Facts

Location: Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo

Area (only Total) total: 27,830 sq km

Climate: equatorial; high plateau with considerable altitude variation (772 m to 2,670 m above sea level); average annual temperature varies with altitude from 23 to 17 degrees centigrade but is generally moderate as the average altitude is about 1,700 m; average annual rainfall is about 150 cm; two wet seasons (February to May and September to November), and two dry seasons (June to August and December to January)

Terrain: hilly and mountainous, dropping to a plateau in east, some plains

Population: 8,691,005

Main Language (only first): Kirundi (official)

Government type: republic

Capital (Name): Bujumbura

Capital (Time Difference): UTC+2

Independence: 1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration)

National holiday: Independence Day, 1 July (1962)