Burundi

Burundi is a landlocked country in East Africa with a population of approximately 14.4 million (2025), a life expectancy of 64 years, a GDP of US$3.36 billion, and a GDP per capita of US$233.8, making it one of the world’s lowest-income economies. The country is one of highly densely populated in Africa (528 people/km²), with a predominantly rural population that relies heavily on subsistence agriculture and coffee production, contributing to its low Human Development Index (0.439; ranked 187th globally). Burundi’s civic space has deteriorated significantly, with the CIVICUS Monitor downgrading the country from “repressed” to “closed” following the 2025 elections, citing widespread restrictions on freedom of expression, media independence, political participation, and ongoing reports of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, torture, and persecution of journalists, human rights defenders, political opponents, and critics. These governance and human rights challenges continue to constrain democratic participation and civil society engagement. Sources: CIVICUS Monitor, World Bank Data, Our World in Data, Burundi Statistics,