2010 Edition

Background

Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta) achieved independence from France in 1960. Repeated military coups during the 1970s and 1980s were followed by multiparty elections in the early 1990s. Current President Blaise COMPAORE came to power in a 1987 military coup and has won every election since then. Burkina Faso's high population density and limited natural resources result in poor economic prospects for the majority of its citizens. Recent unrest in Cote d'Ivoire and northern Ghana has hindered the ability of several hundred thousand seasonal Burkinabe farm workers to find employment in neighboring countries.

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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

60 cu m/yr (2000)

total

0.8 cu km/yr (13%/1%/86%)

Geographic coordinates

13 00 N, 2 00 W

Geography - note

landlocked savanna cut by the three principal rivers of the Black, Red, and White Voltas

Irrigated land

250 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

border countries

Benin 306 km, Cote d'Ivoire 584 km, Ghana 549 km, Mali 1,000 km, Niger 628 km, Togo 126 km

total

3,193 km

Land use

arable land

17.66%

other

82.12% (2005)

permanent crops

0.22%

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, phosphates, pumice, salt

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

17.5 cu km (2001)

Age structure

0-14 years: 46.2% (male 3,646,661/female 3,621,648) 15-64 years: 51.3% (male 4,025,917/female 4,054,865) 65 years and over: 2.5% (male 156,895/female 240,246) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

43.98 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

13.02 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

4.6% of GDP (2007)

Ethnic groups

Mossi over 40%, other approximately 60% (includes Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi, Bobo, Mande, and Fulani)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.6% (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

9,200 (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

130,000 (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

75.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

90.53 deaths/1,000 live births

total

82.98 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

55.31 years (2010 est.)

male

51.39 years

total population

53.32 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

15.2% (2003 est.)

male

29.4%

total population

21.8%

Major infectious diseases

animal contact disease

rabies note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

respiratory disease

meningococcal meningitis

vectorborne disease

malaria and yellow fever

water contact disease

schistosomiasis

Median age

female

17 years (2010 est.)

male

16.6 years

total

16.8 years

Nationality

adjective

Burkinabe

noun

Burkinabe (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population

Population

16,241,811 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, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

3.095% (2010 est.)

Religions

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

6 years (2009)

male

7 years

total

6 years

Sex ratio

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

6.21 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

20% of total population (2008)

Administrative divisions

45 provinces; Bale, Bam, Banwa, Bazega, Bougouriba, Boulgou, Boulkiemde, Comoe, Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houet, Ioba, Kadiogo, Kenedougou, Komondjari, Kompienga, Kossi, Koulpelogo, Kouritenga, Kourweogo, Leraba, Loroum, Mouhoun, Nahouri, Namentenga, Nayala, Noumbiel, Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Sanguie, Sanmatenga, Seno, Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Tuy, Yagha, Yatenga, Ziro, Zondoma, Zoundweogo

Capital

geographic coordinates

12 22 N, 1 31 W

name

Ouagadougou

time difference

UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

approved by referendum 2 June 1991; formally adopted 11 June 1991; last amended January 2002

Country name

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Burkina Faso

former

Upper Volta, Republic of Upper Volta

local long form

none

local short form

Burkina Faso

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Thomas DOUGHERTY

embassy

602 Avenue Raoul Follereau, Koulouba, Secteur 4

FAX

[226] 50-30-38-90

mailing address

01 B. P. 35, Ouagadougou 01; pouch mail - US Department of State, 2440 Ouagadougou Place, Washington, DC 20521-2440

telephone

[226] 50-30-67-23

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Paramanga Ernest YONLI

FAX

[1] (202) 667-1882

telephone

[1] (202) 332-5577

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

President Blaise COMPAORE (since 15 October 1987)

election results

Blaise COMPAORE reelected president; percent of popular vote - Blaise COMPAORE 80.2%, Hama Arba DIALLO 8.2%, Benewende Stanislas SANKARA 6.3%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 21 November 2010 (next to be held in 2015); prime minister appointed by the president with the consent of the legislature

head of government

Prime Minister Tertius ZONGO (since 4 June 2007)

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 represents the country's mineral wealth note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Government type

parliamentary republic

Independence

5 August 1960 (from France)

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court; Appeals Court

Legal system

based on French civil law system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (111 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CDP 73, ADF-RDA 14, UPR 5, UNIR-MS 4, CFD-B 3, UPS 2, PDP-PS 2, RDB 2, PDS 2, PAREN 1, PAI 1, RPC 1, UDPS 1

elections

National Assembly election last held on 6 May 2007 (next to be held in May 2012)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Thomas SANKARA note: adopted 1974; also known as "Une Seule Nuit" (One Single Night), Burkina Faso"s anthem was written by the country"s president, an avid guitar player

name

"Le Ditanye" (Anthem of Victory)

National holiday

Republic Day, 11 December (1958); note - commemorates the day that Upper Volta became an autonomous republic in the French Community

Political parties and leaders

African Democratic Rally-Alliance for Democracy and Federation or ADF-RDA [Gilbert OUEDRAOGO]; Citizen's Popular Rally or RPC [Antoine QUARE]; Coalition of Democratic Forces of Burkina or CFD-B [Amadou Diemdioda DICKO]; Congress for Democracy and Progress or CDP [Roch Marc-Christian KABORE]; Democratic and Popular Rally or RDP [Nana THIBAUT]; Movement for Tolerance and Progress or MTP [Nayabtigungou Congo KABORE]; Party for African Independence or PAI [Soumane TOURE]; Party for Democracy and Progress-Socialist Party or PDP-PS [Ali LANKOANDE]; Party for Democracy and Socialism or PDS [Felix SOUBEIGA]; Party for National Rebirth or PAREN [Jeanne TRAORE]; Rally for the Development of Burkina or RDB [Antoine KARGOUGOU]; Rally of Ecologists of Burkina Faso or RDEB [Ram OUEDRAGO]; Republican Party for Integration and Solidarity or PARIS; Union for Democracy and Social Progress or UDPS [Fidele HIEN]; Union for Rebirth - Sankarist Movement or UNIR-MS [Benewende STANISLAS]; Union for the Republic or UPR [Toussaint Abel COULIBALY]; Union of Sankarist Parties or UPS [Ernest Nongma OUEDRAOGO]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Burkinabe General Confederation of Labor or CGTB [Tole SAGNON]; Burkinabe Movement for Human Rights or MBDHP [Chrysigone ZOUGMORE]; Group of 14 February [Benewende STANISLAS]; National Confederation of Burkinabe Workers or CNTB [Laurent OUEDRAOGO]; National Organization of Free Unions or ONSL [Paul KABORE]

other

watchdog/political action groups throughout the country in both organizations and communities

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Central bank discount rate

4.25% (31 December 2009) 4.75% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

NA% (31 December 2009 est.) NA% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

-$486 million (2010 est.) -$330 million (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$2.002 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $1.784 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

39.5 (2007) 48.2 (1994)

Economy - overview

Burkina Faso is a poor, landlocked country that relies heavily on cotton and gold exports for revenue. The country has few natural resources and a weak industrial base. About 90% of the population is engaged in subsistence agriculture, which is vulnerable to periodic drought. Cotton is the main cash crop. Since 1998, Burkina Faso has embarked upon a gradual privatization of state-owned enterprises and in 2004 revised its investment code to attract foreign investment. As a result of this new code and other legislation favoring the mining sector, the country has seen an upswing in gold exploration and production. By 2010, gold had become the main source of export revenue.

Electricity - consumption

568.8 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

611.6 million kWh (2007 est.)

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 506.04 (2010), 472.19 (2009), 447.81 (2008), 493.51 (2007), 522.59 (2006)

Exports

$991 million (2010 est.) $772 million (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

cotton, livestock, gold

Exports - partners

Singapore 16.76%, Belgium 12.78%, China 7.59%, Ghana 6.89%, India 6.36%, Denmark 5.76%, Niger 5.13%, Thailand 4.52% (2009)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

30.1%

industry

20.7%

services

49.2% (2009 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,200 (2010 est.) $1,200 (2009 est.) $1,200 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

5.2% (2010 est.) 3.2% (2009 est.) 5.2% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$8.672 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$20.06 billion (2010 est.) $19.07 billion (2009 est.) $18.48 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 32.2% (2004)

Imports

$1.48 billion (2010 est.) $1.186 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

capital goods, foodstuffs, petroleum

Imports - partners

Cote d'Ivoire 24.31%, France 19.48%, Togo 6.42% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

5.5% (2010 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.4% (2010 est.) 2.6% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

19.7% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

6.668 million note: a large part of the male labor force migrates annually to neighboring countries for seasonal employment (2007)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

90%

industry and services

10% (2000 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

9,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - imports

8,283 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

46.4% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.588 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $1.296 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$2.406 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $2.22 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.373 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $1.236 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$1.416 billion (31 December 2010 est) $1.303 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate

77% (2004)

Broadcast media

2 TV stations - 1 state-owned and 1 privately-owned; state-owned radio runs a national and regional network; substantial number of privately-owned radio broadcast stations; transmissions of several international broadcasters available in Ouagadougou (2007)

Internet country code

.bf

Internet hosts

1,877 (2010)

Internet users

178,100 (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

fixed-line connections stand at less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular usage, fostered by multiple providers, is increasing rapidly from a low base

general assessment

system includes microwave radio relay, open-wire, and radiotelephone communication stations; in 2006 the government sold a 51 percent stake in the national telephone company and ultimately plans to retain only a 23 percent stake in the company

international

country code - 226; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)

Telephones - main lines in use

167,000 (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

3.299 million (2009)

Airports

24 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

2 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

22 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 6 (2010)

Railways

narrow gauge

622 km 1.000-m gauge note: another 660 km of this railway extends into Cote d'Ivoire (2008)

total

622 km

Roadways

paved

3,857 km

total

92,495 km

unpaved

88,638 km (2004)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 3,608,963 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 2,280,776 females age 16-49: 2,278,474 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

185,975 (2010 est.)

male

188,394

Military branches

Army, Air Force of Burkina Faso (Force Aerienne de Burkina Faso, FABF), National Gendarmerie (2010)

Military expenditures

1.2% of GDP (2006)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; women may serve in supporting roles (2009)

Disputes - international

in September 2007, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) intervened to attempt to resolve the dispute over two villages along the Benin-Burkina Faso border that remain from a 2005 ICJ decision; in recent years citizens and rogue security forces rob and harass local populations on both sides of the poorly defined Burkina Faso-Niger border; despite the presence of more than 9,000 UN forces (UNOCI) in Cote d'Ivoire since 2004, ethnic conflict continues to spread into neighboring states that can no longer send their migrant workers to work in Ivorian cocoa plantations page last updated on January 20, 2011 ======================================================================