Economy

Burundi is one of the poorest countries in the world, in terms of GDP per capita, with 68% of the population living below the poverty line in 2002. The economy is supported by foreign aid from Western Europe and other parts of the world, reaching US$92.7 million in 2000.

Burundi's largest industry is agriculture, which accounted for 58% of GDP in 1997. Coffee is the nation's biggest revenue earner with 78% of all exported goods, with other agriculture products including:

  • cotton
  • tea
  • maize
  • sorghum
  • sweet potatoes
  • bananas (of which Burundi is one of the world's ten largest producers)
  • manioc (tapioca)
  • beef
  • milk
  • hides

Besides agriculture, other industries include:

  • light consumer goods such as blankets, shoes, soap
  • assembly of imported components
  • public works construction
  • food processing