Page last updated on January 28, 2014

Introduction:
Background:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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.
Geography:
Location:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Western Africa, north of Ghana
Geographic coordinates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
13 00 N, 2 00 W
Map references:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Africa
Area:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 274,200 sq km
country comparison to the world: 75
land: 273,800 sq km
water: 400 sq km
Area - comparative:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
slightly larger than Colorado
Land boundaries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
none (landlocked)
Climate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
tropical; warm, dry winters; hot, wet summers
Terrain:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in west and southeast
Elevation extremes:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest point: Mouhoun (Black Volta) River 200 m
highest point: Tena Kourou 749 m
Natural resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
manganese, limestone, marble; small deposits of gold, phosphates, pumice, salt
Land use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
arable land: 20.79%
permanent crops: 0.24%
other: 78.98% (2011)
Irrigated land:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
250 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
12.5 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 0.72 cu km/yr (46%/3%/51%)
per capita: 54.99 cu m/yr (2005)
Natural hazards:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
recurring droughts
Environment - current issues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
recent droughts and desertification severely affecting agricultural activities, population distribution, and the economy; overgrazing; soil degradation; deforestation
Environment - international agreements:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
landlocked savanna cut by the three principal rivers of the Black, Red, and White Voltas
People and Society:
Nationality:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
noun: Burkinabe (singular and plural)
adjective: Burkinabe
Ethnic groups:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Mossi over 40%, other approximately 60% (includes Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi, Bobo, Mande, and Fulani)
Languages:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
French (official), native African languages belonging to Sudanic family spoken by 90% of the population
Religions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Muslim 60.5%, Catholic 19%, animist 15.3%, Protestant 4.2%, other 0.6%, none 0.4%
Population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
17,812,961 (July 2013 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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0-14 years: 45.5% (male 4,062,522/female 4,044,548)
15-24 years: 20% (male 1,794,740/female 1,775,072)
25-54 years: 28.9% (male 2,608,676/female 2,532,406)
55-64 years: 3.1% (male 229,202/female 324,921)
65 years and over: 2.5% (male 168,099/female 272,775) (2013 est.)
population pyramid: "> Dependency ratios:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total dependency ratio: 92.3 %
youth dependency ratio: 87.6 %
elderly dependency ratio: 4.7 %
potential support ratio: 21.3 (2013)
Median age:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 17 years
male: 16.8 years
female: 17.1 years (2013 est.)
Population growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3.06% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
Birth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
42.81 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
Death rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
12.21 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
Net migration rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
Urbanization:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
urban population: 26.5% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 6.02% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
OUAGADOUGOU (capital) 2.053 million (2011)
Sex ratio:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.69 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
19.4
note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2010 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
300 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 38
Infant mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 78.3 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 9
male: 85.67 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 70.72 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total population: 54.43 years
country comparison to the world: 206
male: 52.43 years
female: 56.48 years (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
16.2% (2010/11)
Health expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6.5% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 96
Physicians density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.05 physicians/1,000 population (2010)
Hospital bed density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.4 beds/1,000 population (2010)
Drinking water source:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
Sanitation facility access:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.2% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
110,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
7,100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
Major infectious diseases:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: dengue fever, 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 (2013)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.3% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 181
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
26% (2009)
country comparison to the world: 24
Education expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4% of GDP (2010)
country comparison to the world: 111
Literacy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 28.7%
male: 36.7%
female: 21.6% (2007 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 7 years
male: 7 years
female: 6 years (2011)
Child labor - children ages 5-14:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total number: 1,521,006
percentage: 38 % (2006 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 3.8%
country comparison to the world: 140
male: 4.6%
female: 2.9% (2006)
Government:
Country name:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
parliamentary republic
Capital:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
13 regions; Boucle du Mouhoun, Cascades, Centre, Centre-Est, Centre-Nord, Centre-Ouest, Centre-Sud, Est, Hauts-Bassins, Nord, Plateau-Central, Sahel, Sud-Ouest
Independence:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
5 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Republic Day, 11 December (1958); note - commemorates the day that Upper Volta became an autonomous republic in the French Community
Constitution:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
several previous; latest approved by referendum 2 June 1991, adopted 11 June 1991; amended several times, last in 2012 (2012)
Legal system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
civil law based on the French model and customary law
International law organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Suffrage:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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 )
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (127 seats; members are elected by proportional representation in one national constituency of 16 seats, and 45 multi-member constituencies having between 2 and 9 seats with members serving five-year terms)
elections: National Assembly election last held on 2 December 2012 (next to be held in 2017)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CDP 70, ADF-RDA 19, Union for Progress and Reform 19, UPR 4, UNIR-MS 4, CFD-B 3, PDS/Metba 2, other 6
Judicial branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
highest court(s): Supreme Court of Appeals or Cour de Cassation (consists of NA judges); Constitutional Council or Conseil Constitutionnel (consists of the council president and 3 judges)
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judge appointments mostly controlled by the president of Burkina Faso; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Council judges appointed by the president of Burkina Faso upon the proposal of the minister of justice; judges appointed for 9-year terms with one-third of judges 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
Political parties and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
African Democratic Rally-Alliance for Democracy and Federation or ADF-RDA [Gilbert OUEDRAOGO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Burkinabe General Confederation of Labor or CGTB [Tole SAGNON]
other: watchdog/political action groups throughout the country in both organizations and communities
International organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
ACP, AfDB, AU, CD, ECOWAS, EITI (candidate country), Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNITAR, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of mission: Ambassador Seydou BOUDA (since 2 September 2011)
chancery: 2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-5577
FAX: [1] (202) 667-1882
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of mission: Ambassador Tulinabo S. MUSHINGI (since 25 July 2013)
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] 50-49-53-00
FAX: [226] 50-49-56-28
Flag description:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
white stallion
National anthem:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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. Gold mining production doubled between 2009 and 2010. Two new mining projects were launched in the third quarter of 2011. Local community conflict persists in the mining and cotton sectors, but the Prime Minister has made efforts to defuse some of the economic cause of public discontent, including announcing income tax reductions, reparations for looting victims, and subsidies for basic food items and fertilizer. An IMF mission to Burkina Faso in October 2011 expressed general satisfaction with the measures. The risk of a mass exodus of the 3 to 4 million Burinabe who live and work in Cote d'Ivoire has dissipated, and trade, power, and transport links are being restored. Burkina Faso experienced a severe drought in 2011, which decimated grazing land and decreased harvests, creating food insecurity and damaging the country's agricultural base.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$24.57 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$10.89 billion (2012 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
9% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$1,400 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
Gross national saving:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
14.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
GDP - composition, by end use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
household consumption: 60.4%
government consumption: 17.9%
investment in fixed capital: 20.1%
investment in inventories: -0.1%
exports of goods and services: 29.6%
imports of goods and services: -27.9%
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 34.1%
industry: 23.7%
services: 42.2% (2012 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
cotton, peanuts, shea nuts, sesame, sorghum, millet, corn, rice; livestock
Industries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
cotton lint, beverages, agricultural processing, soap, cigarettes, textiles, gold
Industrial production growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6.5% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Labor force:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6.668 million
country comparison to the world: 65
note: a large part of the male labor force migrates annually to neighboring countries for seasonal employment (2007)
Labor force - by occupation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 90%
industry and services: 10% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
77% (2004)
country comparison to the world: 199
Population below poverty line:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
46.7% (2009 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 32.2% (2009 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
39.5 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 63
Budget:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
revenues: $2.5 billion
expenditures: $2.846 billion (2012 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
23% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
-3.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Fiscal year:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3.8% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Central bank discount rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.25% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA%
Stock of narrow money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$1.845 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Stock of broad money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$3.91 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Stock of domestic credit:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$2.123 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$NA
Current account balance:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$-247.6 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
Exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$2.746 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Exports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
gold, cotton, livestock
Exports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
China 25.9%, Turkey 24.8%, Belgium 5.2% (2012)
Imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$2.675 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Imports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
capital goods, foodstuffs, petroleum
Imports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Cote dIvoire 17.6%, France 15.2%, Ghana 4.8%, Togo 4.4% (2012)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$1.025 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Debt - external:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$2.607 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Exchange rates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -
Energy:
Electricity - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
670 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
Electricity - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
773.1 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Electricity - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Electricity - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
150 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
252,000 kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
87.3% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
12.7% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Crude oil - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Crude oil - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
Crude oil - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Crude oil - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 197
Refined petroleum products - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
9,960 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Refined petroleum products - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Refined petroleum products - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
11,660 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Natural gas - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
Natural gas - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
Natural gas - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
Natural gas - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 200
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.454 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Communications:
Telephones - main lines in use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
141,400 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 139
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
9.98 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 79
Telephone system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
general assessment: system includes microwave radio relay, open-wire, and radiotelephone communication stations; in 2006 the government sold a 51 percent stake in the national telephone company and ultimately plans to retain only a 23 percent stake in the company
domestic: fixed-line connections stand at less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular usage, fostered by multiple providers, is increasing rapidly from a low base
international: country code - 226; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011)
Broadcast media:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2 TV stations - 1 state-owned and 1 privately owned; state-owned radio runs a national and regional network; substantial number of privately owned radio stations; transmissions of several international broadcasters available in Ouagadougou (2007)
Internet country code:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
.bf
Internet hosts:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1,795 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 164
Internet users:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
178,100 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 144
Transportation:
Airports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
23 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 133
Airports - with paved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 21
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m:
Railways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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 (2008)
Roadways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 15,272 km
country comparison to the world: 121
note: does not include urban roads (2010)
Military:
Military branches:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Army, Air Force of Burkina Faso (Force Aerienne de Burkina Faso, FABF), National Gendarmerie (2011)
Military service age and obligation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; women may serve in supporting roles (2013)
Manpower available for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 3,735,735 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 2,366,168
females age 16-49: 2,367,673 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
male: 193,905
female: 191,662 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.39% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 223
Transnational Issues:
Disputes - international:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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