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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 2, FM 17, shortwave 1 (1998)

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]

1 (1997)

Televisions [time series]

49,000 (1991 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture--products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $277 million expenditures: $492 million, including capital expenditures of $233 million (1995 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Debt - external (Debt--external) [time series]

$715 million (December 1996)

Economic aid (Economic aid--recipient) [time series]

$484.1 million (1995)

Economic overview (Economy--overview) [time series]

One of the poorest countries in the world, landlocked Burkina Faso has a high population density, few natural resources, and a fragile soil. About 85% 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 1999-2000 depends on continued low inflation, reduction in the trade deficit, and reforms designed to encourage private investment.

Electricity - consumption (Electricity--consumption) [time series]

220 million kWh (1996)

Electricity - exports (Electricity--exports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - imports (Electricity--imports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - production (Electricity--production) [time series]

220 million kWh (1996)

Electricity - production by source (Electricity--production by source) [time series]

fossil fuel: 63.64% hydro: 36.36% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exchange rates [time series]

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1--560.01 (December 1998), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994)

Exports [time series]

$400 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)

Exports - commodities (Exports--commodities) [time series]

cotton, animal products, gold

Exports - partners (Exports--partners) [time series]

Cote d'Ivoire, France, Italy, Mali

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity--$11.6 billion (1998 est.)

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

agriculture: 35% industry: 25% services: 40% (1997)

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

purchasing power parity?$1,000 (1998 est.)

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

6% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

$700 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)

Imports - commodities (Imports--commodities) [time series]

machinery, food products, petroleum

Imports - partners (Imports--partners) [time series]

Cote d'Ivoire, France, Togo, Nigeria

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

4.2% (1995)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

2.5% (1998 est.)

Labor force [time series]

4.679 million (persons 10 years old and over, according to a sample survey taken in 1991) note: a large part of the male labor force migrates annually to neighboring countries for seasonal employment

Labor force - by occupation (Labor force--by occupation) [time series]

agriculture 85%, industry, commerce, services, government (1998)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 274,200 sq km land: 273,800 sq km water: 400 sq km

Area - comparative (Area--comparative) [time series]

slightly larger than Colorado

Climate [time series]

tropical; warm, dry winters; hot, wet summers

Coastline [time series]

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Mouhoun (Black Volta) River 200 m highest point: Tena Kourou 749 m

Environment - current issues (Environment--current issues) [time series]

recent droughts and desertification severely affecting agricultural activities, population distribution, and the economy; overgrazing; soil degradation; deforestation

International environmental agreements (Environment--international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban

Geographic coordinates [time series]

13 00 N, 2 00 W

Geography - note (Geography--note) [time series]

landlocked

Irrigated land [time series]

200 sq km (1993 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: 13% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 22% forests and woodland: 50% other: 15% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

Western Africa, north of Ghana

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards [time series]

recurring droughts

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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 note: a new electoral code was approved by the National Assembly in January 1997; the number of administrative provinces was increased from 30 to 45 (Bale, Bam, Banwa, Bazega, Bougouriba, Boulgou, Boulkiemde, Comoe, Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houet, Ioba, Kadiogo, Kenedougou, Komandjari, Kompienga, Kossi, Koupelogo, Kouritenga, Kourweogo, Leraba, Loroum, Mouhoun, Nahouri, Namentenga, Nayala, Naumbiel, Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Samentenga, Sanguie, Seno, Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Tuy, Yagha, Yatenga, Ziro, Zondomo, Zoundweogo)

Capital [time series]

Ouagadougou

Constitution [time series]

2 June 1991

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Sharon P. WILKINSON embassy: Avenue Raoul Follerau, Ouagadougou mailing address: 01 B. P. 35, Ouagadougou

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Gaetan Rimwangulya OUEDRAOGO chancery: 2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Captain Blaise COMPAORE (since 15 October 1987) head of government: Prime Minister Kadre Desire OUEDRAOGO (since 6 February 1996) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; the number of terms which a president may serve is not limited; election last held 15 November 1998 (next to be held NA 2005); prime minister appointed by the president with the consent of the legislature election results: Blaise COMPAORE reelected president with 88% percent of the vote, with 56% of voter turnout

Flag (Flag description) [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

Government type [time series]

parliamentary

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, MINURCA, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court; Appeals Court

Legal system [time series]

based on French civil law system and customary law

Legislative branch [time series]

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 (120 seats; members are appointed to serve three-year terms) elections: National Assembly election last held 11 May 1997 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--CDP 101, PDP 6, RDA 2, ADF 2

National holiday [time series]

Anniversary of the Revolution, 4 August (1983)

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

Alliance for Democracy and Nongma OUEDRAOGO, president]; Burkinabe Environmentalist Party or

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

watchdog/political action groups throughout the country in both organizations and communities; Burkinabe Movement for Human Rights or HBDHP; Burkinabe General Confederation of Labor or CGTB; National Confederation of Burkinabe Workers or CNTB; National Organization of Free Unions or ONSL; Group of 14 February

Suffrage [time series]

universal

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures--dollar figure) [time series]

$66 million (1996)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures--percent of GDP) [time series]

2% (1996)

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower--availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 2,399,724 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower--fit for military service) [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,230,713 (1999 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 48% (male 2,792,895; female 2,759,072) 15-64 years: 49% (male 2,700,253; female 2,978,168) 65 years and over: 3% (male 147,017; female 198,493) (1999 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

45.84 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate [time series]

17.56 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

107.19 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 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: 45.89 years male: 44.97 years female: 46.84 years (1999 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Burkinabe (singular and plural) adjective: Burkinabe

Net migration rate [time series]

-1.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Population [time series]

11,575,898 (July 1999 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.7% (1999 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: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

6.56 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (Disputes--international) [time series]

none

Transportation

Airports [time series]

33 (1998 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports--with paved runways) [time series]

total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports--with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 31 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 16 (1998 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 12,506 km paved: 2,001 km unpaved: 10,505 km (1995 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

none

Railways [time series]

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