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Geography
People & Society
Goverment
Economy
Energy
Communications
Transportation
Military
Transnational issues

Burkina Faso

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Introduction ::Burkina Faso

Background:

Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.

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. Current President Blaise COMPAORE came to power in a 1987 military coup and has won every election since then. Burkina Faso's high population density and limited natural resources result in poor economic prospects for the majority of its citizens.

Geography ::Burkina Faso

Location:

Western Africa, north of Ghana

Geographic coordinates:

13 00 N, 2 00 W

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 274,200 sq km

country comparison to the world: 75

land: 273,800 sq km

water: 400 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, phosphates, pumice, salt

Land use:

arable land: 20.79%

permanent crops: 0.24%

other: 78.98% (2011)

Irrigated land:

250 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

12.5 cu km (2011)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.716 cu km/yr (46%/3%/51%)

per capita: 54.99 cu m/yr (2005)

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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

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

People and Society ::Burkina Faso

Nationality:

noun: Burkinabe (singular and plural)

adjective: Burkinabe

Ethnic groups:

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

Languages:

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

Religions:

Muslim 60.5%, Catholic 19%, animist 15.3%, Protestant 4.2%, other 0.6%, none 0.4%

Population:

17,812,961 (July 2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 60

note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected

Age structure:

0-14 years: 45.5% (male 4,062,522/female 4,044,548)

15-24 years: 20% (male 1,794,740/female 1,775,072)

25-54 years: 28.9% (male 2,608,676/female 2,532,406)

55-64 years: 3.1% (male 229,202/female 324,921)

65 years and over: 2.5% (male 168,099/female 272,775) (2013 est.)

population pyramid:

Median age:

total: 17 years

male: 16.8 years

female: 17.2 years (2012 est.)

Population growth rate:

3.073% (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 8

Birth rate:

43.2 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 4

Death rate:

12.47 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 26

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 109

Urbanization:

urban population: 26% of total population (2010)

rate of urbanization: 6.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities - population:

OUAGADOUGOU (capital) 1.777 million (2009)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female

total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate:

300 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

country comparison to the world: 38

Infant mortality rate:

total: 79.84 deaths/1,000 live births

country comparison to the world: 9

male: 87.26 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 72.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 54.07 years

country comparison to the world: 203

male: 52.09 years

female: 56.1 years (2012 est.)

Total fertility rate:

6 children born/woman (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 5

Health expenditures:

6.7% of GDP (2010)

country comparison to the world: 91

Physicians density:

0.064 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Hospital bed density:

0.4 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Drinking water source:

improved:

urban: 95% of population

rural: 73% of population

total: 79% of population

unimproved:

urban: 5% of population

rural: 27% of population

total: 21% of population (2010 est.)

Sanitation facility access:

improved:

urban: 50% of population

rural: 6% of population

total: 17% of population

unimproved:

urban: 50% of population

rural: 94% of population

total: 83% of population (2010 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

1.2% (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 40

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

110,000 (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 40

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

7,100 (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 30

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne disease: malaria and yellow fever

water contact disease: schistosomiasis

respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis

animal contact disease: rabies

note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight:

26% (2009)

country comparison to the world: 24

Education expenditures:

4% of GDP (2010)

country comparison to the world: 111

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 21.8%

male: 29.4%

female: 15.2% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 6 years

male: 7 years

female: 6 years (2009)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:

total: 3.8%

country comparison to the world: 133

male: 4.6%

female: 2.9% (2006)

Government ::Burkina Faso

Country name:

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Burkina Faso

local long form: none

local short form: Burkina Faso

former: Upper Volta, Republic of Upper Volta

Government type:

parliamentary republic

Capital:

name: Ouagadougou

geographic coordinates: 12 22 N, 1 31 W

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

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

Independence:

5 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday:

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

Constitution:

approved by referendum 2 June 1991; formally adopted 11 June 1991; last amended January 2002

Legal system:

civil law based on the French model and customary law

International law organization participation:

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Blaise COMPAORE (since 15 October 1987)

head of government: Prime Minister Luc-Adolphe TIAO (since 18 April 2011)

cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister

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elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 21 November 2010 (next to be held in 2015); prime minister appointed by the president with the consent of the legislature

election results: Blaise COMPAORE reelected president; percent of popular vote - Blaise COMPAORE 80.2%, Hama Arba DIALLO 8.2%, Benewende Stanislas SANKARA 6.3%, other 5.3%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (127 seats; members are elected by proportional representation in one national constituency of 16 seats, and 45 multi-member constituencies having between 2 and 9 seats with members serving five-year terms)

elections: National Assembly election last held on 2 December 2012 (next to be held in 2017)

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

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court of Appeals or Cour de Cassation; Council of State or Conseil d'Etat; Court of Accounts or la Cour des Comptes; Constitutional Council or Conseil Constitutionnel

Political parties and leaders:

African Democratic Rally-Alliance for Democracy and Federation or ADF-RDA [Gilbert OUEDRAOGO]; Citizen's Popular Rally or RPC [Antoine QUARE]; Coalition of Democratic Forces of Burkina or CFD-B [Amadou Diemdioda DICKO]; Congress for Democracy and Progress or CDP [Roch Marc-Christian KABORE]; Democratic and Popular Rally or RDP [Nana THIBAUT]; Movement for Tolerance and Progress or MTP [Nayabtigungou Congo KABORE]; Party for African Independence or PAI [Soumane TOURE]; Party for Democracy and Progress-Socialist Party or PDP-PS [Ali LANKOANDE]; Party for Democracy and Socialism/Metba or PDS/Metba [Hama Arba DIALLO]; Party for National Rebirth or PAREN [Jeanne TRAORE]; Rally for the Development of Burkina or RDB [Antoine KARGOUGOU]; Rally of Ecologists of Burkina Faso or RDEB [Ram OUEDRAGO]; Republican Party for Integration and Solidarity or PARIS; Union for Democracy and Social Progress or UDPS [Fidele HIEN]; Union for Progress and Reform; Union for Rebirth - Sankarist Movement or UNIR-MS [Benewende Stanislas SANKARA]; Union for the Republic or UPR [Toussaint Abel COULIBALY]; Union of Sankarist Parties or UPS [Ernest Nongma OUEDRAOGO]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Burkinabe General Confederation of Labor or CGTB [Tole SAGNON]; Burkinabe Movement for Human Rights or MBDHP [Chrysigone ZOUGMORE]; Group of 14 February [Benewende STANISLAS]; National Confederation of Burkinabe Workers or CNTB [Laurent OUEDRAOGO]; National Organization of Free Unions or ONSL [Paul KABORE]

other: watchdog/political action groups throughout the country in both organizations and communities

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, CD, ECOWAS, EITI (candidate country), Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, 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

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Seydou BOUDA

chancery: 2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 332-5577

FAX: [1] (202) 667-1882

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas DOUGHERTY

embassy: 602 Avenue Raoul Follereau, Koulouba, Secteur 4

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

telephone: [226] 50-49-53-00

FAX: [226] 50-49-56-28

Flag description:

two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a yellow five-pointed star in the center; red recalls the country's struggle for independence, green is for hope and abundance, and yellow represents the country's mineral wealth

note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia

National symbol(s):

white stallion

National anthem:

name: "Le Ditanye" (Anthem of Victory)

lyrics/music: Thomas SANKARA

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

Economy ::Burkina Faso

Economy - overview:

Burkina Faso is a poor, landlocked country that relies heavily on cotton and gold exports for revenue. The country has few natural resources and a weak industrial base. About 90% of the population is engaged in subsistence agriculture, which is vulnerable to periodic drought. Cotton is the main cash crop. Since 1998, Burkina Faso has embarked upon a gradual privatization of state-owned enterprises and in 2004 revised its investment code to attract foreign investment. As a result of this new code and other legislation favoring the mining sector, the country has seen an upswing in gold exploration and production. By 2010, gold had become the main source of export revenue. Gold mining production doubled between 2009 and 2010. Two new mining projects were launched the third quarter of 2011. Local community conflict persists in the mining and cotton sectors, but the Prime Minister has made efforts to defuse some of the economic cause of public discontent, including announcing income tax reductions, reparations for looting victims, and subsidies for basic food items and fertilizer. An IMF mission to Burkina Faso in October 2011 expressed general satisfaction with the measures. The risk of a mass exodus of the 3 to 4 million Burinabe who live and work in Cote D'Ivoire has dissipated and trade, power, and transport links are being restored. Burkina Faso experienced a severe drought in 2011 which decimated grazing land and decreased harvests, creating food insecurity and damaging the country's agricultural base.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$24.03 billion (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 123

$22.46 billion (2011 est.)

$21.56 billion (2010 est.)

note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$10.27 billion (2012 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7% (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 30

4.2% (2011 est.)

7.9% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,400 (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 206

$1,300 (2011 est.)

$1,300 (2010 est.)

note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 34.4%

industry: 23.4%

services: 42.2% (2012 est.)

Labor force:

6.668 million

country comparison to the world: 65

note: a large part of the male labor force migrates annually to neighboring countries for seasonal employment (2007)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 90%

industry and services: 10% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:

77% (2004)

country comparison to the world: 199

Population below poverty line:

46.7% (2009 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.9%

highest 10%: 32.2% (2009 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

39.5 (2007)

country comparison to the world: 63

48.2 (1994)

Investment (gross fixed):

20.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 89

Budget:

revenues: $2.256 billion

expenditures: $2.693 billion (2012 est.)

Taxes and other revenues:

22% of GDP (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 143

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):

-4.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 144

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4.5% (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 125

2.8% (2011 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

4.25% (31 December 2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 84

4.25% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

NA%

Stock of narrow money:

$1.9 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 128

$1.56 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money:

$3.91 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 134

$2.805 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit:

$2.414 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 134

$1.705 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$NA

Agriculture - products:

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

Industries:

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

Industrial production growth rate:

5.5% (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 56

Current account balance:

-$481.1 million (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 94

-$125.8 million (2011 est.)

Exports:

$2.734 billion (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 135

$2.438 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities:

gold, cotton, livestock

Exports - partners:

China 21%, Turkey 16.9%, Singapore 8.4%, Indonesia 6.6%, Thailand 4.9%, Malaysia 4.3% (2011)

Imports:

$2.868 billion (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 151

$2.347 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities:

capital goods, foodstuffs, petroleum

Imports - partners:

Cote dIvoire 16.7%, France 15.2%, Ghana 5%, Togo 4.7%, Belgium 4.2% (2011)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.433 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 127

$957 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Debt - external:

$2.442 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 138

$2.336 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Exchange rates:

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -

514.1 (2012 est.)

471.87 (2011 est.)

495.28 (2010 est.)

472.19 (2009)

447.81 (2008)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Energy ::Burkina Faso

Electricity - production:

664.4 million kWh (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 157

Electricity - consumption:

762.5 million kWh (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 157

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 143

Electricity - imports:

144.6 million kWh (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 90

Electricity - installed generating capacity:

252,000 kW (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 153

Electricity - from fossil fuels:

87.3% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 82

Electricity - from nuclear fuels:

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 194

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:

12.7% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 109

Electricity - from other renewable sources:

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 197

Crude oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 199

Crude oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 198

Crude oil - imports:

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 135

Crude oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 198

Refined petroleum products - production:

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

country comparison to the world: 204

Refined petroleum products - consumption:

9,960 bbl/day (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 155

Refined petroleum products - exports:

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

country comparison to the world: 140

Refined petroleum products - imports:

12,540 bbl/day (2008 est.)

country comparison to the world: 128

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 202

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 203

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 198

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 142

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 200

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:

1.441 million Mt (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 157

Communications ::Burkina Faso

Telephones - main lines in use:

141,500 (2011)

country comparison to the world: 136

Telephones - mobile cellular:

7.682 million (2011)

country comparison to the world: 92

Telephone system:

general assessment: system includes microwave radio relay, open-wire, and radiotelephone communication stations; in 2006 the government sold a 51 percent stake in the national telephone company and ultimately plans to retain only a 23 percent stake in the company

domestic: fixed-line connections stand at less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular usage, fostered by multiple providers, is increasing rapidly from a low base

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

Broadcast media:

2 TV stations - 1 state-owned and 1 privately owned; state-owned radio runs a national and regional network; substantial number of privately owned radio stations; transmissions of several international broadcasters available in Ouagadougou (2007)

Internet country code:

.bf

Internet hosts:

1,795 (2012)

country comparison to the world: 164

Internet users:

178,100 (2009)

country comparison to the world: 144

Transportation ::Burkina Faso

Airports:

24 (2012)

country comparison to the world: 131

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2

over 3,047 m: 1

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2012)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 22

1,524 to 2,437 m: 4

914 to 1,523 m: 12

under 914 m: 6 (2012)

Railways:

total: 622 km

country comparison to the world: 106

narrow gauge: 622 km 1.000-m gauge

note: another 660 km of this railway extends into Cote d'Ivoire (2008)

Roadways:

total: 15,272 km

country comparison to the world: 121

note: does not include urban roads (2010)

Military ::Burkina Faso

Military branches:

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

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; women may serve in supporting roles (2009)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 3,735,735 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,366,168

females age 16-49: 2,367,673 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 193,905

female: 191,662 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.1% of GDP (2011)

country comparison to the world: 120

Transnational Issues ::Burkina Faso

Disputes - international:

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 49,585 (Mali) (2013)

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Burkina Faso is a country of origin, transit, and destination for women and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; children are forced to work as farm hands, gold panners and washers, street vendors, domestic servents, and beggars; girls are exploited in the commercial sex trade; women from Burkina Faso are recruited for legitimate jobs in Europe and are subsequently forced into prostitution; West African women are lured to Burkina Faso for legal work and are forced into domestic servitude, prostitution, or forced labor

tier rating: Tier 2 - Burkina Faso does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the government recognizes that sex trafficking and forced labor are problems and continued efforts to identify child victims; steps have not been taken to identify adult victims among vulnerable populations; the government sustained anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts but struggled to compile complete data on these efforts (2012)