MigrantoMigration trends in Burundi
Africa
Burundi loses more people than it takes in: 576.5K emigrants against 351.2K immigrants. Net balance −225.3K — 2% of the country's population
14M
Population
351.2K
Immigrants
576.5K
Emigrants
−225.3K
Outflow
1 in 40 residents of Burundi was born abroad — and 1 in 25 people born in Burundi lives abroad
#98 in the world by net migration loss
Top corridors
The largest migration flows in Burundi
Key moments
How migration has changed since 1990
1990
273.5K immigrants · 342.6K emigrants
1995
- An accelerating exodus — the diaspora grew by 60%
- Immigration contracted — the foreign-born population fell 22%
- Surge of departures to DR Congo — 108.3K people left
- The outflow deepened — net losses doubled to 335.4K
2000
- Surge of departures to Tanzania — 318K people left
- Immigration from Rwanda declined sharply — 93.8K fewer migrants from there
2005
- DR Congo overtook Rwanda as the largest source of new arrivals
- A surge of arrivals — the foreign-born population jumped 57%
2010
- The exodus eased — the diaspora shrank by 55%
- Emigration to Tanzania declined sharply — 350K fewer migrants there
- The gap between arrivals and departures was cut in half
2020
- The diaspora passed 500K people
Today
- Since 1990: 77.8K more foreign-born residents and 234K more emigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
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