Key Facts: Burundi Wages
- Country
- Burundi (BDI)
- Continent
- Africa
- Currency
- Burundian Franc (BIF)
- Minimum Wage
- FBu4,160 /mo ($1.40 USD)
- Average Gross Monthly Salary
- FBu60,000 /month
- Average Gross Annual Salary
- FBu720,000 /year
- Standard Work Week
- 40 hours
- Data Source
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Ministère de la Fonction Publique du Burundi
- Last Updated
- 2026-02-25
Burundi — Average Salary & Wages
Burundian Franc (BIF) Data verified Jan 2026 Sources
The average salary in Burundi is
FBu720,000 a year
The minimum wage in Burundi is FBu4,160/mo ($1.40 USD) as of 2026. The average gross monthly salary is FBu60,000 ($20.19 USD).
Burundi's minimum wage is among the lowest for Africa, ranking #54 out of 54 countries with statutory minimum wages. The standard work week is 40 hours.
Rough estimate for the tiny formal sector concentrated in Bujumbura. Government employees and NGO workers are the primary earners above subsistence. Data is extremely limited. GDP per capita is below USD 300/year, among the lowest in the world. Income for the majority comes from subsistence farming with no monetary wage.
Minimum Wage Trend
• PPP ADJUSTED
In Burundi, the minimum wage has the purchasing power of $4.75/mo in the United States, adjusted for local cost of living using the World Bank PPP conversion factor.
In Context
At minimum wage, a full-time worker in Burundi earns FBu4,160/mo. That is 7% of the average gross salary.
- Monthly (full-time)
- FBu4,160 at min. wage
- Share of avg. salary
- 7% gross, before tax
- USD equivalent
- $1.40/mo monthly
Wage Breakdown
- Daily
- FBu160
- Monthly
- FBu4,160Daily rate of BIF 160 × 26 working days per month
Burundi sets a minimum daily wage (salaire minimum journalier) under the Labour Code. The rate of approximately BIF 160/day is extremely low in USD terms — at an exchange rate of roughly 2,900 BIF/USD (2024), this equates to about USD 0.055/day. The formal economy is tiny: less than 5% of the workforce holds formal wage employment. Coffee and tea are the main export crops. The government and a small number of NGOs and foreign organizations are the primary formal employers. Political tensions since 2015 have constrained foreign investment and economic development. Enforcement of the minimum wage is largely absent outside Bujumbura.
Work Week
- Standard
- 40 hrs/wk
- Maximum
- 45 hrs/wk
- Overtime
- 1.5x pay
Labour Code sets 40 hours/week as the standard. The Code du Travail is French-language, reflecting Belgian colonial heritage. Overtime capped at 45 hours total. Enforcement is minimal outside the formal sector.
How Burundi Compares
| Metric | Burundi | Africa Avg. | Africa Highest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg. salary (USD equiv.) | $20.19/mo | $381.53/mo | $1,625/mo (Mauritania) |
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Wages tell half the story. See purchasing power, prices, and quality-of-life context for Burundi on our sister site.
Cost of living in Burundi on costofliving.is →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum wage in Burundi?
The minimum wage in Burundi is FBu4,160/mo (approximately $1.40 USD), effective since 2020-01-01. Burundi sets a minimum daily wage (salaire minimum journalier) under the Labour Code. The rate of approximately BIF 160/day is extremely low in USD terms — at an exchange rate of roughly 2,900 BIF/USD (2024), this equates to about USD 0.055/day. The formal economy is tiny: less than 5% of the workforce holds formal wage employment. Coffee and tea are the main export crops. The government and a small number of NGOs and foreign organizations are the primary formal employers. Political tensions since 2015 have constrained foreign investment and economic development. Enforcement of the minimum wage is largely absent outside Bujumbura.
What is the average salary in Burundi?
The average gross monthly salary in Burundi is FBu60,000 (approximately $20.19 USD). Rough estimate for the tiny formal sector concentrated in Bujumbura. Government employees and NGO workers are the primary earners above subsistence. Data is extremely limited. GDP per capita is below USD 300/year, among the lowest in the world. Income for the majority comes from subsistence farming with no monetary wage. Source: World Bank / ILO estimated (formal sector, Bujumbura) (2022).
How many hours is the standard work week in Burundi?
The standard work week in Burundi is 40 hours, with a legal maximum of 45 hours. Overtime is paid at 1.5x the normal rate. Labour Code sets 40 hours/week as the standard. The Code du Travail is French-language, reflecting Belgian colonial heritage. Overtime capped at 45 hours total. Enforcement is minimal outside the formal sector.
How has the minimum wage in Burundi changed over time?
The minimum wage in Burundi has changed as follows: FBu160 in 2020, FBu160 in 2022, FBu160 in 2024. This represents 3 recorded adjustments.
What is the minimum wage in Burundi in USD?
The minimum wage in Burundi converts to approximately $1.40/mo in US dollars, based on current exchange rates. Actual purchasing power may differ due to local cost of living.
What is the average salary in Burundi in USD?
The average gross monthly salary in Burundi is approximately $20.19 per month in US dollars, based on current exchange rates. Actual purchasing power may differ due to local cost of living.
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