World Facts Index
 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. Burkina Faso's
high population density and limited natural resources result in poor economic prospects
for the majority of its citizens. Recent unrest in Cote d'Ivoire and northern Ghana has
hindered the ability of several hundred thousand seasonal Burkinabe farm workers to find
employment in neighboring countries.
Geography of Burkina Faso
|
Location:
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Western Africa, north of
Ghana |
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Coordinates:
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13 00 N, 2 00 W |
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Area:
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total: 274,200 sq km
water: 400 sq km
land: 273,800 sq km |
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Area comparative:
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slightly larger than
Colorado |
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Land boundaries:
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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 |
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Coastline:
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0 km (landlocked) |
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Climate:
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tropical; warm, dry
winters; hot, wet summers |
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Terrain:
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mostly flat to dissected,
undulating plains; hills in west and southeast |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Mouhoun (Black Volta) River 200 m
highest point: Tena Kourou 749 m |
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Natural resources:
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manganese, limestone,
marble; small deposits of gold, antimony, copper, nickel, bauxite, lead,
phosphates, zinc, silver |
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Natural hazards:
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recurring droughts |
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Environment - current issues:
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recent droughts and
desertification severely affecting agricultural activities, population
distribution, and the economy; overgrazing; soil degradation;
deforestation |
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Geography - note:
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landlocked savanna cut by
the three principal rivers of the Black, Red, and White Voltas
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Population of Burkina Faso
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Population:
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15,264,735 (July 2008 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 46.8% (male 3,267,202/female 3,235,190)
15-64 years: 50.7% (male 3,513,559/female 3,538,623)
65 years and over: 2.5% (male 140,083/female 208,315) |
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Median age:
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16.5 years |
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Growth rate:
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3% |
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Infant mortality:
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91.35 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 48.85 years
male: 47.33 years
female: 50.42 years |
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Total fertility rate:
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6.47 children born/woman |
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Nationality:
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noun: Burkinabe (singular and
plural)
adjective: Burkinabe |
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Ethnic groups:
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Mossi over 40%, Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi,
Bobo, Mande, Fulani |
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Religions:
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Muslim 50%, indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian (mainly
Roman Catholic) 10% |
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Languages:
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French (official), native African languages
belonging to Sudanic family spoken by 90% of the population |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total population: 26.6%
male: 36.9%
female: 16.6%
|
Government
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Government type:
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parliamentary republic |
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Capital:
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Ouagadougou |
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Administrative divisions:
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45 provinces; Bale, Bam, Banwa, Bazega,
Bougouriba, Boulgou, Boulkiemde, Comoe, Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houet, Ioba, Kadiogo,
Kenedougou, Komondjari, Kompienga, Kossi, Koulpelogo, Kouritenga, Kourweogo, Leraba,
Loroum, Mouhoun, Namentenga, Nahouri, Nayala, Noumbiel, Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore,
Poni, Sanguie, Sanmatenga, Seno, Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Tuy, Yagha, Yatenga, Ziro,
Zondoma, Zoundweogo |
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Independence:
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5 August 1960 (from France) |
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National holiday:
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Republic Day, 11 December (1958) |
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Constitution:
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2 June 1991 approved by referendum; 11 June
1991 formally adopted; ammended April 2000 |
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Legal system:
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based on French civil law system and
customary law |
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Suffrage:
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universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: President Blaise COMPAORE (since
15 October 1987)
head of government: Prime Minister Tertius ZONGO (since 4 June 2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation
of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for
a second term); election last held 13 November 2005 (next to be held in 2010);
in April 2000, the constitution was amended reducing the presidential term from
seven to five years, enforceable as of 2005; prime minister appointed by the
president with the consent of the legislature |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (111
seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court; Appeals Court |
Economy
One of the poorest countries in the world, landlocked Burkina Faso 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 and the government has joined with three other
cotton producing countries in the region - Mali, Niger, and Chad - to lobby in
the World Trade Organization for fewer subsidies to producers in other
competing countries. Since 1998, Burkina Faso has embarked upon a gradual but
successful privatization of state-owned enterprises. Having revised its
investment code in 2004, Burkina Faso hopes to attract foreign investors.
Thanks to this new code and other legislation favoring the mining sector, the
country has seen an upswing in gold exploration and production. While the
bitter internal crisis in neighboring Cote d'Ivoire is beginning to be
resolved, it is still having a negative effect on Burkina Faso's trade and
employment. In 2007 higher costs for energy and imported foodstuffs, as well
as low cotton prices, dampened a GDP growth rate that had averaged 6% in the
last 10 years. Burkina Faso received a Millennium Challenge Account threshold
grant to improve girls' education at the primary school level, and appears
likely to receive a grant in the areas of infrastructure, agriculture, and
land reform.
|
GDP:
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$17.41 billion (2007 est.) |
|
GDP growth rate:
|
4.5% |
|
GDP per capita:
|
$1,300 |
|
GDP composition by sector:
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agriculture: 32.2%
industry: 19.6%
services: 48.2% |
|
Inflation rate:
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6.4% |
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Labor force:
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5 million
note: a large part of the male labor force migrates annually to neighboring
countries for seasonal employment |
|
Labor force by occupation:
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agriculture: 90%
industry and services: 10% |
|
Budget:
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revenues: $1.033 billion
expenditures: $1.382 billion |
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Electricity production by source:
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fossil fuel: 69.9%
hydro: 30.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% |
|
Industries:
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cotton lint, beverages, agricultural
processing, soap, cigarettes, textiles, gold |
|
Agriculture:
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cotton, peanuts, shea nuts, sesame,
sorghum, millet, corn, rice; livestock |
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Exports:
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cotton, livestock, gold |
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Export partners:
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China 35.4%, Singapore 12.2%, Thailand 5.3%, Ghana 5% |
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Imports:
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capital goods, foodstuffs, petroleum |
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Import partners:
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France 23.1%, Cote d'Ivoire 22.6%, Togo 10.6% |
|
Currency:
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Communaute Financiere Africaine franc
(XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress
Copyright 2004 - 2008 worldfacts.us |