Burkina Faso

total: 13,979 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.1 (2020 est.)

since the official inauguration of Terrestrial Digital Television (TNT) in December 2017, Burkina Faso now has 14 digital TV channels among which 2 are state-owned; there are more than 140 radio stations (commercial, religious, community) available throughout the country including a national and regional state-owned network; the state-owned Radio Burkina and the private Radio Omega are among the most widespread stations and both include broadcasts in French and local languages (2019)

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total: 4.84 million (2021 est.) percent of population: 22% (2021 est.)

general assessment: Burkina Faso s telecom sector in recent years has made some gains in providing the necessary infrastructure and bandwidth to support telecom services; an IXP completed in September 2020 increased international bandwidth capacity by a third, while in mid-2021 the government was able to start the second phase of a national fiber backbone project; this will link the capital city to an addition 145 municipalities, and provide additional connectivity to terrestrial cables in neighboring countries; the activities of the militants in side areas of the country jeopardize overall security, and render it difficult for the telcos to safeguard their networks and equipment; Burkina Faso joins G5 Sahel countries to eliminate roaming fees (2022) domestic: fixed-line connections stand at less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular usage nearly 112 per 100, with multiple providers there is competition and the hope for growth from a low base; Internet penetration is 16% (2021) international: country code - 226; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

total subscriptions: 81,000 (2021 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2021 est.) less than 1

total subscriptions: 24.678 million (2021 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 112 (2021 est.)

sorghum, maize, fruits, vegetables, millet, cowpeas, cotton, groundnuts, sugarcane, rice (2022) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

revenues: $4.649 billion (2022 est.) expenditures: $4.018 billion (2022 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Standard & Poors rating: B (2017) note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

-$1.404 billion (2022 est.) $77.255 million (2021 est.) $743.232 million (2020 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

$3.234 billion (2022 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

highly agrarian, low-income economy; limited natural resources; widespread poverty; terrorism disrupting potential economic activity; improving trade balance via increases in gold exports; economy inflating after prior deflation; growing public debt but still manageable

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 606.57 (2023 est.) 623.76 (2022 est.) 554.531 (2021 est.) 575.586 (2020 est.) 585.911 (2019 est.)

$5.814 billion (2022 est.) $6.234 billion (2021 est.) $5.356 billion (2020 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

gold, cotton, oil seeds, coconuts/Brazil nuts/cashews, zinc ore (2022) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Switzerland 74%, UAE 7%, Mali 4%, Singapore 2%, Cote d'Ivoire 2% (2022) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

$20.325 billion (2023 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

household consumption: 64.6% (2023 est.) government consumption: 20% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 17.2% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: 5.4% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 28.9% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -36% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

agriculture: 16.3% (2023 est.) industry: 29.3% (2023 est.) services: 43.6% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

37.4 (2021 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

lowest 10%: 3% (2021 est.) highest 10%: 30.2% (2021 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

$6.761 billion (2022 est.) $5.835 billion (2021 est.) $4.779 billion (2020 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

refined petroleum, electricity, packaged medicine, plastic products, natural gas (2022) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Cote d'Ivoire 16%, China 12%, Russia 7%, France 7%, Ghana 5% (2022) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

1.95% (2023 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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

0.74% (2023 est.) 14.29% (2022 est.) 3.65% (2021 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

8.577 million (2023 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

43.2% (2021 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line

62.53% of GDP (2022 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP

$57.152 billion (2023 est.) $55.508 billion (2022 est.) $54.539 billion (2021 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

2.96% (2023 est.) 1.78% (2022 est.) 6.94% (2021 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

$2,500 (2023 est.) $2,400 (2022 est.) $2,500 (2021 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

2.85% of GDP (2023 est.) 2.78% of GDP (2022 est.) 2.91% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

$49 million (31 December 2017 est.) $50.9 million (31 December 2016 est.)

17.67% (of GDP) (2022 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

5.29% (2023 est.) 5.35% (2022 est.) 5.11% (2021 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

total: 8% (2023 est.) male: 7.6% (2023 est.) female: 8.5% (2023 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

4.989 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 4.989 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

exports: (2022 est.) less than 1 metric ton imports: 3 metric tons (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity: 449,000 kW (2022 est.) consumption: 2.11 billion kWh (2022 est.) imports: 1.546 billion kWh (2022 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 218.033 million kWh (2022 est.)

electrification - total population: 19.5% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 60.5% electrification - rural areas: 3.4%

fossil fuels: 68.4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.) solar: 16% of total installed capacity (2022 est.) hydroelectricity: 15.4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.) biomass and waste: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

3.419 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 36,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

particulate matter emissions: 40.74 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 3.42 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 12.85 megatons (2020 est.)

three climate zones including a hot tropical savanna with a short rainy season in the southern half, a tropical hot semi-arid steppe climate typical of the Sahel region in the northern half, and small area of hot desert in the very north of the country bordering the Sahara Desert

recent droughts and desertification severely affecting agricultural activities, population distribution, and the economy; overgrazing; soil degradation; deforestation (2019)

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban

severe localized food insecurity: due to civil insecurity in the north and high food prices - according to the latest analysis, about 3.53 million people are projected to face acute food insecurity during the June to August 2023 lean season period; this would be a slight increase compared to the preceding year; acute food insecurity is primarily underpinned by poor insecurity in northern and eastern areas, and in particular by the use of siege tactics by non-state armed groups in the country s Sahel region; as of March 2023, civil insecurity resulted in the displacement of about 2.06 million people; persistent high food prices are affecting vulnerable households across the country, particularly those in conflict-affected areas due to market disruptions as well as constrained access to sources of income and humanitarian assistance (2023)

agricultural land: 44.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 22% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 37% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 21.93% (2018 est.) forest: 19.3% (2018 est.) other: 36.5% (2018 est.)

Volta river source (shared with Ghana [m]) - 1,600 km note [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Volta (410,991 sq km)

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

4.54% of GDP (2018 est.)

13.5 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal: 380 million cubic meters (2020 est.) industrial: 20 million cubic meters (2020 est.) agricultural: 420 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

urban population: 32.5% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 4.75% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

municipal solid waste generated annually: 2,575,251 tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 309,030 tons (2005 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 12% (2005 est.)

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

slightly larger than Colorado

three climate zones including a hot tropical savanna with a short rainy season in the southern half, a tropical hot semi-arid steppe climate typical of the Sahel region in the northern half, and small area of hot desert in the very north of the country bordering the Sahara Desert

0 km (landlocked)

highest point: Tena Kourou 749 m lowest point: Mouhoun (Black Volta) River 200 m mean elevation: 297 m

13 00 N, 2 00 W

landlocked savanna cut by the three principal rivers of the Black, Red, and White Voltas

550 sq km (2016)

total: 3,611 km border countries (6): Benin 386 km; Cote d'Ivoire 545 km; Ghana 602 km; Mali 1325 km; Niger 622 km; Togo 131 km

agricultural land: 44.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 22% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 37% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 21.93% (2018 est.) forest: 19.3% (2018 est.) other: 36.5% (2018 est.)

Western Africa, north of Ghana

Volta river source (shared with Ghana [m]) - 1,600 km note [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Volta (410,991 sq km)

Africa

none (landlocked)

recurring droughts

gold, manganese, zinc, limestone, marble, phosphates, pumice, salt

Most of the population is located in the center and south. Nearly one-third of the population lives in cities. The capital and largest city is Ouagadougou (Ouaga), with a population of 1.8 million as shown in this population distribution map (2019)

mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in the west and southeast; o ccupies an extensive plateau with s avanna that is grassy in the north and gradually gives way to sparse forests in the south

13 regions; Boucle du Mouhoun, Cascades, Centre, Centre-Est, Centre-Nord, Centre-Ouest, Centre-Sud, Est, Hauts-Bassins, Nord, Plateau-Central, Sahel, Sud-Ouest

name: Ouagadougou geographic coordinates: 12 22 N, 1 31 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: Ouagadougou is a Francophone spelling of the native name "Wogodogo," meaning "where people get honor and respect"

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Burkina Faso dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years

history: several previous; latest approved by referendum 2 June 1991, adopted 11 June 1991, temporarily suspended late October to mid-November 2014; initial draft of a new constitution to usher in the new republic was completed in January 2017 and a final draft was submitted to the government in December 2017; a constitutional referendum originally scheduled for adoption in March 2019 was postponed; on 1 March 2022 a transition charter was adopted, allowing military authorities to rule for three years and barring the transitional president from being an electoral candidate after the transition amendments: proposed by the president, by a majority of National Assembly membership, or by petition of at least 30,000 eligible voters submitted to the Assembly; passage requires at least three-fourths majority vote in the Assembly; failure to meet that threshold requires majority voter approval in a referendum; constitutional provisions on the form of government, the multiparty system, and national sovereignty cannot be amended; amended several times

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Burkina Faso local long form: none local short form: Burkina Faso former: Upper Volta, Republic of Upper Volta etymology: name translates as "Land of the Honest (Incorruptible) Men"

chief of mission: Ambassador Joann M. LOCKARD (since 28 June 2024) embassy: Secteur 15, Ouaga 2000, Avenue Sembene Ousmane, Rue 15.873, Ouagadougou mailing address: 2440 Ouagadougou Place, Washington, DC 20521-2440 telephone: (226) 25-49-53-00 FAX: (226) 25-49-56-23 email address and website: AmembOuaga@state.gov https://bf.usembassy.gov/

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg d'Affaires Edouard BOUDA (since 1 February 2024) chancery: 2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-5577 FAX: [1] (202) 667-1882 email address and website: contact@burkina-usa.org https://burkina-usa.org/

chief of state: Transitional President Capt. Ibrahim TRAORE (since 30 September 2022) head of government: Prime Minister Joachim KYLEM DE TAMBELA (since 21 October 2022) cabinet: prior to the 2022 coups and adhoc suspension of laws and constitutional provisions, Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections/appointments: prior to the 2022 coups and adhoc suspension of laws and constitutional provisions, president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); last held on 22 November 2020 (next were to be held by July 2024, but may be delayed by the transitional government due to security concerns); prime minister appointed by the president with consent of the National Assembly election results: 2020: Roch Marc Christian KABORE reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Roch Marc Christian KABORE (MPP) 57.9%, Eddie KOMBOIGO (CDP) 15.5%, Zephirin DIABRE (UPC) 12.5%, other 14.1% 2015: Roch Marc Christian KABORE elected president in first round; percent of vote - Roch Marc Christian KABORE (MPP) 53.5%, Zephirin DIABRE (UPC) 29.6%, Tahirou BARRY (PAREN) 3.1%, Benewende Stanislas SANKARA (UNIR-MS) 2.8%, other 10.9% note - on 30 September 2022, a military junta, led by TRAORE, took power and ousted Transition President Lt. Col. Paul-Henri Sandaogo DAMIBA and took over as head of the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration note - Transitional President TRAORE appointed KYLEM DE TAMBELA Prime Minister on 21 October 2022; the position had been vacant since 30 September 2022 when the military ousted former Prime Minister Albert OUEDRAOGO

two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a yellow five-pointed star in the center; red recalls the country's struggle for independence, green is for hope and abundance, and yellow represents the country's mineral wealth note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia

presidential republic

5 August 1960 (from France)

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

ACP, AfDB, AU (suspended), CD, EITI (compliant country), Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSCA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNITAR, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

highest court(s): Supreme Court of Appeals or Cour de Cassation (consists of NA judges); Council of State (consists of NA judges); Constitutional Council or Conseil Constitutionnel (consists of the council president and 9 members) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judge appointments mostly controlled by the president of Burkina Faso; judges have no term limits; Council of State judge appointment and tenure NA; Constitutional Council judges appointed by the president of Burkina Faso upon the proposal of the minister of justice and the president of the National Assembly; judges appointed for 9-year terms with one-third of membership renewed every 3 years subordinate courts: Appeals Court; High Court; first instance tribunals; district courts; specialized courts relating to issues of labor, children, and juveniles; village (customary) courts

civil law based on the French model and customary law; in mid-2019, the National Assembly amended the penal code

description: prior to the 2022 coups and ad hoc suspension of laws and constitutional provisions, unicameral National Assembly (127 seats; 111 members directly elected in 13 multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote and 26 members elected in a nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms); 71-member Transitional Legislative Assembly (ALT) appointed by the military junta in 2022 indefinitely replaced the National Assembly elections: last held on 22 November 2020 (an amended Transitional Charter, adopted at a national forum in May 2024, extends the transitional period by 60 months as of 2 July 2024, to July 2029) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; men 58, women 13, percentage women 18.3% note: a series of coups in 2022 led to the ad hoc suspension of laws and constitutional provisions, including the unicameral National Assembly; a military junta in 2022 appointed the 71-member Transnational Legislative Assembly (ALT); a Transitional Charter, adopted in October 2022, provided for a transitional period that was extended in May 2024 until July 2029

name: "Le Ditanye" (Anthem of Victory) lyrics/music: Thomas SANKARA note: adopted 1974; also known as "Une Seule Nuit" (One Single Night); written by the country's former president, an avid guitar player

total World Heritage Sites: 4 (3 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Ruins of Lorop ni (c); Ancient Ferrous Metallurgy Sites of Burkina Faso (c); W-Arly-Pendjari Complex (n); Royal Court of Ti b l (c)

Republic Day, 11 December (1958); note - commemorates the day that Upper Volta became an autonomous republic in the French Community

white stallion; national colors: red, yellow, green

Act Together African Democratic Rally/Alliance for Democracy and Federation or ADF/RDA Congress for Democracy and Progress or CDP Convergence for Progress and Solidarity-Generation 3 or CPS-G3 Movement for the Future Burkina Faso or MBF National Convention for Progress or CNP New Era for Democracy or NTD Pan-African Alliance for Refoundation or APR Party for Democracy and Socialism/Metba or PDS/Metba Party for Development and Change or PDC Patriotic Rally for Integrity or RPI Peoples Movement for Progress or MPP Progressives United for Renewal or PUR Union for Progress and Reform or UPC Union for Rebirth - Sankarist Party or UNIR-PS

18 years of age; universal

Many of Burkina Faso s ethnic groups arrived in the region between the 12 th and 15 th centuries. The Gurma and Mossi peoples established several of the largest kingdoms in the area and used horse-mounted warriors in military campaigns. Of the various Mossi kingdoms, the most powerful were Ouagadougou and Yatenga. In the late 19th century, European states competed for control of the region. France eventually conquered the area and established it as a French protectorate. The country achieved independence from France in 1960 and changed its name to Burkina Faso in 1984. Repeated military coups were common in the country s first few decades. In 1987 Blaise COMPAORE deposed the president, established a government, and ruled for 27 years. In 2014, COMPAORE resigned after protests against his repeated efforts to amend the constitution's two-term presidential limit. An interim administration led a year-long transition, organizing presidential and legislative elections. In 2015, Roch Marc Christian KABORE was elected president, and he was reelected in 2020. In 2022, the military conducted two takeovers: In January, army colonel Paul Henri DAMIBA overthrew KABORE in a coup d'etat, and then in September, army captain Ibrahim TRAORE deposed DAMIBA and declared himself transition president. The transition government planned to hold elections by July 2024, but they may be delayed due to security concerns. Terrorist groups -- including groups affiliated with Al-Qa ida and the Islamic State -- began attacks in the country in 2016 and conducted attacks in the capital in 2016, 2017, and 2018. By early 2023, insecurity in Burkina Faso had displaced more than 2 million people and led to significant jumps in humanitarian needs and food insecurity. In addition to terrorism, the country faces a myriad of problems including high population growth, recurring drought, pervasive and perennial food insecurity, and limited natural resources. It is one of the world s poorest countries.

the FABF has a history of interference in the country s politics, having conducted eight coups since its formation in 1960-61, including the most recent in September 2022; several combat units were disbanded in 2011 following mutinies; while the FABF is responsible for external defense, it has an internal security role and can be called out to assist internal security forces in restoring public order, combating crime, securing the border, and counterterrorism; indeed, for more than a decade, its focus has largely been internal counterterrorism and counterinsurgency operations, and it is actively engaged in combat operations against terrorist groups affiliated with al-Qa'ida and the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS), particularly in the northern and eastern regions in the north, Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), a coalition of al-Qa'ida linked militant groups that act as al-Qa'ida in the Land of the Islamic Magreb's (AQIM) arm in the Sahel, has exploited ethnic tensions and perceptions of state neglect, as well as grievances over corruption, patronage politics, social stratification, and land disputes; in 2024, JNIM was active in nearly all of the country's 13 provinces; the ISIS-Greater Sahara (ISIS-GS) terrorist group operates in the eastern part of the country (2024)

Armed Forces of Burkina Faso (FABF; aka National Armed Forces (FAN), aka Defense and Security Forces (Forces de D fense et de S curit or FDS)): Army of Burkina Faso (L Armee de Terre, LAT), Air Force of Burkina Faso (Force Aerienne de Burkina Faso), National Gendarmerie, National Fire Brigade (Brigade Nationale de Sapeurs-Pompiers or BNSP); Homeland Defense Volunteers (Forc s de Volontaires de D fense pour la Patrie or VDP) Ministry of Territorial Administration, Decentralization and Security (Minist re de l'Administration Territoriale, de la D centralisation et de la S curit ): National Police (2024) note 1: the National Gendarmerie officially reports to the Ministry of Defense, but usually operates in support of the Ministry of Territorial Administration, Decentralization, and Security; the Gendarmerie's primary mission is counterterrorism; it is comprised of legions and mobile squadrons, including a Special Legion for combating organized crime and terrorism and providing security for high-level officials and government institutions; other government forces specializing in counterterrorism include the Army's Special Forces and the Multipurpose Intervention Unit of the National Police note 2: the VDP is a lightly-armed civilian defense/militia force established in 2019 to act as auxiliaries to the Army; the volunteers receive two weeks of training and typically assist with carrying out surveillance, information-gathering, and escort duties, as well as local defense, and were to be based in each of the country's more than 300 municipalities; in 2022, the military government created a "Patriotic Watch and Defense Brigade" (La Brigade de Veille et de D fense Patriotique or BVDP) under the FABF to coordinate the VDP recruits

approximately 15-20,000 Armed Forces personnel; approximately 50,000 Homeland Defense Volunteers (2024)

the FABF has a mix of older, secondhand, and some modern equipment from a variety of suppliers, including China, Egypt, France, Russia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, and the US (2024)

4% of GDP (2023 est.) 2.9% of GDP (2022 est.) 2.4% of GDP (2021 est.) 2.4% of GDP (2020 est.) 2.2% of GDP (2019 est.)

18-26 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; citizens 18-77 years of age are eligible to volunteer for the VDP (2023) note: the military government implemented an emergency law in 2023 that allows the president extensive powers to combat terrorist groups operating in the country, including conscripting citizens into the security services

0-14 years: 41.6% (male 4,868,488/female 4,727,316) 15-64 years: 55.1% (male 6,116,674/female 6,590,775) 65 years and over: 3.2% (2024 est.) (male 312,587/female 426,359)

total: 7.28 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.08 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.31 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 5.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

31.9 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

17.5% (2021)

35.3% (2020/21)

6.7% of GDP (2020)

73.5% (2023)

7.3 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Burkina Faso has a young age structure the result of declining mortality combined with steady high fertility and continues to experience rapid population growth, which is putting increasing pressure on the country s limited arable land. Almost 65% of the population is under the age of 25 as of 2020, and the population is growing at 2.5% annually. Mortality rates, especially those of infants and children, have decreased because of improved health care, hygiene, and sanitation, but women continue to have an average of more than 4 children. Even if fertility were substantially reduced, today s large cohort entering their reproductive years would sustain high population growth for the foreseeable future. Only about a third of the population is literate and unemployment is widespread, dampening the economic prospects of Burkina Faso s large working-age population. Migration has traditionally been a way of life for Burkinabe, with seasonal migration being replaced by stints of up to two years abroad. Cote d Ivoire remains the top destination, although it has experienced periods of internal conflict. Under French colonization, Burkina Faso became a main labor source for agricultural and factory work in Cote d Ivoire. Burkinabe also migrated to Ghana, Mali, and Senegal for work between the world wars. Burkina Faso attracts migrants from Cote d Ivoire, Ghana, and Mali, who often share common ethnic backgrounds with the Burkinabe. Despite its food shortages and high poverty rate, Burkina Faso has become a destination for refugees in recent years and hosts about 33,600 Malian refugees as of October 2022. (2018)

total dependency ratio: 87.4 youth dependency ratio: 82.6 elderly dependency ratio: 4.8 potential support ratio: 20.9 (2021 est.)

improved: urban: 94.7% of population rural: 71.3% of population total: 78.5% of population unimproved: urban: 5.3% of population rural: 28.7% of population total: 21.5% of population (2020 est.)

5.5% of GDP (2020 est.)

Mossi 53.7%, Fulani (Peuhl) 6.8%, Gurunsi 5.9%, Bissa 5.4%, Gurma 5.2%, Bobo 3.4%, Senufo 2.2%, Bissa 1.5%, Lobi 1.5%, Tuareg/Bella 0.1%, other 12.8%, foreign 0.7% (2021 est.)

1.98 (2024 est.)

0.4 beds/1,000 population

total: 47 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.) male: 51.1 deaths/1,000 live births female: 42.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Mossi 52.9%, Fula 7.8%, Gourmantche 6.8%, Dyula 5.7%, Bissa 3.3%, Gurunsi 3.2%, French (official) 2.2%, Bwamu 2%, Dagara 2%, San 1.7%, Marka 1.6%, Bobo 1.5%, Senufo 1.5%, Lobi 1.2%, other 6.6% (2019 est.)

total population: 64.2 years (2024 est.) male: 62.3 years female: 66.1 years

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 46% male: 54.5% female: 37.8% (2021)

3.204 million OUAGADOUGOU (capital), 1.129 million Bobo-Dioulasso (2023)

264 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

total: 18.7 years (2024 est.) male: 17.9 years female: 19.5 years

20.1 years (2021 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

noun: Burkinabe (singular and plural) adjective: Burkinabe

-0.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

5.6% (2016)

0.09 physicians/1,000 population (2019)

total: 23,042,199 male: 11,297,749 female: 11,744,450 (2024 est.)

Most of the population is located in the center and south. Nearly one-third of the population lives in cities. The capital and largest city is Ouagadougou (Ouaga), with a population of 1.8 million as shown in this population distribution map (2019)

2.4% (2024 est.)

Muslim 63.8%, Roman Catholic 20.1%, Animiste 9%, Protestant 6.2%, other 0.2%, none 0.7% (2019 est.)

improved: urban: 90.8% of population rural: 37.7% of population total: 54% of population unimproved: urban: 9.2% of population rural: 62.3% of population total: 46% of population (2020 est.)

total: 9 years male: 9 years female: 9 years (2020)

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

total: 14.3% (2020 est.) male: 22.1% (2020 est.) female: 6.4% (2020 est.)

4.02 children born/woman (2024 est.)

urban population: 32.5% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 4.75% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Ansarul Islam; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham in the Greater Sahara (ISIS-GS); al-Mulathamun Battalion (al-Mourabitoun); Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

refugees (country of origin): 36,372 (Mali) (2023) IDPs: 2,062,534 (2023)

tier rating: Tier 2 Watch list Burkina Faso did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period and was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-trafficking-in-persons-report/burkina-faso/

49 (2024)

XT

number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 3 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 151,531 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 100,000 (2018) mt-km

total: 622 km (2014) narrow gauge: 622 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge note: another 660 km of this railway extends into Cote d'Ivoire

total: 15,304 km (2017) paved: 3,642 km (2014) unpaved: 11,662 km (2014)