Electricity and sockets
Yes – from the UK you need a travel adapter for Burundi, because the sockets there (Types C and E) will not take your plugs.
Sockets at the destination
Mains supply in Burundi: 230 V, 50 Hz, sockets of Types C and E. 230 V means no voltage converter – only the plug shape matters.
You will find identical sockets in Cameroon, Benin, Burkina Faso and the Central African Republic. Nearby but different: Malawi, Sierra Leone and Tanzania – an adapter for Burundi will not fit there. Across Africa this setup is common: 21 of 55 countries.
Protective earth
Burundi has sockets with a protective earth (Type E) and without (Type C). A plug that fits mechanically does not guarantee earthing.
Quick check by home country
| From the UK | adapter for Types C and E | Check route → |
|---|---|---|
| From the US | adapter for Types C and E | Check route → |
Chargers, laptops and hair dryers work in Burundi as they do in the UK. Check your own device →
The same sockets are used further afield: Poland, Belgium, Guadeloupe, Slovakia, France and Monaco.
Common questions
Yes, you need an adapter for Types C and E.
Types C and E – that is what you will find in Burundi (230 V, 50 Hz).
No. At 230 V the supply matches UK and European appliances.
If a socket gets hot, crackles or smells burnt, unplug the device straight away.
Data for Burundi from IEC World Plugs and IEC TR 60083. Sources and method →