What Language Do They Speak in Burundi?

Official languages of Burundi Kirundi, French

Facts last checked 9 October 2026.

Burundi has 2 official languages: Kirundi, French.

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Languages of Burundi at a glance

Official languages	Kirundi, French
Number of official languages	2
Countries on this site where Kirundi is official	1
People (demonym)	Burundian
Capital	Gitega
Internet domain	.bi

Languages of neighbouring countries

DR Congo	French, Kikongo, Lingala, Swahili, Tshiluba
Rwanda	Kinyarwanda, English, French
Tanzania	Swahili, English

Burundi in context

Burundi covers 27,834 km², making it the 142nd largest of the 196 countries on this site.
Its population density of about 443 people per km² ranks 19th of 196 (1st = most crowded).
It shares a land border with 3 countries: DR Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania.
Burundi is landlocked, with no direct coastline.
With 12,332,788 people, Burundi holds about 2.8% of the population of Eastern Africa.
With 2 official languages, Burundi has more than most countries on this site.
Traffic drives on the right, and calendars start the week on Monday.
Burundi is a member state of the United Nations.

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Rwanda vs Burundi

Useful phrases for visitors to Burundi

Everyday French phrases you will hear and use in Burundi:

English	French
Hello	Bonjour
Thank you	Merci
Please	S'il vous plaît
Goodbye	Au revoir
Yes	Oui
No	Non

Spellings can vary by region, and some languages use different forms for formal or informal speech. Even a simple greeting in the local language is usually appreciated.

Languages in Burundi — FAQ