from
CIA World Factbook 2006
Burkina Faso
Introduction
Background: 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
Location: Western Africa, north of Ghana
Geographic 13 00 N, 2 00 W
coordinates:
Map Africa
references:
Area: total: 274,200 sq km
land: 273,800 sq km
water: 400 sq km
Area - slightly larger than Colorado
comparative:
Land total: 3,193 km
boundaries: 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 none (landlocked)
claims:
Climate: tropical; warm, dry winters; hot, wet summers
Terrain: mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in
west and southeast
Elevation lowest point: Mouhoun (Black Volta) River 200 m
extremes: highest point: Tena Kourou 749 m
Natural manganese, limestone, marble; small deposits of gold,
resources: phosphates, pumice, salt
Land use: arable land: 17.66%
permanent crops: 0.22%
other: 82.12% (2005)
Irrigated 250 sq km (2003)
land:
Natural recurring droughts
hazards:
Environment - recent droughts and desertification severely affecting
current agricultural activities, population distribution, and
issues: the economy; overgrazing; soil degradation;
deforestation
Environment - party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change,
international Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
agreements: Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer
Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected
agreements
Geography - landlocked savanna cut by the three principal rivers of
note: the Black, Red, and White Voltas
People
Population: 13,902,972
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 2006
est.)
Age structure: 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)
(2006 est.)
Median age: total: 16.5 years
male: 16.3 years
female: 16.7 years (2006 est.)
Population 3% (2006 est.)
growth rate:
Birth rate: 45.62 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate: 15.6 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
rate:
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant total: 91.35 deaths/1,000 live births
mortality male: 99.17 deaths/1,000 live births
rate: female: 83.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life total population: 48.85 years
expectancy at male: 47.33 years
birth: female: 50.42 years (2006 est.)
Total 6.47 children born/woman (2006 est.)
fertility
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 4.2% (2003 est.)
adult
prevalence
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 300,000 (2003 est.)
people living
with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - 29,000 (2003 est.)
deaths:
Major degree of risk: very high
infectious food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal
diseases: diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria is a high risk in some
locations
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2005)
Nationality: noun: Burkinabe (singular and plural)
adjective: Burkinabe
Ethnic groups: Mossi over 40%, Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi, Bobo, Mande,
Fulani
Religions: Muslim 50%, indigenous beliefs 40%, 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: 26.6%
male: 36.9%
female: 16.6% (2003 est.)
Government
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 parliamentary republic
type:
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 45 provinces; Bale, Bam, Banwa, Bazega, Bougouriba,
divisions: Boulgou, Boulkiemde, Comoe, Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma,
Houet, Ioba, Kadiogo, Kenedougou, Komondjari,
Kompienga, Kossi, Koulpelogo, Kouritenga, Kourweogo,
Leraba, Loroum, Mouhoun, Nahouri, Namentenga, Nayala,
Noumbiel, Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Sanguie,
Sanmatenga, Seno, Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Tuy,
Yagha, Yatenga, Ziro, Zondoma, Zoundweogo
Independence: 5 August 1960 (from France)
National Republic Day, 11 December (1958)
holiday:
Constitution: 2 June 1991 approved by referendum, 11 June 1991
formally adopted; amended April 2000
Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law
Suffrage: universal
Executive chief of state: President Blaise COMPAORE (since 15
branch: October 1987)
head of government: Prime Minister Paramanga Ernest
YONLI (since 6 November 2000)
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
election results: Blaise COMPAORE reelected president;
percent of popular vote - Blaise COMPAORE 80.3%,
Benewende Stanislas SANKARA 4.9%
Legislative unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale
branch: (111 seats; members are elected by popular vote to
serve five-year terms)
elections: National Assembly election last held 5 May
2002 (next to be held May 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats
by party - CDP 57, RDA-ADF 17, PDP/PS 10, CFD 5, PAI 5,
other 17
Judicial Supreme Court; Appeals Court
branch:
Political African Democratic Rally-Alliance for Democracy and
parties and Federation or RDA-ADF [Herman YAMEOGO]; Confederation
leaders: 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 [Nayabtigungou Congo KABORE]; Party
for African Independence or PAI [Philippe OUEDRAOGO];
Party for Democracy and Progress or PDP [Joseph
KI-ZERBO]; Socialist Party or PS; Union of Greens for
the Development of Burkina Faso or UVDB [Ram OVEDRAGO]
Political Burkinabe General Confederation of Labor or CGTB;
pressure Burkinabe Movement for Human Rights or MBDHP; Group of
groups and 14 February; National Confederation of Burkinabe
leaders: Workers or CNTB; National Organization of Free Unions
or ONSL; watchdog/political action groups throughout
the country in both organizations and communities
International ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77,
organization IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB,
participation: IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OIF,
ONUB, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOCI, UPU,
WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTO
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Tertius ZONGO
representation chancery: 2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC
in the US: 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-5577
FAX: [1] (202) 667-1882
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Jeanine E. JACKSON
representation embassy: 602 Avenue Raoul Follereau, Koulouba, Secteur
from the US: 4
mailing address: 01 B. P. 35, Ouagadougou 01; pouch
mail - US Department of State, 2440 Ouagadougou Place,
Washington, DC 20521-2440
telephone: [226] 50-30-67-23
FAX: [226] 50-30-38-90, 50-31-23-68
Flag two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with
description: a yellow five-pointed star in the center; uses the
popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Economy
Economy - One of the poorest countries in the world, landlocked
overview: 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
harsh climatic conditions. Cotton is the key crop and
the government has joined with other cotton producing
countries in the region to lobby for improved access to
Western markets. GDP growth has largely been driven by
increases in world cotton prices. Industry remains
dominated by unprofitable government-controlled
corporations. Following the CFA franc currency
devaluation in January 1994, the government updated its
development program in conjunction with international
agencies; exports and economic growth have increased.
The government devolved macroeconomic policy and
inflation targeting to the West African regional
central bank (BCEAO), but maintains control over fiscal
and microeconomic policies, including implementing
reforms to encourage private investment. The bitter
internal crisis in neighboring Cote d'Ivoire continues
to hurt trade and industrial prospects and deepens the
need for international assistance.
GDP $16.66 billion (2005 est.)
(purchasing
power parity):
GDP (official $5.405 billion (2005 est.)
exchange
rate):
GDP - real 3.5% (2005 est.)
growth rate:
GDP - per $1,200 (2005 est.)
capita (PPP):
GDP - agriculture: 32.2%
composition by industry: 19.6%
sector: services: 48.2% (2004 est.)
Labor force: 5 million
note: a large part of the male labor force migrates
annually to neighboring countries for seasonal
employment (2003)
Labor force - agriculture: 90%
by occupation: industry and services: 10% (2000 est.)
Unemployment NA%
rate:
Population 45% (2003 est.)
below poverty
line:
Household lowest 10%: 2%
income or highest 10%: 46.8% (1994)
consumption by
percentage
share:
Distribution 48.2 (1998)
of family
income - Gini
index:
Inflation rate 6.4% (2005 est.)
(consumer
prices):
Investment 20.7% of GDP (2005 est.)
(gross fixed):
Budget: revenues: $1.033 billion
expenditures: $1.382 billion; including capital
expenditures of $NA (2005 est.)
Agriculture - cotton, peanuts, shea nuts, sesame, sorghum, millet,
products: corn, rice; livestock
Industries: cotton lint, beverages, agricultural processing, soap,
cigarettes, textiles, gold
Industrial 14% (2001 est.)
production
growth rate:
Electricity - 375.6 million kWh (2003)
production:
Electricity - fossil fuel: 69.9%
production by hydro: 30.1%
source: nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - 349.3 million kWh (2003)
consumption:
Electricity - 0 kWh (2003)
exports:
Electricity - 0 kWh (2003)
imports:
Oil - 0 bbl/day (2003)
production:
Oil - 8,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
consumption:
Oil - exports: NA bbl/day
Oil - imports: NA bbl/day
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2003 est.)
production:
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2003 est.)
consumption:
Current $-460 million (2005 est.)
account
balance:
Exports: $395 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - cotton, livestock, gold
commodities:
Exports - China 38.3%, Singapore 12.6%, Thailand 5.7%, Ghana
partners: 5.2%, Taiwan 4.4% (2005)
Imports: $992 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - capital goods, foodstuffs, petroleum
commodities:
Imports - France 24.2%, Cote d'Ivoire 23.7%, Togo 6.8% (2005)
partners:
Reserves of $764 million (2005 est.)
foreign
exchange and
gold:
Debt - $1.85 billion (2003)
external:
Economic aid - $468.4 million (2003)
recipient:
Currency Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note -
(code): responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West
African States
Currency code: XOF
Exchange Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US
rates: dollar - 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003),
696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones - 97,400 (2005)
main lines in
use:
Telephones - 572,200 (2005)
mobile
cellular:
Telephone general assessment: all services only fair
system: domestic: microwave radio relay, open-wire, and
radiotelephone communication stations
international: country code - 226; satellite earth
station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio AM 3, FM 17, shortwave 3 (2002)
broadcast
stations:
Radios: 394,020 (2000)
Television 1 (2002)
broadcast
stations:
Televisions: 131,340 (2002)
Internet .bf
country code:
Internet 399 (2006)
hosts:
Internet 1 (2002)
Service
Providers
(ISPs):
Internet 64,600 (2005)
users:
Transportation
Airports: 34 (2006)
Airports - total: 2
with paved over 3,047 m: 1
runways: 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - total: 32
with unpaved 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
runways: 914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 18 (2006)
Railways: total: 622 km
narrow gauge: 622 km 1.000-m gauge
note:: another 660 km of this railway extends into Cote
D'Ivoire (2005)
Roadways: total: 12,506 km
paved: 2,001 km
unpaved: 10,505 km (1999)
Military
Military Army, Air Force of Burkina Faso (Force Aerienne de
branches: Burkina Faso), National Gendarmerie (2006)
Military 18 years of age for compulsory military service; 20
service age years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
and
obligation:
Manpower males age 18-49: 2,651,687 (2005 est.)
available for
military
service:
Manpower fit males age 18-49: 1,530,324 (2005 est.)
for military
service:
Military $74.83 million (2005 est.)
expenditures -
dollar figure:
Military 1.3% (2005 est.)
expenditures -
percent of
GDP:
Transnational
Issues
Disputes - two villages are in dispute along the border with
international: Benin; Benin accuses Burkina Faso of moving boundary
pillars; Burkina Faso border regions remain a staging
area for Liberia and Cote d'Ivoire rebels and an asylum
for refugees caught in local fighting; the Ivoirian
Government accuses Burkina Faso of sheltering Ivoirian
rebels