2000 Edition

Background

Independence from France came to Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta) in 1960. Governmental instability during the 1970s and 1980s was followed by multiparty elections in the early 1990s. Several hundred thousand farm workers migrate south every year to Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana.

Area

land

273,800 sq km

total

274,200 sq km

water

400 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Colorado

Climate

tropical; warm, dry winters; hot, wet summers

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Tena Kourou 749 m

lowest point

Mouhoun (Black Volta) River 200 m

Environment - current issues

recent droughts and desertification severely affecting agricultural activities, population distribution, and the economy; overgrazing; soil degradation; deforestation

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban

Geographic coordinates

13 00 N, 2 00 W

Geography - note

landlocked

Irrigated land

200 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Benin 306 km, Cote d'Ivoire 584 km, Ghana 548 km, Mali 1,000 km, Niger 628 km, Togo 126 km

total

3,192 km

Land use

arable land

13%

forests and woodland

50%

other

15% (1993 est.)

permanent crops

0%

permanent pastures

22%

Location

Western Africa, north of Ghana

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

recurring droughts

Natural resources

manganese, limestone, marble; small deposits of gold, antimony, copper, nickel, bauxite, lead, phosphates, zinc, silver

Terrain

mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in west and southeast

Age structure

0-14 years: 48% (male 2,866,361; female 2,822,990) 15-64 years: 49% (male 2,808,797; female 3,097,048) 65 years and over: 3% (male 149,474; female 201,395) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

45.26 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

17.04 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

Mossi over 40%, Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi, Bobo, Mande, Fulani

Infant mortality rate

108.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

French (official), native African languages belonging to Sudanic family spoken by 90% of the population

Life expectancy at birth

female

47.18 years (2000 est.)

male

46.29 years

total population

46.73 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

9.2% (1995 est.)

male

29.5%

total population

19.2%

Nationality

adjective

Burkinabe

noun

Burkinabe (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

-1.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

11,946,065

note

estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

2.71% (2000 est.)

Religions

indigenous beliefs 40%, Muslim 50%, Christian (mainly Roman Catholic) 10%

Sex ratio

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female

total population

0.95 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

6.44 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Administrative divisions

30 provinces; Bam, Bazega, Bougouriba, Boulgou, Boulkiemde, Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houe, Kadiogo, Kenedougou, Komoe, Kossi, Kouritenga, Mouhoun, Namentenga, Naouri, Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Sanguie, Sanmatenga, Seno, Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Yatenga, Zoundweogo

note

a new electoral code was approved by the National Assembly in January 1997; the number of administrative provinces was increased from 30 to 45 (Bale, Bam, Banwa, Bazega, Bougouriba, Boulgou, Boulkiemde, Comoe, Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houet, Ioba, Kadiogo, Kenedougou, Komandjari, Kompienga, Kossi, Koupelogo, Kouritenga, Kourweogo, Leraba, Loroum, Mouhoun, Nahouri, Namentenga, Nayala, Naumbiel, Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Samentenga, Sanguie, Seno, Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Tuy, Yagha, Yatenga, Ziro, Zondomo, Zoundweogo), however, this change has not yet been approved by the US Board on Geographic Names

Capital

Ouagadougou

Constitution

2 June 1991 approved by referendum; 11 June 1991 formally adopted

Country name

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Burkina Faso

former

Upper Volta

Data code

UV

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Jimmy J. KOLKER

embassy

Avenue Raoul Follerau, Ouagadougou

mailing address

01 B. P. 35, Ouagadougou

telephone

306723 through 306725

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Bruno ZIDOUEMBA

telephone

(202) 332-5577

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister

chief of state

President Captain Blaise COMPAORE (since 15 October 1987)

election results

Blaise COMPAORE reelected president with 88% percent of the vote, with 56% of voter turnout

elections

president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; the president may serve unlimited terms; election last held 15 November 1998 (next to be held NA 2005); prime minister appointed by the president with the consent of the legislature

head of government

Prime Minister Kadre Desire OUEDRAOGO (since 6 February 1996)

note

despite his reelection, President COMPAORE faces a growing political crisis due to his mishandling of an investigation into the assassination of a newspaper editor and pressure for political reform

FAX

(202) 667-1882

303890

Flag description

two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a yellow five-pointed star in the center; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Government type

parliamentary

Independence

5 August 1960 (from France)

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court; Appeals Court

Legal system

based on French civil law system and customary law

Legislative branch

bicameral; consists of a National Assembly or Assemblee des Deputes Populaires (ADP) (111 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the purely consultative Chamber of Representations or Chambre des Representants (178 seats; members are appointed to serve three-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CDP 101, PDP 6, RDA 2, ADF 2

elections

National Assembly election last held 11 May 1997 (next to be held NA 2002)

National holiday

Anniversary of the Revolution, 4 August (1983)

Political parties and leaders

African Democratic Rally or RDA [Gerard Kango OUEDRAOGO, Clement SANOU]; Alliance for Democracy and Federation or ADF ; Congress for Democracy and Progress or CDP ; Group for Progressive Democrats or GDP [Issa TIENDREBEOGO]; Movement for Tolerance and Progress or MTP ; Party for African Independence or PAI ; Party for Democracy and Progress or PDP [Joseph KI-ZERBO]; Party for Progress and Social Development or PPDS [leader NA]; Union of Greens for the Development of Burkina Faso or UVDB [Ram OVEDRAGO]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Burkinabe General Confederation of Labor or CGTB; Burkinabe Movement for Human Rights or HBDHP; Group of 14 February; National Confederation of Burkinabe Workers or CNTB; National Organization of Free Unions or ONSL; watchdog/political action groups throughout the country in both organizations and communities

Suffrage

universal

Agriculture - products

peanuts, shea nuts, sesame, cotton, sorghum, millet, corn, rice; livestock

Budget

expenditures

$492 million, including capital expenditures of $233 million (1995 est.)

revenues

$277 million

Currency

1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Debt - external

$1.3 billion (1997)

Economic aid - recipient

$484.1 million (1995)

Economy - overview

One of the poorest countries in the world, landlocked Burkina Faso has a high population density, few natural resources, and a fragile soil. About 90% of the population is engaged in (mainly subsistence) agriculture which is highly vulnerable to variations in rainfall. Industry remains dominated by unprofitable government-controlled corporations. Following the African franc currency devaluation in January 1994 the government updated its development program in conjunction with international agencies, and exports and economic growth have increased. Maintenance of its macroeconomic progress in 2000-2001 depends on continued low inflation, reduction in the trade deficit, and reforms designed to encourage private investment.

Electricity - consumption

209 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

225 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

64.44%

hydro

35.56%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (1998)

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 647.25 (January 2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995)

note

since 1 January 1999, the CFAF franc is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro

Exports

$311 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Exports - commodities

cotton, animal products, gold

Exports - partners

Cote d'Ivoire, Taiwan, France, Colombia, Italy, Mali

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $12.4 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

36%

industry

20%

services

44% (1997)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,100 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

5.5% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$572 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery, food products, petroleum

Imports - partners

Cote d'Ivoire, France, Senegal, Togo, Nigeria, US

Industrial production growth rate

4.2% (1995)

Industries

cotton lint, beverages, agricultural processing, soap, cigarettes, textiles, gold

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.5% (1999 est.)

Labor force

4.679 million (persons 10 years old and over, according to a sample survey taken in 1991)

note

a large part of the male labor force migrates annually to neighboring countries for seasonal employment

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

NA%

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (1999)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 17, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios

370,000 (1997)

Telephone system

all services only fair

domestic

microwave radio relay, open wire, and radiotelephone communication stations

international

satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

30,000 (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular

0 (1995)

Television broadcast stations

1 (1997)

Televisions

100,000 (1997)

Airports

33 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

2 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

31 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 16 (1999 est.)

Highways

paved

2,001 km

total

12,506 km

unpaved

10,505 km (1996 est.)

Ports and harbors

none

Railways

narrow gauge

622 km 1.000-m gauge (1995 est.)

total

622 km (517 km from Ouagadougou to the Cote d'Ivoire border and 105 km from Ouagadougou to Kaya)

Military branches

Army, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Police, People's Militia

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$66 million (FY96)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2% (FY96)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 2,500,962 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 1,282,483 (2000 est.)

Disputes - international

none

BURMA