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Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso
Population
23.5M
Rank #59Source: World Bank
Capital
Ouagadougou
Source: REST Countries
Region
Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa
Source: REST Countries
GDP (Nominal)
$23.12B
Rank #122Source: World Bank
Land Area
273.0K km²
Rank #75Source: REST Countries
Life Expectancy
61.092 yrs
Source: World Bank
Historical Trends
Population Trend (5-Year)
Source: World Bank
GDP Trend (5-Year, Nominal USD)
Source: World Bank
Geography
Area: 272,967 km²
Landlocked: Yes
Independent: Yes
Climate: three climate zones including a hot tropical savanna with a short rainy season in the southern half, a tropical hot semi-arid steppe climate typical of the Sahel region in the northern half, and...
Terrain: Mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in the west and southeast. Occupies an extensive plateau with savanna that is grassy in the north and gradually gives way to sparse forests in the...
Elevation: mean elevation: 297 m lowest point: Mouhoun (Black Volta) River 200 m highest point: Tena Kourou 749 m
Natural Hazards: recurring droughts
Environmental Issues: recent droughts and desertification severely affecting agricultural activities, population distribution, and the economy; overgrazing; soil degradation; deforestation (2019)
Land Use: agricultural land: 44.2% (2016 est.) forest: 19.3% (2016 est.) other: 36.5% (2016 est.)
Geography Note: landlocked savanna cut by the three principal rivers of the Black, Red, and White Voltas
Natural Resources
goldmanganesezinclimestonemarblephosphatespumicesalt
People & Society
Fertility Rate
4.19
Population
23.5M
Ethnic Groups
Mossi (52%)Fulani (8.4%)Gurma (7%)Bobo (4.9%)Gurunsi (4.6%)Senufo (4.5%)Bissa (3.7%)Lobi (2.4%)Dagara (2.4%)Tuareg/Bella (1.9%)Dioula (0.8%)unspecified/no answer (0.3%)other (7.2%)
Religions
Muslim (61.5%)Roman Catholic (23.3%)traditional/animist (7.8%)Protestant (6.5%)other/no answer (0.2%)none (0.7%)
Economy
GDP per Capita
$981.993
GDP per Capita PPP
2,895.892
(2024)
(2024)
GNI per Capita
850
(2024)
(2024)
Gini Index
37.4
(2021)
(2021)
Unemployment
3.441%
(2024)
(2024)
Inflation
4.191%
(2024)
(2024)
Public Debt
61.932%
(2023)
(2023)
Energy
Electricity Access
21.7%
(2023)
(2023)
Renewable Energy
71.4%
(2022)
(2022)
CO₂ Emissions
6.476 Mt
(2024)
(2024)
Energy Intensity
5.4 MJ/$
(2022)
(2022)
Renewable Electricity
13.982%
(2021)
(2021)
Environment
Forest Coverage
22.173% of land
(2023)
(2023)
Communications
Internet Users
17.023%
(2023)
(2023)
Mobile Penetration
119.463%
(2022)
(2022)
Broadband Subscribers
0.067%
(2022)
(2022)
Transportation
Air Transport Freight
1.475 M ton-km
(2023)
(2023)
Container Port Traffic
Not Available
Airports
2,437
Rail Lines
518 km
Roads Total
15,272 km(©IRF)
Military
Military Forces
Armed Forces of Burkina Faso (FABF): Army of Burkina Faso (L’Armee de Terre, LAT), Air Force of Burkina Faso (Force Aerienne de Burkina Faso, FABF), National Gendarmerie, National Fire Brigade...
Personnel Strength
the Armed Forces of Burkina Faso (FABF) have approximately 12,000 personnel (7,000 Army; 500 Air Force; 4,500 National Gendarmerie)
Military Expenditure (USD)
$1.02B
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)
4.68%
Military Expenditure History
2.4% of GDP (2019) 2.1% of GDP (2018) 1.4% of GDP (2017) 1.2% of GDP (2016) 1.3% of GDP (2015)
Deployments
1,100 Mali (MINUSMA) (2020)
Equipment & Inventories
the FABF has a mix of foreign-supplied weapons; since 2010, it has received limited amounts of equipment from several countries, including donated second hand armaments; the leading suppliers are...
Service Age & Obligation
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; women may serve in supporting roles
Education
Pre-Primary Enrollment
6.504%
(2021)
(2021)
Primary Enrollment
77.167%
(2024)
(2024)
Secondary Enrollment
29.991%
(2024)
(2024)
Tertiary Enrollment
10.042%
(2024)
(2024)
Education Spending
5.328% of GDP
(2023)
(2023)
Adult Literacy Rate
41.442%
(2023)
(2023)
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
39.722:1
(2018)
(2018)
Health
Physicians per 1,000
0.148
(2022)
(2022)
Safe Water Access
49.999%
(2024)
(2024)
Safe Drinking Water
Not Available
Under-5 Mortality
77.3 per 1,000
(2023)
(2023)
Maternal Mortality (World Bank)
14.814 per 100,000
(2021)
(2021)
Hospital Beds per 1,000
64.645
(2021)
(2021)
UHC Coverage Index
47
(2023)
(2023)
Measles Immunization
91%
(2024)
(2024)
Social Indicators
Extreme Poverty Rate
42.1%
(2021)
(2021)
Food Insecurity
13.1%
(2023)
(2023)
Youth NEET Rate
6.759%
(2024)
(2024)
Governance
Women in Government
18.31%
(2024)
(2024)
Voice & Accountability
-0.81
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Political Stability
-2.04
(Weak)
(2023)
(Weak)
(2023)
Government Effectiveness
-0.83
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Regulatory Quality
-0.49
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Rule of Law
-0.74
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Control of Corruption
-0.17
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Government
Government Type
presidential republic
Legal System
civil law based on the French model and customary law; in mid-2019, the National Assembly amended the penal code
Executive Branch
chief of state: President Roch Marc Christian KABORE (since 29 December 2015) head of government: Prime Minister Christophe DABIRE (since 24 January 2019) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by...
Legislative Branch
description: unicameral National Assembly (127 seats; 111 members directly elected in 13 multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote and 26 members elected in a...
Judicial Branch
highest courts: Supreme Court of Appeals or Cour de Cassation (consists of NA judges); Council of State (consists of NA judges); Constitutional Council or Conseil Constitutionnel (consists of the...
National Symbols
Flag Description
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a yellow five-pointed star in the center; red recalls the country's struggle for independence, green is for hope and abundance, and yellow...
National Symbols
white stallion; national colors: red, yellow, green
National Anthem
name: "Le Ditanye" (Anthem of Victory) lyrics/music: Thomas SANKARA note: adopted 1974; also known as "Une Seule Nuit" (One Single Night); written by the country's former president, an avid guitar...
Safety
Homicide Rate
1.25 per 100,000
(2017)
(2017)
Travel Information
Language(s): French
Currency: XOF (Fr)
Timezone(s): UTC
Landlocked: Yes
Independent: Yes
Driving Side: Right
Calling Code: +226
Car Sign: BF
Week Starts: Monday
Data sources: World Bank, UN Data • Updated daily •Learn about our data