Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso

Introduction

Background

Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta) achieved independence from France in 1960. Repeated military coups during the 1970s and 1980s were followed by multiparty elections in the early 1990s. Current President Blaise COMPAORE came to power in a 1987 military coup and has won every election since then. Burkina Faso’s high population density and limited natural resources result in poor economic prospects for the majority of its citizens. Recent unrest in Cote d’Ivoire and northern Ghana has hindered the ability of several hundred thousand seasonal Burkinabe farm workers to find employment in neighboring countries.

Geography

Location

Western Africa, north of Ghana

Geographic coordinates

13 00 N, 2 00 W

Map references

Africa

Area

total: 274,200 sq km
country comparison to the world: 75 land:273,800 sq km
water:400 sq km

Area – comparative

slightly larger than Colorado

Land boundaries

total: 3,193 km
border countries:Benin 306 km, Cote d’Ivoire 584 km, Ghana 549 km, Mali 1,000 km, Niger 628 km, Togo 126 km

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Climate

tropical

warm, dry winters

hot, wet summers

Terrain

mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains

hills in west and southeast

Elevation extremes

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

Natural resources

manganese, limestone, marble

small deposits of gold, phosphates, pumice, salt

Land use

arable land: 17.66%
permanent crops:0.22%
other:82.12% (2005)

Irrigated land

300 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

17.5 cu km (2001)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.8cu km/yr (13%/1%/86%)
per capita:60cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards

recurring droughts

Environment – current issues

recent droughts and desertification severely affecting agricultural activities, population distribution, and the economy

overgrazing

soil degradation

deforestation

Environment – international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements

Geography – note

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

People and Society

Nationality

noun: Burkinabe (singular and plural)
adjective:Burkinabe

Ethnic groups

Mossi over 40%, other approximately 60% (includes Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi, Bobo, Mande, and Fulani)

Languages

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

Religions

Muslim 60.5%, Catholic 19%, animist 15.3%, Protestant 4.2%, other 0.6%, none 0.4%

Population

16,751,455 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61 note:estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS

this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected

Age structure

0-14 years: 45.8% (male 3,849,350/female 3,828,483)
15-64 years:51.7% (male 4,320,779/female 4,334,197)
65 years and over:2.5% (male 162,157/female 256,489) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 16.9 years
male:16.7 years
female:17.1 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

3.085% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10

Birth rate

43.59 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5

Death rate

12.74 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110

Urbanization

urban population: 26% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:6.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

OUAGADOUGOU (capital) 1.777 million (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years:1 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.64 male(s)/female
total population:0.99 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

560 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 21

Infant mortality rate

total: 81.4 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 11 male:88.88 deaths/1,000 live births
female:73.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 53.7 years
country comparison to the world: 201 male:51.75 years
female:55.71 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

6.14 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6

Health expenditures

6.4% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 96

Physicians density

0.064 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 170

Hospital bed density

0.9 beds/1,000 population (2006)
country comparison to the world: 151

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 95% of population
rural: 72% of population
total: 76% of population
unimproved:
urban: 5% of population
rural: 28% of population
total: 24% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 33% of population
rural: 6% of population
total: 11% of population
unimproved:
urban: 67% of population
rural: 94% of population
total: 89% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

1.2% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

110,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40

HIV/AIDS – deaths

7,100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases:bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease:malaria and yellow fever
water contact disease:schistosomiasis
respiratory disease:meningococcal meningitis
animal contact disease:rabies
note:highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country

it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

37.4% (2006)
country comparison to the world: 8

Education expenditures

4.6% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 75

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:21.8%
male:29.4%
female:15.2% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 6 years
male:7 years
female:6 years (2009)

Government

Country name

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

Government type

parliamentary republic

Capital

name: Ouagadougou
geographic coordinates:12 22 N, 1 31 W
time difference:UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions

45 provinces

Bale, Bam, Banwa, Bazega, Bougouriba, Boulgou, Boulkiemde, Comoe, Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houet, Ioba, Kadiogo, Kenedougou, Komondjari, Kompienga, Kossi, Koulpelogo, Kouritenga, Kourweogo, Leraba, Loroum, Mouhoun, Nahouri, Namentenga, Nayala, Noumbiel, Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Sanguie, Sanmatenga, Seno, Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Tuy, Yagha, Yatenga, Ziro, Zondoma, Zoundweogo

Independence

5 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday

Republic Day, 11 December (1958)

note – commemorates the day that Upper Volta became an autonomous republic in the French Community

Constitution

approved by referendum 2 June 1991

formally adopted 11 June 1991

last amended January 2002

Legal system

civil law based on the French model and customary law

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration

accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Blaise COMPAORE (since 15 October 1987)
head of government:Prime Minister Luc-Adolphe TIAO (since 18 April 2011)
cabinet:Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term)

election last held on 21 November 2010 (next to be held in 2015)

prime minister appointed by the president with the consent of the legislature
election results:Blaise COMPAORE reelected president

percent of popular vote – Blaise COMPAORE 80.2%, Hama Arba DIALLO 8.2%, Benewende Stanislas SANKARA 6.3%, other 5.3%

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (111 seats

members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections:National Assembly election last held on 6 May 2007 (next to be held in May 2012)
election results:percent of vote by party – NA

seats by party – CDP 73, ADF-RDA 14, UPR 5, UNIR-MS 4, CFD-B 3, UPS 2, PDP-PS 2, RDB 2, PDS 2, PAREN 1, PAI 1, RPC 1, UDPS 1

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of Appeals or Cour de Cassation

Council of State or Conseil d’Etat

Court of Accounts or la Cour des Comptes

Constitutional Council or Conseil Constitutionnel

Political parties and leaders

African Democratic Rally-Alliance for Democracy and Federation or ADF-RDA [Gilbert OUEDRAOGO]

Citizen’s Popular Rally or RPC [Antoine QUARE]

Coalition of Democratic Forces of Burkina or CFD-B [Amadou Diemdioda DICKO]

Congress for Democracy and Progress or CDP [Roch Marc-Christian KABORE]

Democratic and Popular Rally or RDP [Nana THIBAUT]

Movement for Tolerance and Progress or MTP [Nayabtigungou Congo KABORE]

Party for African Independence or PAI [Soumane TOURE]

Party for Democracy and Progress-Socialist Party or PDP-PS [Ali LANKOANDE]

Party for Democracy and Socialism or PDS [Felix SOUBEIGA]

Party for National Rebirth or PAREN [Jeanne TRAORE]

Rally for the Development of Burkina or RDB [Antoine KARGOUGOU]

Rally of Ecologists of Burkina Faso or RDEB [Ram OUEDRAGO]

Republican Party for Integration and Solidarity or PARIS

Union for Democracy and Social Progress or UDPS [Fidele HIEN]

Union for Rebirth – Sankarist Movement or UNIR-MS [Benewende STANISLAS]

Union for the Republic or UPR [Toussaint Abel COULIBALY]

Union of Sankarist Parties or UPS [Ernest Nongma OUEDRAOGO]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Burkinabe General Confederation of Labor or CGTB [Tole SAGNON]

Burkinabe Movement for Human Rights or MBDHP [Chrysigone ZOUGMORE]

Group of 14 February [Benewende STANISLAS]

National Confederation of Burkinabe Workers or CNTB [Laurent OUEDRAOGO]

National Organization of Free Unions or ONSL [Paul KABORE]
other:watchdog/political action groups throughout the country in both organizations and communities

International organization participation

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Seydou BOUDA
chancery:2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 332-5577
FAX:[1] (202) 667-1882

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas DOUGHERTY
embassy:602 Avenue Raoul Follereau, Koulouba, Secteur 4
mailing address:01 B. P. 35, Ouagadougou 01

pouch mail – US Department of State, 2440 Ouagadougou Place, Washington, DC 20521-2440
telephone:[226] 50-30-67-23
FAX:[226] 50-30-38-90

Flag description

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

National symbol(s)

white stallion

National anthem

name: “Le Ditanye” (Anthem of Victory)
lyrics/music:Thomas SANKARA
note:adopted 1974

also known as “Une Seule Nuit” (One Single Night), Burkina Faso’s anthem was written by the country’s president, an avid guitar player

Economy

Economy – overview

Burkina Faso is a poor, landlocked country that relies heavily on cotton and gold exports for revenue. The country has few natural resources and a weak industrial base. About 90% of the population is engaged in subsistence agriculture, which is vulnerable to periodic drought. Cotton is the main cash crop. Since 1998, Burkina Faso has embarked upon a gradual privatization of state-owned enterprises and in 2004 revised its investment code to attract foreign investment. As a result of this new code and other legislation favoring the mining sector, the country has seen an upswing in gold exploration and production. By 2010, gold had become the main source of export revenue.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$19.99 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126 $18.9 billion (2009 est.)
$18.3 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$8.781 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

5.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56 3.2% (2009 est.)
5.2% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$1,200 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205 $1,200 (2009 est.)
$1,200 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 34.1%
industry:23%
services:42.9% (2010 est.)

Labor force

6.668 million
country comparison to the world: 63 note:a large part of the male labor force migrates annually to neighboring countries for seasonal employment (2007)

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 90%
industry and services:10% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate

77% (2004)
country comparison to the world: 196

Population below poverty line

46.4% (2004)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%:32.2% (2004)

Distribution of family income – Gini index

39.5 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 66 48.2 (1994)

Investment (gross fixed)

20.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116

Budget

revenues: $1.899 billion
expenditures:$2.413 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

21.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-5.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-0.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7 2.6% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

4.25% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91 4.25% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

NA%

Stock of narrow money

$1.343 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130 $1.351 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$2.547 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140 $2.302 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.463 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141 $1.282 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Agriculture – products

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

livestock

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

5.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76

Electricity – production

664.4 million kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154

Electricity – consumption

683.5 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154

Electricity – exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

144.6 million kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139

Oil – consumption

9,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153

Oil – exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138

Oil – imports

8,560 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144

Oil – proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201

Natural gas – production

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136

Natural gas – consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196

Natural gas – imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196

Natural gas – proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199

Current account balance

-$317.2 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94 -$913.5 million (2009 est.)

Exports

$1.336 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147 $896.5 million (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

cotton, livestock, gold

Exports – partners

China 17.3%, Belgium 11.6%, Singapore 9.3%, Indonesia 7.6%, Turkey 6.4%, Thailand 4.8%, Japan 4.2% (2010)

Imports

$1.663 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162 $1.388 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

capital goods, foodstuffs, petroleum

Imports – partners

Cote dIvoire 26.1%, France 16%, Togo 5.3%, Ghana 4.7% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.068 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134 $1.296 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$2.05 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139 $1.835 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -
495.28 (2010)
472.19 (2009)
447.81 (2008)
493.51 (2007)
522.59 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

24 (2010)
country comparison to the world:132

Airports – with paved runways

total: 2
over 3,047 m:1
2,438 to 3,047 m:1 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 22
1,524 to 2,437 m:4
914 to 1,523 m:12
under 914 m:6 (2010)

Railways

total: 622 km
country comparison to the world: 106 narrow gauge:622 km 1.000-m gauge
note:another 660 km of this railway extends into Cote d’Ivoire (2010)

Roadways

total: 92,495 km
country comparison to the world: 51 paved:3,857 km
unpaved:88,638 km (2004)

Military

Military branches

Army, Air Force of Burkina Faso (Force Aerienne de Burkina Faso, FABF), National Gendarmerie (2011)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service

women may serve in supporting roles (2011)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 3,735,735 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 2,366,168
females age 16-49:2,367,673 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 193,905
female:191,662 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

1.2% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 119

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

adding to illicit cross-border activities, Burkina Faso has issues concerning unresolved boundary alignments with its neighbors

demarcation is currently underway with Mali, the dispute with Niger was referred to the ICJ in 2010, and a dispute over several villages with Benin persists

Benin retains a border dispute with Burkina Faso around the town of Koualou