Burkina Faso - Economic Indicators

Economic Overview

Burkina Faso is a poor, landlocked country that depends on adequate rainfall. Irregular patterns of rainfall, poor soil, and the lack of adequate communications and other infrastructure contribute to the economy’s vulnerability to external shocks. About 80% of the population is engaged in subsistence farming and cotton is the main cash crop. The country has few natural resources and a weak industrial base. Cotton and gold are Burkina Faso’s key exports - gold has accounted for about three-quarters of the country’s total export revenues. Burkina Faso’s...

Continue reading View Factbook for Burkina Faso

GDP Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Nominal Gross Domestic Product 2022 11,961,573,439,065 11,084,798,530,599 XOF Annual
Investment 2021 0 0 XOF Annual
Private Consumption 2019 5,976,284,000,905 5,776,168,575,390 XOF Annual
Real Fixed Investment (gross fixed capital formation) 2017 1,680,162,231,800 1,574,318,142,100 NCU Annual
Real Investment 2017 1,700,359,203,200 1,543,319,189,700 NCU Annual
Real Gross Domestic Product 2014 125.86 120.96 Index 2005=100 Annual
Government Consumption 2014 1,294 1,243 Mil. XOF Annual
Price Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Consumer Price Index (CPI) Jan 2024 133.72 131.99 2010=100, NSA Monthly
Labor Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Agriculture Employment 2017 1,978,105 1,962,978 # Annual
Labor Force 2017 6,995,457 6,787,147 # Annual
Unemployment Rate 2017 6.3 6.39 % of total labor force Annual
Labor Force Employment 1992 163.07 158.15 Ths. Annual
Trade Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Exports of Goods and Services 2021 0 0 XOF Annual
Imports of Goods and Services 2021 0 0 XOF Annual
Balance of Goods 2021 1,259,049,368 1,329,958,724 USD Annual
Current Account Balance 2021 77,255,404 743,231,869 USD Annual
Exports of Goods 2021 5,678,318,202 4,846,982,739 USD Annual
Imports of Goods 2021 4,419,268,834 3,517,024,015 USD Annual
Real Imports of Goods and Services 2015 1,829,904,000,000 1,684,375,000,000 NCU Annual
Government Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Government Revenues 2016 1,230,300,000,000 1,047,644,821,985 NCU Annual
Government Budget Balance 2011 -193,305,000,000 -214,608,000,000 current LCU Annual
Markets Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Money Market Rate Mar 2021 2 2 % p.a., NSA Monthly
Lending Rate Mar 2017 2.5 2.5 % - End of period Monthly
Demographics Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Population 2020 20,903,278 20,321,383 # Annual
Birth Rate 2016 38.92 39.44 # per Ths. pop. Annual
Death Rate 2016 8.57 8.82 # per Ths. pop. Annual
Net Migration 2002 -125,000 # Annual

Factbook

Background

Background:
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. Former President Blaise COMPAORE (1987-2014) resigned in late October 2014 following popular protests against his efforts to amend the constitution's two-term presidential limit. An interim administration organized presidential and legislative elections - finally held in November 2015 - where Roch Marc Christian KABORE was elected president. The country experienced terrorist attacks in its capital in 2016, 2017, and 2018 and continues to mobilize resources to counter terrorist threats. Burkina Faso's high population growth, recurring drought, pervasive and perennial food insecurity, and limited natural resources result in poor economic prospects for the majority of its citizens.

Geography

Location:
Western Africa, north of Ghana
Geographic coordinates:
13 00 N, 2 00 W
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 274,200 sq km
land: 273,800 sq km
water: 400 sq km
country comparison to the world: 76
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Colorado
Land boundaries:
total: 3,611 km
border countries (6): Benin 386 km, Cote d'Ivoire 545 km, Ghana 602 km, Mali 1,325 km, Niger 622 km, Togo 131 km
Coastline:
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
Elevation:
mean elevation: 297 m
elevation extremes: lowest point: Mouhoun (Black Volta) River 200 m
highest point: Tena Kourou 749 m
Natural resources:
manganese, limestone, marble; small deposits of gold, phosphates, pumice, salt
Land use:
agricultural land: 43%
arable land 20.8%; permanent crops 0.3%; permanent pasture 21.9%
forest: 20.4%
other: 36.6% (2011 est.)
Irrigated land:
550 sq km (2012)
Population - distribution:
the population is concentrated in the central and southern parts of the country; the east, north, and southwest are less populated
Natural hazards:
recurring droughts
Environment - current issues:
recent droughts and desertification severely affecting agricultural activities, population distribution, and the economy; overgrazing; soil degradation; deforestation
Environment - international agreements:
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:
landlocked savanna cut by the three principal rivers of the Black, Red, and White Voltas

People & Society

Population:
20,107,509
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 (July 2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Nationality:
noun: Burkinabe (singular and plural)
adjective: Burkinabe
Ethnic groups:
Mossi 52%, Fulani 8.4%, Gurma 7%, Bobo 4.9%, Gurunsi 4.6%, Senufo 4.5%, Bissa 3.7%, Lobi 2.4%, Dagara 2.4%, Tuareg/Bella 1.9%, Dioula 0.8%, unspecified/no answer 0.3%, other 7.2% (2010 est.)
Languages:
French (official), native African languages belonging to Sudanic family spoken by 90% of the population
Religions:
Muslim 61.5%, Roman Catholic 23.3%, traditional/animist 7.8%, Protestant 6.5%, other/no answer 0.2%, none 0.7% (2010 est.)
Demographic profile:
Burkina Faso has a young age structure – the result of declining mortality combined with steady high fertility – and continues to experience rapid population growth, which is putting increasing pressure on the country’s limited arable land. More than 65% of the population is under the age of 25, and the population is growing at 3% annually. Mortality rates, especially those of infants and children, have decreased because of improved health care, hygiene, and sanitation, but women continue to have an average of almost 6 children. Even if fertility were substantially reduced, today’s large cohort entering their reproductive years would sustain high population growth for the foreseeable future. Only about a third of the population is literate and unemployment is widespread, dampening the economic prospects of Burkina Faso’s large working-age population.
Migration has traditionally been a way of life for Burkinabe, with seasonal migration being replaced by stints of up to two years abroad. Cote d’Ivoire remains the top destination, although it has experienced periods of internal conflict. Under French colonization, Burkina Faso became a main labor source for agricultural and factory work in Cote d’Ivoire. Burkinabe also migrated to Ghana, Mali, and Senegal for work between the world wars. Burkina Faso attracts migrants from Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Mali, who often share common ethnic backgrounds with the Burkinabe. Despite its food shortages and high poverty rate, Burkina Faso has become a destination for refugees in recent years and hosts about 33,500 Malians as of May 2017.
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44.88% (male 4,519,960/female 4,503,937)
15-24 years: 20.07% (male 2,024,501/female 2,012,053)
25-54 years: 29.42% (male 2,999,941/female 2,915,264)
55-64 years: 3.2% (male 284,374/female 359,159)
65 years and over: 2.43% (male 181,996/female 306,324) (2017 est.)
population pyramid:
Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio: 92.2
youth dependency ratio: 87.6
elderly dependency ratio: 4.6
potential support ratio: 21.6 (2015 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.3 years
male: 17.1 years
female: 17.4 years (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 219
Population growth rate:
3% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
Birth rate:
41.2 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
Death rate:
11.2 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
Population distribution:
the population is concentrated in the central and southern parts of the country; the east, north, and southwest are less populated
Urbanization:
urban population: 31.5% of total population (2017)
rate of urbanization: 5.29% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
OUAGADOUGOU (capital) 2.741 million (2015)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.77 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth:
19.4 years
note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2010 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio:
371 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
Infant mortality rate:
total: 72.2 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 79.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 64.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 55.9 years
male: 53.8 years
female: 58 years (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211
Total fertility rate:
5.71 children born/woman (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
25.5% (2016)
Health expenditures:
5% of GDP (2014)
country comparison to the world: 140
Physicians density:
0.05 physicians/1,000 population (2012)
Hospital bed density:
0.4 beds/1,000 population (2010)
Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 97.5% of population
rural: 75.8% of population
total: 82.3% of population
unimproved:
urban: 2.5% of population
rural: 24.2% of population
total: 17.7% of population (2015 est.)
Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 50.4% of population
rural: 6.7% of population
total: 19.7% of population
unimproved:
urban: 49.6% of population
rural: 93.3% of population
total: 80.3% of population (2015 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.8% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
95,000 (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
3,100 (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
Major infectious diseases:
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 (2016)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
5.6% (2016)
country comparison to the world: 175
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
19.2% (2016)
country comparison to the world: 24
Education expenditures:
4.2% of GDP (2015)
country comparison to the world: 128
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 36%
male: 43%
female: 29.3% (2015 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 8 years
male: 8 years
female: 7 years (2013)

Government

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 Honest (Incorruptible) Men"
Government type:
presidential republic
Capital:
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:
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:
5 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
Republic Day, 11 December (1958); note - commemorates the day that Upper Volta became an autonomous republic in the French Community
Constitution:
history: several previous; latest approved by referendum 2 June 1991, adopted 11 June 1991, temporarily suspended late October to mid-November 2014
amendments: 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; amended several times, last in 2012 (2017)
Legal system:
civil law based on the French model and customary law
International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
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
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Roch Marc Christian KABORE (since 29 December 2015)
head of government: Prime Minister Paul Kaba THIEBA (since 6 January 2016)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections/appointments: president elected by absolute majority popular vote in two rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second); election last held on 29 November 2015 (next scheduled for November 2020); prime minister appointed by the president with consent of the National Assembly
election results: Roch Marc Christian KABORE elected president in first round; percent of vote - Roch Marc Christian KABORE (MPP) 53.5%, Zephirin DIABRE (UPC) 29.6%, Tahirou BARRY (PAREN) 3.1%. Benewende Stanislas SANKARA (UNIR-MS) 2.8%, other 10.9%
Legislative branch:
description: unicameral National Assembly (127 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms)
elections: last held on 29 November 2015 (next to be held in 2020)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MPP 55, UPC 32, CDP 18, Union for Rebirth/Sankarist Party 5, ADF/RDA 3, NTD 3, other 10
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 upon the proposal of 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
Political parties and leaders:
African Democratic Rally/Alliance for Democracy and Federation or ADF/RDA [Gilbert Noel OUEDRAOGO]
African People’s Movement or MAP [Victorien TOUGOUMA]
Congress for Democracy and Progress or CDP [Eddie KOMBOIGO]
Le Faso Autrement [Ablasse OUEDRAOGO]
New Alliance of the Faso or NAFA [Mahamoudou DICKO]
New Time for Democracy or NTD [Vincent DABILGOU]
Organization for Democracy and Work or ODT [Anatole BONKOUNGOU]
Party for Development and Change or PDC [Aziz SEREME]
Party for Democracy and Progress-Socialist Party or PDP-PS [Drabo TORO]
Party for Democracy and Socialism/Metba or PDS/Metba [Philippe OUEDRAOGO]
Party for National Renaissance or PAREN [Michel BERE]
People's Movement for Progress or MPP [Simon COMPAORE]
Rally for Democracy and Socialism or RDS [Francois OUEDRAOGO]
Rally for the Development of Burkina or RDB [Celestin Saidou COMPAORE]
Rally of Ecologists of Burkina Faso or RDEB [Adama SERE]
Union for a New Burkina or UBN [Diemdioda DICKO]
Union for Progress and Change or UPC [Zephirin DIABRE]
Union for Rebirth - Sankarist Movement or UNIR-MS [Benewende Stanislas SANKARA]
Union for the Republic or UPR [Toussaint Abel COULIBALY]
Youth Alliance for the Republic and Independence or AJIR [Adama KANAZOE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Balai Citoyen [Guy Herve KAM]
Burkinabe General Confederation of Labor or CGTB [Bassolma BAZIE]
Burkinabe Movement for Human Rights or MBDHP [Chrysigone ZOUGMORE]
Burkinabe Society for Constitutional Law or SBDC [Abdoulaye SOMA]
Center for Democratic Governance or CGD [Thomas OUEDRAOGO]
Coalition for African Renaissance or CAR [Herve OUATTARA]
National Independent Union of Burkinabe Magistrates or SAMAB [Augustin LOADA]
National Union for Health Workers or SYNTSHA
National Union for Primary Education Teachers or SYNATEB
other: watchdog/political action groups throughout the country
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, CD, ECOWAS, 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, MINUSMA, 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:
chief of mission: Ambassador Seydou KABORE (since 18 January 2017)
chancery: 2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-5577
FAX: [1] (202) 667-1882
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Andrew YOUNG (since 1 December 2016)
embassy: Rue 15.873, Avenue Sembene Ousmane, Ouaga 2000, Secteur 15
mailing address: 01 B. P. 35, Ouagadougou 01; pouch mail - US Department of State, 2440 Ouagadougou Place, Washington, DC 20521-2440
telephone: [226] 25-49-53-00
FAX: [226] 25-49-56-28
Flag description:
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):
white stallion; national colors: red, yellow, green
National anthem:
name: "Le Ditanye" (Anthem of Victory)
lyrics/music: Thomas SANKARA
note: adopted 1974; also known as "Une Seule Nuit" (One Single Night); written by the country's president, an avid guitar player

Economy

Economy - overview:
Burkina Faso is a poor, landlocked country that depends on adequate rainfall. Irregular patterns of rainfall, poor soil, and the lack of adequate communications and other infrastructure contribute to the economy’s vulnerability to external shocks. About 80% of the population is engaged in subsistence farming and cotton is the main cash crop. The country has few natural resources and a weak industrial base.
Cotton and gold are Burkina Faso’s key exports - gold has accounted for about three-quarters of the country’s total export revenues. Burkina Faso’s economic growth and revenue depends largely on production levels and global prices for the two commodities. The country has seen an upswing in gold exploration, production, and exports.
The fall of the COMPAORE government in 2014 and failed coup in September 2015 disrupted economic activity and strained government finances. In 2015, President Roch Marc Christian KABORE was elected to office, and in 2016, the government adopted a new development strategy, set forth in the 2016-2020 National Plan for Economic and Social Development, that aims to reduce poverty, build human capital, and to satisfy basic needs. A new three-year IMF program (2018-2020), approved in 2018, will allow the government to reduce the budget deficit and preserve critical spending on social services and priority public investments.
While the end of the political crisis has allowed Burkina Faso’s economy to resume positive growth, the country’s fragile security situation could put these gains at risk. Political insecurity in neighboring Mali, unreliable energy supplies, and poor transportation links pose long-term challenges.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$35.68 billion (2017 est.)
$33.54 billion (2016 est.)
$31.68 billion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 127
GDP (official exchange rate):
$13.19 billion (2017 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6.4% (2017 est.)
5.9% (2016 est.)
4% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,900 (2017 est.)
$1,800 (2016 est.)
$1,700 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 208
Gross national saving:
9.2% of GDP (2017 est.)
7.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
5.3% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption: 56.7%
government consumption: 26.2%
investment in fixed capital: 29.4%
investment in inventories: 2.4%
exports of goods and services: 20.9%
imports of goods and services: -35.7% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 31.9%
industry: 22%
services: 46.1% (2017 est.)
Agriculture - products:
cotton, peanuts, shea nuts, sesame, sorghum, millet, corn, rice; livestock
Industries:
cotton lint, beverages, agricultural processing, soap, cigarettes, textiles, gold
Industrial production growth rate:
5.1% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Labor force:
8.501 million
note: a large part of the male labor force migrates annually to neighboring countries for seasonal employment (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 90%
industry and services: 10% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
77% (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 217
Population below poverty line:
40.1% (2009 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 32.2% (2009 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
39.5 (2007 est.)
48.2 (1994 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
Budget:
revenues: $2.635 billion
expenditures: $3.332 billion (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
20% of GDP (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-5.3% of GDP (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Public debt:
32.5% of GDP (2016 est.)
32.5% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.5% (2017 est.)
-0.2% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
Central bank discount rate:
4.25% (31 December 2010 est.)
4.25% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
5.3% (31 December 2017 est.)
5.3% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Stock of narrow money:
$2.606 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$2.274 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Stock of broad money:
$4.904 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$4.228 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Stock of domestic credit:
$3.804 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$3.205 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Current account balance:
$-947 million (2017 est.)
$-828 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Exports:
$2.797 billion (2017 est.)
$2.641 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Exports - commodities:
gold, cotton, livestock
Exports - partners:
Switzerland 65.7%, India 6.3%, South Africa 5.2%, Singapore 4.6% (2016)
Imports:
$2.923 billion (2017 est.)
$2.802 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
Imports - commodities:
capital goods, foodstuffs, petroleum
Imports - partners:
China 12.2%, Cote dIvoire 8.2%, Japan 7.8%, France 7.1%, Netherlands 4.5%, Spain 4.2%, India 4.1%, Russia 4% (2016)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$45.3 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$50.9 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
Debt - external:
$3.075 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$2.88 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -
605.3 (2017 est.)
593.01 (2016 est.)
593.01 (2015 est.)
591.45 (2014 est.)
494.42 (2013 est.)

Energy

Electricity access:
population without electricity: 14,100,000
electrification - total population: 17%
electrification - urban areas: 56%
electrification - rural areas: 1% (2013)
Electricity - production:
944 million kWh (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Electricity - consumption:
1.321 billion kWh (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
Electricity - imports:
443 million kWh (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
306,000 kW (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
86.9% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
10.5% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
3.3% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Crude oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
Refined petroleum products - production:
0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
22,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
Refined petroleum products - imports:
20,890 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
1.4 million Mt (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157

Communications

Telephones - fixed lines:
total subscriptions: 75,727
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Telephones - mobile cellular:
total: 15,404,040
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 77 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Telephone system:
general assessment: system includes microwave radio relay, open-wire, and radiotelephone communication stations
domestic: fixed-line connections stand at less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular usage, fostered by multiple providers, is increasing steadily from a low base
international: country code - 226; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2016)
Broadcast media:
since the official inauguration of Terrestrial Digital Television (TNT) in December 2017, Burkina Faso now has 14 digital TV channels among which 2 are state-owned; there are more than 140 radio stations (commercial, religious, community) available throughout the country including a national and regional state-owned network; the state-owned Radio Burkina and the private Radio Omega are among the most widespread stations and both include broadcasts in French and local languages (2018)
Internet country code:
.bf
Internet users:
total: 2,723,950
percent of population: 14.0% (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99

Transportation

National air transport system:
number of registered air carriers: 1
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 3
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 122,589
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 55,868 mt-km (2015)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:
XT (2016)
Airports:
23 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 133
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2017)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 21
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 5 (2013)
Railways:
total: 622 km
narrow gauge: 622 km 1.000-m gauge
note: another 660 km of this railway extends into Cote d'Ivoire (2014)
country comparison to the world: 109
Roadways:
total: 15,272 km
note: does not include urban roads (2010)
country comparison to the world: 122

Military & Security

Military expenditures:
1.23% of GDP (2016)
1.33% of GDP (2015)
1.43% of GDP (2014)
1.39% of GDP (2013)
1.32% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 93
Military branches:
Army, Central Army Group (joint logistics command), Air Force of Burkina Faso (Force Aerienne de Burkina Faso, FABF), National Gendarmerie, National Fire Brigade (Brigade Nationale des Sapeurs-Pompiers, BNSP) (2018)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; women may serve in supporting roles (2013)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international:
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
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 24,149 (Mali) (2018)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Burkina Faso is a source, transit, and destination country for women and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; Burkinabe children are forced to work as farm hands, gold panners and washers, street vendors, domestic servants, and beggars or in the commercial sex trade, with some transported to nearby countries; to a lesser extent, Burkinabe women are recruited for legitimate jobs in the Middle East or Europe and subsequently forced into prostitution; women from other West African countries are also lured to Burkina Faso for work and subjected to forced prostitution, forced labor in restaurants, or domestic servitude
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List – Burkina Faso does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; law enforcement efforts decreased in 2014, with a significant decline in trafficking prosecutions (none for forced begging involving Koranic school teachers – a prevalent form of trafficking) and no convictions, a 2014 law criminalizing the sale of children, child prostitution, and child pornography is undermined by a provision allowing offenders to pay a fine in lieu of serving prison time proportionate to the crime; the government sustained efforts to identify and protect a large number of child victims, relying on support from NGOs and international organizations; nationwide awareness-raising activities were sustained, but little was done to stop forced begging (2015)

Economic Indicators for Burkina Faso including actual values, historical data, and latest data updates for the Burkina Faso economy.