Burundi Rate of Natural Increase

Burundi’s rate of natural increase (RNI)—the difference between birth and death rates, excluding migration—is among the highest in the world, standing at approximately 3.1% per year as of recent estimates. This high RNI is driven by a persistently high birth rate and a gradually declining, but still significant, death rate. Compared to its neighbors, Burundi’s RNI is similar to that of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (around 3.2%) and Tanzania (about 2.8%), but notably higher than Rwanda (2.3%) and Uganda (3.0%). While all these countries experience youthful populations and high fertility rates, Rwanda’s more aggressive family planning policies and improved health infrastructure have contributed to a slightly lower RNI. In contrast, Burundi’s limited access to reproductive health services and ongoing socio-economic challenges have kept its natural increase among the highest in the region, intensifying pressures on land, resources, and social services.

YearRate of Natural IncreasePopulation
19802.8324,287,693
19853.0344,848,529
19903.0155,375,305
19952.9345,812,059
20003.1576,281,743
20053.3277,439,109
20103.3599,139,612
20153.02910,576,586
20202.95911,845,890
20242.88713,590,102
20252.86813,976,678
20262.8514,371,891
20302.76516,038,534
20352.60818,294,904
20402.40620,687,154
20452.1823,149,039
20501.94725,611,635
20551.86828,123,742
20601.76830,750,126
20651.63633,433,498
20701.47836,092,073
20751.30938,645,126
20801.14841,040,137
20850.99743,248,329
20900.8545,242,999
20950.69646,977,581
21000.53148,391,757

Data from US Census International Database