Economy of Burundi
 Fisherman on Lake Tanganyika | |
| Currency | Burundian franc (BIF, FBu) |
|---|---|
| Calendar year | |
Trade organisations | AU, AfCFTA (signed), WTO |
Country group |
|
| Statistics | |
| GDP | |
GDP growth |
|
GDP per capita | |
GDP by sector | agriculture (32.9%), industry (21.3%), services (45.8%) (2008[update]) |
| 1.238% (2018 est.)[3] | |
Population below poverty line | 53% (2010[update]) |
Labour force | 4.08 million (2010[update]) |
Labour force by occupation | agriculture (89%), industry (5.3%, services (4.1%) (2002[update]) |
| Unemployment | N/A (2008[update]) |
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 | $88 million f.o.b. (2010[update]) |
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.)[7] |
| Imports | $286 million f.o.b. (2010[update]) |
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.)[8] |
Gross external debt | $820 million (2010[update]) |
| Public finances | |
| Revenues | $280.4 million (2009[update]) |
| Expenses | $351.3 million (2008[update]) |
| Economic aid | $90.7 million (2010[update]) |
All values, unless otherwise stated, are in US dollars. | |
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.
Agriculture
Burundi produced in 2018:
- 2.3 million tons of cassava;
- 1.6 million tons of banana;
- 583 thousand tons of sweet potato;
- 556 thousand tons of vegetable;
- 393 thousand tons of beans;
- 302 thousand tons of potato;
- 290 thousand tons of maize;
- 178 thousand tons of sugar cane;
- 85 thousand tons of palm oil;
- 56 thousand tons of taro;
- 55 thousand tons of rice;
- 53 thousand tons of tea;
In addition to smaller productions of other agricultural products, like sorghum (28 thousand tons) and coffee (14 thousand tons). [9]
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.
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."[10]
Macro-economic trend
The following table shows the main economic indicators in 1980–2017.[11]
| 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
References
- ^ "World Economic Outlook Database, April 2019". IMF.org. International Monetary Fund. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
- ^ "World Bank Country and Lending Groups". datahelpdesk.worldbank.org. World Bank. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
- ^ a b c d e "World Economic Outlook Database, October 2019". IMF.org. International Monetary Fund. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
- ^ "Global Economic Prospects, June 2019: Heightened Tensions, Subdued Investment. p. 127" (PDF). openknowledge.worldbank.org. World Bank. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
- ^ "Human Development Index (HDI)". hdr.undp.org. HDRO (Human Development Report Office) United Nations Development Programme. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
- ^ "Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index (IHDI)". hdr.undp.org. HDRO (Human Development Report Office) United Nations Development Programme. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
- ^ "Export Partners of Burundi". CIA World Factbook. 2012. Retrieved 2013-07-29.
- ^ "Import Partners of Burundi". CIA World Factbook. 2012. Retrieved 2013-07-28.
- ^ Burundi production in 2018, by FAO
- ^ 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)
- ^ "Report for Selected Countries and Subjects". Retrieved 2018-08-24.
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This article incorporates public domain material from The World Factbook. CIA.
