Data at glance of Burkina Faso - average on period

History

Many of Burkina Faso’s ethnic groups arrived in the region between the 12th and 15th centuries. The Gurma and Mossi peoples established several of the largest kingdoms in the area and used horse-mounted warriors in military campaigns. Of the various Mossi kingdoms, the most powerful were Ouagadougou and Yatenga. In the late 19th century, European states competed for control of the region. France eventually conquered the area and established it as a French protectorate. The country achieved independence from France in 1960 and changed its name to Burkina Faso in 1984. Repeated military coups were common in the country’s first few decades. In 1987 Blaise COMPAORE deposed the president, established a government, and ruled for 27 years. In 2014, COMPAORE resigned after protests against his repeated efforts to amend the constitution's two-term presidential limit. An interim administration led a year-long transition, organizing presidential and legislative elections. In 2015, Roch Marc Christian KABORE was elected president, and he was reelected in 2020. In 2022, the military conducted two takeovers: In January, army colonel Paul Henri DAMIBA overthrew KABORE in a coup d'etat, and then in September, army captain Ibrahim TRAORE deposed DAMIBA and declared himself transition president. The transition government planned to hold elections by July 2024, but they may be delayed due to security concerns. Terrorist groups -- including groups affiliated with Al-Qa’ida and the Islamic State -- began attacks in the country in 2016 and conducted attacks in the capital in 2016, 2017, and 2018. By early 2023, insecurity in Burkina Faso had displaced more than 2 million people and led to significant jumps in humanitarian needs and food insecurity. In addition to terrorism, the country faces a myriad of problems including high population growth, recurring drought, pervasive and perennial food insecurity, and limited natural resources. It is one of the world’s poorest countries.

Environment

Area: 274,200 sq km km2

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

Natural resources: gold, manganese, zinc, limestone, marble, phosphates, pumice, salt

Ethnic characteristics

Groups: Mossi 53.7%, Fulani (Peuhl) 6.8%, Gurunsi 5.9%, Bissa 5.4%, Gurma 5.2%, Bobo 3.4%, Senufo 2.2%, Bissa 1.5%, Lobi 1.5%, Tuareg/Bella 0.1%, other 12.8%, foreign 0.7% (2021 est.)

Languages:

Religions: Muslim 63.8%, Roman Catholic 20.1%, Animiste 9%, Protestant 6.2%, other 0.2%, none 0.7% (2019 est.)

Government

Capital: Ouagadougou

Government type: presidential republic

Executive branch

Chief of state: Transitional President Capt. Ibrahim TRAORE (since 30 September 2022)

Head of government: Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel OUEDRAOGO (since 9 December 2024)

Legislative branch

Description: Parliament (Parlement) - unicameral

Industries

cotton lint, beverages, agricultural processing, soap, cigarettes, textiles, gold

GDP by sector: Agriculture: 18.6% (2024 est.), Industry: 29.7% (2024 est.), Services: 40.2% (2024 est.)

Trade

Export partners: Switzerland 72%, UAE 10%, India 3%, Mali 3%, Cote d'Ivoire 2% (2023)

Export commodities: gold, cotton, oil seeds, coconuts/brazil nuts/cashews, cement (2023)

Import partners: Cote d'Ivoire 14%, China 13%, Ghana 9%, Russia 9%, France 7% (2023)

Import commodities: refined petroleum, plastic products, cement, electricity, packaged medicine (2023)

Geography

Western Africa, north of Ghana

Defence

Military expenditure: 2024: 4.5% of GDP (2024 est.)