Burundi Health Insurance / Burundi General Information

Years of civil conflict have taken its toll on Burundi, which lacks sufficient infrastructure to meet the needs of the young and the ill. Only one in two children go to school, and the healthcare system is in need of a major overhaul. The medical profession is generally understaffed and under trained and patients are unable to pay for whatever provision is available.

Although there is peace in Burundi at present, there is concern over the long term development of the economy; agriculture is the only main GDP generator. However, political elections have taken place since the end of the civil war and a new government installed; this has resulted in small signs of improvements in security in Burundi.

Burundi has much to offer foreign visitors, with a magnificent landscape and array of wildlife. Some of the best beaches in Africa are found a short distance away from the capital Bujumbura, offering blue waters and sandy beaches.

This overview is written based on the latest information available at the time of writing, thus it is subject to revision without prior knowledge or notice.

Burundi Information

Official Name: Known officially as the Republic of Burundi, commonly as Burundi. The former name of Burundi was Urundi.

Capital city: The official capital of Burundi is Bujumbura, situated in the western region of the county and located on the north eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika.

Location: Burundi is located in Eastern Africa and shares borders with Rwanda, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Lake Tanganyika lies along Burundi's southwestern border.

Size: The total land mass of Burundi is 27,830 square kilometers – it is ranked 146th in the world. Burundi land mass is slightly larger than Haiti, which has a total land mass of 22,750 square kilometers.

Climate: The climate in Burundi varies across the country; the lowlands around Lake Tanganyika are hot with an average temperature of 30°C. The northern region of Burundi is mountainous, with the temperature milder, averaging 20°C. There are two wet seasons in Burundi; the first rainy seasons starts in February and lasts until May and the second wet season is from September to November.

Population: In 2010 the estimated population of Burundi reached a total of 9,863,117 - placing it as the most 85th populated country in the world.

Life Expectancy: The average life expectancy for a Burundian is 58.29 years. Females have a longer life span at 59.98, while males average 56.65 years from birth.

Prevalance of HIV/AIDS: It is estimated that 110,000 Burundians are living with HIV/AIDS. This is equivalent to 2% of the population – placing it 32rd in the world.

Major Illness: Major diseases that are regarded as high risk in Burundi are: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever, rabies, malaria and schistosomiasis.

Ethnic Groups: The registered ethic groups in Burundi consists of: Hutu (Bantu) 85%, Tutsi (Hamitic) 14%, Twa (Pygmy) at 1%; there are also Europeans and South Asians.

Languages: There are three languages spoken in Burundi - Kirundi, French and Swahili.

Religion: The religious faiths in Burundi comprise of: Christian 67% (Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 5%), indigenous beliefs 23% and Muslim at 10%.

Government: The Burundi system of government is a democratic republic; the President of Burundi is the head of state and head of government. There have been years of civil war - sparked off by the assassination in 1993 of the first Hutu head of state. However, a number of other incidents and assassinations lead to increased tension. It wasn't until 2005 that the first parliamentary elections were held since the start of the civil war.

Economy: Burundi is poor in indigenous resources and has an under-developed manufacturing sector. The economy is heavily reliant on agriculture which accounts for 90% of employment in the country and generates 35% of GDP. Burundi's main exports are tea and coffee; these contribute 90% of the foreign exchange in the economy.

There is a possibility that Burundi has indigenous petroleum, copper, nickel and other natural resources. Unfortunately investors are unwilling to conduct exploratory mining or excavation steps due to the uncertainty and security risks. The Burundi economy is being inhibited from the potential windfall which these valuable resources could generate by lack of investment. Factors posing major development problems such as it's land-locked location, a poor education system - only one in two children attend school - and the distance from coast affects shipping, all contribute to Burundi’s development.

GDP: The GDP of Burundi, at purchasing power parity, is US$ 3.247 billion - ranking it 171^st in the globally rankings. In 2009 it was estimated Burundi's real growth rate increased by 3.2%; the 55^th best performing country in the world.

Burundi Health Insurance

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