Capital of Burundi: Gitega — Facts & 5-Question Quiz
The capital of Burundi is Gitega. Burundi sits in Africa, has a population of 12,889,576, and uses the BIF. Official languages include Kirundi, French.
Quick facts
- Capital: Gitega
- Continent: Africa
- Population: ~12,889,576
- Area: 27,834 km²
- Population density: 463 people per km²
- Official languages: Kirundi, French
- Currency: BIF
- ISO code: BI
How big is Burundi?
By population, Burundi ranks 78th in the world, holding roughly 0.16% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 143rd.
Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Burundi has 463 people per square kilometre, which is about 7.8 times the world average of 59.4. It is more crowded than its size alone would suggest.
Within Africa, Burundi is the 30th most populous country of 54.
Countries of a similar size
The two countries closest to Burundi in population are Benin (13,352,864) and Tunisia (12,356,117).
By land area, its closest counterparts are Haiti (27,750 km²) and Equatorial Guinea (28,051 km²).
Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.
Language and currency
Kirundi is listed as an official language of Burundi alone, which is unusual — most official languages are shared across borders.
Burundi uses the BIF, and it is the only country that does, which makes the currency name a reliable one-to-one clue.
How to remember Burundi
Burundi moved its capital in 2019, so older answers say Bujumbura (still the largest city) while the capital is now Gitega, in the middle of the country. For the flag, three stars in a white circle, one for each word of the motto.
The flag of Burundi: red, green and white
🇧🇮 The flag is a white diagonal cross dividing the flag into red and green triangles, with a white disc in the centre holding three red six-pointed stars. Red stands for the struggle for independence, green for hope and white for purity and peace. The three stars stand for the national motto, Unity, Work, Progress, and for the country's three main peoples.
Region and neighbours
Burundi is a small landlocked country in East-Central Africa, where the African Great Lakes region meets East Africa, on the northeastern shore of Lake Tanganyika. It shares land borders with 3 countries: Rwanda, Tanzania and Democratic Republic of the Congo. Burundi is landlocked, with no coast on the open ocean.
- Rwanda 🇷🇼 — capital Kigali
- Tanzania 🇹🇿 — capital Dodoma
- Democratic Republic of the Congo 🇨🇩 — capital Kinshasa
Three facts about Burundi
- Gitega replaced Bujumbura as the political capital in 2019.
- Lake Tanganyika, on Burundi's western border, is the second-deepest lake in the world.
- Burundi is one of the places that claim the southernmost source of the Nile.
Sources: Wikipedia: Burundi, Wikipedia: Flag of Burundi, Wikipedia: Gitega, CIA World Factbook.
Quiz yourself on Burundi
- African capitals quiz — match Burundi to Gitega
- African flags quiz — spot the Burundi flag among its neighbours
- Landlocked countries quiz — Burundi has no sea coast
Burundi capital quiz
What is the capital of Burundi 🇧🇮?
- Bangui
- Djibouti
- Mbabane
- Gitega
Show answer
Gitega
What is the capital of Benin 🇧🇯?
- Port Louis
- Abuja
- Gaborone
- Porto-Novo
Show answer
Porto-Novo
What is the capital of Tunisia 🇹🇳?
- Yaoundé
- Tunis
- Gitega
- Abuja
Show answer
Tunis
What is the capital of Rwanda 🇷🇼?
- Kigali
- Monrovia
- Freetown
- Lilongwe
Show answer
Kigali
What is the capital of Guinea 🇬🇳?
- N'Djamena
- Kinshasa
- Conakry
- Harare
Show answer
Conakry
Burundi in Africa
The largest countries by population sharing this continent are Nigeria, Ethiopia, Egypt and Democratic Republic of the Congo.
If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Africa is the block Burundi belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.
Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Burundi.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Burundi?
The capital of Burundi is Gitega.
What is the population of Burundi?
About 12,889,576, making it the 78th most populous country in the world.
How big is Burundi?
27,834 square kilometres, ranking 143rd by land area, at a density of 463 people per square kilometre.
What currency does Burundi use?
The BIF, which no other country uses.
What are the colours of the Burundi flag?
The flag of Burundi is a white diagonal cross dividing the flag into red and green triangles, with a white disc in the centre holding three red six-pointed stars. Red stands for the struggle for independence, green for hope and white for purity and peace. The three stars stand for the national motto, Unity, Work, Progress, and for the country's three main peoples.
Which countries border Burundi?
Burundi shares land borders with Rwanda, Tanzania and Democratic Republic of the Congo.
How can I remember the capital of Burundi?
Burundi moved its capital in 2019, so older answers say Bujumbura (still the largest city) while the capital is now Gitega, in the middle of the country. For the flag, three stars in a white circle, one for each word of the motto.
More capitals to learn
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