Religion in Burundi

The Catholic Church is the largest religious community in Burundi. Protestant churches include Anglicans, Free Methodists and Pentecostal churches, among others; numerous smaller congregations also exist. Muslim communities are predominantly Sunni, alongside Shiite and small Ismaili groups, especially in Bujumbura. Jehovah’s Witnesses, Orthodox Christians, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Eglise Vivante, Eglise du Bon Berger, Hindus, Jains and other small communities are also represented. In 2022, Burundi’s Ministry of the Interior reported approximately 16,000 registered religious groups, mostly small independent Christian congregations. The 2008 census reported 62% Catholics, 21.6% Protestants, 2.3% Adventists, 2.5% Muslims, 6.1% people with no religious affiliation and 3.7% adherents to indigenous religions. A 2016–2017 DHS survey found 61.2% Catholics, 27.6% Protestants, 4.6% Muslims, 3.4% Adventists and 2.4% people with no religion in its sample. This sample does not replace a national census. Estimates from religious communities of approximately 12–15% Muslims are disputed and must not be treated as established national statistics. In Burundi, religious communities are often called religious denominations (confessions religieuses). Key umbrella organizations include the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Burundi (Conférence des Évêques Catholiques du Burundi (CECAB)), the National Council of Churches of Burundi (Conseil National des Églises du Burundi (CNEB)) and the Islamic Community of Burundi (Communauté Islamique du Burundi (COMIBU)). Congregations organize worship services, prayers, sermons, fasting periods and religious celebrations. There is no uniform nationwide institutional access or tariff for indigenous religious practices. Religious gatherings must comply with public-order, surroundings, hygiene, spacing and noise-limit requirements. Authorities have taken action against unauthorized venues and excessive noise. A religious ritual or celebration should therefore take place at a suitable venue and in accordance with applicable local requirements. The official holiday list includes Ascension, Assumption on August 15, All Saints’ Day on November 1 and Christmas on December 25, as well as the end of Ramadan and Eid al-Adha. Islamic holidays follow the Islamic calendar and therefore change from year to year in the Gregorian calendar. State education in Burundi includes religious and moral instruction. Depending on availability, pupils may choose Catholic, Protestant or Islamic instruction, or moral education; insufficient enrollment may limit the options. Religious schools are usually local institutions of a particular community. The 2022 law also requires every religious group to undertake an economic or social initiative, such as a school, health center or comparable project. The 2018 Constitution describes Burundi as a secular republic that respects religious diversity. It protects freedom of religion, thought, conscience and opinion, and prohibits discrimination on religious grounds. These rights may not be used against unity, peace, democracy, independence or the secular character of the state. Political parties may not promote religious violence, exclusion or hatred; Burundi is also a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. A religious community must register before beginning its activities with the Ministry of the Interior, Community Development and Public Security (Ministère de l’Intérieur, du Développement communautaire et de la Sécurité publique). The procedure is governed by Law No. 1/30 of September 16, 2022, amending Law No. 1/35 of December 31, 2014. An independent Burundian community needs at least 300 members, while a foreign community needs at least 500 members in the country. The application must include, among other things, the name and affiliation, bylaws, registered office in Burundi, any foreign headquarters, governing body, legal representation, and information on ownership and bank accounts. The legal representative must be a Burundian citizen, at least 30 years old and hold at least a bachelor’s degree. The governing body is elected for five years and should be renewed democratically. Communities with a foreign headquarters additionally need a framework agreement and a verifiable account of foreign funding. Facilities must meet construction and sanitation requirements; activities during working hours require authorization from the Ministry of the Interior. Promoting atheism is prohibited under the applicable rules. The International Religious Freedom Report stated that the registration fee was 20,000 BIF, and processing often takes two to four weeks. Fees and application procedures should be checked with the responsible ministry before submission. There is no general tax exemption; charitable imports and certain infrastructure and equipment for religious schools may be exempt from duties under certain conditions. Profits and sales from commercial activities remain taxable. Fees for rituals and schools are set by the respective community. If activities are refused, suspended or dissolved, penalties may include six months to five years’ imprisonment, a fine or both, depending on the case. Provisional legal status may exist for no more than two years. Religious communities should therefore clarify their registration, representation, premises and funding before beginning activities. The Interfaith Council of Burundi (Conseil Interconfessionnel du Burundi (CICB)), also known as Religions for Peace Burundi, connects CECAB, CNEB and COMIBU. It supports cooperation, social justice, peace, reconciliation and sustainable development. Its networks operate at national, provincial, local and congregational levels; women’s and youth networks are envisaged. The Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace (Commission Episcopale Justice et Paix) of CECAB works through eight diocesan commissions on mediation, community dialogue, peace education, reconciliation and human rights. Religious life events include baptism, the Eucharist or Communion, Christian marriage preparation and weddings, as well as Muslim marriage, prayer and burial practices. CECAB publishes Christian marriage standards. However, there is no uniform national religious ritual and no nationally uniform fees or deadlines. A church or Muslim ceremony does not automatically replace civil registration; its legal effect should be checked separately with the responsible government office. Catholic and Protestant pathways, as well as Muslim services in urban areas, are particularly relevant to practical accessibility.