Burkina Faso Facts

by countryaah · Published June 3, 2019 · Updated April 25, 2020

Burkina Faso, State of West Africa; 274,000 km², 19.8 million residents (2019).Burkina Faso borders in the northwest and north to Mali, in the east to Niger, in the southeast to Benin, and in the south to Ghana and the Ivory Coast. The capital is Ouagadougou (2.5 million residents, 2019).

Country facts

Republic of Burkina Faso / Burkina Faso
Country abbreviation: BF
Area: 274 000 km²
Population (2019): 19.8 million residents
Capital: Ouagadougou
Main languages: French, moore
State: Republic
Head of State: Roch Marc Christian Kaboré (President)
Head of Government: Christophe Dabiré
Per capita GDP (2018): US $ 731
GNI per capita (2018): US $ 660
Currency unit: 1 CFA franc = 100 centimes
Currency code: XOF
Country number (telephony): 226
Internet domain name: bf
Time difference compared to Sweden: −1
National Day: December 11 (creation of the nation state, 1958)
Independence Day: August 5, 1960

Nature

Land use: forest (25%), agricultural land (13%), other (62%)
Highest mountain: Tena Kourou (749 m asl)

Population

Population density (2019): 72 residents per km²
Natural population growth (2019): 3.0%; birth rate 38 ‰, death rate 8 ‰
Age structure (2019): 0-14 years (45%), 15-64 (53%), 65- (2%)
Life expectancy (2019): men 60 years, women 61 years
Infant mortality (2019): 55 per 1,000 live births
Population forecast 2050: 43 million residents
HDI (2017): 0.419 (place 183 of 189)
Urbanization rate (2019): 29%
Most populous cities (2019): Ouagadougou (2.5 million residents), Bobo-Dioulasso (1 million)

Business

Industry’s contribution to GDP (2017): agriculture (31%), industry (24%), service (45%)
Exports (2017): US $ 3 140 million
Main export products: cotton, gold
Main exporting countries: Switzerland, India, South Africa
Imports (2017): US $ 3,300 million
Main import products: capital goods, food
Main importing countries: China, Ivory Coast, USA
Railway network (2014): 620 km

Burkina Faso is occupied by an extensive plateau, which slowly slopes to the south and is intersected by the country’s three main rivers, Mouhoun, Nazinon and Nakambe. The country’s climate is generally sunny, hot and dry. Most of the Burkina Faso is covered by savanna, which in the north, however, turns into steppe vegetation. In the south there are forests, especially along the rivers.

Burkina Faso became independent in 1960 and took the current name in 1984. According to the constitution, the executive power is conferred on a president whose influence is balanced by a popular, legislative single-chamber parliament that is elected every five years. The president is also elected for five years.

The main focus of the economy is self-sustaining agriculture, but the country also has significant cotton exports. Burkina Faso also has mineral resources. In 2007, several new gold mines were opened and in 2009 gold went to cotton as the country’s most important export commodity. However, the country is still very dependent on aid and loans.