MigrantoBurundian Diaspora
576.5K Burundians live abroad — the #98 largest diaspora in the world
Where emigrants go
The top 3 countries receive 76% of all emigrants
↑↓ — change vs 2020
| Country | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| Tanzania | 241069 |
| Rwanda | 130912 |
| DR Congo | 67352 |
| Uganda | 42181 |
| Canada | 16563 |
| Kenya | 14270 |
| Belgium | 13915 |
| South Africa | 12416 |
| Malawi | 9834 |
| Zambia | 9305 |
| Mozambique | 8742 |
| Australia | 3255 |
| Italy | 1410 |
| Norway | 1249 |
| Eritrea | 820 |
| Denmark | 557 |
| China | 516 |
| Eswatini | 475 |
| Namibia | 431 |
| Chile | 281 |
| Egypt | 240 |
| Gabon | 179 |
| Greece | 141 |
| Ethiopia | 130 |
| Luxembourg | 113 |
| Finland | 89 |
| Guinea | 35 |
| Bulgaria | 25 |
| Hungary | 14 |
| Slovakia | 4 |
| Slovenia | 3 |
| Dominican Republic | 3 |
| Cyprus | 1 |
| Latvia | 0 |
| Bolivia | 0 |
By destination region
Africa is the leading destination region at 93%
538.4K
17.5K
16.6K
3.3K
516
284
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about emigration from Burundi.
Tanzania is the primary destination for emigrants
Tanzania attracts 42% of all emigrants from Burundi, while the second-largest destination receives just 23%.
Emigration destinations have diversified since 1990
The top destination's share fell from 68% to 42%, indicating a broader spread of emigration patterns.
DR Congo is the fastest-growing major destination
Emigration to DR Congo has increased by 76% since 2015, rising from 38.4K to 67.4K in 9 years.
Top emigration destinations have shifted significantly since 1990
3 new countries have entered the top 20 destinations: Zambia, Norway, Eswatini — Zambia rose from outside the top 20 to rank #10.
How emigration changed over time
Total emigrant population by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 342568 |
| 1995 | 549487 |
| 2000 | 802113 |
| 2005 | 651030 |
| 2010 | 290788 |
| 2015 | 444013 |
| 2020 | 552134 |
| 2024 | 576530 |
Top destinations over time
Emigration to the 5 largest destination countries
| Year | Tanzania | Rwanda | DR Congo | Uganda | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 232210 | 26393 | 20203 | 57759 | 413 |
| 1995 | 310644 | 37445 | 128458 | 59232 | 921 |
| 2000 | 628609 | 56107 | 36692 | 60828 | 1901 |
| 2005 | 461225 | 68762 | 35973 | 51836 | 3903 |
| 2010 | 111256 | 64931 | 37626 | 36948 | 6380 |
| 2015 | 175325 | 134501 | 38377 | 36471 | 8713 |
| 2020 | 222115 | 131063 | 59145 | 53927 | 12307 |
| 2024 | 241069 | 130912 | 67352 | 42181 | 16563 |
Fastest-changing destinations
How emigration to each country has changed since the selected year
Burundi as an emigration source
Share of immigrants in each country who originate from Burundi
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
Where do Burundians move to?
Most Burundians have moved to Tanzania, Rwanda and DR Congo — these three countries account for about 76% of all Burundians living abroad.
How many Burundians live abroad?
Around 576.5K Burundians live abroad, making it the #98-largest emigrant population in the world.
What share of the population of Burundi lives abroad?
About 4% of the population of Burundi lives abroad — that's 576.5K out of a total population of 14M.
How has emigration from Burundi changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the emigrant population from Burundi has grown from 444K to 576.5K people, a growth of about 30%.
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