Burundi is known for its tea plantations and Lake Tanganyika shores. It has a population of 14.7 million, making it the 78th largest country in the world. Its capital is Bujumbura. Burundi has a agricultural economy with coffee and tea exports. The Tutsi, Hutu and Twa people have inhabited the area for at least 500 years. About 85% of Burundians are of Hutu origin, 15% are Tutsi and less than 1% are indigenous Twa or Pygmies.

Today, about 500,000 people in Burundi have been displaced due to the effects of AIDS, which has impacted the country significantly. Many people from Burundi have migrated to nearby countries due to civil war. In 2006, the U.S. accepted about 10,000 Burundian refugees.

Much of Burundi remains rural, and only 13% of the country lives in an urban area. Just over 1% of the population has electricity, and only 50% of children go to school. About 1 in 15 adults in Burundi have HIV/AIDS. The AIDS epidemic in the country has dramatically affected its demographics, displacing more than 500,000.