Updated
Overview
Tanzania has 4.9 times the population of Burundi: 70.55 million people against 14.39 million (2025).
Tanzania's economy is 27 times the size of Burundi's, at $90.14B versus $3.36B.
Per person, Tanzania is the wealthier of the two: $1,319 against $234 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Tanzania | Burundi | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $90.14B | $3.36B | 2025 | $78.78B / $2.16B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $1,319 | $234 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 5.9% | 4.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 3.3% | 34.1% | 2025 | 3.1% / 20.2% |
| Unemployment | 1.6% | Lower: 0.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 29 | 34 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $212 | $51 | 2024 / 2020 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $58 | $1 | 2024 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 70.55 million | 14.39 million | 2025 | 69.15 million / 13.59 million |
| Population growth | 2.9% | 2.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 17.5 yrs | 16.4 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 4.47 | 4.68 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 67.2 yrs | 63.8 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 37% | 26% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 31% | 9% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 945,087 km² | 27,834 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 74.6/km² | 517.0/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 20 Mt | Lower: 0.92 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 0.3 t | Lower: 0.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $920.85M | $171.83M | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.2% | 3.8% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 28,000 | 31,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Tanzania is growing faster: 5.9% annual GDP growth versus 4.2%.
Inflation is a serious concern in Burundi at 34.1%, while the other economy sits at 3.3%.
Average monthly earnings favour Tanzania: $212 against $51 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 17.5 (Tanzania) and 16.4 (Burundi).
Life expectancy is 3.4 years longer in Tanzania (67.2 vs 63.8).
Tanzania is considerably more urbanized: 37% of people live in cities, against 26%.
Internet adoption is higher in Tanzania (31% vs 9% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Tanzania is 34 times the size of Burundi: 945,087 km² versus 27,834 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Burundi is far more densely settled: 517 people per km² against 75.
Military
Tanzania spends 5.4 times as much on defence as Burundi: $920.85M versus $171.83M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Burundi carries the heavier military burden: 3.8% of GDP versus 1.2%.
Burundi fields the larger armed forces: 31,000 personnel against 28,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Tanzania bigger than Burundi?
- Tanzania is larger by land area. Tanzania covers 945,087 km² while Burundi covers 27,834 km², so Tanzania is 34 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Tanzania or Burundi?
- Tanzania has the larger population: 70.55 million versus 14.39 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Tanzania richer than Burundi?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Tanzania is richer: $1,319 against $234. Total GDP tells the same story: $90.14B for Tanzania versus $3.36B for Burundi.
- Who spends more on their military, Tanzania or Burundi?
- Tanzania spends more: $920.85M versus $171.83M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).