Statistical information Burkina Faso 1999

Burkina Faso in the World
top of pageBackground: 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.
top of pageLocation: Western Africa, north of Ghana
Geographic coordinates: 13 00 N, 2 00 W
Map reference:
AfricaAreaTotal: 274,200 km²
Land: 273,800 km²
Water: 400 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than Colorado
Land boundariesTotal: 3,192 km
Border countries: (6) Benin 306 km;
, Ghana 548 km;
, Cote d'Ivoire 584 km;
, Mali 1,000 km;
, Niger 628 km;
, Togo 126 kmCoastline: 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
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Mouhoun (Black Volta) River 200 m
Extremes highest point: Tena Kourou 749 m
Natural resources: manganese, limestone, marble; small deposits of gold, antimony, copper, nickel, bauxite, lead, phosphates, zinc, silver
Land useArable land: 13%
Permanent crops: 0%
Permanent pastures: 22%
Forests and woodland: 50%
Other: 15% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 200 km² (1993 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: recurring droughts
GeographyNote: landlocked
top of pagePopulation: 11,575,898 (July 1999 est.)
Growth rate: 2.7% (1999 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%
NationalityNoun: Burkinabe (singular and plural)
Adjective: Burkinabe
Ethnic groups: Mossi about 24%, Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi, Bobo, Mande, Fulani
Languages: French (official), tribal languages belonging to Sudanic family, spoken by 90% of the population
Religions: indigenous beliefs 40%, Muslim 50%, Christian (mainly Roman Catholic) 10%
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years: 48% (male 2,792,895; female 2,759,072)
15-64 years: 49% (male 2,700,253; female 2,978,168)
65 years and over: 3% (male 147,017; female 198,493) (1999 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 2.7% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 45.84 births/1000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 17.56 deaths/1000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.25 migrant(s)/1000 population (1999 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: recent droughts and desertification severely affecting agricultural activities, population distribution, and the economy; overgrazing; soil degradation; deforestation
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
International agreements signed but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 107.19 deaths/1000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 45.89 years
Male: 44.97 years
Female: 46.84 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.56 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 19.2%
Male: 29.5%
Female: 9.2% (1995 est.)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Burkina Faso
Former: Upper Volta
Government type: parliamentary
Capital: Ouagadougou
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)
Dependent areasIndependence: 5 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Revolution, 4 August (1983)
Constitution: 2 June 1991
Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: universal
Executive branchChief of state: President Captain Blaise COMPAORE (since 15 October 1987)
Head of government: Prime Minister Kadre Desire OUEDRAOGO (since 6 February 1996)
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 number of terms which a president may serve is not limited; 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 88% percent of the vote, with 56% of voter turnout
Legislative branch: bicameral; consists of a National Assembly or Assemblee des Deputes Populaires (ADP) (111 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the purely consultative Chamber of Representations or Chambre des Representants (120 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
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Appeals Court
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MINURCA, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Gaetan Rimwangulya OUEDRAOGO
In the us chancery: 2,340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 332-5,577
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 667-1882
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Sharon P. WILKINSON
From the us embassy: Avenue Raoul Follerau, Ouagadougou
From the us mailing address: 01 B. P. 35, Ouagadougou
From the us telephone: [226] 306,723 through 306,725
From the us FAX: [226] 303,890
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
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy 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 85% 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 1999-2000 depends on continued low inflation, reduction in the trade deficit, and reforms designed to encourage private investment.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 6% (1998 est.)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $1,000 (1998 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 35%
Industry: 25%
Services: 40% (1997)
Agriculture products: peanuts, shea nuts, sesame, cotton, sorghum, millet, corn, rice; livestock
Industries: cotton lint, beverages, agricultural processing, soap, cigarettes, textiles, gold
Industrial production growth rate: 4.2% (1995)
Labor force: 4.679 million (persons 10 years old and over, according to a sample survey taken in 1991)
Note: a large part of the male labor force migrates annually to neighboring countries for seasonal employment
By occupation agriculture: 85%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty line: NA%
Gini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $277 million
Expenditures: $492 million, including capital expenditures of $233 million (1995 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $400 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Commodities: cotton, animal products, gold
Partners: Cote d'Ivoire, France, Italy, Mali
Imports: $700 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Commodities: machinery, food products, petroleum
Partners: Cote d'Ivoire, France, Togo, Nigeria
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $715 million (December 1996)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1_560.01 (December 1998), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994)
top of pageElectricityProduction: 220 million kWh (1996)
Production by source fossil fuel: 63.64%
Production by source hydro: 36.36%
Production by source nuclear: 0%
Production by source other: 0% (1996)
Consumption: 220 million kWh (1996)
Exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Imports: 0 kWh (1996)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephones: 21,000 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: all services only fair
Domestic: microwave radio relay, open wire, and radiotelephone communication stations
International: satellite earth station_1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $66 million (1996)
Percent of gdp: 2% (1996)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 33 (1998 est.)
With paved runways total: 2
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 31
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 13
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 16 (1998 est.)
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysTotal: 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.)
RoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marinePorts and terminalstop of pageDisputes international: none
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs