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Communications

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

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

Manpower availability [time series]

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

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

all services only fair domestic: microwave radio relay, open wire, and radiotelephone communication stations international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

21,000 (1993 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

2 (1987 est.)

Televisions [time series]

49,000 (1991 est.) Defense

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

peanuts, shea nuts, sesame, cotton, sorghum, millet, corn, rice; livestock

Budget [time series]

revenues: $483 million expenditures: $548 million, including capital expenditures of $189 million (1992)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $NA

Economic overview [time series]

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.

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 60,000 kW production: 190 million kWh consumption per capita: 17 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates [time series]

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) 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

Exports [time series]

$273 million (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: cotton, gold, animal products partners: EC, Cote d'Ivoire, Taiwan, Thailand

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$1 billion (December 1993 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $7.4 billion (1995 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 32% industry: 24% services: 44% (1990 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP per capita) [time series]

$700 (1995 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP real growth rate) [time series]

4% (1995 est.)

Imports [time series]

$636 million (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: machinery, food products, petroleum partners: EC, Africa, Japan

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

cotton lint, beverages, agricultural processing, soap, cigarettes, textiles, gold

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

5% (1995 est.)

Labor force [time series]

NA (most adults are employed in subsistence agriculture) by occupation: agriculture 80%, industry 15%, commerce, services, and government 5% note: 20% of male labor force migrates annually to neighboring countries for seasonal employment (1984)

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 274,200 sq km land area: 273,800 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Colorado

Climate [time series]

tropical; warm, dry winters; hot, wet summers

Coastline [time series]

0 km (landlocked)

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: recent droughts and desertification severely affecting agricultural activities, population distribution, and the economy; overgrazing; soil degradation; deforestation natural hazards: recurring droughts international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban

Geographic coordinates [time series]

13 00 N, 2 00 W

Geography - note (Geographic note) [time series]

landlocked

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

160 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 10% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 37% forest and woodland: 26% other: 27%

Location [time series]

Western Africa, north of Ghana

Map references [time series]

Africa

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

Terrain [time series]

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

Government

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

Constitution [time series]

2 June 1991

Data code [time series]

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

chief of mission: Ambassador Gaetan R. OUEDRAOGO chancery: 2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-5577, 6895

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Captain Blaise COMPAORE (since 15 October 1987) elected for a seven-year term by popular vote; election last held NA December 1991 (next to be held NA 1998) head of government: Prime Minister Roch KABORE (since NA March 1994) appointed by the president cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president

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

[226] 303890

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)

International organization participation [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

Appeals Court

Legal system [time series]

based on French civil law system and customary law

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Assembly of People's Deputies: elections last held 24 May 1992 (next to be held NA 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

Country name (Name of country) [time series]

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Burkina Faso former: Upper Volta

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]

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

Suffrage [time series]

none

Government type (Type of government) [time series]

parliamentary

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Donald J. MCCONNELL embassy: Avenue Raoul Follerau, Ouagadougou mailing address: 01 B. P. 35, Ouagadougou telephone: [226] 306723 through 306725

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 48% (male 2,569,806; female 2,537,106) 15-64 years: 49% (male 2,444,601; female 2,738,726) 65 years and over: 3% (male 145,479; female 187,605) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

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

Death rate [time series]

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

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

Mossi about 24%, Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi, Bobo, Mande, Fulani

Infant mortality rate [time series]

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

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 43.21 years male: 43.46 years female: 42.95 years (1996 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.) total population: 19.2% male: 29.5% female: 9.2%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Burkinabe (singular and plural) adjective: Burkinabe

Net migration rate [time series]

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

Population [time series]

10,623,323 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.53% (1996 est.)

Religions [time series]

indigenous beliefs 40%, Muslim 50%, Christian (mainly Roman Catholic) 10%

Sex ratio [time series]

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.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

6.8 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

total: 23 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 8 with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 10 (1995 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 16,400 km paved: 1,280 km unpaved: 15,120 km (1987 est.)

Ports [time series]

none

Railways [time series]

total: 622 km (1995 est.) narrow gauge: 622 km 1.000-m gauge (517 km Ouagadougou to Cote d'Ivoire border and 105 km opened in 1993 from Ouagadougou to Kaya)