Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
(2022 est.) less than 1
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
15,000 (2022 est.)
Communications: Broadcast media
14 digital TV channels, of which 2 are state-owned; over 140 national radio stations (commercial, religious, community), including a national and regional state-owned network; state-owned Radio Burkina and private Radio Omega are among the most widely available and broadcast in both French and local languages (2019)
Communications: Internet country code
.bf
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
17% (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
(2022 est.) less than 1
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
72,700 (2022 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
119 (2022 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
26.9 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
maize, sorghum, fruits, vegetables, millet, cowpeas, cotton, groundnuts, sugarcane, rice (2023)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$6.308 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$5.174 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
-$1.346 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
-$999.0 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$895.4 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
-$780.2 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
-$896.3 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
-$664.8 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
-$523.8 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
$743.2 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
$77.255 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
-$1.404 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
-$1.017 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$9.906 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$3.565 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
606.345 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
493.900 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
493.757 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
591.212 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
592.606 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
580.657 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
555.446 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
585.911 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
575.586 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
554.531 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
623.760 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
606.570 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
606.345 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
gold, cotton, oil seeds, coconuts/brazil nuts/cashews, cement (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$3.164 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$3.755 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$3.089 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$3.326 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$3.732 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$4.462 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$4.691 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$5.632 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$6.234 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$5.814 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$5.912 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$6.604 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
28.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
18.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
60.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-34.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
16.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
10.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
18.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
29.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
40.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$2,896 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$23.25 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$68.195 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018
43.0 (2018 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021
37.4 (2021 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
30.2% (2021 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
3% (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, plastic products, cement, electricity, packaged medicine (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$2.887 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$3.902 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$4.104 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$4.629 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$5.167 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$4.994 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$5.134 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$5.835 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$6.761 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$6.834 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$7.387 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
-5.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
0.72% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
0.44% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
1.48% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
1.96% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
-3.23% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
1.88% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
3.65% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
14.29% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
0.74% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
4.19% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
6.461 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
43.20% (2021 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2018
45.57% (2018 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2019
47.06% (2019 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2020
73.39% (2020 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2021
55.58% (2021 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2022
63.19% (2022 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2023
61.93% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$30.285 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$31.764 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$36.384 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$40.632 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$46.790 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$51.135 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$54.690 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$55.508 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$57.152 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$60.001 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
3.92% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
5.96% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
6.20% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
6.60% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
5.89% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
2.01% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
6.94% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
1.63% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
3.00% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
4.80% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$1,661 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$1,692 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$1,882 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$2,042 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$2,232 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$2,381 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$2,486 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$2,645 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$2,759 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$308.5 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$396.3 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$385.0 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$524.6 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
2.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
2.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
2.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
18.4% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
4.49% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
4.59% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
4.51% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
3.83% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
5.4% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
5.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
8.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
7.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
8.1% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: exports
1 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
74 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - rural areas
3.4%
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
19.5% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - urban areas
60.5%
Energy: Electricity generation sources: biomass and waste
5.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
82.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
6.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
5.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
3.096 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: imports
1.577 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
749,000 kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
212.254 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
3.481 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
37,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
7 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
5.243 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
5.243 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: 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: Environmental issues
droughts; desertification; overgrazing; soil degradation; deforestation (2019)
Environment: International environmental 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
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
Nuclear Test Ban
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
53.4% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 28.9% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 2.6% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 21.9% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
12.7% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
33.9% (2023 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
38.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
13.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
420.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
21.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
375.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
4.75% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
28.34% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
2.575 million tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
23% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly larger than Colorado
Geography: Area: land
273,800 sq km
Geography: Area: water
400 sq km
Geography: Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Tena Kourou 749 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Mouhoun (Black Volta) River 200 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
297 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
13 00 N, 2 00 W
Geography: Geography - note
landlocked savanna cut by the three principal rivers, the Black, Red, and White Voltas
Geography: Irrigated land
550 sq km (2016)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Benin 386 km; Cote d'Ivoire 545 km; Ghana 602 km; Mali 1325 km; Niger 622 km; Togo 131 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
3,611 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
53.4% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 28.9% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 2.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 21.9% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
12.7% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
33.9% (2023 est.)
Geography: Major rivers (by length in km)
Volta river source (shared with Ghana [m]) - 1,600 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage
Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Volta (410,991 sq km)
Geography: Map references
Africa
Geography: Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Geography: Natural hazards
recurring droughts
Geography: Population distribution
most of the population is located in the center and south; nearly one third lives in cities, including the capital city of Ouagadougou (Ouaga), as shown in this population distribution map (2019)
Geography: 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
Government: 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
Government: Capital: etymology
Ouagadougou is a Francophone spelling of the native name "Wogodogo," which may come from the personal name "Waga" or "Woga" and the Dyula word "dugu," meaning "village"
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
12 22 N, 1 31 W
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Burkina Faso
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
yes
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
10 years
Government: Constitution: amendment process
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
Government: Constitution: 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
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Burkina Faso
Government: Country name: etymology
name translates as "Land of the Worthy Men," from the Dyula words burkina , or "worthy," and faso , which means "land" or literally "father village," from fa , or "father," and so , or "village"
Government: Country name: former
Upper Volta, Republic of Upper Volta
Government: Country name: local long form
none
Government: Country name: local short form
Burkina Faso
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Joann M. LOCKARD (since 28 June 2024)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
AmembOuaga@state.gov https://bf.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
Secteur 15, Ouaga 2000, Avenue Sembene Ousmane, Rue 15.873, Ouagadougou
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
(226) 25-49-56-23
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
2440 Ouagadougou Place, Washington, DC 20521-2440
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
(226) 25-49-53-00
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Kassoum COULIBALY (since 24 July 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
contact@burkina-usa.org https://burkina-usa.org/
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 667-1882
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 332-5577
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
prior to the 2022 coups and ad hoc suspension of laws and constitutional provisions, Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
Transitional President Capt. Ibrahim TRAORE (since 30 September 2022)
Government: Executive branch: 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%
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
prior to the 2022 coups and ad hoc 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); prime minister appointed by the president with consent of the National Assembly
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
were to be held by July 2024, but were delayed
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel OUEDRAOGO (since 9 December 2024)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
22 November 2020
Government: Flag
description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green, with a five-pointed yellow star in the center meaning: red stands for the country's struggle for independence, green for hope and abundance, and yellow for the country's mineral wealth history: uses the colors of the Pan-African movement
Government: International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: 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
Government: 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)
Government: Judicial branch: 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 after a proposal from 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
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
Appeals Court; High Court; first instance tribunals; district courts; specialized courts relating to issues of labor, children, and juveniles; village (customary) courts
Government: Legal system
civil law based on the French model and customary law
Government: Legislative branch: chamber name
Transitional Legislative Assembly (Assemblée législative de la transition)
Government: Legislative branch: electoral system
proportional representation
Government: Legislative branch: expected date of next election
June 2029
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
unicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
Parliament (Parlement)
Government: Legislative branch: most recent election date
11/11/2022
Government: Legislative branch: number of seats
71
Government: Legislative branch: percentage of women in chamber
18.3%
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1974; also known as "Une Seule Nuit"(One Single Night) ; written by the country's former president, an avid guitar player
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Thomas SANKARA
Government: National color(s)
red, yellow, green
Government: 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)
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
4 (3 cultural, 1 natural)
Government: National holiday
Republic Day, 11 December (1958)
Government: National symbol(s)
white stallion
Government: Political parties
Act Together African Democratic Rally/Alliance for Democracy and Federation or ADF/RDA Congress for Democracy and Progress or CDP Convergence for Progress and Solidarity-Generation 3 or CPS-G3 Movement for the Future Burkina Faso or MBF National Convention for Progress or CNP New Era for Democracy or NTD Pan-African Alliance for Refoundation or APR Party for Democracy and Socialism/Metba or PDS/Metba Party for Development and Change or PDC Patriotic Rally for Integrity or RPI Peoples Movement for Progress or MPP Progressives United for Renewal or PUR Union for Progress and Reform or UPC Union for Rebirth - Sankarist Party or UNIR-PS
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: 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.
Military and Security: Military - note
the Armed Forces of Burkina Faso (FABF) are responsible for external defense but also have an internal security role and can be called out to assist internal security forces in restoring public order, combating crime, securing the border, and conducting counterterrorism/counterinsurgency/internal defense operations; the FABF has a history of involvement in the country’s politics, having conducted eight coups since its formation in 1960-61, including the most recent in September 2022 the FABF's primary focus is combatting militants of the al-Qa'ida and Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) terrorist groups, which have operated in Burkina Faso for more than a decade and control portions of the country; 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, is strongest in the north but active in nearly all of the country's 13 provinces, while ISIS in the Greater Sahara (aka ISIS-Sahel) operates in the eastern part of the country (2025)
Military and Security: 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, Air Force of 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 of Burkina Faso (includes Border Police, Judicial Police, and Intervention Units, as well as State and Public Security forces) (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
estimated 20,000 Armed Forces; estimated 50,000 Homeland Defense Volunteers (2025)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the FABF has a mix of older and some modern armaments from a variety of suppliers, including China, Egypt, France, Russia, South Africa, Türkiye, the UK, and the UAE (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
1.25% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
1.17% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
1.36% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
1.93% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
2.21% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
2.11% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
2.33% (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
2.98% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
4.08% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
4.68% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
generally, 18-35 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; citizens 18-77 years of age are eligible to volunteer for the VDP (2025)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
41.6% (male 4,868,488/female 4,727,316)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
55.1% (male 6,116,674/female 6,590,775)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
3.2% (2024 est.) (male 312,587/female 426,359)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
5.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0.31 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
7.28 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.08 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
31.74 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Child marriage: men married by age 18
1.6% (2015)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 15
8.9% (2015)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 18
51.3% (2015)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
16.9% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
7.80% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
74.3% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
7.24 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
5.8 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
17.3 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
79 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
73.2 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 34.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 49.5% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 80.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 65.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 50.5% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 19.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
5.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
20.3% national budget (2023 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
5.33% (2023 est.)
People and Society: 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.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
1.98 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
6.4% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
8.4% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.50% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
0.2 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
42.7 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
51.1 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
43.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
63.4 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
59.1 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
35.7% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
48.4% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
41.57% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
3.204 million OUAGADOUGOU (capital), 1.129 million Bobo-Dioulasso (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
242 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
19.5 years
People and Society: Median age: male
17.9 years
People and Society: Mother's mean age at first birth
20.1 years (2021 est.)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Burkinabe
People and Society: Net migration rate
-0.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
5.6% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
0.15 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
People and Society: Population
23,548,781 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
most of the population is located in the center and south; nearly one third lives in cities, including the capital city of Ouagadougou (Ouaga), as shown in this population distribution map (2019)
People and Society: Population growth rate
2.25% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
11,960,321
People and Society: Population: male
11,529,979
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 42.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 58.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 91.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 57.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 41.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 8.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
7 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
7 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
7 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.03 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
0.93 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.73 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.03 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
4.6% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
20.4% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
12.4% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
4.11 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
4.75% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
28.34% (2024 est.)
Terrorism: 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)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
2,065,358 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
41,408 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Trafficking in persons: tier rating
Tier 2 Watch List — the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period, therefore Burkina Faso remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the second consecutive year; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/burkina-faso/
Transportation: Airports
49 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
XT
Transportation: Railways: narrow gauge
622 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge
Transportation: Railways: total
622 km (2014)
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.