Western Africa, north of Ghana
Geographic coordinates: 13 00 N, 2 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area:
total area: 274,200 sq km
land area: 273,800 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Colorado
Land boundaries:
total: 3,192 km
border countries: Benin 306 km, Ghana 548 km, Cote d'Ivoire 584 km,
Mali 1,000 km, Niger 628 km, Togo 126 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
International disputes: following mutual acceptance of an International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling in December 1986 on their international boundary dispute, Burkina Faso and Mali are proceeding with boundary demarcation, including the tripoint with Niger
Climate: tropical; warm, dry winters; hot, wet summers
Terrain: mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in
west and southeast
lowest point: Black Volta River 200 m
highest point: Tena Kourou 749 m
Natural resources: manganese, limestone, marble; small deposits of
gold, antimony, copper, nickel, bauxite, lead, phosphates, zinc,
silver
Land use:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 37%
forest and woodland: 26%
other: 27%
Irrigated land: 160 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: recent droughts and desertification severely
affecting agricultural activities, population distribution, and the
economy; overgrazing; soil degradation; deforestation
natural hazards: recurring droughts
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer
Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Desertification,
Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
Geographic note: landlocked
People———
Population: 10,623,323 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0–14 years: 48% (male 2,569,806; female 2,537,106)
15–64 years: 49% (male 2,444,601; female 2,738,726)
65 years and over: 3% (male 145,479; female 187,605) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.53% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 47.02 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 19.99 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: −1.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15–64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 117.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 43.21 years male: 43.46 years female: 42.95 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.8 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Burkinabe (singular and plural)
adjective: Burkinabe
Ethnic divisions: Mossi about 24%, Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi, Bobo,
Mande, Fulani
Religions: indigenous beliefs 40%, Muslim 50%, Christian (mainly
Roman Catholic) 10%
Languages: French (official), tribal languages belonging to
Sudanic family, spoken by 90% of the population
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 19.2%
male: 29.5%
female: 9.2%
Government—————
Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Burkina Faso former: Upper Volta
Data code: UV
Type of government: parliamentary
Capital: Ouagadougou
Administrative divisions: 30 provinces; Bam, Bazega, Bougouriba,
Boulgou, Boulkiemde, Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houet, Kadiogo,
Kenedougou, Komoe, Kossi, Kouritenga, Mouhoun, Namentenga, Naouri,
Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Sanguie, Sanmatenga, Seno,
Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Yatenga, Zoundweogo
Independence: 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
Suffrage: none
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Captain Blaise COMPAORE (since 15 October
1987) elected for a seven-year term by popular vote; election last
