Burundi
Burundi
UNHCR's response focuses on providing assistance and protection for the forcibly displaced in the country as well as promoting refugee inclusion in the national system, enhancing their self-sufficiency, and supporting their integration.
Are you a refugee, asylum-seeker or stateless person looking for help? Visit the HELP site to find support and services from UNHCR.
Key statistics
100,153
people were displaced or stateless (or returning from forced displacement) within the country at the end of 2024
383,217
Burundians were refugees, asylum-seekers or in need of international protection worldwide at the end of 2024
$101.2 million
are needed in 2025 to ensure that operations and programmes in Burundi are sustained
Burundi hosts over 100,000 forcibly displaced people, including approximately 91,000 refugees and asylum seekers - mainly from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Since 2017, more than 185,000 Burundian refugee returnees have been received from Tanzania, Rwanda, the DRC, Uganda, and Kenya.
Despite economic and operational challenges, the country upheld its open-door policy in 2024, welcoming nearly 4,000 new asylum seekers and facilitating the voluntary return of over 20,000 Burundian refugees. Insecurity in eastern DRC has prompted new arrivals in early 2025, while returns from Rwanda remain limited due to diplomatic tensions.
Around 40% of refugees live in urban areas, with the rest hosted in five camps in the eastern and northeastern regions. Nearly 110,000 returnees have settled in provinces such as Makamba, Ruyigi, Kirundo, and Muyinga. UNHCR’s response focuses on delivering protection and assistance while promoting inclusion in national health, education, and livelihood systems. Despite ongoing funding gaps and high needs, efforts continue to enhance self-reliance and support sustainable reintegration.
Strategy and results
This section provides key information related to the Global AppealLink is external and Global ReportLink is external.
Strategy
Latest multi-year strategy, outlining key priorities and a comprehensive overview of operational plans as part of the Global Appeal.
Indicators and targets
Indicators and targets enable operations to establish their benchmarks and targets for comparison with results.
Annual Results Report
Latest Annual Results Report highlighting key achievements from the year and published as part of the Global Report.
![Eastern DRC Situation: Displacement Overview [CORE]](/sites/default/files/styles/d02_square/public/2025-05/CORE%20-%20Eastern%20DRC%20Situation%20Overview_13_May_2025.pdf-p1.jpeg?itok=ackPS1rp)
Population and financial overview
Burundi
Use the year selector to access information from previous years.
Populations
Population types
Population types
Note: The "Stateless" category does not include stateless people who are also in other categories, to avoid double counting. The total number of stateless, across all categories, is .
NB: 2025 figures are planning figures.
Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder for years until 2022, UNHCR planning figures (COMPASS) otherwise.
Population by country
Population by country
NB: 2025 figures are planning figures.
Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder for years until 2022, UNHCR planning figures (COMPASS) otherwise.
Population by origin
Population by origin
NB: 2025 figures are planning figures.
Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder for years until 2022, UNHCR planning figures (COMPASS) otherwise.
Financial
Budget and expenditure trend
Budget and expenditure trend
Source: 2025 budget was approved by ExCom in October 2024 while the 2024 budget figures include the latest supplementary appeals and are updated on a monthly basis.
Budget by pillar
Budget by pillar
Budget by objective
Budget by objective
Note: The table presents the budget for this operation broken down at the objective level. Resource allocation at the objective level is subject to change during the course of the year as the operational situation evolves and priorities shift. The current budget, reflected in the bottom line of this table, is updated on a monthly basis and is replaced by the final budget at year-end.
Expenditure by Outcome Area
Expenditure by Outcome Area
Budget by Impact Area
Budget by Impact Area
Source: 2023 budget as approved by the Executive Committee in October 2022.
2022 current budget as approved by the High Commissioner as of October 2022; pending presentation to the ExCom's Standing Committee.
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Source: 2023 budget as approved by the Executive Committee in October 2022.
2022 current budget as approved by the High Commissioner as of October 2022; pending presentation to the ExCom's Standing Committee.
Budget by Impact Area
Budget by Impact Area
Source: 2024 budget and 2023 current budget are taken from the budget document approved by UNHCR's Executive Committee in October 2023.
Budget by Impact Area
Budget by Impact Area
Source: 2025 budget was approved by ExCom in October 2024 while the 2024 budget figures include the latest supplementary appeals and are updated on a monthly basis.
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Source: 2025 budget was approved by ExCom in October 2024 while the 2024 budget figures include the latest supplementary appeals and are updated on a monthly basis.
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Source: 2025 budget was approved by ExCom in October 2024 while the 2024 budget figures include the latest supplementary appeals and are updated on a monthly basis.
Budget by Impact Area
Budget by Impact Area
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
yearselected
Strategy - Country
Strategy
Office contact details
For information about our operation in Burundi, please contact us through our Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
