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 Appeal and Global Report.
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.
Latest updates
Population and financial overview
Burundi
Use the year selector to access information from previous years.
Populations
Population types
Population types
Population by country
Population by country
Population by origin
Population by origin
Financial
Budget and expenditure trend
Budget and expenditure trend
Budget by pillar
Budget by pillar
Budget by objective
Budget by objective
Expenditure by Outcome Area
Expenditure by Outcome Area
Budget by Impact Area
Budget by Impact Area
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Budget by Impact Area
Budget by Impact Area
Budget by Impact Area
Budget by Impact Area
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
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.
