Burkina Faso

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2000)

Internet country code

.bf

Internet users

4,000 (2000)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 17, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios

370,000 (1997)

Telephone system

general assessment: all services only fair domestic: microwave radio relay, open wire, and radiotelephone communication stations international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

36,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1,503 (1997)

Television broadcast stations

1 (1997)

Televisions

100,000 (1997)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

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

Currency

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States

Currency code

XOF

Debt - external

$1.3 billion (1997)

Economic aid - recipient

$484.1 million (1995)

Economy - overview

One of the poorest countries in the world, landlocked Burkina Faso has a high population density, few natural resources, and a fragile soil. About 90% of the population is engaged in (mainly subsistence) agriculture which is highly vulnerable to variations in rainfall. Industry remains dominated by unprofitable government-controlled corporations. Following the African franc currency devaluation in January 1994 the government updated its development program in conjunction with international agencies, and exports and economic growth have increased. Maintenance of its macroeconomic progress in 2001-02 depends on continued low inflation, reduction in the trade deficit, and reforms designed to encourage private investment.

Electricity - consumption

265.1 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - production

285 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 71.93% hydro: 28.07% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999)

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 699.21 (January 2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996); note - from 1 January 1999, the XOF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF per euro

Exports

$220 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Exports - commodities

cotton, animal products, gold

Exports - partners

Italy 13%, France 10%, Indonesia 8%, Thailand 7% (1999)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $12 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 26% industry: 27% services: 47% (1998)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,000 (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

5% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.2% highest 10%: 39.5% (1994)

Imports

$610 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery, food products, petroleum

Imports - partners

Cote d'Ivoire 30%, France 28%, Spain 3%, Benelux 3% (1999)

Industrial production growth rate

4.2% (1995)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.5% (2000 est.)

Labor force

5 million (1999) note: a large part of the male labor force migrates annually to neighboring countries for seasonal employment

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 90% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

NA%

Area

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

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Colorado

Climate

tropical; warm, dry winters; hot, wet summers

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

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

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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban

Geographic coordinates

13 00 N, 2 00 W

Geography - note

landlocked

Irrigated land

200 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 3,192 km border countries: Benin 306 km, Cote d'Ivoire 584 km, Ghana 548 km, Mali 1,000 km, Niger 628 km, Togo 126 km

Land use

arable land: 13% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 22% forests and woodland: 50% other: 15% (1993 est.)

Location

Western Africa, north of Ghana

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

recurring droughts

Natural resources

manganese, limestone, marble; small deposits of gold, antimony, copper, nickel, bauxite, lead, phosphates, zinc, silver

Terrain

mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in west and southeast

Administrative divisions

30 provinces; Bam, Bazega, Bougouriba, Boulgou, Boulkiemde, Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houe, Kadiogo, Kenedougou, Komoe, Kossi, Kouritenga, Mouhoun, Namentenga, Naouri, Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Sanguie, Sanmatenga, Seno, Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Yatenga, Zoundweogo note: a new electoral code was approved by the National Assembly in January 1997; the number of administrative provinces was increased from 30 to 45 (Bale, Bam, Banwa, Bazega, Bougouriba, Boulgou, Boulkiemde, Comoe, Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houet, Ioba, Kadiogo, Kenedougou, Komandjari, Kompienga, Kossi, Koupelogo, Kouritenga, Kourweogo, Leraba, Loroum, Mouhoun, Nahouri, Namentenga, Nayala, Naumbiel, Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Samentenga, Sanguie, Seno, Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Tuy, Yagha, Yatenga, Ziro, Zondomo, Zoundweogo), however, this change has not yet been confirmed by the US Board on Geographic Names

Capital

Ouagadougou

Constitution

2 June 1991 approved by referendum; 11 June 1991 formally adopted

Country name

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Burkina Faso former: Upper Volta, Republic of Upper Volta

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Jimmy J. KOLKER embassy: 602 Avenue Raoul Follerau, Koulouba, Secteur 4, Ouagadougou mailing address: B. P. 35, Ouagadougou 01 telephone: [226] 306723

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Bruno ZIDOUEMBA chancery: 2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-5577

Executive branch

chief of state: President Blaise COMPAORE (since 15 October 1987) head of government: Prime Minister Ernest Paramanga YONLI (since 6 November 2000) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; the president may serve unlimited terms; election last held 15 November 1998 (next to be held NA 2005); prime minister appointed by the president with the consent of the legislature election results: Blaise COMPAORE reelected president with 87.5% percent of the vote, 56% of voter turnout note: President COMPAORE faces an increasingly well-coordinated opposition; recent charges against a former member of his Presidential Guard in the 1998 assassination of a newspaper editor signify an attempt to defuse chronic areas of dissatisfaction

FAX

[1] (202) 667-1882

FAX

[226] 303890

Flag description

two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a yellow five-pointed star in the center; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Government type

parliamentary

Independence

5 August 1960 (from France)

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court; Appeals Court

Legal system

based on French civil law system and customary law

Legislative branch

bicameral; consists of a National Assembly or Assemblee des Deputes Populaires (111 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the purely consultative Chamber of Representations or Chambre des Representants (178 seats; members are appointed to serve three-year terms) elections: National Assembly election last held 11 May 1997 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CDP 101, PDP 6, RDA 2, ADF 2

National holiday

Republic Day, 11 December (1958)

Political parties and leaders

African Democratic Rally-Alliance for Democracy and Federation or RDA-ADF [Herman YAMEOGO]; Congress for Democracy and Progress or CDP [Roch Marc-Christian KABORE]; Movement for Tolerance and Progress or MTP [Noyabtigungu Congo KABORE]; Party for African Independence or PAI [Philippe OUEDRAOGO]; Party for Democracy and Progress or PDP [Joseph KI-ZERBO]; Union of Greens for the Development of Burkina Faso or UVDB [Ram OVEDRAGO]

Political pressure groups and leaders

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

Suffrage

universal

Background

Independence from France came to Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta) in 1960. Governmental instability during the 1970s and 1980s was followed by multiparty elections in the early 1990s. Several hundred thousand farm workers migrate south every year to Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana.

Military branches

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$66 million (FY96)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2% (FY96)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 2,592,974 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 1,329,995 (2001 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 47.5% (male 2,937,285; female 2,892,107) 15-64 years: 49.59% (male 2,903,153; female 3,183,121) 65 years and over: 2.91% (male 150,688; female 205,935) (2001 est.)

Birth rate

44.79 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Death rate

17.05 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Ethnic groups

Mossi over 40%, Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi, Bobo, Mande, Fulani

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

6.44% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

43,000 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

350,000 (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate

106.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 46.41 years male: 45.86 years female: 46.98 years (2001 est.)

Literacy

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

Nationality

noun: Burkinabe (singular and plural) adjective: Burkinabe

Net migration rate

-0.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Population

12,272,289 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 and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2001 est.)

Population growth rate

2.68% (2001 est.)

Religions

indigenous beliefs 40%, Muslim 50%, Christian (mainly Roman Catholic) 10%

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate

6.35 children born/woman (2001 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Airports

33 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 31 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 16 (2000 est.)

Highways

total: 12,506 km paved: 2,001 km unpaved: 10,505 km (1996)

Ports and harbors

none

Railways

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

Waterways

none