Subdivisions of Burundi in local languages Rundi and French: communes
Burundi was divided into 18 provinces and, below them, into communes until July 2025, when a reform merged the provinces into five and the communes into 42. This list gives the 18 provinces as ISO 3166-2 still codes them, each in Rundi and French with its capital, and the 117 communes listed under them.
- Provinces
- 18
- Groups
- 1
Updated
How the Rundi and French names are built
Every province has two official names of the same shape. Rundi says iProvense ya Gitega, the province of Gitega, with ya linking the noun to the place; French says Province de Gitega. Apart from the two Bujumbura provinces, each province carries the name of its capital town, so the place name is the same in both languages and only the frame around it changes.
A commune is ikomine in Rundi, with the plural makomine, so Bubanza is counted as 5 makomine and Bujumbura Mairie as 1 ikomine. In most provinces one commune bears the name of the provincial capital, Bubanza in Bubanza or Ngozi in Ngozi, beside names such as Bukinanyana, Gashikanwa or Mugongomanga.
Provinces of Burundi with ISO 3166-2 codes
The 18 provinces in Rundi and French with the capital, the ISO 3166-2 code and the number of communes. Rumonge was formed in 2015 from three communes of Bururi and two of Bujumbura Rural, and its row is counted with those five.
- run Rundi
- fra French
Provinces 18
| Province (Rundi) | French | Capital | ISO 3166-2 | Communes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
iProvense ya Bubanza
|
Province de Bubanza
|
Bubanza
|
BI-BB
|
5
|
iProvense ya Bujumbura Mairie
|
Province de Bujumbura Mairie
|
Bujumbura
|
BI-BM
|
1
|
iProvense ya Bujumbura Rural
|
Province de Bujumbura rural
|
Bujumbura
|
BI-BL
|
9
|
iProvense ya Bururi
|
Province de Bururi
|
Bururi
|
BI-BR
|
6
|
iProvense ya Cankuzo
|
Province de Cankuzo
|
Cankuzo
|
BI-CA
|
5
|
iProvense ya Cibitoke
|
Province de Cibitoke
|
Cibitoke
|
BI-CI
|
6
|
iProvense ya Gitega
|
Province de Gitega
|
Gitega
|
BI-GI
|
11
|
iProvense ya Karuzi
|
Province de Karuzi
|
Karuzi
|
BI-KR
|
7
|
iProvense ya Kayanza
|
Province de Kayanza
|
Kayanza
|
BI-KY
|
9
|
iProvense ya Kirundo
|
Province de Kirundo
|
Kirundo
|
BI-KI
|
7
|
iProvense ya Makamba
|
Province de Makamba
|
Makamba
|
BI-MA
|
6
|
iProvense ya Muramvya
|
Province de Muramvya
|
Muramvya
|
BI-MU
|
5
|
iProvense ya Muyinga
|
Province de Muyinga
|
Muyinga
|
BI-MY
|
7
|
iProvense ya Mwaro
|
Province de Mwaro
|
Mwaro
|
BI-MW
|
6
|
iProvense ya Ngozi
|
Province de Ngozi
|
Ngozi
|
BI-NG
|
9
|
Rumonge
|
Rumonge
|
Rumonge
|
BI-RM
|
5
|
iProvense ya Rutana
|
Province de Rutana
|
Rutana
|
BI-RT
|
6
|
iProvense ya Ruyigi
|
Province de Ruyigi
|
Ruyigi
|
BI-RY
|
7
|
Communes of Burundi by province
All 117 communes as listed before the reform, grouped by province, with the five communes of Rumonge shown under the province created for them in 2015.
iProvense ya Bubanza Bubanza 5
| Commune |
|---|
Bubanza
|
Gihanga
|
Mpanda
|
Musigati
|
Rugazi
|
iProvense ya Bujumbura Mairie Bujumbura Mairie 1
| Commune |
|---|
Bujumbura Mairie
|
iProvense ya Bujumbura Rural Bujumbura Rural 9
| Commune |
|---|
Isale
|
Kabezi
|
Kanyosha
|
Mubimbi
|
Mugongomanga
|
Mukike
|
Mutambu
|
Mutimbuzi
|
Nyabiraba
|
iProvense ya Bururi Bururi 6
| Commune |
|---|
Bururi
|
Matana
|
Mugamba
|
Rutovu
|
Songa
|
Vyanda
|
iProvense ya Cankuzo Cankuzo 5
| Commune |
|---|
Cankuzo
|
Cendajuru
|
Gisagara
|
Kigamba
|
Mishiha
|
iProvense ya Cibitoke Cibitoke 6
| Commune |
|---|
Buganda
|
Bukinanyana
|
Mabayi
|
Mugina
|
Murwi
|
Rugombo
|
iProvense ya Gitega Gitega 11
| Commune |
|---|
Bugendana
|
Bukirasazi
|
Buraza
|
Giheta
|
Gishubi
|
Gitega
|
Itaba
|
Makebuko
|
Mutaho
|
Nyanrusange
|
Ryansoro
|
iProvense ya Karuzi Karuzi 7
| Commune |
|---|
Bugenyuzi
|
Buhiga
|
Gihogazi
|
Gitaramuka
|
Mutumba
|
Nyabikere
|
Shombo
|
iProvense ya Kayanza Kayanza 9
| Commune |
|---|
Butaganzwa
|
Gahombo
|
Gatara
|
Kabarore
|
Kayanza
|
Matongo
|
Muhanga
|
Muruta
|
Rango
|
iProvense ya Kirundo Kirundo 7
| Commune |
|---|
Bugabira
|
Busoni
|
Bwambarangwe
|
Gitobe
|
Kirundo
|
Ntega
|
Vumbi
|
iProvense ya Makamba Makamba 6
| Commune |
|---|
Kayogoro
|
Kibago
|
Mabanda
|
Makamba
|
Nyanza-Lac
|
Vugizo
|
iProvense ya Muramvya Muramvya 5
| Commune |
|---|
Bukeye
|
Kiganda
|
Mbuye
|
Muramvya
|
Rutegama
|
iProvense ya Muyinga Muyinga 7
| Commune |
|---|
Buhinyuza
|
Butihinda
|
Gashoho
|
Gasorwe
|
Giteranyi
|
Muyinga
|
Mwakiro
|
iProvense ya Mwaro Mwaro 6
| Commune |
|---|
Bisoro
|
Gisozi
|
Kayokwe
|
Ndava
|
Nyabihanga
|
Rusaka
|
iProvense ya Ngozi Ngozi 9
| Commune |
|---|
Busiga
|
Gashikanwa
|
Kiremba
|
Marangara
|
Mwumba
|
Ngozi
|
Nyamurenza
|
Ruhororo
|
Tangara
|
Rumonge Rumonge 5
| Commune |
|---|
Bugarama
|
Burambi
|
Buyengero
|
Muhuta
|
Rumonge
|
iProvense ya Rutana Rutana 6
| Commune |
|---|
Bukemba
|
Giharo
|
Gitanga
|
Mpinga-Kavoye
|
Musongati
|
Rutana
|
iProvense ya Ruyigi Ruyigi 7
| Commune |
|---|
Butaganzwa
|
Butezi
|
Bweru
|
Gisuru
|
Kinyinya
|
Nyabitsinda
|
Ruyigi
|
Bujumbura Mairie, the capital city, is listed as a single commune.
From 1959 to the five provinces of 2025
Provinces and communes were introduced in 1959 by a decree of the Belgian administration, replacing the older system of chiefdoms. ISO 3166-2 first coded the provinces in 1998, added Mwaro in 2002, split Bujumbura into Bujumbura Mairie and Bujumbura Rural in 2010, and added Rumonge, the 18th province, after it was created on 26 March 2015.
In July 2022 the government proposed a complete overhaul, approved by the National Assembly and the Senate: five provinces and 42 communes in place of 18 and 119. It took effect in July 2025, with new governors sworn in. Buhumuza has its capital at Cankuzo, Burunga at Makamba and Butanyerera at Ngozi; Bujumbura and Gitega keep the names of their cities. ISO 3166-2 had not recorded the change by October 2026.
Questions about the subdivisions of Burundi
How many provinces does Burundi have today?
Five since July 2025: Buhumuza, Bujumbura, Burunga, Butanyerera and Gitega. ISO 3166-2 still lists the 18 earlier provinces.
How do you say province in Rundi?
iProvense, as in iProvense ya Ngozi. A commune is ikomine, plural makomine.
When was Rumonge Province created?
On 26 March 2015, from the communes Burambi, Buyengero and Rumonge of Bururi and Bugarama and Muhuta of Bujumbura Rural.