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  Burkina Faso  
Flag of Burkina Faso
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  Introduction
  Geography
  People
  Government
  Economy
  Communications
  Transportation
  Military
  Transnational Issues

In general, information available as of 1 January 2003
was used in the preparation of The World Factbook 2003.


This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003


Map of Burkina Faso

Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Burkina Faso
Background:
Definition Field Listing
Independence from France came to Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta) 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. Every year, several hundred thousand seasonal farm workers seek employment in Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana and are adversely affected by instability in those regions.
   Geography    Burkina Faso
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Western Africa, north of Ghana
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
13 00 N, 2 00 W
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Africa
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 274,200 sq km
water: 400 sq km
land: 273,800 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly larger than Colorado
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
none (landlocked)
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
tropical; warm, dry winters; hot, wet summers
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in west and southeast
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Mouhoun (Black Volta) River 200 m
highest point: Tena Kourou 749 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
manganese, limestone, marble; small deposits of gold, antimony, copper, nickel, bauxite, lead, phosphates, zinc, silver
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 12.43%
permanent crops: 0.18%
other: 87.39% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
250 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
recurring droughts
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
recent droughts and desertification severely affecting agricultural activities, population distribution, and the economy; overgrazing; soil degradation; deforestation
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
landlocked savanna cut by the three principal rivers of the Black, Red, and White Voltas
   People    Burkina Faso
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
13,228,460
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 2003 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 46.1% (male 3,057,855; female 3,036,705)
15-64 years: 51% (male 3,296,726; female 3,455,817)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 161,914; female 219,443) (2003 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 16.8 years
male: 16.4 years
female: 17.2 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
2.6% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
44.78 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
18.76 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 99.78 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 91.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 107.87 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 44.46 years
male: 43.02 years
female: 45.94 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6.34 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6.5% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
440,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
44,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Burkinabe (singular and plural)
adjective: Burkinabe
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
Mossi over 40%, Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi, Bobo, Mande, Fulani
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
indigenous beliefs 40%, Muslim 50%, Christian (mainly Roman Catholic) 10%
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
French (official), native African languages belonging to Sudanic family spoken by 90% of the population
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 26.6%
male: 36.9%
female: 16.6% (2003 est.)
   Government    Burkina Faso
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Burkina Faso
former: Upper Volta, Republic of Upper Volta
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
parliamentary republic
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
Ouagadougou
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
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
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
5 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Republic Day, 11 December (1958)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
2 June 1991 approved by referendum; 11 June 1991 formally adopted
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
based on French civil law system and customary law
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
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
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
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
election results: Blaise COMPAORE reelected president with 87.5% percent of the vote
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
Supreme Court; Appeals Court
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
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 [Nayabtigungou 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:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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
   Economy    Burkina Faso
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
One of the poorest countries in the world, landlocked Burkina Faso has few natural resources, a fragile soil, and a highly unequal distribution of income. About 90% of the population is engaged in (mainly subsistence) agriculture, which is 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. The internal crisis in neighboring Cote d'Ivoire continues to hurt trade and industrial prospects and deepens the need for international assistance.
GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
purchasing power parity - $14.51 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.6% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 35%
industry: 17%
services: 48% (2001)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
45% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 46.8% (1994)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Definition Field Listing
48.2 (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.5% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5 million
note: a large part of the male labor force migrates annually to neighboring countries for seasonal employment (2002)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture 90% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA%
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $316 million
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001)
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
cotton lint, beverages, agricultural processing, soap, cigarettes, textiles, gold
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
14% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
279.2 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
Definition Field Listing
fossil fuel: 69.9%
hydro: 30.1%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
259.6 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
8,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
cotton, peanuts, shea nuts, sesame, sorghum, millet, corn, rice; livestock
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$250 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
cotton, livestock, gold
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Singapore 14.7%, Italy 11.3%, Colombia 8.6%, France 7.7%, India 6.9%, Ghana 6%, Japan 4.4%, Thailand 4.3% (2002)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$525 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
capital goods, foodstuffs, petroleum
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
France 27.7%, Cote d'Ivoire 23%, Togo 4.3% (2002)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1.3 billion (2000)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
$484.1 million (1995)
Currency:
Definition Field Listing
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States
Currency code:
Definition Field Listing
XOF
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.7 (1999), 589.95 (1998)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
calendar year
   Communications    Burkina Faso
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
53,200 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
25,200 (2000)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
AM 3, FM 17, shortwave 3 (2002)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
1 (2002)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.bf
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
Definition Field Listing
1 (2002)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
25,000 (2002)
   Transportation    Burkina Faso
Railways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 622 km
narrow gauge: 622 km 1.000-m gauge
note:: another 660 km of this railway extends into Cote D'Ivoire (2002)
Highways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 12,506 km
paved: 2,001 km
unpaved: 10,505 km (1999)
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing
none
Ports and harbors:
Definition Field Listing
none
Airports:
Definition Field Listing
33 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 31
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 17 (2002)
   Military    Burkina Faso
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Army, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Police, People's Militia
Military manpower - availability:
Definition Field Listing
males age 15-49: 2,957,710 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 15-49: 1,506,944 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$45.83 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.4% (FY02)
   Transnational Issues    Burkina Faso
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
two villages are in dispute along the border with Benin; Burkina Faso border regions have become a staging area for Liberia and Cote d'Ivoire rebels and an asylum for refugees caught in regional fighting; the Ivorian Government accuses Burkina Faso of supporting Ivorian rebels

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003


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