Burkina Faso

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 15,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1

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.)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 72,700 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 26.9 million (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 119 (2022 est.)

Agricultural products

maize, sorghum, fruits, vegetables, millet, cowpeas, cotton, groundnuts, sugarcane, rice (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Budget

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

-$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

$3.565 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

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

Exchange rates

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

$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

gold, cotton, oil seeds, coconuts/brazil nuts/cashews, cement (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

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)

$23.25 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

GDP - composition, by end use

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

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

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

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$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

refined petroleum, plastic products, cement, electricity, packaged medicine (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

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

-5.4% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.2% (2024 est.) 0.7% (2023 est.) 14.3% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

6.461 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Population below poverty line

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

Public debt

61.3% of GDP (2023 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$60.001 billion (2024 est.) $57.152 billion (2023 est.) $55.508 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP growth rate

5% (2024 est.) 3% (2023 est.) 1.5% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per capita

$2,500 (2024 est.) $2,500 (2023 est.) $2,500 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Remittances

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

18.4% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Unemployment rate

5.2% (2024 est.) 5.4% (2023 est.) 5.4% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 8.1% (2024 est.) male: 7.8% (2024 est.) female: 8.5% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Coal

exports: 1 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 74 metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

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

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

Electricity generation sources

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

3.481 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption: 37,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

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

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

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 signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban

Land use

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

38.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

13.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

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

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

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.575 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 23% (2022 est.)

Area

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

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Colorado

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

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation

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

Geographic coordinates

13 00 N, 2 00 W

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

550 sq km (2016)

Land boundaries

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

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

Western Africa, north of Ghana

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)

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

recurring droughts

Natural resources

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

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)

Terrain

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

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

Capital

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Government type

presidential republic

Independence

5 August 1960 (from France)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

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) 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

civil law based on the French model and customary law

Legislative branch

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)

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)

red, yellow, green

National heritage

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

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

National symbol(s)

white stallion

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

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 - 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)

Military and security forces

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

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, T rkiye, the UK, and the UAE (2025)

Military expenditures

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

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

Age structure

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

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

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

Child marriage

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

16.9% (2021 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

74.3% (2021 est.)

Death rate

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

Dependency ratios

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

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

5.3% of GDP (2023 est.) 20.3% national budget (2023 est.)

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.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.98 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

6.4% of GDP (2021) 8.4% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

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

Infant mortality rate

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

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

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

Literacy

total population: 41.4% (2023 est.) male: 48.4% (2023 est.) female: 35.7% (2023 est.)

Major urban areas - population

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

Maternal mortality ratio

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

Median age

total: 19 years (2025 est.) male: 17.9 years female: 19.5 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

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

Nationality

noun: Burkinabe (singular and plural) adjective: Burkinabe

Net migration rate

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

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

5.6% (2016)

Physician density

0.15 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Population

total: 23,490,300 (2025 est.) male: 11,529,979 female: 11,960,321

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)

Population growth rate

2.39% (2025 est.)

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

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)

total: 7 years (2023 est.) male: 7 years (2023 est.) female: 7 years (2023 est.)

Sex ratio

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

total: 12.4% (2025 est.) male: 20.4% (2025 est.) female: 4.6% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.02 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

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

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) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees: 41,408 (2024 est.) 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/

Airports

49 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

XT

Railways

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