01
Physical geography
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.
Local timeOuagadougou ·
Africa / Western Africa · Card 006
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso is a country in Western Africa. Its capital is Ouagadougou.
Find Burkina Faso
● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
At a glance
- Capital
- Ouagadougou
- Languages
- National languages; French used for work
- Currency
- West African CFA franc (XOF)
- Population
- 24.1 million2025 · World Bank
- Area
- 272,967 km²105,393 square miles
- Independence
- 1960from France
Burkina Faso in context
Africa and its surrounding islands. The dot marks Ouagadougou; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.
Natural Earth · locator mapGeography & languages
02
Languages
National languages have constitutional official status under legislation; French and English are working languages. Mooré, Fulfulde and Dioula are among the languages spoken.
03
Location
Western Africa, north of Ghana.
Flag
Two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green, with a five-pointed yellow star in the center
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived country profile · National Assembly · constitutional language provisions · Government update
History & independence
Upper Volta became independent from France on 5 August 1960. The country was renamed Burkina Faso in 1984. Its later history includes civilian governments and military takeovers, including two coups in 2022.
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Independence as Upper Volta
-
The name Burkina Faso is adopted
-
Two military coups change the government
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived country profile · National Assembly · constitutional language provisions · Government update
Economy
Main activities
Agriculture supports many livelihoods, with cotton an important cash crop. Gold mining generates export earnings. The landlocked economy depends on transport links through neighboring countries.
Industry and production
cotton lint, beverages, agricultural processing, soap, cigarettes, textiles, gold
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived country profile · National Assembly · constitutional language provisions · Government update
Population & economic trends
Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.
Population, 1970–2025
Millions of people24.12025 · millions of people
Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.
Sources: World Bank · Population
View data table
| Year | People | Millions of people |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 5,610,304 | 5.610 |
| 1980 | 6,947,900 | 6.948 |
| 1990 | 9,159,356 | 9.159 |
| 2000 | 11,925,546 | 11.926 |
| 2010 | 16,176,498 | 16.176 |
| 2020 | 21,478,690 | 21.479 |
| 2025 | 24,074,580 | 24.075 |
Real GDP, 1990–2025
Billions of constant 2015 US dollars18.92025 · billions of constant 2015 US dollars
Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.
Sources: World Bank · Real GDP
View data table
| Year | Constant 2015 US$ | Billions of constant 2015 US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 3,042,310,108 | 3.042 |
| 1991 | 3,318,247,161 | 3.318 |
| 1992 | 3,325,969,080 | 3.326 |
| 1993 | 3,441,093,673 | 3.441 |
| 1994 | 3,486,344,305 | 3.486 |
| 1995 | 3,685,636,779 | 3.686 |
| 1996 | 4,091,600,230 | 4.092 |
| 1997 | 4,350,059,855 | 4.350 |
| 1998 | 4,667,950,033 | 4.668 |
| 1999 | 5,013,156,038 | 5.013 |
| 2000 | 5,107,828,181 | 5.108 |
| 2001 | 5,445,629,584 | 5.446 |
| 2002 | 5,682,675,870 | 5.683 |
| 2003 | 6,126,066,307 | 6.126 |
| 2004 | 6,400,419,255 | 6.400 |
| 2005 | 6,954,815,456 | 6.955 |
| 2006 | 7,389,711,521 | 7.390 |
| 2007 | 7,693,530,570 | 7.694 |
| 2008 | 8,139,754,707 | 8.140 |
| 2009 | 8,380,850,242 | 8.381 |
| 2010 | 9,088,720,452 | 9.089 |
| 2011 | 9,690,626,654 | 9.691 |
| 2012 | 10,315,931,044 | 10.316 |
| 2013 | 10,913,490,102 | 10.913 |
| 2014 | 11,385,699,970 | 11.386 |
| 2015 | 11,832,159,316 | 11.832 |
| 2016 | 12,537,116,612 | 12.537 |
| 2017 | 13,314,855,313 | 13.315 |
| 2018 | 14,194,244,129 | 14.194 |
| 2019 | 15,030,172,259 | 15.030 |
| 2020 | 15,332,394,849 | 15.332 |
| 2021 | 16,396,850,183 | 16.397 |
| 2022 | 16,663,583,087 | 16.664 |
| 2023 | 17,163,536,264 | 17.164 |
| 2024 | 17,993,214,416 | 17.993 |
| 2025 | 18,945,886,456 | 18.946 |
Human development
The Human Development Index combines health, education and income. Scores range from 0 to 1.
HDI · 20230.459Low human developmentRank 186 of 193 · 2025 report
Human Development Index over time
20100.377
20200.453
20230.459
61.1 yearsLife expectancy at birth
2.3 yearsMean schooling, adults aged 25+
The latest values refer to 2023. All historical scores use the same report edition. HDI does not describe every aspect of inequality or quality of life.
Sources: UNDP · Human Development Report 2025
Government
Military-led transitional government. A transitional legislative assembly operates under the transition framework, which was extended in 2024.
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived country profile · National Assembly · constitutional language provisions · Government update
Knowledge check
Three questions about Burkina Faso.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
In which year did this event occur in Burkina Faso: Independence as Upper Volta?
Sources & notes
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived country profile · National Assembly · constitutional language provisions · Government update
Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.
Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.