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 were postponed during a weeklong failed coup in September. The rescheduled elections were held on 29 November, and Roch Marc Christian KABORE was elected president in the first round. Burkina Faso's high population growth and limited natural resources result in poor economic prospects for the majority of its citizens.

Western Africa, north of Ghana

13 00 N, 2 00 W

Africa

slightly larger than Colorado

0 km (landlocked)

none (landlocked)

tropical; warm, dry winters; hot, wet summers

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

highest point: Tena Kourou 749 m

manganese, limestone, marble; small deposits of gold, phosphates, pumice, salt

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

550 sq km (2012)

the population is concentrated in the central and southern parts of the country; the east, north, and southwest are less populated

recurring droughts

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

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

20,107,509

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% (2010 est.)

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

Muslim 61.6%, Roman Catholic 23.2%, traditional/animist 7.3%, Protestant 6.7%, other/no answer 0.2%, none 0.9% (2010 est.)

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. More than 65% of the population is under the age of 25, and the population is growing at 3% 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 almost 6 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 33,500 Malians as of May 2017.

3% (2017 est.)

41.2 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

11.2 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

the population is concentrated in the central and southern parts of the country; the east, north, and southwest are less populated

OUAGADOUGOU (capital) 2.741 million (2015)

19.4 years

371 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

5.71 children born/woman (2017 est.)

25.5% (2016)

5% of GDP (2014)

0.05 physicians/1,000 population (2012)

0.4 beds/1,000 population (2010)

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.)

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.)

0.8% (2016 est.)

95,000 (2016 est.)

3,100 (2016 est.)

5.6% (2016)

19.2% (2016)

3.9% of GDP (2015)

presidential republic

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

5 August 1960 (from France)

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

civil law based on the French model and customary law

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

18 years of age; universal

African Democratic Rally/Alliance for Democracy and Federation or ADF/RDA [Gilbert Noel OUEDRAOGO]

African People’s Movement or MAP [Victorien TOUGOUMA]

Congress for Democracy and Progress or CDP [Achille TAPSOBA]

Le Faso Autrement [Ablasse OUEDRAOGO]

New Alliance of the Faso or NAFA [Rasmane OUEDRAOGO]

New Time for Democracy or NTD [Vincent DABILGOU]

Organization for Democracy and Work or ODT [Mahamoudou SAWADOGO]

Party for Development and Change or PDC [Saran SEREME]

Party for Democracy and Progress-Socialist Party or PDP-PS [Francois O. KABORE]

Party for Democracy and Socialism/Metba or PDS/Metba [Philippe OUEDRAOGO]

Party for National Renaissance or PAREN [Tahirou BARRY]

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

Rally for Democracy and Socialism or RDS [Francois OUEDRAOGO]

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

Rally of Ecologists of Burkina Faso or RDEB [Adama SERE]

Union for a New Burkina or UBN [Yacouba OUEDRAOGO]

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]

Youth Alliance for the Republic and Independence or AJIR [Adama KANAZOE]

Balai Citoyen [Guy Herve KAM]

Burkinabe General Confederation of Labor or CGTB [Bassolma BAZIE]

Burkinabe Movement for Human Rights or MBDHP [Chrysigone ZOUGMORE]

Burkinabe Society for Constitutional Law or SBDC [Abdoulaye SOMA]

Center for Democratic Governance or CGD [Thomas OUEDRAOGO]

Coalition for African Renaissance or CAR [Herve OUATTARA]

National Independent Union of Burkinabe Magistrates or SAMAB [Augustin LOADA]

National Union for Health Workers or SYNTSHA

National Union for Primary Education Teachers or SYNATEB

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

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

white stallion; national colors: red, yellow, green

Burkina Faso is a poor, landlocked country that depends on adequate rainfall. About 90% 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 - gold has accounted for about three-quarters of the country’s total export revenues. Burkina Faso’s economic growth and revenue depends largely on production levels and global prices for the two commodities. The Burkinabe economy experienced high levels of growth over the last few years, and 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, while the fall of the COMPAORE government in 2014 and failed coup in September 2015 disrupted economic activity and strained government finances. A new three-year IMF program, approved in 2013, was recently completed. Discussions are currently underway on a new program. Political insecurity in neighboring Mali, unreliable energy supplies, and poor transportation links pose long-term challenges.

$32.97 billion (2016 est.)

$30.75 billion (2015 est.)

$29.24 billion (2014 est.)

$12.12 billion (2016 est.)

5.9% (2016 est.)

4% (2015 est.)

4.2% (2014 est.)

$1,800 (2016 est.)

$1,700 (2015 est.)

$1,700 (2014 est.)

7.7% of GDP (2016 est.)

5.3% of GDP (2015 est.)

12.7% of GDP (2014 est.)

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

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

5.5% (2016 est.)

8.501 million

77% (2004)

40.1% (2009 est.)

39.5 (2007)

48.2 (1994)

20% of GDP (2016 est.)

-3.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

32.5% of GDP (2016 est.)

32.5% of GDP (2015 est.)

calendar year

-0.2% (2016 est.)

1% (2015 est.)

4.25% (31 December 2010)

4.25% (31 December 2009)

5.3% (31 December 2016 est.)

5.15% (31 December 2015 est.)

$2.274 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$2.124 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$4.228 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$4 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$3.205 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$3.192 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$NA

$-828 million (2016 est.)

$-890.2 million (2015 est.)

$2.641 billion (2016 est.)

$2.364 billion (2015 est.)

gold, cotton, livestock

Switzerland 65.7%, India 6.3%, South Africa 5.2%, Singapore 4.6% (2016)

$2.802 billion (2016 est.)

$2.606 billion (2015 est.)

capital goods, foodstuffs, petroleum

China 12.2%, Cote dIvoire 8.2%, Japan 7.8%, France 7.1%, Netherlands 4.5%, Spain 4.2%, India 4.1%, Russia 4% (2016)

$50.9 million (31 December 2016 est.)

$67.3 million (31 December 2015 est.)

$2.88 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$2.627 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -

593.01 (2016 est.)

593.01 (2015 est.)

591.45 (2014 est.)

494.42 (2013 est.)

510.53 (2012 est.)

944 million kWh (2015 est.)

1.321 billion kWh (2015 est.)

0 kWh (2016 est.)

443 million kWh (2015 est.)

306,000 kW (2015 est.)

86.9% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

10.5% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

3.3% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

0 bbl/day (2016 est.)

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2017 es)

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

22,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

20,890 bbl/day (2014 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2014 es)

1.4 million Mt (2013 est.)

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)

.bf

XT (2016)

23 (2013)

1.23% of GDP (2016)

1.33% of GDP (2015)

1.43% of GDP (2014)

1.39% of GDP (2013)

1.32% of GDP (2012)

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

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

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