Natural resources of Burundi
Oil, gas, minerals, forests and water in Burundi: what it produces, how it ranks in the world, who mines it and what it earns. Every figure is from an official source and is updated when the source is.
Resource rents, share of GDP (2021)
14.0 %
Resources, share of goods exports (2023)
21.7 %
Forest, share of land (2024)
10.9 %
Source: World Bank; UN Comtrade; U.S. Energy Information Administration. Last checked 24 October 2026.
| Tantalum | 2 | metric tons | 10 | 0.1 | 5 | NA |
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Mining and minerals
The U.S. Geological Survey records 14 mineral commodities with published production in Burundi between 2018 and 2022, from metals and gemstones to industrial minerals and fuels. The table includes processed products such as cement and steel, which USGS reports alongside raw minerals.
Showing 14 of 14
| Gold, mine, Au content | Metals | kilograms | 1,898 | 1,599 | 863 | 893 | 42 | 2021: r; 2022: e |
| Niobium, mineral concentrate, columbite-tantalite, gross weight | Metals | kilograms | 219,003 | 193,174 | 152,557 | 235,188 | 150,000 | 2021: r, 3; 2022: e |
| Niobium, mineral concentrate, columbite-tantalite, nb content | Metals | kilograms | 43,000 | 38,000 | 30,000 | 46,000 | 29,000 | 2021: r |
| Rare earths, mineral concentrate, gross weight | Metals | Not published | 1,075 | 338 | 549 | 341 | Not published | 2022: -- |
| Rare-earth oxide equivalent | Metals | Not published | 620 | 200 | 300 | 180 | Not published | 2018: e; 2019: e; 2020: e; 2021: e; 2022: -- |
| Tantalum, mineral concentrate, columbite-tantalite, gross weight | Metals | kilograms | 219,003 | 193,174 | 152,557 | 235,188 | 150,000 | 2021: r, 3; 2022: e |
| Tantalum, mineral concentrate, columbite-tantalite, ta content | Metals | kilograms | 43,000 | 38,000 | 30,000 | 46,000 | 29,000 | 2021: r, 3 |
| Tin, mine, cassiterite, gross weight | Metals | Not published | 318 | 382 | 251 | 272 | 130 | 2021: r, 3; 2022: e |
| Tin, mine, cassiterite, sn content | Metals | Not published | 200 | 240 | 160 | 170 | 82 | 2021: r |
| Tungsten, mine, wolframite, gross weight | Metals | Not published | 194 | 271 | 300 | 217 | 120 | 2022: e |
| Tungsten, mine, wolframite, w content | Metals | Not published | 92 | 130 | 140 | 100 | 57 | 2018: r |
| Cement, hydraulic | Industrial Minerals | thousand metric tons | 100 | 75 | 210 | 180 | 180 | Not published |
| Sand and gravel, unspecified | Industrial Minerals | Not published | 1,000,000 | 1,300,000 | 1,300,000 | 1,400,000 | 1,400,000 | Not published |
| Peat, fuel use | Mineral Fuels And Related Materials | Not published | 11,801 | 15,248 | 9,111 | 10,972 | 6,783 | Not published |
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Minerals Yearbook, country tables. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Showing 12 of 12
| Cement | Burundi Cement Co. (BUCECO) | Plant in Cibitoke Province | 330,000 | Not published |
| Clay | Burundi Cement Co. (BUCECO) | NA | Not published | Not published |
| Gold | Artisanal miners | Various sites in Bujumbura, Cankuzo Cibitoke, Muyinga, and Ruyigi Provinces | 1,000 | kilograms |
| Niobium (columbium) and | Various producers, including the following: | Of which— | 260 | Not published |
| tantalum, columbite-tantalite | CDP | Kidunduri Mine in Kayanza Province | Not published | Not published |
| ore and concentrate | CODEMIBU Comptoir Minier des Exploitations du Burundi S.A DUTEZANYIMBERE GIRUMWETE NTEGA Tantalum Mining Co. (TAMINCO) do. Oher cooperatives and artisanal miners | Muhuhuri Mine in Cibitoke Province Kivuvu Mine in Kayanza Province Buvyukana Mine in Kirundo Province Taba Mine in Kirundo Province Gatete Mine in Kirundo Province Manenge Mines in Kayanza Province 6 mines at various locations | Not published | Not published |
| Peat | Office Nationale de la Tourbe (ONATOUR) (Government, 100%) | Buyongwe, Gisozi, Gitanga, and Matana | 20,000 | Not published |
| Rare-earths | Rainbow Mining Burundi SM (Rainbow Rare Earths Ltd., 90%) | Gakara Mine in Bujumbura Province | 2,800 | Not published |
| Tin, cassiterite ore and | Various producers, including the following: | Of which— | 430 | Not published |
| concentrate | GATETE DUSHIREHAMWE PAMBU Tantalum Mining Co. (TAMINCO) Oher cooperatives and artisanal miners | Bidogo Mine in Kirundo Province Mpinga Mine in Kirundo Province Gatete, Kibuba, Munege, Murehe, and Ryamukona Mines 11 mines at various locations in Cibitoke, Kirundo, and Ngozi Provinces | Not published | Not published |
| Tungsten, wolframite ore and | Various producers, including the following: | Of which— | 600 | Not published |
| concentrate | Coop. Minière de Gashoho DUKEREBUKE MW’ITERAMBERE GATETE DUSHIREHAMWE Société d’Exploitation et de Commercialisation des Minerais du Burundi Other cooperatives and artisanal miners | Cumba Mine in Kirundo Province Buhorana II Mine in Muyinga Province Runinya Mine in Kirundo Province Kuwinkona Mine in Muyinga Province 20 sites in Kirundo and Muyinga Provinces | Not published | Not published |
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Minerals Yearbook 2019, Burundi. Last checked 24 October 2026.
What natural resources earn
Natural resource rents were 14% of GDP in 2021, with forests and timber the largest part. That ranks Burundi 16th of 54 African countries. See all 54.
View the data as a table
| Period | Minerals | Forests |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 0.2 % | 23.7 % |
| 2011 | 0.4 % | 24.6 % |
| 2012 | 0.4 % | 17.1 % |
| 2013 | 0.2 % | 17.5 % |
| 2014 | 0.3 % | 17.2 % |
| 2015 | 0.1 % | 15.4 % |
| 2016 | 0.2 % | 18.9 % |
| 2017 | 0.3 % | 18.2 % |
| 2018 | 0.0 % | 13.4 % |
| 2019 | 0.0 % | 13.1 % |
| 2020 | 0.0 % | 13.8 % |
| 2021 | 0.0 % | 14.0 % |
| 2022 | Not published | Not published |
| 2023 | Not published | Not published |
| 2024 | Not published | Not published |
| 2025 | Not published | Not published |
| 2026 | Not published | Not published |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Forest, share of land (2024)
10.9 %
Arable land, share of land (2024)
43.7 %
Renewable fresh water per person (2022)
755 m³
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Method and sources
Oil, gas and coal output and coal reserves are from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Oil and gas proved reserves are the EIA figures republished by Our World in Data; oil is converted from cubic metres to barrels at the standard factor. World production, reserves and ranks are from the U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries, ranked among the countries USGS names. The full list of commodities and the companies that mine them are from the USGS Minerals Yearbook country tables, which run a few years behind. Rents, land and water are from the World Bank, and export shares from UN Comtrade. Nothing is estimated by us. Figures last checked on 24 October 2026.
USGS country page for Burundi. EIA international energy data. World Bank resource rents.
Frequently asked questions
What natural resources does Burundi have?
Burundi's main natural resources are tantalum and timber. Gold, diamonds and precious metals made up 18% of its goods exports in 2023, and all resources together 21.7%. The World Bank puts natural resource rents at 14% of GDP in 2021, mostly from forests and timber. The U.S. Geological Survey also records production of gold, niobium, rare earths, rare-earth oxide equivalent, tin and tungsten, among 7 mineral commodities.
Does Burundi produce oil?
The U.S. Energy Information Administration records no meaningful crude oil production for Burundi in 2025.
What is Burundi's most valuable natural resource?
By export earnings, gold, diamonds and precious metals: 18% of goods exports in 2023, according to UN Comtrade.
How much do natural resources contribute to Burundi's economy?
Natural resource rents, the value of resources extracted minus the cost of extracting them, were 14% of GDP in 2021. That ranks Burundi 16th of 54 African countries.
Which companies mine in Burundi?
The U.S. Geological Survey's 2019 list of Burundi's mineral industry names 6 operating companies, including Burundi Cement Co., CDP, CODEMIBU Comptoir Minier des Exploitations du Burundi S.A DUTEZANYIMBERE GIRUMWETE NTEGA Tantalum Mining Co., Office Nationale de la Tourbe and Rainbow Mining Burundi SM. The full list is on this page.
Where does Burundi rank in world mineral production?
In 2025, Burundi ranked 10th for tantalum among the producers the U.S. Geological Survey lists.