank. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
5. "Ease of Doing Business in Burundi". Doingbusiness.org. Retrieved 2017-01-24.
6. "Export Partners of Burundi". CIA World Factbook. 2012. Retrieved 2013-07-29.
7. "Import Partners of Burundi". CIA World Factbook. 2012. Retrieved 2013-07-28.
8. Jillian Keenan, The Blood Cries Out. "In one of Africa’s most densely populated countries, brothers are killing brothers over the right to farm mere acres of earth. There’s just not enough land to go around in Burundi — and it could push the country into civil war." Foreign Policy (FP)
9. "Report for Selected Countries and Subjects". Retrieved 2018-08-24.

•  This article incorporates public domain material from the CIA World Factbook website https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html.

External links

• Economy of Burundi at Curlie
• Burundi latest trade data on ITC Trade Map