Airports [time series]

50 total, 43 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 7 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Civil air [time series]

2 major transport aircraft

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

16,500 km total; 1,300 km paved, 7,400 km improved, 7,800 km unimproved (1985)

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

620 km total; 520 km Ouagadougou to Ivory Coast border and 100 km Ouagadougou to Kaya; all 1.00-meter gauge and single track

Telecommunication systems (Telecommunications) [time series]

all services only fair; radio relay, wire, and radio communication stations in use; 13,900 telephones; stations--2 AM, 2 FM, 2 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Army, Air Force

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

3.1% of GDP (1987)

Military manpower [time series]

males 15-49, 1,775,143; 904,552 fit for military service; no conscription

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

cash crops--peanuts, shea nuts, sesame, cotton; food crops--sorghum, millet, corn, rice; livestock; not self-sufficient in food grains

Aid [time series]

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $271 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $2.5 billion; Communist countries (1970-88), $94 million

Budget [time series]

revenues $422 million; expenditures $516 million, including capital expenditures of $25 million (1987)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (plural--francs); 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Electricity [time series]

121,000 kW capacity; 320 million kWh produced, 37 kWh per capita (1989)

Exchange rates [time series]

CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1--284.55 (January 1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85 (1988), 300.54 (1987), 346.30 (1986), 449.26 (1985)

Exports [time series]

$249 million (f.o.b., 1988); commodities--oilseeds, cotton, live animals, gold; partners--EC 42% (France 30%, other 12%), Taiwan 17%, Ivory Coast 15% (1985)

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$969 million (December 1988)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

$1.43 billion, per capita $170; real growth rate 7.7% (1988)

Imports [time series]

$591 million (f.o.b., 1988); commodities--grain, dairy products, petroleum, machinery; partners--EC 37% (France 23%, other 14%), Africa 31%, US 15% (1985)

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate 7.1% (1985)

Industries [time series]

agricultural processing plants; brewery, cement, and brick plants; a few other small consumer goods enterprises

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

4.3% (1988)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

One of the poorest countries in the world, Burkina has a high population density, few natural resources, and relatively infertile soil. Economic development is hindered by a poor communications network within a landlocked country. Agriculture provides about 40% of GDP and is entirely of a subsistence nature. Industry, dominated by unprofitable government-controlled corporations, accounted for 13% of GDP in 1985.

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Climate [time series]

tropical; warm, dry winters; hot, wet summers

Coastline [time series]

none--landlocked

Area - comparative (Comparative area) [time series]

slightly larger than Colorado

Disputes - international (Disputes) [time series]

the disputed international boundary between Burkina and Mali was submitted to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in October 1983 and the ICJ issued its final ruling in December 1986, which both sides agreed to accept; Burkina and Mali are proceeding with boundary demarcation, including the tripoint with Niger

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

recent droughts and desertification severely affecting marginal agricultural activities, population distribution, economy; overgrazing; deforestation

Land boundaries [time series]

3,192 km total; Benin 306 km, Ghana 548 km, Ivory Coast 584 km, Mali 1,000 km, Niger 628 km, Togo 126 km

Land use [time series]

10% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 37% meadows and pastures; 26% forest and woodland; 27% other; includes NEGL% irrigated

Maritime claims [time series]

none--landlocked

Natural resources [time series]

manganese, limestone, marble; small deposits of gold, antimony, copper, nickel, bauxite, lead, phosphates, zinc, silver

Note [time series]

landlocked

Terrain [time series]

mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in west and southeast

Area (Total area) [time series]

274,200 km2; land area: 273,800 km2

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Ouagadougou

Political parties (Communists) [time series]

small Communist party front group; some sympathizers

Constitution [time series]

none; constitution of 27 November 1977 was abolished following coup of 25 November 1980

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation) [time series]

Ambassador Paul Desire KABORE; Chancery at 2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 332-5577 or 6895; US--Ambassador David H. SHINN; Embassy at Avenue Raoul Follerau, Ouagadougou (mailing address is B. P. 35, Ouagadougou); telephone [226] 30-67-23 through 25

Executive branch (Elections) [time series]

the National Assembly was dissolved 25 November 1980 and no elections are scheduled

Executive branch [time series]

chairman of the Popular Front, Council of Ministers

Flag [time series]

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

Independence [time series]

5 August 1960 (from France; formerly Upper Volta)

Judicial branch [time series]

Appeals Court Chief of State and Head of Government--Chairman of the Popular Front Captain Blaise COMPAORE (since 15 October 1987)

Legal system [time series]

based on French civil law system and customary law

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale) was dissolved on 25 November 1980

Country name (Long-form name) [time series]

Burkina Faso

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEAO, EAMA, ECA, EIB (associate), Entente, FAO, GATT, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB--Islamic Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IPU, IRC, ITU, NAM, Niger River Commission, OAU, OCAM, OIC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

National holiday [time series]

Anniversary of the Revolution, 4 August (1983)

Political parties (Other political or pressure groups) [time series]

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

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

all political parties banned following November 1980 coup

Suffrage [time series]

none

Government type (Type) [time series]

military; established by coup on 4 August 1983

Birth rate [time series]

50 births/1,000 population (1990)

Death rate [time series]

17 deaths/1,000 population (1990)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

more than 50 tribes; principal tribe is Mossi (about 2.5 million); other important groups are Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi, Bobo, Mande, and Fulani

Infant mortality rate [time series]

121 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)

Labor force [time series]

3,300,000 residents; 30,000 are wage earners; 82% agriculture, 13% industry, 5% commerce, services, and government; 20% of male labor force migrates annually to neighboring countries for seasonal employment (1984); 44% of population of working age (1985)

Languages (Language) [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

51 years male, 52 years female (1990)

Literacy [time series]

13.2%

Nationality [time series]

noun--Burkinabe; adjective--Burkinabe

Net migration rate [time series]

- 3 migrants/1,000 population (1990)

Organized labor [time series]

four principal trade union groups represent less than 1% of population

Population [time series]

9,077,828 (July 1990), growth rate 3.1% (1990)

Religions (Religion) [time series]

65% indigenous beliefs, about 25% Muslim, 10% Christian (mainly Roman Catholic)

Total fertility rate [time series]

7.2 children born/woman (1990)