Burundi’s urban population rose to 25.7% of population in 2025.

Neither way is good in itself. A rising urban share can mean more people are finding work in trade, services and manufacturing, and it can also mean crowded neighbourhoods where housing and water struggle to keep pace. A falling share could mean farming areas are holding their people, or that towns are losing their pull. The direction alone does not settle which. The latest figure, for January 2025, is 25.7% of population, up from 24.8% a year earlier, a rise of 0.86 percentage points. Since 2016 the range runs from 15.6% of population in January 2016 to 25.7% of population in January 2025, so the current reading is the highest in that span.

Why it matters. Most Burundians still live in rural areas, so farm incomes and rural land shape daily life for the large majority of households. The steady rise in the urban share means towns need more housing, water, power and schooling each year. For the state, planning those services ahead of arrivals will matter more with each year the share climbs.