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Burkina Faso
Background: 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.
Location: Western Africa, north of Ghana Geographic coordinates: 13 00 N, 2 00 W Map references: Africa Area:
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Colorado Land boundaries:
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:
Natural resources: manganese, limestone, marble; small deposits of gold, antimony, copper, nickel, bauxite, lead, phosphates, zinc, silver Land use:
Irrigated land: 200 sq km (1993 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:
Geography - note: landlocked
Population:
11,946,065
Age structure:
Population growth rate: 2.71% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 45.26 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 17.04 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: -1.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio:
Infant mortality rate: 108.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth:
Total fertility rate: 6.44 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality:
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:
Country name:
Data code: UV Government type: parliamentary 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
Independence: 5 August 1960 (from France) National holiday: Anniversary of the Revolution, 4 August (1983) 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:
Legislative branch:
bicameral; consists of a National Assembly or Assemblee des Deputes Populaires (ADP) (111 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the purely consultative Chamber of Representations or Chambre des Representants (178 seats; members are appointed to serve three-year terms)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Appeals Court Political parties and leaders: African Democratic Rally or RDA [Gerard Kango OUEDRAOGO, Clement SANOU]; Alliance for Democracy and Federation or ADF [Herman YAMEOGO]; Congress for Democracy and Progress or CDP [Din Salif SAWADAGO]; Group for Progressive Democrats or GDP [Issa TIENDREBEOGO]; Movement for Tolerance and Progress or MTP [Noyabtigungu Congo KABORE]; Party for African Independence or PAI [leader NA]; Party for Democracy and Progress or PDP [Joseph KI-ZERBO]; Party for Progress and Social Development or PPDS [leader NA]; 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 HBDHP; 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, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US:
Diplomatic representation from the US:
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
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 its macroeconomic progress in 2000-2001 depends on continued low inflation, reduction in the trade deficit, and reforms designed to encourage private investment. GDP: purchasing power parity - $12.4 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 5.5% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,100 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector:
Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (1999 est.) Labor force:
4.679 million (persons 10 years old and over, according to a sample survey taken in 1991)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA% Unemployment rate: NA% Budget:
Industries: cotton lint, beverages, agricultural processing, soap, cigarettes, textiles, gold Industrial production growth rate: 4.2% (1995) Electricity - production: 225 million kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source:
Electricity - consumption: 209 million kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: peanuts, shea nuts, sesame, cotton, sorghum, millet, corn, rice; livestock Exports: $311 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.) Exports - commodities: cotton, animal products, gold Exports - partners: Cote d'Ivoire, Taiwan, France, Colombia, Italy, Mali Imports: $572 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.) Imports - commodities: machinery, food products, petroleum Imports - partners: Cote d'Ivoire, France, Senegal, Togo, Nigeria, US Debt - external: $1.3 billion (1997) Economic aid - recipient: $484.1 million (1995) Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 647.25 (January 2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Telephones - main lines in use: 30,000 (1995) Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1995) Telephone system:
all services only fair
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 17, shortwave 1 (1998) Radios: 370,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997) Televisions: 100,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
Railways:
Highways:
Ports and harbors: none Airports: 33 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways:
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Military branches: Army, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Police, People's Militia Military manpower - availability:
Military manpower - fit for military service:
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $66 million (FY96) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 2% (FY96)
Disputes - international: none Please click here for a guide to the country profiles Click here for all other countries
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