Burundi population (live estimate)

Burundi has a relatively unified linguistic landscape compared to many African states. Kirundi is spoken by the vast majority of the population and serves as a strong marker of national identity. French is widely used in administration, education, and legal contexts, while English has gained prominence since 2014 when it became an additional official language. Swahili is also spoken, especially in urban centers and areas engaged in regional trade. Multilingualism is common in border regions and among educated populations.

Burundi is densely populated with a predominantly rural population. The country’s demographic profile is young, with a high fertility rate and limited urbanization. Bujumbura and Gitega are major population centers, but the majority of residents live in small agricultural communities. Ethnic composition centers around Hutu, Tutsi, and Twa groups, though all share Kirundi as a common language.

The cities shown here represent major urban centres with populations over 50,000, as defined by the UN Degree of Urbanisation (DEGURBA) methodology. Smaller towns and rural settlements are not included.