Burkina Faso
sovereign state in Africa
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World Factbook
CIA reference data · 4 sections
Geography
Location
Western Africa, north of Ghana
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
Terrain
mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in the west and southeast; occupies an extensive plateau with savanna that is grassy in the north and gradually gives way to sparse forests in the south
Natural resources
gold, manganese, zinc, limestone, marble, phosphates, pumice, salt
People & Society
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.)
Religions
Muslim 63.8%, Roman Catholic 20.1%, Animiste 9%, Protestant 6.2%, other 0.2%, none 0.7% (2019 est.)
Government
Government type
presidential republic
Independence
5 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday
Republic Day, 11 December (1958)
Legal system
civil law based on the French model and customary law
Economy
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$60.001 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$2,500 (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
5% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
4.2% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate
5.2% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
Switzerland 72%, UAE 10%, India 3%, Mali 3%, Cote d'Ivoire 2% (2023)
Imports - partners
Cote d'Ivoire 14%, China 13%, Ghana 9%, Russia 9%, France 7% (2023)
Source: CIA World Factbook · public domain (US gov work, 17 USC §105) · fetched 2026-05-06
Summary
Burkina Faso is a sovereign state[1]. It draws 284,829 Wikipedia views per month (sovereign state category, ranking #69 of 197).[2]
Key Facts
- Member of: United Nations[3], African Union[4], World Trade Organization[5], Organisation of Islamic Cooperation[6], International Bank for Reconstruction and Development[7], International Development Association[8], International Finance Corporation[9], Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency[10], International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes[11], African Development Bank[12]
- Country: Burkina Faso[13]
- Head of government: Apollinaire Joachim Kyélem de Tambèla[14]
- Continent: Africa[15]
- Instance of: landlocked country[16], country[17]
- Head of state: Ibrahim Traoré[18]
- Capital: Ouagadougou[19]
- Official language: Mooré[20], Bissa[21], Dioula[22]
- Currency: West African CFA franc[23]
- Shares border with: Benin[24], Ivory Coast[25], Ghana[26], Mali[27], Niger[28], Togo[29]
- Top-level Internet domain: .bf[30]
- Anthem: Une Seule Nuit[31]
- Basic form of government: military junta[32]
- Contains the administrative territorial entity: Guiriko[33], Oubri[34], Bankui[35], Tannounyan[36], Kadiogo[37], Nakambé (région)[38], Kuilsé[39], Nando[40], Nazinon[41], Goulmou[42], Yaadga[43], Liptako[44], Djôrô[45]
- Flag: flag of Burkina Faso[46]
- Twinned administrative body: Allier[47], Bacău[48], Kōnan-shi[49]
- Executive body: Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration[50]
- Coat of arms: coat of arms of Burkina Faso[51]
- Commons category: Burkina Faso[52]
- Licence plate code: BF[53]
- Located in time zone: UTC±00:00[54], Africa/Ouagadougou[55]
Body
Cultural Significance
Things named for Burkina Faso include Tour du Faso[56], a stage race[57], founded in 1987[58].
Why It Matters
Burkina Faso has Wikipedia articles in 30 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[59] It is known by 47 alternative names across languages and contexts.[60]
Entities named for it include Tour du Faso[56], a stage race[57], founded in 1987[58].