Moving to Burundi: visas, cost of living & immigrant guide

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Population

11,865,821

Population - note

Note: Estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS

this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of the population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected

Population Growth Rate

3.08%

Urban Population

10.900000

Population in Major Urban Areas

BUJUMBURA (capital) 605,000

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Age Structure

45.610000

Median Age

16.900000

Birth Rate - births/1,000 population

40

Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population

9.12

Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman

5.99

Contraceptive Prevalance Rate - female 12-49

21.9%

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate - female 12-49

21.9%

Mean Age for Mother's First Birth (age 25-49)

21.3

Mother's mean age at first birth

21.3

Sex Ratio at Birth - male/female

1.030000

Net Migration Rate - migrant(s)/1,000 population

-0.17

Ethnic Groups

Hutu (Bantu) 85%, Tutsi (Hamitic) 14%, Twa (Pygmy) 1%, Europeans 3,000, South Asians 2,000

Nationality Noun

Burundian(s)

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Literacy - total population

59.3%

Literacy - male

58.5%

Literacy - female

45.2%

Literacy Definition

Age 15 and over can read and write

Education Expenditures - percent of GDP

5.8%

Total School Life Expectancy - (primary to tertiary)

10.000000

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Life Expectancy at Birth

59.690000

Infant Mortality Rate

58.860000

Infant Mortality Rate - total deaths/1,000 live births

58.860000

Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births

800

Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population

.03

Hospital Bed Density - beds/1,000 population

1.9

Health Expenditures - percent of GDP

8.7%

Major Infectious Diseases - degree of risk

Very high

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

2.9%

Drinking Water Source - percent of urban population improved

91.500000

Sanitation Facility Access - percent of urban population improved

42.700000

Underweight - percent of children under five years

29.1%

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Economic Overview

Burundi is a landlocked, resource-poor country with an underdeveloped manufacturing sector.

Agriculture accounts for over 40% of GDP and employs more than 90% of the population.

Burundi's primary exports are coffee and tea, which account for more than half of foreign exchange earnings, but these earnings are subject to fluctuations in weather and international coffee and tea prices, Burundi is heavily dependent on aid from bilateral and multilateral donors, as well as foreign exchange earnings from participation in the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM).

Foreign aid represented 48% of Burundi's national income in 2015, one of the highest percentages in Sub-Saharan Africa, but this figure decreased to 33.5% in 2016 due to political turmoil surrounding President NKURUNZIZA’s bid for a third term.

Burundi joined the East African Community (EAC) in 2009.

Burundi faces several underlying weaknesses – low governmental capacity, corruption, a high poverty rate, poor educational levels, a weak legal system, a poor transportation network, and overburdened utilities – that have prevented the implementation of planned economic reforms.

The purchasing power of most Burundians has decreased as wage increases have not kept pace with inflation, which reached approximately 18% in 2017.

Real GDP growth dropped precipitously following political events in 2015 and has yet to recover to pre-conflict levels.

Continued resistance by donors and the international community will restrict Burundi’s economic growth as the country deals with a large current account deficit.

Industries

• Light consumer goods (blankets, shoes, soap, beer)
• assembly of imported components
• public works construction
• food processing

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$800.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

-0.5%

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GDP - Gross Domestic Product (PPP)

$8,690,000,000 (USD)

GDP Per Capita

$800.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

-0.5%

GDP - official exchange rate

$2,742,000,000 (USD)

GDP - composition, by end use

• Consumption: 92.4% Government
• Consumption: 16.5% Investment in Fixed
• Capital: 24.3% Investment in
• Inventories: -8.1% Exports of Goods and
• Services: 7.5% Imports of Goods and
• Services: -32.6%

GDP by Sector- agriculture

45.8%

GDP by Sector- Industry

17.1%

GDP by Sector- services

37.1%

Industrial Growth Rate

0.8%

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Inflation Rate

6.5%

Exchange Rate per US Dollar

1665

Currency Name and Code

Burundi francs (BIF)

Fiscal Year

Calendar Year

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

13.9%

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Labor Force

5,255,000

Major Industries

• Light consumer goods (blankets, shoes, soap, beer)
• assembly of imported components
• public works construction
• food processing

Agriculture Products

Coffee, cotton, tea, corn, sorghum, sweet potatoes, bananas, cassava (manioc, tapioca); beef, milk, hides

Population Below Poverty Line

68%

Child Labor - # of children ages 5-14

433,187

Child Labor - % of children ages 5-14

19%

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Labor Force By Occupation - administrative and managerial

4.1%

Labor Force By Occupation- agriculture

93.6%

Labor Force By Occupation- industry

2.3%

Labor Force By Occupation- services

4.1%

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Annual Budget

$525,100,000 (USD)

Public Debt (% of GDP)

43.4%

Budget Surplus or Deficit - percent of GDP

-4.8%

Taxes and other revenues - percent of GDP

19.2%

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Full Country Name

Republic of Burundi

Country Name

Burundi

Local - Long

Republique du Burundi (French)/ Republika y'u Burundi (Kirundi)

Local - Short

Burundi

Former Name

Urundi, German East Africa, Ruanda-Urundi, Kingdom of Burundi

Etymology- history of name

name derived from the pre-colonial Kingdom of Burundi (17th-19th century)

Independence

1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 1 July (1962)

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Government Type

presidential republic

Constitution

• history: several previous, ratified by referendum 28 February 2005
• amendments: proposed by the president of the republic after consultation with the government or by absolute majority support of the membership in both houses of Parliament; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Senate membership and at least four-fifths majority vote by the National Assembly; the president can opt to submit amendment bills to a referendum; constitutional articles including those on national unity, the secularity of Burundi, its democratic form of government, and its sovereignty cannot be amended; amended 2018 (amendments extended the presidential term from 5 to 7 years, reintroduced the position of prime minister, and reduced the number of vice presidents from 2 to 1)

Legal System:

mixed legal system of Belgian civil law and customary law

Executive Branch:

• chief of state: President Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE (since 18 June 2020)
• head of government: Prime Minister Nestor NTAHONTUYE (since 5 August 2025)
• cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by president election/appointment
• process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); vice presidents nominated by the president, endorsed by Parliament most recent election
• date: 20 May 2020
• election results: 2020: Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE elected president; percent of vote - Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE (CNDD-FDD) 71.5%, Agathon RWASA (CNL) 25.2%, Gaston SINDIMWO (UPRONA) 1.7%, other 1.6% 2015: Pierre NKURUNZIZA reelected president; percent of vote - Pierre NKURUNZIZA (CNDD-FDD) 69.4%, Agathon RWASA (Hope of Burundians - Amizerio y'ABARUNDI) 19%, other 11.6% expected date of next
• election: May 2027

Legislative Branch:

• Description: bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of: Senate or Inama Nkenguzamateka (39 seats in the July 2020 election); 36 members indirectly elected by an electoral college of provincial councils using a three-round voting system, which requires a two-thirds majority vote in the first two rounds and simple majority vote for the two leading candidates in the final round; 3 seats reserved for Twas, and 30% of all votes reserved for women; members serve 5-year terms) National Assembly or Inama Nshingamateka (123 seats in the May 2020 election; 100 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 23 co-opted members; 60% of seats allocated to Hutus and 40% to Tutsis; 3 seats reserved for Twas; 30% of total seats reserved for women; members serve 5-year terms)
• elections:
• Senate - last held on 20 July 2020 (next to be held in 2025)
• National Assembly - last held on 20 May 2020 (next to be held in 2025)
• Election Results: - Senate - percent of vote by party - CNDD-FDD 87.2%, Twa 7.7%, CNL 2.6%, UPRONA 2.6%; seats by party - CNDD-FDD 34, Twa 3, CNL 1, UPRONA 1;
• composition - men 23, women 16, percent of women 37.2%
• National Assembly - percent of vote by party - CNDD-FDD 70.9%, CNL 23.4%, UPRONA 2.5%, other (co-opted Twa) 3.2%; seats by party - CNDD-FDD 86, CNL 32, Twa 3, UPRONA 2;
• Composition: men 76, women 47, percent of women 38.2%;
• Note: total Parliament percent of women 38%

Judicial Branch:

• office: Supreme Court judges nominated by the Judicial Service Commission, a 15-member body of judicial and legal profession officials), appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate and serve 6-year nonrenewable terms
• subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; County Courts; Courts of Residence; Martial Court; Commercial Court

Regions or States:

• Summary: 18 provinces
• Bubanza
• Bujumbura Mairie
• Bujumbura Rural
• Bururi
• Cankuzo
• Cibitoke
• Gitega
• Karuzi
• Kayanza
• Kirundo
• Makamba
• Muramvya
• Muyinga
• Mwaro
• Ngozi
• Rumonge
• Rutana
• Ruyigi; note- a law was passed in March 2023 reducing the number of provinces to five: Buhumuza
• Bujumbura
• Burunga
• Butanyerera
• Gitega
• with full implementation by 2025.

Political Parties and Leaders:

• Council for Democracy and the Sustainable Development of Burundi or CODEBU [Keffa NIBIZI]
• Front for Democracy in Burundi-Sahwanya or FRODEBU-Sahwanya [Patrick NKURUNZIZA]
• National Council for the Defense of Democracy - Front for the Defense of Democracy or CNDD-FDD [Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE]
• National Congress for Liberty or CNL [Agathon RWASA]
• National Liberation Forces or FNL [Jacques BIGIRIMANA]
• Union for National Progress (Union pour le Progress Nationale) or UPRONA [Olivier NKURUNZIZA]

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship Criteria:

• birth: no citizenship by descent
• only: the father must be a citizen of Burundi dual citizenship
• recognized: no residency requirement for
• naturalization: 10 years

Capital Name

• Gitega (political capital), Bujumbura (commercial capital)
• note - in January 2019, the Burundian parliament voted to make Gitega the political capital of the country while Bujumbura would remain its economic capital
• as of 2023, the government's move to Gitega remains incomplete

Capital - geographic coordinate

3 25 S, 29 55 E

Capital Time Difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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International Organization Participation:

• ACP
• AfDB
• ATMIS
• AU
• CEMAC
• CEPGL
• CICA
• COMESA
• EAC
• FAO
• G-77
• IBRD
• ICAO
• ICC
• ICGLR
• ICRM
• IDA
• IFAD
• IFC
• IFRCS
• ILO
• IMF
• Interpol
• IOC
• IOM
• IPU
• ISO (correspondent)
• ITU
• ITUC (NGOs)
• MIGA
• NAM
• OIF
• OPCW
• UN
• UNCTAD
• UNESCO
• UNHRC
• UNIDO
• UNISFA
• UNMISS
• UNWTO
• UPU
• WCO
• WHO
• WIPO
• WMO
• WTO

International Law Organization Participation:

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; withdrew from ICCt in October 2017

Diplomatic Representation from US:

• Chief of Mission: Ambassador (vacant); Keith GILGES (since June 2022)
• Embassy: B.P. 1720, Avenue Des Etats-Unis, Bujumbura
• Mailing Address: 2100 Bujumbura Place, Washington DC 20521-2100
• Telephone: [257] 22-207-000
• Email: BujumburaC@state.gov
• Website: https://bi.usembassy.gov/

Diplomatic Representation in the US:

• Chief of Mission: Ambassador Jean Bosco BAREGE (since 11 January 2024); Chargé d'Affaires Geneviève NIZIGIYIMANA (since 3 October 2023)
• Chancery: 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
• Telephone: [1] (202) 342-2574
• FAX: [1] (202) 342-2578
• Email: burundiembusadc@gmail.com
• Website: https://burundiembassy-usa.com/index.php

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Geographic Location

Africa

Geographic Coordinates

3 30 S, 30 00 E

Total Area

10,745 Square Miles 27,830 Square Kilometers

Land Area

9,915 Square Miles 25,680 Square Kilometers

Water Area

830 Square Miles 2,150 Square Kilometers

Land Boundaries

605 Miles 974 Kilometers

Border Countries

The Democratic Republic of the Congo 233 km, Rwanda 290 km, Tanzania 451 km

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Terrain

Hilly and mountainous, dropping to a plateau in the east, some plains

Highest Point

2,670 Meters

Highest Point Location

Mount Heha 2,670 m

Lowest Point

772 Meters

Lowest Point Location

Lake Tanganyika 772 m

Natural Resources

Nickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat, cobalt, copper, platinum (not yet exploited), vanadium, arable land, hydropower

Irrigated Land

83 Square Miles 214 Square Kilometers

Time Zone

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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Climate

Though less than 5°F south of the Equator, the entire country has a pleasant climate. equatorial; high plateau with considerable altitude variation (772 m to 2,670 m above sea level); the 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 Bujumbura, on the northeastern shore of Lake Tanganyika, averages 73°F.

Daytime temperatures are in the mid to upper 80s: In the highlands, temperatures are cooler, in the 60s and 70s, arid at night, and occasional frost occurs.

The short rains occur from October to December, and the long rains from February to May.

During the dry seasons, a haze obscures, otherwise spectacular views of the Mitumba mountains of Eastern Zaire, and the air becomes dusty.

During the rainy season, the temperatures cool slightly.

Rainfall is only occasionally torrential and comes in brief, intense showers, rather than steady downpours.

More violent weather, including hailstorms, occurs chiefly in the highlands.

Rainfall averages 30 inches in Bujumbura and 47 inches in the uplands.

Terrain

Hilly and mountainous, dropping to a plateau in the east, some plains

Location

Central Africa, east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Total Area

10,745 Square Miles 27,830 Square Kilometers

Border Countries

The Democratic Republic of the Congo 233 km, Rwanda 290 km, Tanzania 451 km

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

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Exports

$132,400,000 (USD)

Imports

$683,400,000 (USD)

Major Exports

Coffee, tea, sugar, cotton, hides

Major Imports

Capital goods, petroleum products, foodstuffs

Top Export Partners

Germany 12.3%, Pakistan 10.7%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 10.7%, Uganda 8.1%, Sweden 7.8%, United States 7.1%, Belgium 6.3%, Rwanda 4.6%, France 4.4%

Top Import Partners

Kenya 15%, Saudi Arabia 14%, Belgium 9.9%, Tanzania 8.3%, Uganda 7.3%, China 7.1%, India 4.9%, France 4%

Export Partners

Germany 12.3%, Pakistan 10.7%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 10.7%, Uganda 8.1%, Sweden 7.8%, United States 7.1%, Belgium 6.3%, Rwanda 4.6%, France 4.4%

Import Partners

Kenya 15%, Saudi Arabia 14%, Belgium 9.9%, Tanzania 8.3%, Uganda 7.3%, China 7.1%, India 4.9%, France 4%

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Country Description

One of the poorest countries in the world, Burundi is a small, francophone, densely populated central African nation bordering Lake Tanganyika, Rwanda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Burundi was plagued by a civil war from 1993 to 2006 that often involved non-governmental and non-combatant targets.

In 2009, the last rebel group agreed to demobilize and register as a political party.

Between May and September 2010, Burundi held a series of five elections covering elected offices at all levels of government, which domestic and international observers considered to be credible.

Years of fighting have devastated a historically fragile economy that depends on subsistence agriculture.

Poor public health and education, weather disasters such as drought and floods, crop diseases, soaring food and fuel prices, and lack of infrastructure exacerbate the effects of conflict and delay recovery.

Limited facilities for tourism are slowly becoming available around Bujumbura.

Outside the capital, particularly towards the southern town of Rumonge, tourist facilities are developing along the lakeshore.

However, road and safety guidelines should be considered when traveling outside of Bujumbura.

Safety & Security

In October 2009, al-Shabaab publically threatened to attack Burundi to retaliate for its participation in the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

The U.S.

Embassy takes this threat seriously and regularly reviews the current security posture for U.S. government personnel and Travel Warnings for U.S. citizens in the region.

Remain vigilant while performing your daily activities or while traveling outside of major cities to decrease the likelihood of becoming a victim of a crime or other violent acts.

Public demonstrations are generally nonviolent and well controlled by the police.

However, any demonstration or spontaneous gathering has the potential to become violent.

Avoid them.

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Crime

Crime poses a high risk for foreign visitors to Bujumbura and Burundi in general.

Due to insufficient resources, local authorities in any part of Burundi are often unable to provide timely assistance in emergencies.

U.S. government personnel are prohibited from walking on the streets after dusk or using local public transportation.

Foreigners, whether in vehicles or at home, are always potential crime targets.

Common crimes, often committed by groups of armed bandits, include mugging, purse-snatching, pick-pocketing, burglary, automobile break-ins, and carjacking.

Don’t leave valuable items unattended in a hotel room.

Many criminal incidents involve armed attackers.

Criminals in Bujumbura often operate in pairs or in small groups involving six or more individuals.

The Department of State advises you to use caution when traveling, paying particular attention when traveling to and from frequent destinations including work, home, and popular shops or restaurants.

You should also avoid establishing routines and vary routes between regularly-traveled destinations in order to reduce vulnerability to targeted criminal or terrorist acts.

In general, you should pay close attention to your personal security at locations where foreigners are commonly known to congregate and avoid demonstrations and large gatherings.

U.S. citizens living and working in Bujumbura should take this opportunity to ensure your security and emergency action plans are up-to-date.

Likewise, outside of Bujumbura, vulnerability to criminal attacks on the roads continues to be a serious concern.

The U.S.

Embassy strongly cautions against traveling outside of towns after nightfall.

When traveling upcountry, the best practice is to use convoys of multiple vehicles to prevent becoming a victim of crime in the event of mechanical failure or emergency while traveling.

Furthermore, the U.S.

Embassy recommends travelers be equipped with satellite telephones, maps, and navigation equipment, medical gear to include trauma supplies, and vehicle maintenance and recovery equipment, especially when traveling off main routes.

Don’t buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available.

Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, but if you purchase them you may also be breaking local law.

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in Burundi, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen.

Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than those of the United States.

There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States, and you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods.

Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is also a crime prosecutable in the United States.

Burundian law requires that you carry some form of identification at all times.

You can be held for questioning if you do not have an identification document when one is requested by a member of the Burundian Police.

It is illegal to take pictures of certain sensitive buildings/installations in Burundi.

If you see Burundian Police near an installation, it’s safer to seek permission before taking photographs.

Driving under the influence can land you immediately in jail.

Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking illegal drugs in Burundi are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.

If you break local laws in Burundi, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution.

It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not wherever you go.

While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in a foreign country, that might not always be the case.

To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas.

If you are arrested in Burundi, you have the option to request that the police, prison officials, or other authorities alert the U.S. embassy of your arrest, and to have communications from you forwarded to the U.S. embassy.

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Medical Facilities

Medical facilities in Burundi do not meet United States standards.

You should carry an ample supply of properly-labeled prescription drugs and other medications with you, as certain medications and prescription drugs are unavailable or in short supply.

The sterility of equipment is questionable, and treatment is unreliable.

Ambulance assistance is non-existent and emergency services are all but unavailable.

Hospital care in Burundi should be considered in only the most serious cases and when no reasonable alternatives are available.

Malaria prophylaxis is strongly recommended for travel to all parts of Burundi.

Traffic Safety

While in Burundi, you may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States.

The information below concerning Burundi is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

While travel on most roads is generally safe during the day, travelers must maintain constant vigilance.

There have been reports of violent attacks on vehicles traveling the roads throughout the country outside of Bujumbura.

U.S. government personnel are required to travel via two-vehicle convoy to certain areas, have their trips pre-approved by the

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Airports - total

7

Airports with Paved Runways

1

Heliports

1

Roadways- total

7,657 Miles 12,322 Kilometers

Roadways- paved

799 Miles 1,286 Kilometers

Ports and Terminals

Bujumbura

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Telephones

31,500

Cell Phones

250,000

Internet Users

60,000

Internet Country Code

.bi

Internet Hosts

201

Broadcast Media

• State-controlled La Radiodiffusion et Television Nationale de Burundi (RTNB) operates the lone TV station and the only national radio network
• about 10 privately owned radio stations
• transmissions of several international broadcasters are available in Bujumbura

Telephone System

• Assessment: a sparse system of open-wire, radiotelephone communications, and low-capacity microwave radio relays
• Domestic: telephone density is one of the lowest in the world; fixed-line connections stand at well less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular usage is increasing but remains at roughly 20 per 100 persons
• International: country code - 257; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

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Electricity Consumption- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

125,600,000

Electricity Imports- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

40,000,000

Electricity Production- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

92,000,000

Oil Consumption- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

2,290

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Anthem History

Written by a group of writers led by President Jean-Baptiste Ntahokaja and composed by Marc Barengayabo, it was adopted upon its independence from Belgium in 1962.

Anthem Lyrics

Kirundi Lyrics Burundi Bwâcu, Burundi buhire, Shinga icú mu mu mashinga, Gaba intahe y'ú bugabo ku bugingo.

Warápfunywe ntíwapfú ye, Waráhabishijwe ntíwahababuka, Uhagurukana, uhagurukana, uhagurukana, ubugabo urîkukira.

Komerwamashyí n'ámakú ngu, Habwa impundu nâbâwe, Isamírane mu mashinga, isamírane mu mashinga, Burundi bwâcu, rági ry'ábasôkú ru, Ramutswa intahe n'íbihú gu, Ufatanije ishyaka n'ubú hizi; Vuza impundu wiganzuye uwakú ganza uwakú ganza.

Burundi bwâcu, nkóramú tima kurí twese, Tugutuye amabóko, umítima n'ú buzima, Imâna yakú duhaye ikudú tungire.

Horana umwami n'ábagabo n'ítekane.

Sagwa n'ú rweze, sagwa n'ámahóro mezá.

French Lyrics Cher Burundi, ô doux pays, Prends place dans le concert des nations.

En tout bien, tout honneur, accédé à l'indépendance.

Mutilé et meutri, tu es demeuré maître de toi-même.

L'heure venue, t'es levé Et fièrement tu t'es hissé au rang des peuples libres.

Reçois donc le compliment des nations, Agrée l'hommage de tes enfants.

Qu'à travers l'univers retentisse ton nom.

Cher Burundi, héritage sacré de nos aïeux, Reconnu digne de te gouverner Au courage tu allies le sentiment de l'honneur.

Chante la gloire de ta liberté reconquise.

Cher Burundi, digne objet de notre plus tendre armour, A ton noble service nous vouons nos bras, nos cœurs et nos vies.

Veuille Dieu, qui nous a fait don de toi, te conserver à notre vénération.

Sous l'egide de l'Unité, Dans la paix, la joie et la prospérité.

Anthem Lyrics English

Beloved Burundi, gentle country, Take your place in the concert of nations, Acceding to independence with honorable intentions.

Wounded and bruised, you have remained master of yourself.

When the hour came, you arose, Lifting yourself proudly into the ranks of free peoples.

Receive, then, the congratulations of the nations And the homage of your sons.

May your name ring out through the universe.

Beloved Burundi, sacred heritage from our forefathers, Recognized as worthy of self-government, With your courage you also have a sense of honour.

Sing the glory of liberty conquered again.

Beloved Burundi, worthy of our tenderest love, We vow to your noble service our hands and hearts and lives.

May God, who gave you to us, keep you for us to venerate, Under the shield of unity, In peace, joy and prosperity.