The Institut national de la statistique du Burundi (INSBU) officially launched the Recensement Général des Entreprises du Burundi (RGEB) 2026 on 15 October 2026 in Bujumbura. As the fourth edition of this enterprise census, the project follows the previous operation conducted in 2020. Nicolas Ndayishimiye, directeur général de l’INSBU, stated: "Le RGEB2026 s’inscrit donc dans le cadre des projets et programmes de développement du Burundi en tant que pays émergent en 2040 et développé en 2060." Fieldwork for the census operation is scheduled to begin on 19 October 2026.
The launch event in Bujumbura served as a formal introduction to the full data-gathering initiative. By initiating the RGEB 2026, the Institut national de la statistique du Burundi (INSBU) aims to establish a precise and updated database of the country’s commercial entities. This systematic approach ensures that the government can maintain a clear understanding of the evolving business environment. The census operation is scheduled to begin on 19 October 2026, marking the start of a nationwide effort to reach business locations across all provinces.
Objectives of National Census
Data collection for the RGEB 2026 targets both formal and informal enterprises operating throughout Burundi. The Institut national de la statistique du Burundi (INSBU) intends to utilize the information gathered to facilitate economic planning and the development of future public policy. By capturing information from businesses regardless of their registration status, the agency aims to build a representative map of the national economic landscape. This inclusive methodology ensures that the RGEB 2026 captures a full view of the private sector, ranging from small-scale informal operations to large, registered commercial entities.
Field teams will gather specific data points regarding the sociodemographic characteristics of business owners. The survey questionnaire includes inquiries into the participation of women in entrepreneurship to assess gender-based trends in the marketplace. The census will document the distribution of national and foreign investments across sectors. Employment generation metrics also form a core part of the data collection effort, providing an overview of how these enterprises contribute to the national labor market. Officials expect these findings to support evidence-based decision-making for government development programs.
The RGEB 2026 is the fourth edition of the census, following the previous one conducted in 2020. This continuity allows the Institut national de la statistique du Burundi (INSBU) to track trends and changes in the economic structure over the six-year period. By analyzing the data collected on the sociodemographic characteristics of business owners and the role of women in entrepreneurship, the agency seeks to identify specific barriers and opportunities for growth. Additionally, by documenting national and foreign investments alongside employment generation, the census provides a detailed account of how capital and labor interact within the Burundian economy. The final datasets will be used to refine public policy, ensuring that future economic planning is grounded in current, empirical evidence collected directly from the field.