Burundi: Flag and Facts
Burundi's flag uses a white diagonal cross to split the field into red triangles at top and bottom and green ones at the sides, with three red stars on a white circle in the center.
- Official name
- Republic of Burundi
- Capital
- Gitega
- Region
- Eastern Africa
- Population
- 14 million (2024)
- Languages
- French, Kirundi
- Currency
- Burundian franc
- Area
- 27,834 km² (10,747 sq mi)
- People
- Burundian
- Calling code
- +257
- Highest point
- unnamed elevation on Mukike Range 2,685 m
- Independence
- 1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian…)
- National symbols
- lion
About Burundi
Each of the six-pointed stars is outlined in green. Together they stand for the three main ethnic groups, Hutu, Twa, and Tutsi, and also for unity, work, and progress. Green means hope, white means peace and purity, and red honors blood shed for independence.
A kingdom formed here in the 1600s, and its borders have looked a lot like today's since the 1800s. Hutu and Tutsi people share one language and culture and mostly lived side by side under Tutsi kings. German colonial rule came first, around the turn of the 20th century, and Belgium took over after World War I. The country became independent on 1 July 1962. Hills and mountains cover most of the land.
Did you know?
- Even the lowest point in Burundi, Lake Tanganyika, is 772 meters above sea level.
- Burundi gets about 150 centimeters of rain a year, spread over two wet seasons.
- The lion is Burundi's national symbol.
Want to test yourself? The random flag generator has a quiz mode, and the full flags of the world page shows every flag at once.
Questions about Burundi
What is the capital of Burundi?
Gitega is the capital of Burundi.
What languages are spoken in Burundi?
Kirundi and French are the languages of Burundi.
Sources
- CIA World Factbook, checked October 8, 2026
- REST Countries data (mledoze/countries), checked October 8, 2026
- Flag artwork: flag-icons (MIT), checked October 8, 2026
Facts are compiled from these open sources and rewritten in our own words. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.