Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Burundi

Burundi: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 15.4% in 2020. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2020)
15.4%
World rank
182nd
of 236 countries
All-time high
15.7%
in 2015
All-time low
0.0%
in 1950
Years of data
15
1950–2020

Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Burundi, 1950–2020

0510151950198520201950: 0 %1955: 0 %1960: 0 %1965: 1.6 %1970: 1.8 %1975: 3.6 %1980: 5 %1985: 5.6 %1990: 5.8 %1995: 8 %2000: 10.4 %2005: 11.9 %2010: 14.7 %2015: 15.7 %2020: 15.4 %

Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2020, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Burundi stood at 15.4%.

That represents a change of up 4.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Burundi peaked at 15.7% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1950.

Burundi ranks 182nd of 236 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Burundi, year by year

Annual values for Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Burundi, 1950 to 2020.
Year % Change
1950 0.0%
1955 0.0%
1960 0.0%
1965 1.6%
1970 1.8% +12.8%
1975 3.6% +96.6%
1980 5.0% +40.5%
1985 5.6% +10.6%
1990 5.8% +4.0%
1995 8.0% +37.7%
2000 10.4% +29.8%
2005 11.9% +14.7%
2010 14.7% +23.8%
2015 15.7% +6.6%
2020 15.4% -2.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1950s 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 2
1960s 0.8% 0.0% 1.6% 2
1970s 2.7% 1.8% 3.6% 2
1980s 5.3% 5.0% 5.6% 2
1990s 6.9% 5.8% 8.0% 2
2000s 11.1% 10.4% 11.9% 2
2010s 15.2% 14.7% 15.7% 2
2020s 15.4% 15.4% 15.4% 1

Countries ranked near Burundi

  1. 179 Solomon Islands 16.6% compare
  2. 180 Bosnia and Herzegovina 16.2% compare
  3. 181 Slovenia 15.5% compare
  4. 183 Uganda 14.8% compare
  5. 184 Slovakia 14.2% compare
  6. 185 Rwanda 14.0% compare

See the full ranking of 236 places →

More population data for Burundi

All data for Burundi →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Burundi?
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Burundi was 15.4% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Burundi?
The highest recorded value was 15.7% in 2015.
What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Burundi?
The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1950.
How does Burundi rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
Burundi ranks 182nd out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Burundi?
Over the last ten years it is up 4.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Burundi data come from?
The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Burundi. Statizoid, drawing on European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 08 September 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/share-of-population-living-in-cities-towns-and-villages/burundi/

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About this data

Indicator
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas
Unit
%
Source
European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
236 places, 3,540 data points, 1950–2020
Last refreshed

Estimated share of the population living in cities. Cities are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.