MAF in Burundi
MAF flies into Burundi from its base in neighbouring Tanzania
Demographics
Burundi has the 11th lowest Human Development Index rating in the world
- Population: 8,691,005 (UK:61 million)
- Birth rate: 42 births/1,000 population (UK: 11 births/1,000)
- Life expectancy at birth: 52 years (UK: 79 years)
- Population under 15 years: 46% (UK: 17%)
- High infant mortality: more than 1 in 16 die at birth (UK: 1 in 200 die at birth)
- Population below the poverty line: 68%
- HIV/AIDS adult prevalence rate: 6% of population (UK: 0.2%)
- Literacy rate: 59% (UK: 99%)
Infrastructure
Mountains, a poor road system and rainy seasons can make overland travel challenging across Burundi
- Area of the country: 10,745 sq miles (UK: 94,525 sq miles)
- 7,657 miles of roads, but only 799 miles of paved roads (UK: 241,104 miles – all paved)
- 8 airstrips of which only 1 is paved
Economy
Burundi is a landlocked, resource-poor country with an underdeveloped manufacturing sector. Economic growth depends on coffee and tea exports, which account for 90% of foreign exchange earnings. The ability to pay for imports, therefore, rests primarily on weather conditions and international coffee and tea prices
- 94% of the population employed in agriculture, fishing and forestry
- Main exports include coffee, tea, sugar, cotton and hides.
Environment
Burundi is a hilly and mountainous, dropping to a plateau in the east, and some plains. However, there are environmental concerns:
- 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
Climate
An equatorial climate with two wet seasons (February to May and September to November), and two dry seasons (June to August and December to January). Natural hazards include:
- flooding
- landslides
- drought
Religion
There is freedom of religion in Burundi
- Christian 67%
- Indigenous beliefs 23%
- Muslim 10%