Burundi, in central Africa, has a population of 8.4 million (2007), of which 93 percent live in rural areas. It has a birth rate of 42.2 per 1,000, and an [Page 151]infant mortality rate of 63.1 per 1,000 live births. The nation's fertility rate is 6.4 births per woman (2008), which is the seventh highest in the world. The maternal mortality rate at 1 per 100 births is also one of the highest in the world. The employment-to-population ratio for women age 15 and over was 83.5 in 2005. The law provides for 12 weeks of maternity leave paid at 50 percent of salary.

As of 2007, abortion was legally available only to save the mother's life or to preserve her mental or physical health. It ...