Burundi (Republic of Burundi)

Burundi Republic of Burundi
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	170th best
Capital	Bujumbura
Land Area	25 680km21
Location	Africa
Population	11.2m2
Life Expectancy	61.66yrs (2017)3
GNI	$0 732 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 Codes	BI, BDI, 1085
Internet Domain	.bi6
Currency	Franc (BIF)7
Telephone	+2578

1. Overview
2. Burundi National and Social Development
3. Burundi's Demographics and Migration
4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance
5. Burundi's Health
   1. Health Datasets
   2. Children's Health Datasets
6. Burundi's Responsibility Towards The Environment
7. Burundi's Modernity and Learning
   1. Modernity Datasets
   2. Education Datasets
   3. Technology and Information Datasets
8. Burundi's Culture, Peace and Inequality
   1. National Culture Datasets
   2. Peace Versus Instability Datasets
   3. Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets
9. Religion and Beliefs
10. Links

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1. Overview

#rwanda

“Burundi's first democratically elected president was assassinated in October 1993 after only 100 days in office, triggering widespread ethnic violence between Hutu and Tutsi factions. More than 200,000 Burundians perished during the conflict that spanned almost a dozen years. Hundreds of thousands of Burundians were internally displaced or became refugees in neighboring countries. An internationally brokered power-sharing agreement between the Tutsi-dominated government and the Hutu rebels in 2003 paved the way for a transition process that led to an integrated defense force, established a new constitution in 2005, and elected a majority Hutu government in 2005. The government of President Pierre NKURUNZIZA, who was reelected in 2010, continues to face many political and economic challenges.”

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)₉

“A pint-sized country with a traumatic past but a forward-looking and welcoming people, Burundi is emerging from the fog of its civil war. Tiny Burundi is an incongruous mix of soaring mountains, languid lakeside communities and a tragic past blighted by ethnic conflict. While similar Hutu-Tutsi conflicts have been soothed in Rwanda by removing historical tribal labels, Burundi has chosen a different path, one of open dialogue and good-hearted debate.

Now the word is out that the war is over, Burundi is receiving a trickle of travellers and the country is safer now than it has been for years. Its steamy capital, Bujumbura, has a lovely location on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, and just outside the city are some of the finest inland beaches on the continent. For those inclined to adventure, its jungle-clad volcanoes offer lung-busting escapades tracking chimpanzees.

Burundians also have an irrepressible joie de vivre, and their smiles are as infectious as a rhythm laid down by any of the Les Tambourinaires drummers for which the country is famous.”

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)₁₀

2. Burundi National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.		Higher is better Value11
1	Switzerland	0.962
2	Norway	0.961
3	Iceland	0.959
	...
184	Burkina Faso	0.449
185	Mozambique	0.446
186	Mali	0.428
187	Burundi	0.426
188	Central African Rep.	0.404
189	Niger	0.400
190	Chad	0.394
191	S. Sudan	0.385
	Africa Avg	0.56
	World Avg	0.72
q=191.

Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.		Higher is better PPP $11
1	Liechtenstein	$146 830
2	Singapore	$90 919
3	Qatar	$87 134
	...
186	Liberia	$1 289
187	Niger	$1 240
188	Mozambique	$1 198
189	Congo, DR	$1 076
190	Somalia	$1 018
191	Central African Rep.	$0 966
192	S. Sudan	$0 768
193	Burundi	$0 732
	Africa Avg	$5 339
	World Avg	$20 136
q=193.

Social & Moral Development Index12
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank12
1	Denmark	26.9
2	Norway	29.1
3	Sweden	29.9
	...
167	Pakistan	117.9
168	Haiti	118.1
169	Cameroon	118.5
170	Burundi	119.0
171	Sierra Leone	119.8
172	Syria	120.1
173	Laos	120.4
174	Ethiopia	120.5
	Africa Avg	119.0
	World Avg	89.0
q=200.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Burundi's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

Population Datasets:

Burundi's population is predicted to rise to 11.44 million by 2030. This country has a fertility rate of 4.98. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate (two new children for each set of parents who die), which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1, once you take mortality into account₁₃. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.₁₄

Population2
Pos.		2018 Population2
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
	...
78	Belgium	11.5m
79	Bolivia	11.4m
80	Cuba	11.3m
81	Burundi	11.2m
82	Haiti	11.1m
83	S. Sudan	11.0m
84	Czechia	10.7m
85	Dominican Rep.	10.6m
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy Higher is better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
165	Djibouti	62.3
166	Gambia	62.1
167	Afghanistan	62.0
168	Burundi	61.7
169	Angola	61.6
170	Togo	61.6
171	Niger	61.6
172	Kenya	61.4
	World Avg	71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best15
Pos.		202215
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
197	Tanzania	4.66
198	Burkina Faso	4.67
199	Benin	4.90
200	Burundi	4.98
201	Nigeria	5.14
202	Angola	5.21
203	Mali	5.87
204	Central African Rep.	5.92
	World Avg	2.47
q=208. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better16
Pos.		2016 Per 10016
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3=	Chad	04.7
	...
21=	Niger	05.8
21=	Congo, DR	05.8
21=	Benin	05.8
24=	Burundi	05.9
24=	Liberia	05.9
26	Iraq	06.0
27=	Guinea	06.1
27=	Guinea-Bissau	06.1
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

• The Population of the Earth
• Abortion, Birth Control and Contraception

Migration Datasets:

Immigrants17
Pos.		2017 %17
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
	...
106	Chad	3.3%
107	Tajikistan	3.1%
108	Cape Verde	2.8%
109	Burundi	2.8%
110	Chile	2.7%
111	Micronesia	2.6%
112	Azerbaijan	2.6%
113	Kiribati	2.6%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

Emigrants18
Pos.		2010 %18
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
	...
122	S. Korea	4.3%
123	Belgium	4.2%
124	Syria	4.2%
125	Burundi	4.2%
126	Panama	4.0%
127	Norway	3.8%
128	Bahrain	3.7%
129	Gambia	3.7%
	World Avg	11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#Burundi #burundi_human_rights #equality #freedom #gender_equality #human_rights #morals #politics #prejudice #tolerance

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)19
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank19
1	Sweden	7.8
2	Netherlands	8.7
3	Denmark	8.8
	...
168	Chad	128.0
169	Zimbabwe	128.0
170	Nigeria	128.6
171	Burundi	129.3
172	Djibouti	129.7
173	Malawi	131.6
	Africa Avg	110.04
	World Avg	89.80
q=199.

Burundi is amongst the worst places in the world at ensuring human rights and freedom, and it has severe cultural issues when it comes to tolerance and equality. Burundi does better than average for its nominal commitment to Human Rights₂₀. But unfortunately Burundi gets most other things wrong. It does worse than average in combatting modern slavery₂₁, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms₂₂, supporting press freedom₂₃, opposing gender inequality₂₄ (still low for Africa), freethought₂₅ and in its average Freedom in the World rating. And finally, it falls into the worst-performing 20 for commentary in Human Rights Watch reports₂₆ (one of the worst in Africa) and in LGBT equality in the 2020s₂₇. In 2017, government forces persecuted political opponents, and they and the Imbonerakure "were responsible for numerous killings, disappearances, ab-ductions, acts of torture, rapes, and arbitrary arrests"₂₈ and a Human Rights Council affiliated body stated that it beliefs crimes against humanity have been committed in Burundi since April 2015₂₈

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

• Human Rights and Freedom in Burundi

5. Burundi's Health

#health

Compared to Africa (2025)29
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank29
1	Mauritius	71.1
2	Tunisia	75.3
3	Seychelles	77.4
	...
18=	Namibia	125.4
19	Lesotho	125.5
20	Senegal	126.3
21=	Burundi	126.8
22	Swaziland	127.0
23	Djibouti	127.8
24	Congo, (Brazzaville)	129.4
25	Tanzania	129.7
26	Togo	130.6
	Africa Avg	111.13
q=54.

Health (2025)29
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank29
1	Monaco	10.3
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	Japan	37.3
	...
160	Lesotho	125.5
161	Senegal	126.3
162	Micronesia	126.6
163=	Burundi	126.8
163=	Haiti	126.8
165	Swaziland	127.0
166	Cook Islands	127.5
167	Djibouti	127.8
	World Avg	97.57
q=207.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and Japan₃₀. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are Angola, Somalia and S. Sudan₃₀.

42 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, obesity rate, its adolescent birth rate, delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations, delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 and childhood mortality. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Mediterranean₃₀, whereas the worst are Africa, Micronesia and Melanesia₃₀.

For more, see:

• "Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

5.1. Health Datasets

#alcohol #birth_control #burundi #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #obesity #overpopulation #smoking

Burundi has some poor policies and cultural issues which cause some public health problems. Burundi comes in the best 20 in terms of the prevalence of overweight adults₃₁ (one of the lowest in Africa). It does better than average in its smoking rate₃₂, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance₃₃ and in delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015₃₄. Burundi does not succeed in everything, however. Burundi does worse than average when it comes to delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations in the 2020s₃₅, its alcohol consumption rate₃₆, its adolescent birth rate₃₇ (still good for Africa), its average life expectancy₁₁ and in childhood mortality in the 2020s₃₈. And finally, it sits amongst the bottom 20 in its fertility rate₁₅. The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% over the last 40 years. Life expectancy in Burundi in 1990 was the tenth lowest in the world, at 44.9yrs. But it improved greatly, by +17.5yrs, in the 30 years from then, well over double the global average improvement of +7.9yrs. Burundi's peak fertility rate was 7.39 in 1989.

Life Expectancy Higher is better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
165	Djibouti	62.3
166	Gambia	62.1
167	Afghanistan	62.0
168	Burundi	61.7
169	Angola	61.6
170	Togo	61.6
171	Niger	61.6
172	Kenya	61.4
	Africa Avg	62.79
	World Avg	71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better36
Pos.		2016 Per Capita36
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
	...
108=	Paraguay	7.2
109	Mongolia	7.4
110=	Albania	7.5
110=	Burundi	7.5
110=	Italy	7.5
110=	Norway	7.5
114	Kazakhstan	7.7
115=	Congo, (Brazzaville)	7.8
	Africa Avg	4.8
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best15
Pos.		202215
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
197	Tanzania	4.66
198	Burkina Faso	4.67
199	Benin	4.90
200	Burundi	4.98
201	Nigeria	5.14
202	Angola	5.21
203	Mali	5.87
204	Central African Rep.	5.92
	Africa Avg	3.97
	World Avg	2.47
q=208. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Smoking in the 2020s Lower is better32
Pos.		Total %32
1	Nigeria	3.3%
2	Ghana	3.4%
3	Panama	5.2%
	...
37	Paraguay	10.8%
38	Cape Verde	11.0%
39	Guyana	11.2%
40	Burundi	11.2%
41=	Zimbabwe	11.3%
41=	Bahamas	11.3%
43	Guatemala	12.0%
44	Canada	12.1%
	Africa Avg	12.4%
	World Avg	20.0%
q=165. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.

Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance Lower is better33
Pos.		2017 Rank33
1	Sweden	1
2	Ireland	2
3	Denmark	3
	...
71	Liberia	71
72	Kazakhstan	72
73	Egypt	73
74=	Burundi	74
74=	Cameroon	74
76	Malta	76
77	Guatemala	77
78	Sri Lanka	78
	Africa Avg	117.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Overweight Adults Lower is better31
Pos.		1976 %31
1	Bangladesh	4.7
2	Vietnam	5.1
3	Nepal	5.4
	...
13=	Sri Lanka	7.5
13=	Ethiopia	7.5
15	Myanmar	7.6
16	Burundi	7.7
17	Niger	7.8
18	Rwanda	7.9
19	Uganda	8.0
20=	Madagascar	8.1
	Africa Avg	13.4
	World Avg	27.1
q=191.

Adult Obesity Lower is better39
Pos.		2022 %39
1	Vietnam	2.1%
2	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	2.2%
3	Ethiopia	2.4%
4	Madagascar	3.8%
5	Eritrea	4.2%
6	Cambodia	4.4%
7	Burundi	4.5%
8	Rwanda	4.6%
9	Japan	4.9%
10	Bangladesh	5.3%
11	Niger	5.3%
12	Chad	5.7%
	Africa Avg	13.7%
	World Avg	24.7%
q=199. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

5.2. Children's Health Datasets

#children's_health #health #parenting #population #vaccines

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better37
Pos.		2022 Per 100037
1	Hong Kong	1.6
2	Denmark	1.8
3	S. Korea	2.1
	...
123	Haiti	51.8
124	Seychelles	52.1
125	Yemen	52.5
126	Burundi	52.6
127	Mexico	53.7
128	Cape Verde	54.0
129	Papua New Guinea	54.3
130	El Salvador	54.5
	Africa Avg	84.6
	World Avg	43.8
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Infant DTP Immunizations (2020s) Higher is better35
Pos.		Total Avg %35
1=	Luxembourg	99.0
1=	Oman	99.0
1=	Niue	99.0
	...
104=	Serbia	92.6
105	UK	92.4
106	Malawi	92.3
107	Burundi	92.1
108	Canada	92.0
109=	Sao Tome & Principe	91.9
109=	Sierra Leone	91.9
111	Bonaire	91.8
	Africa Avg	82.9
	World Avg	88.5
q=211. Also scored for 1980s-2020s.

7x Infant Immunizations (2011-2015) Higher is better34
Pos.		2015 Avg %34
1=	Hungary	99.0
1=	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
	...
90	Serbia	93.5
91	Egypt	93.4
92	Cape Verde	93.4
93	Burundi	93.3
94	Chile	93.3
95	Georgia	93.1
96	New Zealand	92.9
97	Nauru	92.9
	Africa Avg	81.7
	World Avg	88.3
q=194.

Infant Mortality (2020s) Lower is better38
Pos.		Total Per 100038
1	San Marino	2.11
2	Finland	2.59
3	Luxembourg	2.60
	...
168	Djibouti	66.40
169	Madagascar	66.96
170	Ethiopia	67.34
171	Burundi	71.23
172	Afghanistan	74.59
173	Haiti	76.58
174	Pakistan	76.85
175	Togo	77.13
	Africa Avg	71.63
	World Avg	32.19
q=195. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

6. Burundi's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #burundi #climate_change #deforestation #environmentalism #food #internationalism #meat #over-exploitation #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Africa (2025)40
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank40
1	Morocco	46.5
2	Burundi	47.8
3	Mali	51.0
4	Madagascar	52.4
5	Nigeria	55.8
6	Rwanda	56.4
7	Uganda	57.8
8	Kenya	57.9
9	Mauritius	58.1
10	Ghana	58.6
11	Tunisia	60.1
12	Niger	61.3
13	Tanzania	61.6
	Africa Avg	80.07
q=53.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)40
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank40
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
4	Morocco	46.5
5	Puerto Rico	47.1
6	Burundi	47.8
7	Nepal	47.9
8	India	49.5
9	Philippines	49.6
10	Costa Rica	49.7
11	Denmark	50.4
12	Mali	51.0
	World Avg	84.93
q=199.

We have known for a long term that we must protect the environment from habitation destruction, over-exploitation, pollution, and the emissions that cause climate change. In 1998, Greenpeace wrote that "Environment can no longer be meaningfully separated from health, quality of life, democracy, education, economy or trade"₄₁. What countries have been doing the right thing, via legislation and national culture? All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

• "Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Burundi is positioned 6th-best in the world with regard to its responsibility towards the environment (one of the lowest in Africa). This rank is computed from 21 data sets. Burundi does the second-best in terms of reducing annual meat consumption per person₄₂. It comes in the best 20 when it comes to its forested percent change 2000-2020₄₃ and in energy to GDP efficiency₄₄. It does better than average when it comes to the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₄₅. Burundi does not succeed in everything, however. Burundi does worse than average for its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment. And finally, it is the worst in its environmental performance₄₆.

Forest Area Change 2000-2020 Higher is better43
Pos.		Total43
1	Guernsey	82.6%
2	Bahrain	75.2%
3	Iceland	64.7%
4	Burundi	44.2%
5	Uruguay	43.8%
6	Montenegro	32.1%
7	Malta	31.4%
8	Cuba	31.0%
9	Kuwait	28.9%
10	Uzbekistan	23.3%
11	Algeria	23.1%
12	China	23.0%
	Africa Avg	-8.7%
	World Avg	-0.1%
q=234.

After a period of inaction, from 2010 to 2020 Burundi put in some serious effort, and restored its forest cover, adding 44%, and setting an important example for the rest of Africa, and the world.

Environmental Performance Higher is better46
Pos.		201846
1	Switzerland	87.4
2	France	84.0
3	Denmark	81.6
	...
173	Lesotho	33.8
174	Haiti	33.7
175	Madagascar	33.7
176	Nepal	31.4
177	India	30.6
178	Congo, DR	30.4
179	Bangladesh	29.6
180	Burundi	27.4
	Africa Avg	46.4
	World Avg	56.4
q=180.

Energy to GDP Efficiency Lower is better44
Pos.		2022 Avg44
1	Rwanda	0.25
2	Chad	0.26
3	Tanzania	0.31
4	Uganda	0.37
5	Sierra Leone	0.37
6	Malawi	0.37
7	Madagascar	0.38
8	Sri Lanka	0.39
9	Burundi	0.41
10	Central African Rep.	0.41
11	Ethiopia	0.42
12	Afghanistan	0.43
	Africa Avg	0.83
	World Avg	1.23
q=165. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

International Accords on the Environment Higher is better
Pos.		Total Avg Rate
1	Sweden	83%
2	Canada	82%
3	Norway	81%
	...
130	Congo, (Brazzaville)	53%
131	Jamaica	53%
132	Mali	53%
133	Burundi	53%
134	Iceland	53%
135	Samoa	52%
136	Zimbabwe	52%
137	Suriname	52%
	Africa Avg	56.4%
	World Avg	57.5%
q=197. Also scored for 1970s-2020s.

Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better45
Pos.		2011 %45
1	Argentina	78.3%
2	Greece	77.6%
3	Brazil	77.1%
	...
56	Yemen	43.2%
57	Sri Lanka	43.1%
58	Djibouti	42.8%
59	Burundi	42.0%
60	Zambia	41.9%
61	Singapore	41.6%
62	Ukraine	41.5%
63	Jordan	41.4%
	Africa Avg	38.3%
	World Avg	39.9%
q=145.

Meat Consumption Lower is better42
Pos.		2021 kg42
1	Congo, DR	03.0
2	Burundi	03.5
3	Bangladesh	04.3
4	Madagascar	05.4
5	India	05.7
6	Nigeria	07.0
7	Ethiopia	07.1
8	Rwanda	07.6
9	Mali	07.8
10	Niger	08.1
11	Afghanistan	08.7
12	Uganda	09.4
	Africa Avg	24.9
	World Avg	52.5
q=185. Also scored for 2010s.

In the 2010s, Burundi had the lowest meat consumption per person in the world.₄₂

7. Burundi's Modernity and Learning

#education #modernity #technology #the_internet

Compared to Africa (2025)47
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank47
1	S. Africa	58.2
2	Tunisia	63.4
3	Seychelles	64.9
	...
44	Angola	140.6
45	Mozambique	141.4
46	Mauritania	143.9
47	Burundi	144.5
48	Gambia	147.8
49	Chad	150.8
50	Sierra Leone	153.8
51	Liberia	160.4
52	Somalia	170.1
	Africa Avg	119.28
q=54.

Modernity & Learning (2025)47
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank47
1	Vatican City	1.0
2	Finland	4.8
3	Belgium	8.5
	...
178	Mozambique	141.4
179	Mauritania	143.9
180	Laos	144.3
181	Burundi	144.5
182	Gambia	147.8
183	Bhutan	148.3
184	Chad	150.8
185	Sierra Leone	153.8
	World Avg	80.33
q=194.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are The Vatican City, Finland and Belgium₄₈. The worst countries are S. Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia₄₈. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots₄₉.

“Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.”

Bill Emmott (2017)₅₀

23 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Intellectual Endeavours, metric system adoption rate, Religiosity, IQ, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Maths, Science & Reading, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₄₈, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia₄₈.

For more, see:

• " Which Countries are Most Modern, With the Best Education and Internet Access?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

7.1. Modernity Datasets

#intelligence #metric #research #science

Research & Development Higher is better
Pos.		2016 % RDP PPP
1	S. Korea	4.2951
2	Israel	4.1151
3	Japan	3.5851
	...
103=	Georgia	0.1352
103=	Gambia	0.1353
105=	Tajikistan	0.1254
105=	Burundi	0.1253
107=	Madagascar	0.1153
107=	Philippines	0.1155
107=	Myanmar	0.1156
110	Peru	0.1057
	Africa Avg	0.36
	World Avg	0.84
q=126.

Intellectual Endeavours Lower is better33
Pos.		2017 Rank33
1	Ukraine	1
2	Czechia	2
3	Hungary	3
	...
68	Lebanon	68
69	Senegal	69
70	China	70
71	Burundi	71
72	Tunisia	72
73	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	73
74	Chile	74
75	Argentina	75
	Africa Avg	106.4
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Metric System Adoption Rate Higher is better58
Pos.		2025 %58
1=	Slovakia	100
1=	Poland	100
1=	Portugal	100
	...
154=	Antigua & Barbuda	90
154=	Trinidad & Tobago	90
154=	Burkina Faso	90
154=	Burundi	90
154=	Benin	90
154=	Cambodia	90
154=	Mauritania	90
154=	Bangladesh	90
	Africa Avg	90
	World Avg	92
q=187. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

Burundi officially adopted metric in 1910₅₉. Progression:

• 1960 (50%): Colonial metric present; traditional units widely used.
• 1970 (65%): Government/education metric standardization.
• 1980 (80%): Commerce largely metric; rural legacy persists.
• 2000 (85%): Metric dominant in formal sectors.
• 2025 (90%): High metric usage; informal legacy remains.

IQ Higher is better60
Pos.		200660
1=	Hong Kong	108
1=	Singapore	108
3	S. Korea	106
	...
118=	Malawi	69
118=	Niger	69
118=	Mali	69
118=	Burundi	69
118=	Nigeria	69
123=	Chad	68
123=	Burkina Faso	68
123=	Somalia	68
	Africa Avg	70.6
	World Avg	85.6
q=138.

7.2. Education Datasets

#burundi #education

In 2001, education in Burundi was the fourth-shortest in the world - the average person could expect just over 4.5 years; just one third of what to expect in most of the rest of the world. In the 2000s, it successfully increased its expected duration of education by over 5 years, more than any other country in that decade, although in 2009 its populace were still three years short of the global average of 12.6 years. ₆₁

Secondary Education Higher is better62
Pos.		201862
1=	Luxembourg	100.0%
1=	Estonia	100.0%
1=	Austria	100.0%
	...
162	Mali	13.1%
163	Papua New Guinea	12.5%
164	Bhutan	12.0%
165	Guinea	11.7%
166	Burundi	9.3%
167	Burkina Faso	8.8%
168	Niger	6.6%
169	Chad	6.0%
	Africa Avg	34.4%
	World Avg	63.0%
q=169.

Length of Schooling Higher is better63
Pos.		2021 Years63
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
	...
151	Myanmar	10.9
152	N. Korea	10.8
153	Benin	10.8
154	Burundi	10.7
155	Kenya	10.7
156	Ivory Coast	10.7
157	Jordan	10.6
158	Guinea-Bissau	10.6
	Africa Avg	11.0
	World Avg	13.5
q=193. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

7.3. Technology and Information Datasets

#the_internet

Internet Users Higher is better64
Pos.		201664
1	Iceland	100%
2	Faroe Islands	99%
3	Norway	98%
	...
194	Myanmar	3%
195	Sierra Leone	2%
196	Niger	2%
197	Guinea	2%
198	Somalia	2%
199	Burundi	2%
200	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	1%
201	Eritrea	1%
	Africa Avg	18.4%
	World Avg	48.1%
q=201.

8. Burundi's Culture, Peace and Inequality

8.1. National Culture Datasets

#corruption #internationalism #politics

Burundi has a consistently awful long-term record on corruption, one of the worst in the world.

Corruption Higher is better65
Pos.		2022 Points65
1	Denmark	90.0
2=	Finland	87.0
2=	New Zealand	87.0
	...
172=	N. Korea	17.0
172=	Libya	17.0
172=	Haiti	17.0
172=	Burundi	17.0
176	Yemen	16.0
177	Venezuela	14.0
178=	S. Sudan	13.0
178=	Syria	13.0
	Africa Avg	32.31
	World Avg	42.98
q=180. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Creativity & Culture Lower is better33
Pos.		2017 Rank33
1	Belgium	1
2	Netherlands	2
3	Estonia	3
	...
156	Iraq	156
157	Iran	157
158	Gabon	158
159	Central African Rep.	159
160	Burundi	160
161	Rwanda	161
162	Congo, DR	162
163	Libya	163
	Africa Avg	117.8
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Passport Reach (2020s) Higher is better66
Pos.		Total Q66
1	Singapore	192.2
2	Japan	192.0
3	S. Korea	190.7
	...
166=	Turkmenistan	51.8
166=	Egypt	51.8
168	Angola	50.5
169=	Burundi	50.3
169=	Cameroon	50.3
171	Haiti	50.2
172=	Laos	49.7
172=	Liberia	49.7
	Africa Avg	62.9
	World Avg	108.8
q=195. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.

Open Trading, Aid & Development Lower is better33
Pos.		2017 Rank33
1	Ireland	1
2	Denmark	2
3	Sweden	3
	...
89	Central African Rep.	89
90	Botswana	90
91	Guinea-Bissau	91
92	Burundi	92
93	Mozambique	93
94	Guinea	94
95	Ivory Coast	95
96	Peru	96
	Africa Avg	96.7
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

8.2. Peace Versus Instability Datasets

#extremism #human_development #peace #politics #religious_violence #terrorism

Global Peace Index Lower is better67
Pos.		2023 Score67
1	Iceland	1.12
2	Denmark	1.31
3	Ireland	1.31
	...
125=	Zimbabwe	2.30
126	India	2.31
127	Guinea	2.36
128	Burundi	2.39
129	Haiti	2.40
130	S. Africa	2.41
131	USA	2.45
132	Brazil	2.46
	Africa Avg	2.29
	World Avg	2.07
q=163. Also scored for 2010s.

Peacekeeping & Security Lower is better33
Pos.		2017 Rank33
1	Samoa	1
2	S. Africa	2
3	Tunisia	3
	...
122	Guinea	122
123	Israel	123
124	Malta	124
125	Burundi	125
126	Barbados	126
127	Chad	127
128	Montenegro	128
129	Dominican Rep.	129
	Africa Avg	83.6
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Refugees & UN Treaties Lower is better33
Pos.		2017 Rank33
1	Austria	1
2	Germany	2
3	Netherlands	3
	...
147	El Salvador	147
148	Bahamas	148
149	Marshall Islands	149
150	Burundi	150
151	Zimbabwe	151
152	Grenada	152
153	Angola	153
154	Guyana	154
	Africa Avg	104.5
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Impact of Terrorism Lower is better68
Pos.		2019 Score68
1	Togo	0.00
2	Mongolia	0.00
3	Swaziland	0.00
	...
115	France	5.01
116	Indonesia	5.07
117	Nepal	5.09
118	Burundi	5.10
119	Palestine	5.18
120	Bangladesh	5.21
121	Saudi Arabia	5.24
122	Ethiopia	5.35
	Africa Avg	3.41
	World Avg	2.78
q=150.

8.3. Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets

#capitalism #economics #health #inequality #life_expectancy #poverty #social_development

Poverty (2020s) Lower is better69
Pos.		Total %69
1	Malaysia	0.01%
2	Bhutan	0.01%
3	Cyprus	0.02%
	...
99	Kenya	45.92%
100	Niger	60.49%
101	Madagascar	69.17%
102	Central African Rep.	71.62%
103	Zambia	71.66%
104	Burundi	74.20%
105	Mozambique	81.36%
106	Congo, DR	85.32%
	Africa Avg	41.51%
	World Avg	11.40%
q=106. Also scored for 1980s-2020s.

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better70
Pos.		201970
1	Iceland	2.40
2=	Singapore	2.50
2=	Hong Kong	2.50
	...
156	Sudan	27.40
157	Afghanistan	28.30
158=	Gambia	28.50
158=	Burundi	28.50
160	Comoros	28.90
161=	Liberia	29.80
161=	Mozambique	29.80
163	Pakistan	29.90
	Africa Avg	26.10
	World Avg	14.59
q=184.

Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) Lower is better71
Pos.		2023 %71
1	Slovakia	24.1%72
2	Slovenia	24.3%72
3	Belarus	24.4%73
	...
100	Solomon Islands	37.1%74
101=	Chad	37.4%75
101=	Burkina Faso	37.4%72
103	Burundi	37.5%73
104	Sri Lanka	37.7%76
105=	Israel	37.9%72
105=	Togo	37.9%72
107	Gabon	38.0%77
	Africa Avg	40.7%
	World Avg	36.5%
q=167. Also scored for 1980s-2010s.

Income inequality data is rarely available for Burundi - only for 4 years between 1980 and 2019.

Multidimensional Poverty Lower is better78
Pos.		2018 Severity78
1	Armenia	.001
2	Ukraine	.001
3	Serbia	.001
	...
89	Benin	.368
90	Guinea-Bissau	.372
91	Congo, DR	.389
92	Burundi	.403
93	Mozambique	.411
94	Madagascar	.453
95	Mali	.457
96	Central African Rep.	.465
	Africa Avg	.264
	World Avg	.154
q=101.

9. Religion and Beliefs

#buddhism #christianity #hinduism #islam #judaism

Pew Forum polling over the decades has found the following adherency rates:₇₉:

	2010	2020
Christian	95.4%	95%
Muslim	2.07%	2.99%
Unaffiliated	1.86%	1.25%
Other	0.654%	0.765%
Hindu	<0.1%	<0.1%
Jewish	<0.1%	<0.1%
Buddhist	<0.1%	<0.1%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Christian 82.8% (Roman Catholic 61.4%, Protestant 21.4%), Muslim 2.5%, Adventist 2.3%, other 6.5%, unknown 5.9% (2008 census)₈₀.

Links:

• A List of All Religions and Belief Systems
• Secularisation Theory: Will Modern Society Reject Religion? What is Secularism?