Burundi: environment

How many people in Burundi have electricity?

20.1% of Burundi's population had access to electricity in 2024, up from 11.6% in 2023, according to the World Bank.

Access includes connections to the grid and off-grid sources such as solar home systems, measured mainly from household surveys, so the jump between years partly reflects a new survey. The INSBU Statistical Yearbook 2024 reports electricity production and consumption.

Official sources: World Bank: Access to electricity, Burundi · INSBU: Statistical Yearbook 2024 (PDF)

What are the CO2 emissions of Burundi?

Burundi emitted 0.07 tonnes of carbon dioxide per person in 2024, excluding land use, according to the World Bank, from the EDGAR database. Total greenhouse gas emissions were 8.4 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2024, according to the same source.

CO2 per person is among the lowest in the world because fossil fuel use is small. Most of Burundi's emissions are methane and nitrous oxide from farming and livestock. Figures exclude land use and forestry, which Burundi reports in its submissions to the UN climate convention.

Official sources: World Bank: CO2 emissions per capita, Burundi · World Bank: Total greenhouse gas emissions, Burundi

How much of Burundi is forest, and how clean is the air?

Forests covered 10.9% of Burundi's land area in 2024, according to FAO data published by the World Bank. People were exposed to an average of 35.7 micrograms of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) per cubic metre in 2023, according to the World Bank, against a WHO guideline of 5.

The INSBU Statistical Yearbook 2024 reports the area of protected natural spaces and ecosystems, temperatures and monthly rainfall at weather stations across the country.

Official sources: World Bank: Forest area, Burundi · World Bank: PM2.5 air pollution, Burundi · INSBU: Statistical Yearbook 2024 (PDF)

What is Burundi's carbon footprint per person?

In 2024, carbon dioxide emissions per person in Burundi was 0.1 tonnes, according to the European Commission's EDGAR database. Since 2005 it has ranged from 0.0 tonnes (2005) to 0.1 tonnes (2020). Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 0.4 tonnes, and Burundi placed 44th highest of 47. Worldwide: 179th of 186.

What are Burundi's total greenhouse gas emissions?

The latest figure from the European Commission's EDGAR database, for 2024, is 8.4 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent. No year since 2005 has been higher. It is 33rd highest of 47 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 24.6 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent. Of 186 countries with 2024 data, 143rd highest.

What share of Burundi's energy comes from renewables?

The IEA, IRENA, the UN Statistics Division, the World Bank and the WHO puts the renewable share of final energy use in Burundi at 83.0% in 2022. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 70.0%; Burundi is 7th highest of 23. Worldwide: 7th of 53.

How much of Burundi is forest?

In 2024, forest area as a share of land in Burundi was 10.9%, according to the FAO. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 22.2%; Burundi is 40th highest of 48. World rank, highest first: 154th of 190.

What is air pollution like in Burundi?

35.7 micrograms per cubic metre: that is average exposure to fine particle air pollution (PM2.5) in Burundi for 2023, according to the Global Burden of Disease study. The peak was 41.3 micrograms per cubic metre in 2013 and the low 32.1 micrograms per cubic metre in 2018. It is 15th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 27.5 micrograms per cubic metre. Worldwide: 32nd of 192.

How much of Burundi is in national parks and reserves?

The UN Environment Programme puts the share of land in protected areas in Burundi at 7.6% in 2025. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2013. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 16.9%; Burundi is 40th highest of 48. World rank, highest first: 158th of 192.

Is Burundi short of water?

In 2022, water stress in Burundi was 10.2%, according to the FAO. It has not changed since 2005. It is 18th highest of 47 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 5.1%. Worldwide: 89th of 175.