MigrantoBurundian Diaspora
576.5K Burundians live abroad — 4% of the population of Burundi
Burundian diaspora by country
The top 3 countries are home to 76% of the diaspora
| 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 region
93% of the diaspora lives in Africa
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Key facts
The Burundian diaspora in numbers
Most Burundians abroad live in Tanzania
42% of the diaspora lives in Tanzania, while the next country accounts for just 23%.
The diaspora is spread more widely than in 1990
The largest country's share fell from 68% to 42%.
The community in DR Congo is growing fastest
The number of Burundians living in DR Congo has grown 76% since 2015, from 38.4K to 67.4K.
The map of the diaspora has changed since 1990
3 countries have entered the top 20 since 1990: Zambia, Norway, Eswatini. Zambia climbed from outside the top 20 to #10.
Burundian diaspora population over time
People living abroad, by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 342568 |
| 1995 | 549487 |
| 2000 | 802113 |
| 2005 | 651030 |
| 2010 | 290788 |
| 2015 | 444013 |
| 2020 | 552134 |
| 2024 | 576530 |
Largest communities over time
Burundians living in the 5 largest countries, by year
| 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 communities
How the number of Burundians in each country has changed since the selected year
Burundians among immigrants in other countries
Where Burundians make up the largest share of a country's immigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many Burundians live outside Burundi?
Around 576.5K Burundians live abroad, the world's #98 largest diaspora.
Where do most Burundians abroad live?
Most Burundians live in Tanzania, Rwanda and DR Congo — these three countries account for about 76% of all Burundians living abroad.
Which country has the largest Burundian population outside Burundi?
Tanzania is home to the largest Burundian community abroad — 241.1K people, about 42% of all Burundians living abroad.
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.
Is the Burundian diaspora growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of Burundians living abroad has grown from 444K to 576.5K, about 30%.
Where does the data on the Burundian diaspora come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born in Burundi who now live in other countries. Descendants of emigrants born abroad are not included.
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Living in Burundi
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