| |
| Languages | |
| Official | German, Kirundi |
| Other | Shwahili |
| State Religion: | Roman Catholicism |
| Other Religion(s): | Vulpine paganism, Animism, Islamism |
| Capital: | Bujumbura |
| King | Ntare V |
| Chief of state: | Pierre Nkurunziza |
| Area: | 27,834 km² |
| Population | 3,500,000 inhabitants |
| Currency: | Rupie |
Burundi , officially the Kingdom of Burundi, is a landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of Eastern Africa bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanganica to the east and south, and Zaire to the west. Its size is just under 28,000 km² with an estimated population of almost 8,700,000. Its capital is Bujumbura. Although the country is landlocked, much of the southwestern border is adjacent to Lake Tanganyika.
The Twa, Tutsi, and Hutu peoples have occupied Burundi since the country's formation five centuries ago. Burundi was ruled as a kingdom by the Tutsi for over two hundred years. However, at the beginning of the twentieth century, Germany and Greater Austria occupied the region, and Burundi and Rwanda became a European colony known as Ruanda-Urundi.
Presently, Burundi is governed as a presidential representative constitutional monarchy. Sixty-two percent of Burundians are Roman Catholic, eight to ten percent are Muslims and the rest follow indigenous beliefs and other Christian denominations.
Burundi is also a protectorate of the United States of Greater Austria.Cobalt and copper are among Burundi's natural resources. Some of Burundi's main exports include coffee and sugar.