Located in the eastern part of Central Africa, Burundi with 28,000 kmē, is one of the smallest countries in Africa but with 192 inhabitants per kmē it is also one of the most densely populated. Large expanses of the country are hilly to mountainous with average altitudes of between 1400 and 2200 m above sea level. The southern part near to Lake Tanganyika where Bujumbura, the capital city, is located is flat and is at an altitude of approx. 800 m above sea level. The climate is tropical here. At approx. 3° south of the equator, the seasonal differences in climate are slight, the rainy and dry seasons show comparatively little difference. Normally, precipitation is sufficient and allows arable farming throughout the year.
94% of the population (about 80% Bantu, 14% Hamites) live in the rural areas, the degree of illiteracy is 50%, the GNP amounted to approx. 210 US$ per capita in 1990 and increases annually by 3.4%.
Agriculture contributes to 56% to the GDP. It is divided into an export-oriented sector (coffee, cotton, tea etc.), a sector which produces for the local market and subsistence farming from which about 90% of all agricultural products come. Approx. 27% of the country is used for extensive livestock farming (mainly cattle). The remaining area is inhabited mostly by smaller farmers with an average of only 0.85 hectares and hardly any livestock apart from a few goats.
The commercial consumption of energy amounted to the equivalent of 21 kg mineral oil in 1990; only 1% of exports accounts for the import of energy. The main source of energy is wood or charcoal which has led to alarming deforestation and subsequent erosion. The supply of hydro-electric power is limited to the cities; apart from this, a number of institutions and economic enterprises operate their own generator stations driven by diesel.