Burkina Faso Facts, Map, Population, GDP

Capital

Ouagadougou

Population

23,490,300 (2025 est.)

Area

274,200 sq km

Location

Western Africa, north of Ghana

🧭 Background

Many of Burkina Faso’s ethnic groups arrived in the region between the 12th and 15th 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.

🗺️ Geography

Location

Western Africa, north of Ghana

Geographic coordinates

13 00 N, 2 00 W

Map references

Africa

Area — total

274,200 sq km

Area — land

273,800 sq km

Area — water

400 sq km

Area - comparative

Slightly larger than Colorado

Land boundaries — total

3,611 km

Land boundaries — border countries

Benin 386 km; Cote d'Ivoire 545 km; Ghana 602 km; Mali 1325 km; Niger 622 km; Togo 131 km

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims

None (landlocked)

Climate

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

Terrain

Mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in the west and southeast; occupies an extensive plateau with savanna that is grassy in the north and gradually gives way to sparse forests in the south

Elevation — highest point

Tena Kourou 749 m

Elevation — lowest point

Mouhoun (Black Volta) River 200 m

Elevation — mean elevation

297 m

Natural resources

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

Land use — agricultural land

53.4% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 28.9% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 2.6% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 21.9% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

12.7% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

33.9% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

550 sq km (2016)

Major rivers (by length in km)

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) — Atlantic Ocean drainage

Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Volta (410,991 sq km)

Population distribution

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)

Natural hazards

Recurring droughts

Geography - note

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

👥 People and Society⬆️ Top

Population — total

23,490,300 (2025 est.)

Population — male

11,529,979

Population — female

11,960,321

Nationality — noun

Burkinabe (singular and plural)

Nationality — adjective

Burkinabe

Ethnic groups

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.)

Languages

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.)

Religions

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

Age structure — 0-14 years

41.6% (male 4,868,488/female 4,727,316)

Age structure — 15-64 years

55.1% (male 6,116,674/female 6,590,775)

Age structure — 65 years and over

3.2% (2024 est.) (male 312,587/female 426,359)

Dependency ratios — total dependency ratio

79 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — youth dependency ratio

73.2 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — elderly dependency ratio

5.8 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — potential support ratio

17.3 (2025 est.)

Median age — total

19 years (2025 est.)

Median age — male

17.9 years

Median age — female

19.5 years

Population growth rate

2.39% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

31.74 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

7.24 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Net migration rate

-0.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Population distribution

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)

Urbanization — urban population

32.5% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

4.75% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas - population

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

Sex ratio — at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 0-14 years

1.03 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 15-64 years

0.93 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 65 years and over

0.73 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — total population

0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

20.1 years (2021 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

242 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate — total

48 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Infant mortality rate — male

51.1 deaths/1,000 live births

Infant mortality rate — female

42.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth — total population

64.2 years (2024 est.)

Life expectancy at birth — male

62.3 years

Life expectancy at birth — female

66.1 years

Total fertility rate

4.02 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.98 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: urban

Urban: 80.9% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: rural

Rural: 34.8% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: total

Total: 49.5% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: urban

Urban: 19.1% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: rural

Rural: 65.2% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: total

Total: 50.5% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

6.4% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

8.4% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

0.15 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Hospital bed density

0.2 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: urban

Urban: 91.2% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: rural

Rural: 42.6% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: total

Total: 58.1% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: urban

Urban: 8.8% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: rural

Rural: 57.4% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: total

Total: 41.9% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

5.6% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita — total

7.28 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — beer

1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — wine

0.08 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — spirits

0.31 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — other alcohols

5.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use — total

12.4% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — male

20.4% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — female

4.6% (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

16.9% (2021 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

74.3% (2021 est.)

Child marriage — women married by age 15

8.9% (2015)

Child marriage — women married by age 18

51.3% (2015)

Child marriage — men married by age 18

1.6% (2015)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% GDP)

5.3% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% national budget)

20.3% national budget (2023 est.)

Literacy — total population

41.4% (2023 est.)

Literacy — male

48.4% (2023 est.)

Literacy — female

35.7% (2023 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — total

7 years (2023 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — male

7 years (2023 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — female

7 years (2023 est.)

🌿 Environment⬆️ Top

Environmental issues

Droughts; desertification; overgrazing; soil degradation; deforestation (2019)

International environmental agreements — 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

International environmental agreements — signed, but not ratified

Nuclear Test Ban

Climate

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

Land use — agricultural land

53.4% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 28.9% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 2.6% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 21.9% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

12.7% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

33.9% (2023 est.)

Urbanization — urban population

32.5% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

4.75% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — total emissions

5.243 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from coal and metallurgical coke

7 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from petroleum and other liquids

5.243 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

38.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Waste and recycling — municipal solid waste generated annually

2.575 million tons (2024 est.)

Waste and recycling — percent of municipal solid waste recycled

23% (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — municipal

375.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — industrial

21.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — agricultural

420.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total renewable water resources

13.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

🏛️ Government⬆️ Top

Country name — conventional long form

None

Country name — conventional short form

Burkina Faso

Country name — local long form

None

Country name — local short form

Burkina Faso

Country name — former

Upper Volta, Republic of Upper Volta

Country name — 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"

Government type

Presidential republic

Capital — name

Ouagadougou

Capital — geographic coordinates

12 22 N, 1 31 W

Capital — time difference

UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Capital — 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"

Administrative divisions

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

Legal system

Civil law based on the French model and customary law

Constitution — 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

Constitution — 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

International law organization participation

Has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship — citizenship by birth

No

Citizenship — citizenship by descent only

At least one parent must be a citizen of Burkina Faso

Citizenship — dual citizenship recognized

Yes

Citizenship — residency requirement for naturalization

10 years

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch — chief of state

Transitional President Capt. Ibrahim TRAORE (since 30 September 2022)

Executive branch — head of government

Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel OUEDRAOGO (since 9 December 2024)

Executive branch — 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

Executive branch — 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

Executive branch — most recent election date

22 November 2020

Executive branch — 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%

Executive branch — expected date of next election

Were to be held by July 2024, but were delayed

Legislative branch — legislature name

Parliament (Parlement)

Legislative branch — legislative structure

Unicameral

Legislative branch — chamber name

Transitional Legislative Assembly (Assemblée législative de la transition)

Legislative branch — number of seats

71

Legislative branch — electoral system

Proportional representation

Legislative branch — most recent election date

11/11/2022

Legislative branch — percentage of women in chamber

18.3%

Legislative branch — expected date of next election

June 2029

Judicial branch — 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)

Judicial branch — 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

Judicial branch — subordinate courts

Appeals Court; High Court; first instance tribunals; district courts; specialized courts relating to issues of labor, children, and juveniles; village (customary) courts

Political parties

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

Diplomatic representation in the US — chief of mission

Ambassador Kassoum COULIBALY (since 24 July 2025)

Diplomatic representation in the US — chancery

2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation in the US — telephone

[1] (202) 332-5577

Diplomatic representation in the US — FAX

[1] (202) 667-1882

Diplomatic representation in the US — email address and website

Contact@burkina-usa.org https://burkina-usa.org/

Diplomatic representation from the US — chief of mission

Ambassador Joann M. LOCKARD (since 28 June 2024)

Diplomatic representation from the US — embassy

Secteur 15, Ouaga 2000, Avenue Sembene Ousmane, Rue 15.873, Ouagadougou

Diplomatic representation from the US — mailing address

2440 Ouagadougou Place, Washington, DC 20521-2440

Diplomatic representation from the US — telephone

(226) 25-49-53-00

Diplomatic representation from the US — FAX

(226) 25-49-56-23

Diplomatic representation from the US — email address and website

AmembOuaga@state.gov https://bf.usembassy.gov/

International organization participation

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

Independence

5 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday

Republic Day, 11 December (1958)

Flag

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

National symbol(s)

White stallion

National color(s)

Red, yellow, green

National anthem(s) — title

"Le Ditanye" (Anthem of Victory)

National anthem(s) — lyrics/music

Thomas SANKARA

National anthem(s) — history

Adopted 1974; also known as "Une Seule Nuit"(One Single Night) ; written by the country's former president, an avid guitar player

National heritage — total World Heritage Sites

4 (3 cultural, 1 natural)

National heritage — selected World Heritage Site locales

Ruins of Loropéni (c); Ancient Ferrous Metallurgy Sites of Burkina Faso (c); W-Arly-Pendjari Complex (n); Royal Court of Tiébélé (c)

💹 Economy⬆️ Top

Economic overview

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

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$60.001 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$57.152 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$55.508 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2024

5% (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2023

3% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2022

1.5% (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2024

$2,500 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2023

$2,500 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2022

$2,500 (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$23.25 billion (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

4.2% (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

0.7% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

14.3% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — agriculture

18.6% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — industry

29.7% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — services

40.2% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — household consumption

60.6% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — government consumption

18.8% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in fixed capital

16.5% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in inventories

10.6% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — exports of goods and services

28.5% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — imports of goods and services

-34.9% (2024 est.)

Agricultural products

Maize, sorghum, fruits, vegetables, millet, cowpeas, cotton, groundnuts, sugarcane, rice (2023)

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

-5.4% (2024 est.)

Labor force

6.461 million (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2024

5.2% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2023

5.4% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2022

5.4% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — total

8.1% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — male

7.8% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — female

8.5% (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

43.2% (2021 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income — Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021

37.4 (2021 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share — lowest 10%

3% (2021 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share — highest 10%

30.2% (2021 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2023

2.9% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2022

2.8% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2021

2.9% of GDP (2021 est.)

Budget — revenues

$5.174 billion (2023 est.)

Budget — expenditures

$6.308 billion (2023 est.)

Public debt — Public debt 2023

61.3% of GDP (2023 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

18.4% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2023

-$1.017 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2022

-$1.404 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2021

$77.255 million (2021 est.)

Exports — Exports 2023

$5.912 billion (2023 est.)

Exports — Exports 2022

$5.814 billion (2022 est.)

Exports — Exports 2021

$6.234 billion (2021 est.)

Exports - partners

Switzerland 72%, UAE 10%, India 3%, Mali 3%, Cote d'Ivoire 2% (2023)

Exports - commodities

Gold, cotton, oil seeds, coconuts/brazil nuts/cashews, cement (2023)

Imports — Imports 2023

$6.834 billion (2023 est.)

Imports — Imports 2022

$6.761 billion (2022 est.)

Imports — Imports 2021

$5.835 billion (2021 est.)

Imports - partners

Cote d'Ivoire 14%, China 13%, Ghana 9%, Russia 9%, France 7% (2023)

Imports - commodities

Refined petroleum, plastic products, cement, electricity, packaged medicine (2023)

Debt - external — Debt - external 2023

$3.565 billion (2023 est.)

Exchange rates — Currency

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2024

606.345 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2023

606.57 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2022

623.76 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2021

554.531 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2020

575.586 (2020 est.)

⚡ Energy⬆️ Top

Electricity access — electrification - total population

19.5% (2022 est.)

Electricity access — electrification - urban areas

60.5%

Electricity access — electrification - rural areas

3.4%

Electricity — installed generating capacity

749,000 kW (2023 est.)

Electricity — consumption

3.096 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — imports

1.577 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — transmission/distribution losses

212.254 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — fossil fuels

82.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — solar

5.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — hydroelectricity

6.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — biomass and waste

5.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal — exports

1 metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — imports

74 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum — refined petroleum consumption

37,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita — Total energy consumption per capita 2023

3.481 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

📡 Communications⬆️ Top

Telephones - fixed lines — total subscriptions

72,700 (2022 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2022 est.) less than 1

Telephones - mobile cellular — total subscriptions

26.9 million (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

119 (2022 est.)

Broadcast media

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

.bf

Internet users — percent of population

17% (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — total

15,000 (2022 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2022 est.) less than 1

🚚 Transportation⬆️ Top

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

XT

Airports

49 (2025)

Railways — total

622 km (2014)

Railways — narrow gauge

622 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge

🛡️ Military and Security⬆️ Top

Military and security forces

Armed Forces of Burkina Faso (FABF; aka National Armed Forces (FAN), aka Defense and Security Forces (Forces de Défense et de Sécurité 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 (Forcés de Volontaires de Défense pour la Patrie or VDP) Ministry of Territorial Administration, Decentralization and Security (Ministère de l'Administration Territoriale, de la Décentralisation et de la Sécurité): National Police of Burkina Faso (includes Border Police, Judicial Police, and Intervention Units, as well as State and Public Security forces) (2025)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2024

4.5% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2023

4% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2022

2.9% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2021

2.4% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2020

2.4% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

Estimated 20,000 Armed Forces; estimated 50,000 Homeland Defense Volunteers (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

The FABF has a mix of older and some modern armaments from a variety of suppliers, including China, Egypt, France, Russia, South Africa, Türkiye, the UK, and the UAE (2025)

Military service age and obligation

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)

Military - note

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)

🚨 Terrorism⬆️ Top

Terrorist group(s)

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)

🌐 Transnational Issues⬆️ Top

Refugees and internally displaced persons — refugees

41,408 (2024 est.)

Refugees and internally displaced persons — IDPs

2,065,358 (2024 est.)

Trafficking in persons — 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/