Partner risk indices

Country Risk Index

64.1

Political Risk Index

59.8

Short-Term Economic Risk Index

65

Long-Term Economic Risk Index

58.2

Operational Risk Index

70.9

Source: Partner Research Partner, as of 8 Nov 2026. 0-100, higher means higher risk.

Key indicators

Market overview

• Burundi is in East Africa and is classified by the World Bank as Low income. (World Bank)
• Population: 14.4 million (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• GDP: US$6.8bn in 2025 (estimate). (IMF WEO)

Economic conditions

• Real GDP growth: 4.2% in 2025 (estimate); the IMF projects 3.6% for 2026. (IMF WEO)
• Average consumer price inflation: 34% in 2025 (estimate); projected 10.5% for 2026. (IMF WEO)
• General government gross debt: 42% of GDP in 2025 (estimate). (IMF WEO)
• Current account balance: -6.4% of GDP in 2025 (estimate). (IMF WEO)
• Government net lending/borrowing: -3.2% of GDP in 2025 (estimate). (IMF WEO)
• Official exchange rate averaged 2,943.14 local currency units per US dollar in 2025, against 2,574.05 in 2023: 14.3% more units per dollar (the currency weakened against the dollar). (World Bank WDI)

Key risks

• Partner risk indices (0-100, higher = higher risk), as of 8 Nov 2026: Country Risk Index 64.1 (rank 46 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk); Political Risk Index 59.8 (rank 46 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk); Short-Term Economic Risk Index 65 (rank 48 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk); Long-Term Economic Risk Index 58.2 (rank 30 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk); Operational Risk Index 70.9 (rank 43 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk). (Partner Research Partner)
• Highest-scoring Partner risk component: trade and investment risk (75.7, operational). (Partner Research Partner)
• World Bank governance scores (2025, 0-100, higher is better): control of corruption 17; government effectiveness 27; political stability and absence of violence 44; rule of law 35; regulatory quality 41. (World Bank WGI)
• External debt stocks: 31.2% of GNI (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Unemployment (modelled ILO estimate): 0.9% of labour force (2025). (World Bank WDI)

Investment considerations

• Foreign direct investment, net inflows: 1% of GDP (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Domestic credit to the private sector: 38.5% of GDP (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Bank lending interest rate: 12.4% (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• The Meridian holds 93 published records tagged to Burundi. (The Meridian)

Sector snapshot

• Energy and power: access to electricity 20.1% of population (2024); renewable share of final energy consumption 83% (2022). (World Bank WDI)
• Mining and minerals: mineral rents 0% of GDP (2021); ores and metals exports 1.9% of merchandise exports (2023). (World Bank WDI)
• Financial services: foreign direct investment, net inflows 1% of GDP (2025); bank lending interest rate 12.4% (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Technology, media and telecoms: internet users 8.6% of population (2024); mobile subscriptions 63.2 per 100 people (2023). (World Bank WDI)
• Agriculture: agriculture, forestry and fishing, value added 34.3% of GDP (2025); employment in agriculture 85.3% of employment (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Manufacturing and industry: manufacturing, value added 13.1% of GDP (2025); industry (including construction), value added 18.2% of GDP (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Infrastructure and real estate: urban population 25.7% of population (2025); access to electricity 20.1% of population (2024). (World Bank WDI)

Data limitations and sources

• Older data, shown with its period and not described as current: Mobile subscriptions (Latest published value is for 2023); Fixed broadband subscriptions (Latest published value is for 2023); Renewable share of final energy consumption (Latest published value is for 2022); Oil rents (Latest published value is for 2021); Fuel exports (Latest published value is for 2023); Mineral rents (Latest published value is for 2021); Ores and metals exports (Latest published value is for 2023).
• IMF figures for the most recent year are IMF estimates and later years are projections. World Bank series typically lag by one to two years. Headlines come from automated news monitoring and are not verified by The Meridian.
• Sources last checked 15 Nov 2026.

Meridian transactions

• Circle Ventures invests in CrissCross’ operations in Africa
• Intesa Sanpaolo, Investec and partners invest USD 300 million in CRDB Bank
• Rand Merchant Bank invests USD 30 million in the Panafrican Equipment Group
• AfDB adds Ghana International Bank as confirming bank under Trade Finance Transaction Guarantee
• BII US$20m commitment to Anzana Electric Group
• British International Investment (BII) invests USD 20 million in Anzana Electric Group’s operations in East, Central and Southern Africa