Burkina Faso

Africa 

Geography                 Economy                 Defense Forces
 

People                    Transportation          Government



Communications            History      	          Travel

GEOGRAPHY

Location

Western Africa, north of Ghana

Area

Land Boundaries

Total 3,192 km, Benin 306 km, Ghana 548 km, Cote d'Ivoire 584 km, Mali 1,000 km, Niger 628 km, Togo 126 km

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime Claims

None; landlocked

International Disputes

Following mutual acceptance of an International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling in December 1986 on their international boundary dispute, Burkina and Mali are proceeding with boundary demarcation, including the tripoint with Niger

Climate

Tropical; warm, dry winters; hot, wet summers

Terrain

Mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in west and southeast
lowest point: Black Volta River 200 m
highest point: Tena Kourou 749 m

Natural Resources

Land Use

Irrigated Land

160 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment

Note: Landlocked

PEOPLE

Population

10,623,323 (July 1996 est.)
10,422,828 (July 1995 est.)

Age Structure

0-14 Years

48% (male 2,569,806; female 2,537,106) (July 1996 est.)
48% (male 2,517,245; female 2,488,662) (July 1995 est.)

15-64 Years

49% (male 2,444,601; female 2,738,726) (July 1996 est.)
49% (male 2,378,957; female 2,707,601) (July 1995 est.)

65 Years and Over

3% (male 145,479; female 187,605) (July 1996 est.)
3% (male 145,785; female 184,578) (July 1995 est.)

Population Growth Rate

2.53% (1996 est.)
2.79% (1995 est.)

Birth Rate

47.02 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
48.05 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death Rate

19.99 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
18.22 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Net Migration Rate

-1.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
-1.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

117.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
116.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Total Fertility Rate

6.8 children born/woman (1996 est.)
6.88 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality

Ethnic Divisions

Religions

Languages

French (official), tribal languages belonging to Sudanic family, spoken by 90% of the population

Literacy

Age 15 and over that can read and write (1995 est.)

Labor Force

NA (most adults are employed in subsistance agriculture)

By occupation:

Note: 20% of male labor force migrates annually to neighboring countries for seasonal employment (1984)

GOVERNMENT

Names

Digraph

UV

Type

Parliamentary

Capital

Ouagadougou

Administrative Divisions

30 provinces; Bam, Bazega, Bougouriba, Boulgou, Boulkiemde, Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houet, 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

Legal System

Based on French civil law system and customary law

Suffrage

None

Executive Branch

Legislative Branch

Unicameral

Assembly of People's Deputies

Elections last held 24 May 1992 (next to be held 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (107 total), ODP-MT 78, CNPP-PSD 12, RDA 6, ADF 4, other 7

Note: The current law also provides for a second consultative chamber, which has not been formally constituted

Judicial Branch

Appeals Court

Political Parties and Leaders

Organization for People's Democracy - Labor Movement (ODP-MT), ruling party, Secretary General Simon COMPAORE; National Convention of Progressive Patriots-Social Democratic Party (CNPP-PSD), Moussa BOLY; African Democratic Rally (RDA), Gerard Kango OUEDRAOGO; Alliance for Democracy and Federation (ADF), Amadou Michel NANA

Other Political or Pressure Groups

Committees for the defense of the revolution; watchdog/political action groups throughout the country in both organizations and communities

Member of

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

National Anthem

Flag

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, Burkina Faso has a high population density and a high population growth rate, few natural resources, and a fragile soil. Economic development is hindered by a poor communications network within a landlocked country. Agriculture is mainly subsistence farming. Industry remains dominated by unprofitable government-controlled corporations. Following the Communaute Financiere Africaine currency devaluation on 12 January 1994, exports appear to have risen, but no official figures have been released yet. The upswing apparently continued in 1995, with growth perhaps at 4%. The government has updated its development program in conjunction with international agencies, yet even with the best of plans, the government faces formidable problems on all sides.

National Product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $7.4 billion (1995 est.), $6.5 billion (1993 est.)

National Product Real Growth Rate

4% (1995 est.)
0.4% (1993 est.)

National Product Per Capita

$700 (1995 est.)
$660 (1993 est.)

Inflation Rate (consumer Prices)

5% (1995 est.)
-0.6% (1993 est.)

Unemployment Rate

NA

Budget

Exports

$273 million (f.o.b., 1993)

Commodities:

Partners:

Imports

$636 million (f.o.b., 1993)

Commodities:

Partners:

External Debt

$1 billion (December 1993 est.)
$865 million (December 1991 est.)

Industrial Production

Growth rate 6.7% (1992); accounts for about 15% of GDP

Electricity

Industries

Agriculture

Accounts for about 40% of GDP; cash crops - peanuts, shea nuts, sesame, cotton; food crops - sorghum, millet, corn, rice; livestock; not self-sufficient in food grains

Economic Aid

Currency

1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Exchange Rates

CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 500.56 (January 1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990)

Note: Beginning 12 January 1994 the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948

Fiscal Year

Calendar year

TRANSPORTATION

Railroads

Highways

Ports

None

Airports

COMMUNICATIONS

Telephone System

21,000 telephones (1993 est.); all services only fair

Radio

Television

DEFENSE FORCES

Branches

Army, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Police, People's Militia

Manpower Availability

Males age 15-49 2,149,485; males fit for military service 1,101,184 (1996 est.)

Defense Expenditures

Exchange rate conversion - $104 million, 6.4% of GDP (1994)

History
World Atlas