Provinces of Burundi

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Burundi is divided into five provinces: Buhumuza, Bujumbura, Burunga, Butanyerera, and Gitega. [1] Prior to 2025, there were 18 provinces. [1]

Contents

History

The Belgian colonial administration created provinces in Burundi on September 26, 1960, to replace chiefdoms as part of a series of administrative reforms. There were 18: Bubanza, Bukirasazi, Bururi, Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kitega, Kirundo, Makamba, Muhinga, Muramvya, Mwaro, Mwisale, Ngozi, Ruyigi, Rutana, and Usumbura. The 1962 constitution of the Kingdom of Burundi provided for eight provinces: Bubanza, Bukirasazi, Bururi, Gitega, Muramvya, Muyinga, Ngozi, and Ruyigi. [2]

In 2000, the province encompassing Bujumbura was separated into two provinces, Bujumbura Rural and Bujumbura Mairie. [3] The newest province, Rumonge, was created on 26 March 2015 from portions of Bujumbura Rural and Bururi. [4]

In July 2022, the government of Burundi announced a complete overhaul of the country's territorial subdivisions. The proposed change would reduce the amounts of provinces from 18 to 5, and reduce the amount of communes from 119 to 42. The change were approved by both the National Assembly and the Senate and will take effect in 2025 with the new parliamentary elections. [5] [6]

With the new administrative division, the country is now made up of 5 provinces : Buhumuza, Bujumbura, Burunga, Butanyerera and Gitega. These provinces are furthermore subdivided into 42 communes, 451 zones and 3044 hills (or districts) [7]

Provinces

Current provinces

Map of the provinces of Burundi as of 2025. Provinces of Burundi 2025.png
Map of the provinces of Burundi as of 2025.

As of July 2025, Burundi has five provinces, each with its own governor. [1]

ProvinceCapitalTerritorial correspondence with former provinces [8] Governor as of 2025
Buhumuza Cankuzo Cankuzo, Muyinga, Ruyigi Dénise Ndaruhekeye
Bujumbura Bujumbura Bubanza, Bujumbura Mairie, Bujumbura Rural, Cibitoke, and parts of Rumonge and Muramvya Aloys Ndayikengurukiye
Burunga Makamba Bururi, Makamba, Rutana, three communes in Rumonge, and the zone of Mahwa in Gitega Parfait Mboninyibuka
Butanyerera Ngozi Kayanza, Kirundo, Ngozi, and parts of Muramvya Victor Segasago
Gitega Gitega Gitega minus the zone of Mahwa, Karuzi, Mwaro, and parts of Muramvya Liboire Bigirimana

Former provinces (2015–2025)

Map of the provinces of Burundi as they existed from 2015 to 2025. Provinces of Burundi 2014 (named).png
Map of the provinces of Burundi as they existed from 2015 to 2025.
ProvinceCapitalArea
(km2) [9] 		Population
(2008 census) [10] 		Density (per km2)Communes
Bubanza Bubanza 1,089.04338,023310.45
Bujumbura Mairie Bujumbura 86.52497,1665746.313
Bujumbura Rural Isale [11] 1,059.84464,818438.69
Bururi Bururi 1,644.68313,102190.46
Cankuzo Cankuzo 1,964.54228,873116.55
Cibitoke Cibitoke 1,635.53460,435281.56
Gitega Gitega 1,978.96725,223366.511
Karuzi Karuzi 1,457.40436,443299.57
Kayanza Kayanza 1,233.24585,412474.79
Kirundo Kirundo 1,703.34628,256368.87
Makamba Makamba 1,959.60430,899219.96
Muramvya Muramvya 695.52292,589420.75
Muyinga Muyinga 1,836.26632,409344.47
Mwaro Mwaro 839.60273,143325.36
Ngozi Ngozi 1,473.86660,717448.39
Rumonge Rumonge 1,079.72352,026326.05
Rutana Rutana 1,959.45333,510170.26
Ruyigi Ruyigi 2,338.88400,530171.27

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Manirakiza, Patrick (2025-07-06). "Burundi's new Governors sworn in following major provincial reforms". Burundi Times. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
  2. ↑ Weinstein 1976, p. 241.
  3. ↑ Eggers, p. xlix.
  4. ↑ Nkurunziza, Pierre (26 March 2015). "LOI No 1/10 DU 26 MARS 2015 PORTANT CREATION DE LA PROVINCE DU RUMONGE ET DELIMITATION DES PROVINCES DE BUJUMBURA, BURURI ET RUMONGE" (PDF). Presidential Cabinet, Republic of Burundi. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 October 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  5. ↑ bdiagnews (2022-07-14). "Burundi : Proposition - 5 provinces au lieu de 18 et 42 communes au lieu de 119". Nouvelles du Burundi - Africa Generation News. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  6. ↑ "Why Burundi will only have 5 provinces instead of 18?". RegionWeek. 2023-01-11. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  7. ↑ "Loi Organique N° 1/05 du 16 Mars 2023 portant détermination et délimitation des Provinces, des Communes, des Zones, des Collines et/ou Quartiers de la République du Burundi". CENI Burundi. 2023-03-16. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
  8. ↑ "Projet de loi organique portant délimitation des provinces, des communes, des zones, des collines/quartiers de la République du Burundi" (PDF). Senate of Burundi . Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  9. ↑ "Burundi: administrative units, extended". GeoHive. Archived from the original on 14 July 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  10. ↑ Law, Gwillim. "Provinces of Burundi". Statoids. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  11. ↑ Nkurunziza, Pierre (26 March 2015). "LOI No 1/10 DU 26 MARS 2015 PORTANT CREATION DE LA PROVINCE DU RUMONGE ET DELIMITATION DES PROVINCES DE BUJUMBURA, BURURI ET RUMONGE" (PDF). Presidential Cabinet, Republic of Burundi. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 October 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2015.

Works cited

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