2015 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. Former President Blaise COMPAORE (1987-2014) resigned in late October 2014 following popular protests against his efforts to amend the Constitution's two-term presidential limit. By mid-November, a framework for an interim government was adopted under the terms of the National Transition Charter. An interim administration, led by President Michel KAFANDO and Prime Minister Yacouba Isaac ZIDA began organizing presidential and legislative elections planned for October 2015, but these have been postponed due to continuing political turmoil. Burkina Faso's high population growth and limited natural resources result in poor economic prospects for the majority of its citizens.

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

54.99 cu m/yr (2005)

total

0.72 cu km/yr (46%/3%/51%)

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 (6)

Benin 386 km, Cote d'Ivoire 545 km, Ghana 602 km, Mali 1,325 km, Niger 622 km, Togo 131 km

total

3,611 km

Land use

arable land 20.8%; permanent crops 0.3%; permanent pasture 21.9%

agricultural land

43%

forest

20.4%

other

36.6% (2011 est.)

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

12.5 cu km (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

45.2% (male 4,286,569/female 4,270,357)

15-24 years

20.08% (male 1,909,090/female 1,892,273)

25-54 years

29.13% (male 2,799,042/female 2,716,439)

55-64 years

3.14% (male 253,423/female 340,599)

65 years and over

2.45% (male 174,647/female 289,247) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

42.03 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Child labor - children ages 5-14

percentage

38% (2006 est.)

total number

1,521,006

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

26.2% (2010)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

16.2% (2010/11)

Death rate

11.72 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

4.6%

potential support ratio

21.7% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

92.2%

youth dependency ratio

87.6%

Drinking water source

urban: 97.5% of population

rural: 75.8% of population

total: 82.3% of population

urban: 2.5% of population

rural: 24.2% of population

total: 17.7% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

3.4% of GDP (2011)

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

6.4% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.94% (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

3,800 (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

107,700 (2014 est.)

Hospital bed density

0.4 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant mortality rate

female

67.87 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

82.56 deaths/1,000 live births

total

75.32 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

57.21 years (2015 est.)

male

53.1 years

total population

55.12 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

29.3% (2015 est.)

male

43%

total population

36%

Major infectious diseases

animal contact disease

rabies

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

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 (2013)

respiratory disease

meningococcal meningitis

vectorborne disease

dengue fever, malaria, and yellow fever

water contact disease

schistosomiasis

Major urban areas - population

OUAGADOUGOU (capital) 2.741 million (2015)

Median age

female

17.3 years (2015 est.)

male

17 years

total

17.1 years

Nationality

adjective

Burkinabe

noun

Burkinabe (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

5.2% (2014)

Physicians density

0.05 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

Population

18,931,686

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 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

3.03% (2015 est.)

Religions

Muslim 60.5%, Catholic 19%, animist 15.3%, Protestant 4.2%, other 0.6%, none 0.4% (2006 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 50.4% of population

rural: 6.7% of population

total: 19.7% of population

urban: 49.6% of population

rural: 93.3% of population

total: 80.3% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

7 years (2013)

male

8 years

total

8 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.01 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.03 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.74 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.6 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.86 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

2.9% (2006 est.)

male

4.6%

total

3.8%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

5.87% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

29.9% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

13 regions; Boucle du Mouhoun, Cascades, Centre, Centre-Est, Centre-Nord, Centre-Ouest, Centre-Sud, Est, Hauts-Bassins, Nord, Plateau-Central, Sahel, Sud-Ouest

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

several previous; latest approved by referendum 2 June 1991, adopted 11 June 1991; amended several times, last in 2012 (2012)

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

A mbassador Tulinabo Salama MUSHINGI (since 5 August 2013)

embassy

Rue 15.873, Avenue Sembene Ousmane, Ouaga 2000, Secteur 15

FAX

[226] 25-49-56-28

mailing address

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

telephone

[226] 25-49-53-00

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Seydou SINKA (since 1 November 2014)

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

chief of state

Interim President Michel KAFANDO (since 1 November 2014); note - President Blaise COMPAORE resigned on 31 October 2014 after efforts to amend the constitution to enable him to run for another term led to violent protests; military chief Gen. Honore TRAORE temporarily assumed power on 31 October 2014, but the army named Lt. Col. Yacouba Isaac ZIDA as the head of a transitional government on 1 November 2014; on 14 November, military and opposition party leaders agreed to a charter returning the government to civilian rule and holding elections in late 2015; Michel KAFANDO became interim president on 18 November 2014 and ZIDA became prime minister on 19 November 2014; KAFANDO and ZIDA were ousted in a military coup on 16 September 2015 and returned to power on 23 September 2015

election results

Blaise COMPAORE reelected president; percent of vote - Blaise COMPAORE 80.2%, Hama Arba DIALLO 8.2%, Benewende Stanislas SANKARA 6.3%, other 5.3%; note - President COMPAORE resigned on 31 October 2014; Michel KAFANDO took office as interim president on 18 November 2014, after being selected by a special electoral college; Lt. Col. Yacouba Isaac ZIDA was appointed as prime minister on 19 November 2014; a 25-member transitional government will rule until elections on 11 October 2015; a 90-member national transitional council will serve as a legislative body; KAFANDO was ousted in a 16 September 2015 military coup and replaced with a National Council of Democracy led by Gen. Gilbert DIENDERE but was restored to power on 23 September 2015

elections/appointments

president elected by absolute majority popular vote in two rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second); election last held on 21 November 2010 (the scheduled 11 October 2015 election has been postponed); prime minister appointed by the president with consent of the National Assembly

head of government

Prime Minister Lt. Col. Yacouba Issac ZIDA (since 19 November 2014)

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 law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court of Appeals or Cour de Cassation (consists of NA judges); Constitutional Council or Conseil Constitutionnel (consists of the council president and 3 judges)

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court judge appointments mostly controlled by the president of Burkina Faso; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Council judges appointed by the president of Burkina Faso upon the proposal of the minister of justice and the president of the National Assembly; judges appointed for 9-year terms with one-third of judges renewed every 3 years

subordinate courts

Appeals Court; High Court; first instance tribunals; district courts; specialized courts relating to issues of labor, children, and juveniles; village (customary) courts

Legal system

civil law based on the French model and customary law

Legislative branch

description

unicameral Transitional National Council - interim legislative body (90 seats; members serve a nominal 1-year term)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CDP 70, ADF-RDA 19, Union for Progress and Reform 19, UNIR-MS 4, UPR 4, CFD-B 3, PDS/Metba 2, other 6

elections

last held on 2 December 2012 (the scheduled 11 October 2015 election has been postponed)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Thomas SANKARA

name

"Le Ditanye" (Anthem of Victory)

note

adopted 1974; also known as "Une Seule Nuit" (One Single Night); written by the country's president, an avid guitar player

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

white stallion; national colors: red, yellow, green

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 [Zio Eric FRANCOIS]

Congress for Democracy and Progress or CDP [Assimi KOUANDA]

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 [Francois O. KABORE]

Party for Democracy and Socialism/Metba or PDS/Metba [Hama Arba DIALLO]

Party for National Rebirth or PAREN [Barry TAHIROU]

People's Movement for Progress or MPP [Roch March KABORE]

Rally for the Development of Burkina or RDB [Celestin Saidou COMPAORE]

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 Progress and Change or UPC [Zephirin DIABRE]

Union for Rebirth - Sankarist Movement or UNIR-MS [Benewende Stanislas SANKARA]

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]

Citizen's Resistance Front [Luc Marius IBRIGA]

Group of 14 February [Benewende Stanislas SANKARA]

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

Budget

expenditures

$3.724 billion (2014 est.)

revenues

$3.234 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-3.7% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

4.25% (31 December 2010)

4.25% (31 December 2009)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

NA% (31 December 2014 est.)

Current account balance

-$767 million (2014 est.)

-$495.9 million (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$2.974 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$2.669 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

39.5 (2007)

48.2 (1994)

Economy - overview

Burkina Faso is a poor, landlocked country that depends on adequate rainfall. About 80% of the population is engaged in subsistence farming and cotton is the main cash crop. The country has few natural resources and a weak industrial base. Cotton and gold are Burkina Faso’s key exports and Burkina Faso’s economic growth and revenue depends on global prices for the two commodities. The Burkinabe economy experienced high levels of growth over the last few years and gold accounted for about three-quarters of the country’s total export revenues in 2013. The country has seen an upswing in gold exploration, production, and exports. Burkina Faso experienced a number of public protests over the high cost of living, corruption, and other socioeconomic issues in 2013 and the fall of the COMPAORE government in 2014 gave rise to laborers pushing for better pay and working conditions. A new three-year IMF program was approved in 2013 to focus on improving the quality of public investment and ensuring inclusive growth. Political insecurity in neighboring Mali, unreliable energy supplies, and poor transportation links pose long-term challenges.

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -

491.2 (2014 est.)

494.04 (2013 est.)

510.53 (2012 est.)

471.87 (2011 est.)

495.28 (2010 est.)

Exports

$2.254 billion (2014 est.)

$2.499 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

gold, cotton, livestock

Exports - partners

China 13.5%, India 8.7%, Indonesia 7.1%, Bangladesh 6.4%, France 5.7%, Canada 5.2%, Japan 4.4% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

28.3%

government consumption

19.4%

household consumption

63.2%

imports of goods and services

-35.4%

investment in fixed capital

23%

investment in inventories

1.6%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

38%

industry

22%

services

40% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,700 (2014 est.)

$1,600 (2013 est.)

$1,500 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

4% (2014 est.)

6.6% (2013 est.)

6.5% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$12.5 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$29.31 billion (2014 est.)

$28.18 billion (2013 est.)

$26.43 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

4.6% of GDP (2014 est.)

13.6% of GDP (2013 est.)

10.4% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

32.2% (2009 est.)

lowest 10%

2.9%

Imports

$3.117 billion (2014 est.)

$2.901 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

capital goods, foodstuffs, petroleum

Imports - partners

Cote dIvoire 19.6%, France 14.1%, Togo 7.7%, China 4.8%, India 4.7%, Ghana 4.7% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

4.5% (2014 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-0.3% (2014 est.)

0.5% (2013 est.)

Labor force

7.468 million

note

a large part of the male labor force migrates annually to neighboring countries for seasonal employment (2012 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

90%

industry and services

10% (2000 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

46.7% (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$493.6 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$628.5 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of broad money

$4.211 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

$3.343 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$3.485 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$3.058 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$2.013 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$2.088 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

24.2% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

77% (2004)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

1.406 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.)

Electricity - consumption

1.033 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

86.6% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

13.4% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - imports

495 million kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

238,000 kW (2011 est.)

Electricity - production

579 million kWh (2011 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

10,250 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

11,660 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

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 stations; transmissions of several international broadcasters available in Ouagadougou (2007)

Internet country code

.bf

Internet users

percent of population

4.3% (2014 est.)

total

782,400

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 26, shortwave 3 (2007)

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% stake in the national telephone company and ultimately plans to retain only a 23% stake in the company

international

country code - 226; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

1 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

120,000

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

68 (2014 est.)

total

12.5 million

Television broadcast stations

3 (1 national, 2 private)

Airports

23 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

2,438 to 3,047 m

1 (2013)

over 3,047 m

1

total

2

Airports - with unpaved runways

5 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

3

914 to 1,523 m

13

total

21

Railways

narrow gauge

622 km 1.000-m gauge

note

another 660 km of this railway extends into Cote d'Ivoire (2014)

total

622 km

Roadways

note

does not include urban roads (2010)

total

15,272 km

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49

3,735,735 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

2,367,673 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

2,366,168

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

191,662 (2010 est.)

male

193,905

Military branches

Army, Air Force of Burkina Faso (Force Aerienne de Burkina Faso, FABF), National Gendarmerie (2011)

Military expenditures

1.39% of GDP (2012)

1.34% of GDP (2011)

1.39% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; women may serve in supporting roles (2013)

Disputes - international

adding to illicit cross-border activities, Burkina Faso has issues concerning unresolved boundary alignments with its neighbors; demarcation is currently underway with Mali; the dispute with Niger was referred to the ICJ in 2010, and a dispute over several villages with Benin persists; Benin retains a border dispute with Burkina Faso around the town of Koualou

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin)

33,703 (Mali) (2015)