Burundi is divided into five provinces: Buhumuza, Bujumbura, Burunga, Butanyerera, and Gitega. Prior to 2025, there were 18 provinces.
History The Belgian colonial administration created provinces in Burundi on September 26, 1960, to replace chiefdoms as part of a series of administrative reforms. There were 18: Bubanza, Bukirasazi, Bururi, Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kitega, Kirundo, Makamba, Muhinga, Muramvya, Mwaro, Mwisale, Ngozi, Ruyigi, Rutana, and Usumbura. The 1962 constitution of the Kingdom of Burundi provided for eight provinces: Bubanza, Bukirasazi, Bururi, Gitega, Muramvya, Muyinga, Ngozi, and Ruyigi.
In 2000, the province encompassing Bujumbura was separated into two provinces, Bujumbura Rural and Bujumbura Mairie.Eggers, p. xlix. The newest province, Rumonge, was created on 26 March 2015 from portions of Bujumbura Rural and Bururi.
In July 2022, the government of Burundi announced a complete overhaul of the country's territorial subdivisions. The proposed change would reduce the amounts of provinces from 18 to 5, and reduce the amount of communes from 119 to 42. The changes were approved by both the National Assembly and the Senate and took effect in 2025 with the new parliamentary elections.
With the new administrative division, the country is now made up of 5 provinces : Buhumuza, Bujumbura, Burunga, Butanyerera and Gitega. These provinces are furthermore subdivided into 42 communes, 451 zones and 3044 hills (or districts)
Provinces
Current provinces
As of July 2025, Burundi has five provinces, each with its own governor. +ProvinceCapitalPopulation (2024 census)Area (km2)Territorial correspondence with former provincesGovernor as of 2025BuhumuzaCankuzo2.052.2615.931Cankuzo, Muyinga, RuyigiDénise NdaruhekeyeBujumburaBujumbura3.353.5553.937Bubanza, Bujumbura Mairie, Bujumbura Rural, Cibitoke, and parts of Rumonge and MuramvyaAloys NdayikengurukiyeBurungaMakamba2.118.5516.206Bururi, Makamba, Rutana, three communes in Rumonge, and the zone of Mahwa in GitegaParfait MboninyibukaButanyereraNgozi2.530.2064.480Kayanza, Kirundo, Ngozi, and parts of MuramvyaVictor SegasagoGitegaGitega2.278.2154.546Gitega minus the zone of Mahwa, Karuzi, Mwaro, and parts of MuramvyaLiboire Bigirimana
Former provinces (2015–2025)
+ProvinceCapitalArea (km2)Population (2008 census)Density (per km2)CommunesBubanzaBubanza1,089.04338,023310.45Bujumbura MairieBujumbura86.52497,1665746.313Bujumbura RuralIsale1,059.84464,818438.69BururiBururi1,644.68313,102190.46CankuzoCankuzo1,964.54228,873116.55CibitokeCibitoke1,635.53460,435281.56GitegaGitega1,978.96725,223366.511KaruziKaruzi1,457.40436,443299.57KayanzaKayanza1,233.24585,412474.79KirundoKirundo1,703.34628,256368.87MakambaMakamba1,959.60430,899219.96MuramvyaMuramvya695.52292,589420.75MuyingaMuyinga1,836.26632,409344.47MwaroMwaro839.60273,143325.36NgoziNgozi1,473.86660,717448.39RumongeRumonge1,079.72352,026326.05RutanaRutana1,959.45333,510170.26RuyigiRuyigi2,338.88400,530171.27
See also Communes of Burundi Collines of Burundi Geography of Burundi List of Burundian provinces by area List of Burundian provinces by population List of Burundian provincial governors ISO 3166-2:BI
References
Works cited
hu:Burundi#Közigazgatási felosztás