Communications
Broadband - fixed subscriptions [time series]
total: 15,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1
Broadcast media [time series]
14 digital TV channels, of which 2 are state-owned; over 140 national radio stations (commercial, religious, community), including a national and regional state-owned network; state-owned Radio Burkina and private Radio Omega are among the most widely available and broadcast in both French and local languages (2019)
Internet country code [time series]
.bf
Internet users [time series]
percent of population: 17% (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines [time series]
total subscriptions: 72,700 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
total subscriptions: 26.9 million (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 119 (2022 est.)
Economy
Agricultural products [time series]
maize, sorghum, fruits, vegetables, millet, cowpeas, cotton, groundnuts, sugarcane, rice (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Budget [time series]
revenues: $5.174 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $6.308 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Current account balance [time series]
-$1.017 billion (2023 est.) -$1.404 billion (2022 est.) $77.255 million (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Debt - external [time series]
$3.565 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
Economic overview [time series]
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
Exchange rates [time series]
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 606.345 (2024 est.) 606.57 (2023 est.) 623.76 (2022 est.) 554.531 (2021 est.) 575.586 (2020 est.)
Exports [time series]
$5.912 billion (2023 est.) $5.814 billion (2022 est.) $6.234 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports - commodities [time series]
gold, cotton, oil seeds, coconuts/brazil nuts/cashews, cement (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Exports - partners [time series]
Switzerland 72%, UAE 10%, India 3%, Mali 3%, Cote d'Ivoire 2% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]
$23.25 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
GDP - composition, by end use [time series]
household consumption: 60.6% (2024 est.) government consumption: 18.8% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 16.5% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 10.6% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 28.5% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -34.9% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]
agriculture: 18.6% (2024 est.) industry: 29.7% (2024 est.) services: 40.2% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income [time series]
37.4 (2021 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: 3% (2021 est.) highest 10%: 30.2% (2021 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Imports [time series]
$6.834 billion (2023 est.) $6.761 billion (2022 est.) $5.835 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports - commodities [time series]
refined petroleum, plastic products, cement, electricity, packaged medicine (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Imports - partners [time series]
Cote d'Ivoire 14%, China 13%, Ghana 9%, Russia 9%, France 7% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
-5.4% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
Industries [time series]
cotton lint, beverages, agricultural processing, soap, cigarettes, textiles, gold
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
4.2% (2024 est.) 0.7% (2023 est.) 14.3% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Labor force [time series]
6.461 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
Population below poverty line [time series]
43.2% (2021 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Public debt [time series]
61.3% of GDP (2023 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) [time series]
$60.001 billion (2024 est.) $57.152 billion (2023 est.) $55.508 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP growth rate [time series]
5% (2024 est.) 3% (2023 est.) 1.5% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP per capita [time series]
$2,500 (2024 est.) $2,500 (2023 est.) $2,500 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Remittances [time series]
2.9% of GDP (2023 est.) 2.8% of GDP (2022 est.) 2.9% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Taxes and other revenues [time series]
18.4% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
Unemployment rate [time series]
5.2% (2024 est.) 5.4% (2023 est.) 5.4% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) [time series]
total: 8.1% (2024 est.) male: 7.8% (2024 est.) female: 8.5% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Energy
exports: 1 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 74 metric tons (2023 est.)
Electricity [time series]
installed generating capacity: 749,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 3.096 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 1.577 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 212.254 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity access [time series]
electrification - total population: 19.5% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 60.5% electrification - rural areas: 3.4%
Electricity generation sources [time series]
fossil fuels: 82.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 5.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 6.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 5.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita [time series]
3.481 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Petroleum [time series]
refined petroleum consumption: 37,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment
Carbon dioxide emissions [time series]
5.243 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 7 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 5.243 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Climate [time series]
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
Environmental issues [time series]
droughts; desertification; overgrazing; soil degradation; deforestation (2019)
International environmental agreements [time series]
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
Land use [time series]
agricultural land: 53.4% (2023 est.) arable land: 28.9% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 2.6% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 21.9% (2023 est.) forest: 12.7% (2023 est.) other: 33.9% (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions [time series]
38.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources [time series]
13.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal [time series]
municipal: 375.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 21.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 420.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 32.5% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 4.75% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling [time series]
municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.575 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 23% (2022 est.)
Geography
total : 274,200 sq km land: 273,800 sq km water: 400 sq km
Area - comparative [time series]
slightly larger than Colorado
Climate [time series]
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
Coastline [time series]
0 km (landlocked)
Elevation [time series]
highest point: Tena Kourou 749 m lowest point: Mouhoun (Black Volta) River 200 m mean elevation: 297 m
Geographic coordinates [time series]
13 00 N, 2 00 W
Geography - note [time series]
landlocked savanna cut by the three principal rivers, the Black, Red, and White Voltas
Irrigated land [time series]
550 sq km (2016)
Land boundaries [time series]
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
Land use [time series]
agricultural land: 53.4% (2023 est.) arable land: 28.9% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 2.6% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 21.9% (2023 est.) forest: 12.7% (2023 est.) other: 33.9% (2023 est.)
Location [time series]
Western Africa, north of Ghana
Major rivers (by length in km) [time series]
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
Major watersheds (area sq km) [time series]
Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Volta (410,991 sq km)
Map references [time series]
Africa
Maritime claims [time series]
none (landlocked)
Natural hazards [time series]
recurring droughts
Natural resources [time series]
gold, manganese, zinc, limestone, marble, phosphates, pumice, salt
Population distribution [time series]
most of the population is located in the center and south; nearly one third lives in cities, including the capital city of Ouagadougou (Ouaga), as shown in this population distribution map (2019)
Terrain [time series]
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
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
13 regions; Boucle du Mouhoun, Cascades, Centre, Centre-Est, Centre-Nord, Centre-Ouest, Centre-Sud, Est, Hauts-Bassins, Nord, Plateau-Central, Sahel, Sud-Ouest
Capital [time series]
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," which may come from the personal name "Waga" or "Woga" and the Dyula word "dugu," meaning "village"
Citizenship [time series]
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
Constitution [time series]
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 amendment process: 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
Country name [time series]
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 Worthy Men," from the Dyula words burkina , or "worthy," and faso , which means "land" or literally "father village," from fa , or "father," and so , or "village"
Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]
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/
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Kassoum COULIBALY (since 24 July 2025) 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/
Executive branch [time series]
chief of state: Transitional President Capt. Ibrahim TRAORE (since 30 September 2022) head of government: Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel OUEDRAOGO (since 9 December 2024) cabinet: prior to the 2022 coups and ad hoc suspension of laws and constitutional provisions, Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister election/appointment process: prior to the 2022 coups and ad hoc 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); prime minister appointed by the president with consent of the National Assembly most recent election date: 22 November 2020 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% expected date of next election: were to be held by July 2024, but were delayed note: on 30 September 2022, a military junta led by TRAORE took power and ousted Transition President Lt. Col. Paul-Henri Sandaogo DAMIBA
description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green, with a five-pointed yellow star in the center meaning: red stands for the country's struggle for independence, green for hope and abundance, and yellow for the country's mineral wealth history: uses the colors of the Pan-African movement
Government type [time series]
presidential republic
Independence [time series]
5 August 1960 (from France)
International law organization participation [time series]
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
International organization participation [time series]
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
Judicial branch [time series]
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 after a proposal from 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
Legal system [time series]
civil law based on the French model and customary law
Legislative branch [time series]
legislature name: Parliament (Parlement) legislative structure: unicameral chamber name: Transitional Legislative Assembly (Assembl e l gislative de la transition) number of seats: 71 electoral system: proportional representation most recent election date: 11/11/2022 percentage of women in chamber: 18.3% expected date of next election: June 2029 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
National anthem(s) [time series]
title: "Le Ditanye" (Anthem of Victory) lyrics/music: Thomas SANKARA history: adopted 1974; also known as "Une Seule Nuit"(One Single Night) ; written by the country's former president, an avid guitar player
National color(s) [time series]
red, yellow, green
National heritage [time series]
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)
National holiday [time series]
Republic Day, 11 December (1958) note: commemorates the day that Upper Volta became an autonomous republic in the French Community
National symbol(s) [time series]
white stallion
Political parties [time series]
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
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal
Introduction
Background [time series]
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.
Military and Security
Military - note [time series]
the Armed Forces of Burkina Faso (FABF) are responsible for external defense but also have an internal security role and can be called out to assist internal security forces in restoring public order, combating crime, securing the border, and conducting counterterrorism/counterinsurgency/internal defense operations; the FABF has a history of involvement in the country s politics, having conducted eight coups since its formation in 1960-61, including the most recent in September 2022 the FABF's primary focus is combatting militants of the al-Qa'ida and Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) terrorist groups, which have operated in Burkina Faso for more than a decade and control portions of the country; 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, is strongest in the north but active in nearly all of the country's 13 provinces, while ISIS in the Greater Sahara (aka ISIS-Sahel) operates in the eastern part of the country (2025)
Military and security forces [time series]
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, Air Force of 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 of Burkina Faso (includes Border Police, Judicial Police, and Intervention Units, as well as State and Public Security forces) (2025) note 1: the National Gendarmerie is under 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 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; they are based in each of the country's municipalities
Military and security service personnel strengths [time series]
estimated 20,000 Armed Forces; estimated 50,000 Homeland Defense Volunteers (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions [time series]
the FABF has a mix of older and some modern armaments from a variety of suppliers, including China, Egypt, France, Russia, South Africa, T rkiye, the UK, and the UAE (2025)
Military expenditures [time series]
4.5% of GDP (2024 est.) 4% of GDP (2023 est.) 2.9% of GDP (2022 est.) 2.4% of GDP (2021 est.) 2.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military service age and obligation [time series]
generally, 18-35 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; citizens 18-77 years of age are eligible to volunteer for the VDP (2025) note: the military regime 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; the VDP reportedly has been used by the military regime as a platform for the forced recruitment of dissidents and activists to silence critics
People and Society
Age structure [time series]
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)
Alcohol consumption per capita [time series]
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.)
Birth rate [time series]
31.74 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Child marriage [time series]
women married by age 15: 8.9% (2015) women married by age 18: 51.3% (2015) men married by age 18: 1.6% (2015)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]
16.9% (2021 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49) [time series]
74.3% (2021 est.)
Death rate [time series]
7.24 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios [time series]
total dependency ratio: 79 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 73.2 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 5.8 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 17.3 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source [time series]
urban: 80.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 34.8% of population (2022 est.) total: 49.5% of population (2022 est.) urban: 19.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 65.2% of population (2022 est.) total: 50.5% of population (2022 est.)
Education expenditure [time series]
5.3% of GDP (2023 est.) 20.3% national budget (2023 est.)
Ethnic groups [time series]
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.)
Gross reproduction rate [time series]
1.98 (2025 est.)
Health expenditure [time series]
6.4% of GDP (2021) 8.4% of national budget (2022 est.)
Hospital bed density [time series]
0.2 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Infant mortality rate [time series]
total: 48 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 51.1 deaths/1,000 live births female: 42.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Languages [time series]
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.)
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 64.2 years (2024 est.) male: 62.3 years female: 66.1 years
Literacy [time series]
total population: 41.4% (2023 est.) male: 48.4% (2023 est.) female: 35.7% (2023 est.)
Major urban areas - population [time series]
3.204 million OUAGADOUGOU (capital), 1.129 million Bobo-Dioulasso (2023)
Maternal mortality ratio [time series]
242 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Median age [time series]
total: 19 years (2025 est.) male: 17.9 years female: 19.5 years
Mother's mean age at first birth [time series]
20.1 years (2021 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49
Nationality [time series]
noun: Burkinabe (singular and plural) adjective: Burkinabe
Net migration rate [time series]
-0.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]
5.6% (2016)
Physician density [time series]
0.15 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Population [time series]
total: 23,490,300 (2025 est.) male: 11,529,979 female: 11,960,321
Population distribution [time series]
most of the population is located in the center and south; nearly one third lives in cities, including the capital city of Ouagadougou (Ouaga), as shown in this population distribution map (2019)
Population growth rate [time series]
2.39% (2025 est.)
Religions [time series]
Muslim 63.8%, Roman Catholic 20.1%, Animiste 9%, Protestant 6.2%, other 0.2%, none 0.7% (2019 est.)
Sanitation facility access [time series]
urban: 91.2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 42.6% of population (2022 est.) total: 58.1% of population (2022 est.) urban: 8.8% of population (2022 est.) rural: 57.4% of population (2022 est.) total: 41.9% of population (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]
total: 7 years (2023 est.) male: 7 years (2023 est.) female: 7 years (2023 est.)
Sex ratio [time series]
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.)
Tobacco use [time series]
total: 12.4% (2025 est.) male: 20.4% (2025 est.) female: 4.6% (2025 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
4.02 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 32.5% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 4.75% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s) [time series]
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
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]
refugees: 41,408 (2024 est.) IDPs: 2,065,358 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons [time series]
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period, therefore Burkina Faso remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the second consecutive year; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/burkina-faso/
Transportation
Airports [time series]
49 (2025)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]
XT
Railways [time series]
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