Population figures
Total country population
13,591,658
Forcibly displaced population
Refugees (under UNHCR's mandate):
87,131
Asylum-seekers:
2,177
IDPs (of concern to UNHCR):
7,484
Other people in need of international protection:
0
Other
Statelessness persons
791
Host community
0
Others of concern to UNHCR
1,303
Country context
Burundi, a landlocked country in East Africa, bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, and the Democratic of Congo to the west. A significant number of refugees hosted in Burundi originate from neighboring countries, particularly the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). These individuals are primarily accommodated in five refugee camps located in the eastern provinces of Ruyigi, Cankuzo, Muyinga, Rutana, and Ngozi, while others reside in urban areas such as Bujumbura, Gitega, and Rumonge. Internal displacement remains a key issue, with many people forcibly displaced by natural disasters, such as floods.
Burundi ratified the 1951 Geneva Convention and 1969 African Union convention on refugee protection. Despite the country's political, security, and socio-economic challenges, the Government of Burundi has traditionally maintained an open-door policy towards refugees.
...Burundi has not acceded to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons or the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. The country has initiated a verification process to address statelessness, with individuals being verified and biometrically enrolled. However, a sizeable number remain unverified and without biometric data.
The Burundian government has facilitated the voluntary repatriation of Burundian refugees from neighboring countries, primarily from Tanzania, Rwanda, DRC, Uganda, and Kenya, where many have lived for years as refugees. Many thousands Burundian refugees are expected to continue to continue to return. Burundi is a member state of the International Conference for the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) and adopted in 2004 the Dar-es-Salaam Declaration on Peace, Security, Democracy, and Development in the Great Lakes Region (which includes a strong agenda on protection and durable solutions), as well as the 2006 Framework for the protection, assistance, and search for solutions for forcibly displaced populations and host communities. While the coordination of forced displacement matters is limited at the East African Community level, member states have agreed to establish a standard policy and mechanisms for refugee management. Burundi adopted the Kampala Convention on the situation of IDPs in February 2025, a welcomed development.
In November 2023, Burundi endorsed 16 pledges at the Global Refugee Forum from United Nations Country Team, NGOs, civil society, the private sector, etc. These pledges included commitments to enhancing the self-reliance of refugees and forcibly displaced people, improving access to durable solutions, and promoting sports and green energy. Additionally, Burundi has also committed to continuing to assist the voluntary repatriation of Burundian refugees from neighboring countries, and to support the development of durable solutions, including the integration of both Burundian returnees and Congolese refugees.
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