Burundi: Economic Outline

Economic Indicators

According to the IMF, Burundi's growth reached 4% per year between 2006 and 2008 and the macro-economic prospects for 2009 are rather positive, with the GDP expected to settle at 4.8%. Economic growth is driven by coffee and tea exports. Burundi's geographical location makes the country a trade hub of the sub-region, despite the fact that this has not been utilized to the fullest.

The country is coming out of a decade of civil war, which has displaced people as well as made them refugees, and caused many deaths. Despite a certain amount of political stability, the weakness of the judiciary and the administrative system, the corruption, State interference in economic activities, security problems and dependence on foreign aid are definite obstacles that have to be overcome.

Burundi is a very poor country where health and social conditions are poor: only one child out of two goes to school, one adult out of 15 is HIV positive, food, medical and electricity supplies are insufficient and 68% of the population lives under the threshold of poverty.

Main Indicators	2009	2010	2011	2012 (e)	2013 (e)
GDP (billions USD)	1.33e	1.49e	1.66e	1.91	2.12
GDP (Constant Prices, Annual % Change)	3.5e	3.9e	4.2	4.8	5.0
GDP per Capita (USD)	164	180	197	222	241
General Government Gross Debt (in % of GDP)	48.2	50.0e	49.0e	44.2	39.8
Inflation Rate (%)	10.7	6.4	8.7	12.5	10.2
Current Account (billions USD)	-0.21	-0.20	-0.27	-0.32	-0.32
Current Account (in % of GDP)	-16.1	-13.4e	-16.4	-15.3	-

Source: IMF - World Economic Outlook Database - Last Available Data.

Note: (e) Estimated Data

Monetary Indicators	2008	2009	2010
Foreign Debt (million USD)	1,443	518	-
Burundi Franc (BIF) - Average Annual Exchange Rate For 1 USD	1,185.69	1,230.18	1,230.75

Source: World Bank - Last Available Data.

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Main Sectors of Industry

Breakdown of Economic Activity By Sector	Agriculture	Industry	Services
Employment By Sector (in % of Total Employment)	-	-	-
Value Added (in % of GDP)	34.8	20.0	45.1
Value Added (Annual % Change)	-6.6	-6.2	10.6