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Independence from France came to Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta) in 1960. Governmental instability during the 1970s and 1980s was followed by multiparty elections in the early 1990s. Several hundred thousand farm workers migrate south every year to Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana.

[edit] Geography

Location 

Western Africa, north of Ghana

Geographic coordinates 

13 00 N, 2 00 W

Map references 

Africa

Area 

total: 274,200 sq km
water: 400 sq km
land: 273,800 sq km

Area - comparative 

slightly larger than Colorado

Land boundaries 

total: 3,193 km
border countries: Benin 306 km, Cote d'Ivoire 584 km, Ghana 549 km, Mali 1,000 km, Niger 628 km, Togo 126 km

Coastline 

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims 

none (landlocked)

Climate 

tropical; warm, dry winters; hot, wet summers

Terrain 

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

Elevation extremes 

lowest point: Mouhoun (Black Volta) River 200 m
highest point: Tena Kourou 749 m

Natural resources 

manganese, limestone, marble; small deposits of gold, antimony, copper, nickel, bauxite, lead, phosphates, zinc, silver

Land use 

arable land: 12.43%
permanent crops: 0.18%
other: 87.39% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land 

250 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards 

recurring droughts

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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban

Geography - note 

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

[edit] People

Population 

12,603,185
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 and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2002 est.)

Age structure 

0-14 years: 47.3% (male 3,007,675; female 2,960,697)
15-64 years: 49.8% (male 3,000,411; female 3,271,594)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 151,976; female 210,832) (2002 est.)

Population growth rate 

2.64% (2002 est.)

Birth rate 

44.34 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate 

17.07 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Net migration rate 

-0.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Sex ratio 

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate 

105.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Life expectancy at birth 

total population: 46.11 years
female: 46.78 years (2002 est.)
male: 45.45 years

Total fertility rate 

6.26 children born/woman (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate 

6.44% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS 

350,000 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths 

43,000 (1999 est.)

Nationality 

noun: Burkinabe (singular and plural)
adjective: Burkinabe

Ethnic groups 

Mossi over 40%, Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi, Bobo, Mande, Fulani

Religions 

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

Languages 

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

Literacy 

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 36% (2001)
male: NA%
female: NA%

[edit] Government

Country name 

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Burkina Faso
former: Upper Volta, Republic of Upper Volta

Government type 

parliamentary republic

Capital 

Ouagadougou

Administrative divisions 

30 provinces; Bam, Bazega, Bougouriba, Boulgou, Boulkiemde, Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houe, Kadiogo, Kenedougou, Komoe, Kossi, Kouritenga, Mouhoun, Namentenga, Naouri, Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Sanguie, Sanmatenga, Seno, Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Yatenga, Zoundweogo
note: a new electoral code was approved by the National Assembly in January 1997; the number of administrative provinces was increased from 30 to 45 (Bale, Bam, Banwa, Bazega, Bougouriba, Boulgou, Boulkiemde, Comoe, Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houet, Ioba, Kadiogo, Kenedougou, Komandjari, Kompienga, Kossi, Koupelogo, Kouritenga, Kourweogo, Leraba, Loroum, Mouhoun, Nahouri, Namentenga, Nayala, Naumbiel, Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Samentenga, Sanguie, Seno, Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Tuy, Yagha, Yatenga, Ziro, Zondomo, Zoundweogo), however, this change has not yet been confirmed by the US Board on Geographic Names

Independence 

5 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday 

Republic Day, 11 December (1958)

Constitution 

2 June 1991 approved by referendum; 11 June 1991 formally adopted

Legal system 

based on French civil law system and customary law

Suffrage 

universal

Executive branch 

chief of state: President Blaise COMPAORE (since 15 October 1987)
head of government: Prime Minister Ernest Paramanga YONLI (since 6 November 2000)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
election results: Blaise COMPAORE reelected president with 87.5% percent of the vote
note: President COMPAORE faces an increasingly well-coordinated opposition; recent charges against a former member of his Presidential Guard in the 1998 assassination of a newspaper editor signify an attempt to defuse chronic areas of dissatisfaction
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 15 November 1998 (next to be held NA 2005); in April 2000, the constitution was amended reducing the presidential term from seven to five years, enforceable as of 2005, and allowing the president to be reelected only once; it is unclear whether this amendment will be applied retroactively or not; prime minister appointed by the president with the consent of the legislature

Legislative branch 

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (111 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CDP 57, RDA-ADF 17, PDP/PS 10, CFD 5, PAI 5, others 17
elections: National Assembly election last held 5 May 2002 (next to be held NA May 2007)

Judicial branch 

Supreme Court; Appeals Court

Political parties and leaders 

African Democratic Rally-Alliance for Democracy and Federation or RDA-ADF [Herman YAMEOGO]; Confederation for Federation and Democracy or CFD [Amadou Diemdioda DICKO]; Congress for Democracy and Progress or CDP [Roch Marc-Christian KABORE]; Movement for Tolerance and Progress or MTP [Noyabtigungu Congo KABORE]; Party for African Independence or PAI [Philippe OUEDRAOGO]; Party for Democracy and Progress or PDP [Joseph KI-ZERBO]; Union of Greens for the Development of Burkina Faso or UVDB [Ram OVEDRAGO]

Political pressure groups and leaders 

Burkinabe General Confederation of Labor or CGTB; Burkinabe Movement for Human Rights or MBDHP; Group of 14 February; National Confederation of Burkinabe Workers or CNTB; National Organization of Free Unions or ONSL; watchdog/political action groups throughout the country in both organizations and communities

International organization participation 

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US 

chief of mission: Ambassador Tertius ZONGO
chancery: 2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
FAX: [1] (202) 667-1882
telephone: [1] (202) 332-5577

Diplomatic representation from the US 

chief of mission: Ambassador Anthony HOLMES
embassy: 602 Avenue Raoul Follereau, Koulouba, Secteur 4
mailing address: 01 B. P. 35, Ouagadougou 01; pouch mail - U. S. Department of State, 2440 Ouagadougou Place, Washington, DC 20521-2440
telephone: [226] 306723
FAX: [226] 303890

Flag description 

two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a yellow five-pointed star in the center; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

[edit] Economy

Economy - overview 

One of the poorest countries in the world, landlocked Burkina Faso has a high population density, few natural resources, and a fragile soil. About 90% of the population is engaged in (mainly subsistence) agriculture, which is highly vulnerable to variations in rainfall. Industry remains dominated by unprofitable government-controlled corporations. Following the African franc currency devaluation in January 1994 the government updated its development program in conjunction with international agencies, and exports and economic growth have increased. Maintenance of macroeconomic progress depends on continued low inflation, reduction in the trade deficit, and reforms designed to encourage private investment.

GDP 

purchasing power parity - $12.8 billion (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate 

4.7% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita 

purchasing power parity - $1,040 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector 

agriculture: 31%
industry: 28%
services: 41% (2000)

Population below poverty line 

45% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share 

lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 40% (1994) (1994)

Distribution of family income - Gini index 

48 (1994)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 

3.5% (2001 est.)

Labor force 

5 million (1999)
note: a large part of the male labor force migrates annually to neighboring countries for seasonal employment (1999)

Labor force - by occupation 

agriculture 90% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate 

NA%

Budget 

revenues: $316 million
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001)

Industries 

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

Industrial production growth rate 

14% (2001 est.)

Electricity - production 

282 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source 

fossil fuel: 71%
hydro: 29%
other: 0% (2000)
nuclear: 0%

Electricity - consumption 

262.26 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports 

0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports 

0 kWh (2000)

Agriculture - products 

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

Exports 

$265 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)

Exports - commodities 

cotton, animal products, gold

Exports - partners 

Venezuela 14.7%, Benelux 12.2%, Italy 9.6%, France 7.0% (2000)

Imports 

$580 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)

Imports - commodities 

capital goods, food products, petroleum

Imports - partners 

Cote d'Ivoire 25.1%, Venezuela 23.4%, France 17.0% (2000)

Debt - external 

$1.5 billion (1999)

Economic aid - recipient 

$484.1 million (1995) (1995)

Currency 

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States

Currency code 

XOF

Exchange rates 

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 742.79 (January 2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997); note - from 1 January 1999, the XOF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF per euro

Fiscal year 

calendar year

[edit] Communications

Telephones - main lines in use 

53,200 (2000)

Telephones - mobile cellular 

25,200 (2000)

Telephone system 

general assessment: all services only fair
domestic: microwave radio relay, open wire, and radiotelephone communication stations
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations 

AM 3, FM 17, shortwave 3 (2002)

Radios 

394,020 (2000)

Television broadcast stations 

1 (2002)

Televisions 

131,340 (2002)

Internet country code 

.bf

Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 

1 (2002)

Internet users 

25,000 (2002)

[edit] Transportation

Railways 

total: 622 km (517 km from Ouagadougou to the Cote d'Ivoire border and 105 km from Ouagadougou to Kaya)
narrow gauge: 622 km 1.000-m gauge (1995 est.)

Highways 

total: 12,506 km
paved: 2,001 km
unpaved: 10,505 km (1999)

Waterways 

none

Ports and harbors 

none

Airports 

33 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways 

total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways 

total: 31
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 17 (2002)

[edit] Military

Military branches 

Army, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Police, People's Militia

Military manpower - availability 

males age 15-49: 2,688,072 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service 

males age 15-49: 1,379,010 (2002 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure 

$40.1 million (FY01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP 

1.4% (FY01)

[edit] Transnational Issues

Disputes - international 

two villages are in dispute with Benin