2024 Edition Primary

Background

Many of Burkina Faso’s ethnic groups arrived in the region between the 12th and 15th centuries. The Gurma and Mossi peoples established several of the largest kingdoms in the area and used horse-mounted warriors in military campaigns. Of the various Mossi kingdoms, the most powerful were Ouagadougou and Yatenga. In the late 19th century, European states competed for control of the region. France eventually conquered the area and established it as a French protectorate. The country achieved independence from France in 1960 and changed its name to Burkina Faso in 1984. Repeated military coups were common in the country’s first few decades. In 1987 Blaise COMPAORE deposed the president, established a government, and ruled for 27 years. In 2014, COMPAORE resigned after protests against his repeated efforts to amend the constitution's two-term presidential limit. An interim administration led a year-long transition, organizing presidential and legislative elections. In 2015, Roch Marc Christian KABORE was elected president, and he was reelected in 2020. In 2022, the military conducted two takeovers: In January, army colonel Paul Henri DAMIBA overthrew KABORE in a coup d'etat, and then in September, army captain Ibrahim TRAORE deposed DAMIBA and declared himself transition president. The transition government planned to hold elections by July 2024, but they may be delayed due to security concerns.Terrorist groups -- including groups affiliated with Al-Qa’ida and the Islamic State -- began attacks in the country in 2016 and conducted attacks in the capital in 2016, 2017, and 2018. By early 2023, insecurity in Burkina Faso had displaced more than 2 million people and led to significant jumps in humanitarian needs and food insecurity. In addition to terrorism, the country faces a myriad of problems including high population growth, recurring drought, pervasive and perennial food insecurity, and limited natural resources. It is one of the world’s poorest countries.  

Area

land

273,800 sq km

total

274,200 sq km

water

400 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Colorado

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 small area of hot desert in the very north of the country bordering the Sahara Desert

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation

highest point

Tena Kourou 749 m

lowest point

Mouhoun (Black Volta) River 200 m

mean elevation

297 m

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

550 sq km (2016)

Land boundaries

border countries

Benin 386 km; Cote d'Ivoire 545 km; Ghana 602 km; Mali 1325 km; Niger 622 km; Togo 131 km

total

3,611 km

Land use

agricultural land

44.2% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 22% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 37% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 21.93% (2018 est.)

forest

19.3% (2018 est.)

other

36.5% (2018 est.)

Location

Western Africa, north of Ghana

Major rivers (by length in km)

Volta river source (shared with Ghana [m]) - 1,600 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Volta (410,991 sq km)

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

recurring droughts

Natural resources

gold, manganese, zinc, limestone, marble, phosphates, pumice, salt

Population distribution

Most of the population is located in the center and south. Nearly one-third of the population lives in cities. The capital and largest city is Ouagadougou (Ouaga), with a population of 1.8 million as shown in this population distribution map (2019)

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 south

Age structure

0-14 years

41.6% (male 4,868,488/female 4,727,316)

15-64 years

55.1% (male 6,116,674/female 6,590,775)

65 years and over

3.2% (2024 est.) (male 312,587/female 426,359)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

5.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

0.31 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

7.28 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0.08 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

31.9 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

17.5% (2021)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

35.3% (2020/21)

Current health expenditure

6.7% of GDP (2020)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

73.5% (2023)

Death rate

7.3 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Demographic profile

Burkina Faso has a young age structure – the result of declining mortality combined with steady high fertility – and continues to experience rapid population growth, which is putting increasing pressure on the country’s limited arable land. Almost 65% of the population is under the age of 25 as of 2020, and the population is growing at 2.5% annually. Mortality rates, especially those of infants and children, have decreased because of improved health care, hygiene, and sanitation, but women continue to have an average of more than 4 children. Even if fertility were substantially reduced, today’s large cohort entering their reproductive years would sustain high population growth for the foreseeable future. Only about a third of the population is literate and unemployment is widespread, dampening the economic prospects of Burkina Faso’s large working-age population. Migration has traditionally been a way of life for Burkinabe, with seasonal migration being replaced by stints of up to two years abroad. Cote d’Ivoire remains the top destination, although it has experienced periods of internal conflict. Under French colonization, Burkina Faso became a main labor source for agricultural and factory work in Cote d’Ivoire. Burkinabe also migrated to Ghana, Mali, and Senegal for work between the world wars. Burkina Faso attracts migrants from Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Mali, who often share common ethnic backgrounds with the Burkinabe. Despite its food shortages and high poverty rate, Burkina Faso has become a destination for refugees in recent years and hosts about 33,600 Malian refugees as of October 2022. (2018)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

4.8

potential support ratio

20.9 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

87.4

youth dependency ratio

82.6

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 71.3% of population

improved: total

total: 78.5% of population

improved: urban

urban: 94.7% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 28.7% of population

unimproved: total

total: 21.5% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 5.3% of population

Education expenditures

5.5% of GDP (2020 est.)

Ethnic groups

Mossi 53.7%, Fulani (Peuhl) 6.8%, Gurunsi 5.9%, Bissa 5.4%, Gurma 5.2%, Bobo 3.4%, Senufo 2.2%, Bissa 1.5%, Lobi 1.5%, Tuareg/Bella 0.1%, other 12.8%, foreign 0.7% (2021 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.98 (2024 est.)

Hospital bed density

0.4 beds/1,000 population

Infant mortality rate

female

42.7 deaths/1,000 live births

male

51.1 deaths/1,000 live births

total

47 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Languages

Mossi 52.9%, Fula 7.8%, Gourmantche 6.8%, Dyula 5.7%, Bissa 3.3%, Gurunsi 3.2%, French (official) 2.2%, Bwamu 2%, Dagara 2%, San 1.7%, Marka 1.6%, Bobo 1.5%, Senufo 1.5%, Lobi 1.2%, other 6.6% (2019 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

female

66.1 years

male

62.3 years

total population

64.2 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

37.8% (2021)

male

54.5%

total population

46%

Major urban areas - population

3.204 million OUAGADOUGOU (capital), 1.129 million Bobo-Dioulasso (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

264 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Median age

female

19.5 years

male

17.9 years

total

18.7 years (2024 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

20.1 years (2021 est.)

note

note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

Nationality

adjective

Burkinabe

noun

Burkinabe (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

-0.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

5.6% (2016)

Physician density

0.09 physicians/1,000 population (2019)

Population

female

11,744,450 (2024 est.)

male

11,297,749

total

23,042,199

Population distribution

Most of the population is located in the center and south. Nearly one-third of the population lives in cities. The capital and largest city is Ouagadougou (Ouaga), with a population of 1.8 million as shown in this population distribution map (2019)

Population growth rate

2.4% (2024 est.)

Religions

Muslim 63.8%, Roman Catholic 20.1%, Animiste 9%, Protestant 6.2%, other 0.2%, none 0.7% (2019 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 37.7% of population

improved: total

total: 54% of population

improved: urban

urban: 90.8% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 62.3% of population

unimproved: total

total: 46% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 9.2% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

9 years (2020)

male

9 years

total

9 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.03 male(s)/female

15-64 years

0.93 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.73 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

female

6.4% (2020 est.)

male

22.1% (2020 est.)

total

14.3% (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.02 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

4.75% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

32.5% of total population (2023)

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

etymology

Ouagadougou is a Francophone spelling of the native name "Wogodogo," meaning "where people get honor and respect"

geographic coordinates

12 22 N, 1 31 W

name

Ouagadougou

time difference

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

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Burkina Faso

dual citizenship recognized

yes

residency requirement for naturalization

10 years

Constitution

amendments

proposed by the president, by a majority of National Assembly membership, or by petition of at least 30,000 eligible voters submitted to the Assembly; passage requires at least three-fourths majority vote in the Assembly; failure to meet that threshold requires majority voter approval in a referendum; constitutional provisions on the form of government, the multiparty system, and national sovereignty cannot be amended; amended several times

history

several previous; latest approved by referendum 2 June 1991, adopted 11 June 1991, temporarily suspended late October to mid-November 2014; initial draft of a new constitution to usher in the new republic was completed in January 2017 and a final draft was submitted to the government in December 2017; a constitutional referendum originally scheduled for adoption in March 2019 was postponed; on 1 March 2022 a transition charter was adopted, allowing military authorities to rule for three years and barring the transitional president from being an electoral candidate after the transition

Country name

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Burkina Faso

etymology

name translates as "Land of the Honest (Incorruptible) Men"

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 Joann M. LOCKARD (since 28 June 2024)

email address and website

AmembOuaga@state.govhttps://bf.usembassy.gov/

embassy

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

FAX

(226) 25-49-56-23

mailing address

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); Chargé d'Affaires Edouard BOUDA (since 1 February 2024)

email address and website

contact@burkina-usa.orghttps://burkina-usa.org/

FAX

[1] (202) 667-1882

telephone

[1] (202) 332-5577

Executive branch

cabinet

prior to the 2022 coups and adhoc suspension of laws and constitutional provisions, Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister

chief of state

Transitional President Capt. Ibrahim TRAORE (since 30 September 2022)

election results

2020: Roch Marc Christian KABORE reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Roch Marc Christian KABORE (MPP) 57.9%, Eddie KOMBOIGO (CDP) 15.5%, Zephirin DIABRE (UPC) 12.5%, other 14.1%2015: Roch Marc Christian KABORE elected president in first round; percent of vote - Roch Marc Christian KABORE (MPP) 53.5%, Zephirin DIABRE (UPC) 29.6%, Tahirou BARRY (PAREN) 3.1%, Benewende Stanislas SANKARA (UNIR-MS) 2.8%, other 10.9%

elections/appointments

prior to the 2022 coups and adhoc suspension of laws and constitutional provisions, president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); last held on 22 November 2020 (next were to be held by July 2024, but may be delayed by the transitional government due to security concerns); prime minister appointed by the president with consent of the National Assembly

head of government

Prime Minister Joachim KYLEM DE TAMBELA (since 21 October 2022)

note

note - on 30 September 2022, a military junta, led by TRAORE, took power and ousted Transition President Lt. Col. Paul-Henri Sandaogo DAMIBA and took over as head of the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restorationnote - Transitional President TRAORE appointed KYLEM DE TAMBELA Prime Minister on 21 October 2022; the position had been vacant since 30 September 2022 when the military ousted former Prime Minister Albert OUEDRAOGO

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

note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Government type

presidential 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 (suspended), CD, 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, MINUSCA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNITAR, UNMISS, UNOOSA, 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); Council of State (consists of NA judges); Constitutional Council or Conseil Constitutionnel (consists of the council president and 9 members)

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court judge appointments mostly controlled by the president of Burkina Faso; judges have no term limits; Council of State judge appointment and 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 membership 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; in mid-2019, the National Assembly amended the penal code

Legislative branch

description

prior to the 2022 coups and ad hoc suspension of laws and constitutional provisions, 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 nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms); 71-member Transitional Legislative Assembly (ALT) appointed by the military junta in 2022 indefinitely replaced the National Assembly

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; men 58, women 13, percentage women 18.3%

elections

last held on 22 November 2020 (an amended Transitional Charter, adopted at a national forum in May 2024, extends the transitional period by 60 months as of 2 July 2024, to July 2029)

note

note: a series of coups in 2022 led to the ad hoc suspension of laws and constitutional provisions, including the unicameral National Assembly; a military junta in 2022 appointed the 71-member Transnational Legislative Assembly (ALT); a Transitional Charter, adopted in October 2022, provided for a transitional period that was extended in May 2024 until July 2029

National anthem

lyrics/music

Thomas SANKARA

name

"Le Ditanye" (Anthem of Victory)

note

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

National heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

Ruins of Loropéni (c); Ancient Ferrous Metallurgy Sites of Burkina Faso (c); W-Arly-Pendjari Complex (n); Royal Court of Tiébélé (c)

total World Heritage Sites

4 (3 cultural, 1 natural)

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

Act TogetherAfrican Democratic Rally/Alliance for Democracy and Federation or ADF/RDACongress for Democracy and Progress or CDPConvergence for Progress and Solidarity-Generation 3 or CPS-G3Movement for the Future Burkina Faso or MBFNational Convention for Progress or CNPNew Era for Democracy or NTDPan-African Alliance for Refoundation or APRParty for Democracy and Socialism/Metba or PDS/MetbaParty for Development and Change or PDCPatriotic Rally for Integrity or RPIPeoples Movement for Progress or MPPProgressives United for Renewal or PURUnion for Progress and Reform or UPCUnion for Rebirth - Sankarist Party or UNIR-PS

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

sorghum, maize, fruits, vegetables, millet, cowpeas, cotton, groundnuts, sugarcane, rice (2022)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Budget

expenditures

$4.018 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

revenues

$4.649 billion (2022 est.)

Credit ratings

note

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Standard & Poors rating

B (2017)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2020

$743.232 million (2020 est.)

Current account balance 2021

$77.255 million (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$1.404 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Debt - external

Debt - external 2022

$3.234 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Economic overview

highly agrarian, low-income economy; limited natural resources; widespread poverty; terrorism disrupting potential economic activity; improving trade balance via increases in gold exports; economy inflating after prior deflation; growing public debt but still manageable

Exchange rates

Currency

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

585.911 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

575.586 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

554.531 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

623.76 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

606.57 (2023 est.)

Exports

Exports 2020

$5.356 billion (2020 est.)

Exports 2021

$6.234 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$5.814 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

gold, cotton, oil seeds, coconuts/Brazil nuts/cashews, zinc ore (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

Switzerland 74%, UAE 7%, Mali 4%, Singapore 2%, Cote d'Ivoire 2% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

28.9% (2023 est.)

government consumption

20% (2023 est.)

household consumption

64.6% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-36% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

17.2% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories

5.4% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

16.3% (2023 est.)

industry

29.3% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

services

43.6% (2023 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$20.325 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021

37.4 (2021 est.)

note

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

30.2% (2021 est.)

lowest 10%

3% (2021 est.)

note

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports

Imports 2020

$4.779 billion (2020 est.)

Imports 2021

$5.835 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$6.761 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, electricity, packaged medicine, plastic products, natural gas (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

Cote d'Ivoire 16%, China 12%, Russia 7%, France 7%, Ghana 5% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

1.95% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

3.65% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

14.29% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

0.74% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

8.577 million (2023 est.)

note

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Population below poverty line

43.2% (2021 est.)

note

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt

note

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Public debt 2022

62.53% of GDP (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$54.539 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$55.508 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$57.152 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2021

6.94% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

1.78% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

2.96% (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$2,500 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$2,400 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$2,500 (2023 est.)

Remittances

note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

2.91% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

2.78% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

2.85% of GDP (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2016

$50.9 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2017

$49 million (31 December 2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

17.67% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Unemployment rate

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2021

5.11% (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

5.35% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

5.29% (2023 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

8.5% (2023 est.)

male

7.6% (2023 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

total

8% (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from petroleum and other liquids

4.989 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

total emissions

4.989 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Coal

exports

(2022 est.) less than 1 metric ton

imports

3 metric tons (2022 est.)

Electricity

consumption

2.11 billion kWh (2022 est.)

imports

1.546 billion kWh (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity

449,000 kW (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

218.033 million kWh (2022 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - rural areas

3.4%

electrification - total population

19.5% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas

60.5%

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

0.3% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

fossil fuels

68.4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

hydroelectricity

15.4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

solar

16% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2022

3.419 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

36,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

0.1 (2020 est.)

total

13,979 (2020 est.)

Broadcast media

since the official inauguration of Terrestrial Digital Television (TNT) in December 2017, Burkina Faso now has 14 digital TV channels among which 2 are state-owned; there are more than 140 radio stations (commercial, religious, community) available throughout the country including a national and regional state-owned network; the state-owned Radio Burkina and the private Radio Omega are among the most widespread stations and both include broadcasts in French and local languages (2019)

Internet country code

.bf

Internet users

percent of population

22% (2021 est.)

total

4.84 million (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

fixed-line connections stand at less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular usage nearly 112 per 100, with multiple providers there is competition and the hope for growth from a low base; Internet penetration is 16% (2021)

general assessment

Burkina Faso’s telecom sector in recent years has made some gains in providing the necessary infrastructure and bandwidth to support telecom services; an IXP completed in September 2020 increased international bandwidth capacity by a third, while in mid-2021 the government was able to start the second phase of a national fiber backbone project; this will link the capital city to an addition 145 municipalities, and provide additional connectivity to terrestrial cables in neighboring countries; the activities of the militants in side areas of the country jeopardize overall security, and render it difficult for the telcos to safeguard their networks and equipment; Burkina Faso joins G5 Sahel countries to eliminate roaming fees (2022)

international

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

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2021 est.) less than 1

total subscriptions

81,000 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

112 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

24.678 million (2021 est.)

Airports

49 (2024)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

XT

National air transport system

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

100,000 (2018) mt-km

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

151,531 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

3

number of registered air carriers

1 (2020)

Railways

narrow gauge

622 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge

note

note: another 660 km of this railway extends into Cote d'Ivoire

total

622 km (2014)

Roadways

paved

3,642 km (2014)

total

15,304 km (2017)

unpaved

11,662 km (2014)

Military - note

the FABF has a history of interference in the country’s politics, having conducted eight coups since its formation in 1960-61, including the most recent in September 2022; several combat units were disbanded in 2011 following mutinies; while the FABF is responsible for external defense, it has an internal security role and can be called out to assist internal security forces in restoring public order, combating crime, securing the border, and counterterrorism; indeed, for more than a decade, its focus has largely been internal counterterrorism and counterinsurgency operations, and it is actively engaged in combat operations against terrorist groups affiliated with al-Qa'ida and the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS), particularly in the northern and eastern regionsin the north, Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), a coalition of al-Qa'ida linked militant groups that act as al-Qa'ida in the Land of the Islamic Magreb's (AQIM) arm in the Sahel, has exploited ethnic tensions and perceptions of state neglect, as well as grievances over corruption, patronage politics, social stratification, and land disputes; in 2024, JNIM was active in nearly all of the country's 13 provinces; the ISIS-Greater Sahara (ISIS-GS) terrorist group operates in the eastern part of the country (2024)

Military and security forces

Armed Forces of Burkina Faso (FABF; aka National Armed Forces (FAN), aka Defense and Security Forces (Forces de Défense et de Sécurité or FDS)): Army of Burkina Faso (L’Armee de Terre, LAT), Air Force of Burkina Faso (Force Aerienne de Burkina Faso), National Gendarmerie, National Fire Brigade (Brigade Nationale de Sapeurs-Pompiers or BNSP); Homeland Defense Volunteers (Forcés de Volontaires de Défense pour la Patrie or VDP)Ministry of Territorial Administration, Decentralization and Security (Ministère de l'Administration Territoriale, de la Décentralisation et de la Sécurité): National Police (2024)

note

note 1: the National Gendarmerie officially reports to the Ministry of Defense, but usually operates in support of the Ministry of Territorial Administration, Decentralization, and Security; the Gendarmerie's primary mission is counterterrorism; it is comprised of “legions” and mobile squadrons, including a Special Legion for combating organized crime and terrorism and providing security for high-level officials and government institutions; other government forces specializing in counterterrorism include the Army's Special Forces and the Multipurpose Intervention Unit of the National Policenote 2: the VDP is a lightly-armed civilian defense/militia force established in 2019 to act as auxiliaries to the Army; the volunteers receive two weeks of training and typically assist with carrying out surveillance, information-gathering, and escort duties, as well as local defense, and were to be based in each of the country's more than 300 municipalities; in 2022, the military government created a "Patriotic Watch and Defense Brigade" (La Brigade de Veille et de Défense Patriotique or BVDP) under the FABF to coordinate the VDP recruits

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 15-20,000 Armed Forces personnel; approximately 50,000 Homeland Defense Volunteers (2024)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the FABF has a mix of older, secondhand, and some modern equipment from a variety of suppliers, including China, Egypt, France, Russia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, and the US (2024)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2019

2.2% of GDP (2019 est.)

Military Expenditures 2020

2.4% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

2.4% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

2.9% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

4% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18-26 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; citizens 18-77 years of age are eligible to volunteer for the VDP (2023)

note

note: the military government implemented an emergency law in 2023 that allows the president extensive powers to combat terrorist groups operating in the country, including conscripting citizens into the security services

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

2,062,534 (2023)

refugees (country of origin)

36,372 (Mali) (2023)

Trafficking in persons

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch list — Burkina Faso did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period and was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; for more details, go to:  https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-trafficking-in-persons-report/burkina-faso/

Terrorist group(s)

Ansarul Islam; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham in the Greater Sahara (ISIS-GS); al-Mulathamun Battalion (al-Mourabitoun); Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM)

note

note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

3.42 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

12.85 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

40.74 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

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 small area of hot desert in the very north of the country bordering the Sahara Desert

Environment - current issues

recent droughts and desertification severely affecting agricultural activities, population distribution, and the economy; overgrazing; soil degradation; deforestation (2019)

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

Nuclear Test Ban

Food insecurity

severe localized food insecurity

due to civil insecurity in the north and high food prices - according to the latest analysis, about 3.53 million people are projected to face acute food insecurity during the June to August 2023 lean season period; this would be a slight increase compared to the preceding year; acute food insecurity is primarily underpinned by poor insecurity in northern and eastern areas, and in particular by the use of siege tactics by non-state armed groups in the country’s Sahel region; as of March 2023, civil insecurity resulted in the displacement of about 2.06 million people; persistent high food prices are affecting vulnerable households across the country, particularly those in conflict-affected areas due to market disruptions as well as constrained access to sources of income and humanitarian assistance (2023)

Land use

agricultural land

44.2% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 22% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 37% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 21.93% (2018 est.)

forest

19.3% (2018 est.)

other

36.5% (2018 est.)

Major rivers (by length in km)

Volta river source (shared with Ghana [m]) - 1,600 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Volta (410,991 sq km)

Revenue from coal

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

4.54% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

13.5 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

420 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial

20 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal

380 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

4.75% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

32.5% of total population (2023)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

2,575,251 tons (2015 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually

309,030 tons (2005 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

12% (2005 est.)