CapitalOuagadougou
Population23,490,300
Area274,200 km²
GDP per capita$2,500
LanguagesMossi, Fula, Gourmantche, Dyula, Bissa, Gurunsi, French, Bwamu, Dagara, San, Marka, Bobo, Senufo, Lobi, other
CurrencyCommunaute Financiere Africaine francs
Life Expectancy64.2 yr
Governmentpresidential republic
Introduction
Background
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.
Geography
Area
land
273,800 sq km
water
400 sq km
total
274,200 sq km
Climate
The nation features three distinct climate zones: a hot tropical savanna characterized by a brief rainy season in its southern region, a tropical hot semi-arid steppe climate typical of the Sahel in its northern region, and a small area of hot desert located in the extreme northern part adjacent to the Sahara Desert.
Terrain
The terrain is predominantly flat to moderately undulating, with hills present in the western and southeastern areas. It encompasses a vast plateau where the savanna is lush and grassy in the northern regions, gradually transitioning to sparse forests as one moves southward.
Land use
other
33.9% (2023 est.)
forest
12.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
53.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 28.9% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 2.6% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 21.9% (2023 est.)
Location
Situated in Western Africa, to the north of Ghana.
Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Elevation
lowest point
Mouhoun (Black Volta) River 200 m
highest point
Tena Kourou 749 m
mean elevation
297 m
Irrigated land
550 sq km (2016)
Map references
Africa
Land boundaries
total
3,611 km
border countries
Bordering countries include Benin 386 km; Côte d'Ivoire 545 km; Ghana 602 km; Mali 1,325 km; Niger 622 km; Togo 131 km.
Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Natural hazards
The country experiences persistent drought conditions.
Geography - note
It is a landlocked savanna intersected by three major rivers: the Black, Red, and White Voltas.
Natural resources
Natural resources include gold, manganese, zinc, limestone, marble, phosphates, pumice, and salt.
Area - comparative
The area is slightly larger than the state of Colorado.
Geographic coordinates
13 00 N, 2 00 W
Population distribution
A significant portion of the population resides in the central and southern regions; nearly one-third lives in urban areas, including the capital city of Ouagadougou (Ouaga), as depicted in the population distribution map (2019).
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Atlantic Ocean drainage
Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Volta (410,991 sq km)
Major rivers (by length in km)
Source of the Volta River (shared with Ghana [m]) - 1,600 km
note: [s] following the country name signifies river source; [m] following the country name signifies river mouth.
People & Society
Literacy
male
48.4% (2023 est.)
female
35.7% (2023 est.)
total population
41.4% (2023 est.)
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
Islamic 63.8%, Catholic 20.1%, Animist 9%, Protestant 6.2%, other 0.2%, none 0.7% (estimate for 2019)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years
1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years
0.93 male(s)/female
total population
0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over
0.73 male(s)/female
Birth rate
31.74 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
7.24 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median age
male
17.9 years
total
19 years (2025 est.)
female
19.5 years
Population
male
11,529,979
total
23,490,300 (2025 est.)
female
11,960,321
Nationality
noun
Burkinabe (singular and plural)
adjective
Burkinabe
Tobacco use
male
20.4% (2025 est.)
total
12.4% (2025 est.)
female
4.6% (2025 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
32.5% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
4.75% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
41.6% (male 4,868,488/female 4,727,316)
15-64 years
55.1% (male 6,116,674/female 6,590,775)
65 years and over
3.2% (2024 est.) (male 312,587/female 426,359)
Ethnic 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.)
Child marriage
men married by age 18
1.6% (2015)
women married by age 15
8.9% (2015)
women married by age 18
51.3% (2015)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
79 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio
73.2 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio
17.3 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
5.8 (2025 est.)
Physician density
0.15 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
6.4% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
8.4% of national budget (2022 est.)
Net migration rate
-0.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density
0.2 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Total fertility rate
4.02 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: rural
rural: 34.8% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 49.5% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 80.9% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 65.2% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 50.5% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 19.1% of population (2022 est.)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% GDP)
5.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget)
20.3% national budget (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate
male
51.1 deaths/1,000 live births
total
48 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
female
42.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Population growth rate
2.39% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
1.98 (2025 est.)
Population distribution
a significant portion of the populace resides in the central and southern regions; approximately one-third is urban dwellers, which includes the capital, Ouagadougou (Ouaga), as depicted in the population distribution map (2019)
Life expectancy at birth
male
62.3 years
female
66.1 years
total population
64.2 years (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
242 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: rural
rural: 42.6% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 58.1% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 91.2% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 57.4% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 41.9% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 8.8% of population (2022 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
beer
1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine
0.08 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
total
7.28 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits
0.31 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols
5.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Major urban areas - population
3.204 million OUAGADOUGOU (capital), 1.129 million Bobo-Dioulasso (2023)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
5.6% (2016)
Mother's mean age at first birth
20.1 years (2021 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
74.3% (2021 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
16.9% (2021 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
male
7 years (2023 est.)
total
7 years (2023 est.)
female
7 years (2023 est.)
Environment
Climate
The country encompasses three distinct climate zones: a hot tropical savanna characterized by a brief rainy season located in the southern portion, a tropical hot semi-arid steppe climate representative of the Sahel region found in the northern half, and a limited area of hot desert situated in the extreme north adjacent to the Sahara Desert.
Land use
other
33.9% (2023 est.)
forest
12.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
53.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 28.9% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 2.6% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 21.9% (2023 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
32.5% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
4.75% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually
2.575 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled
23% (2022 est.)
Environmental issues
issues include droughts, desertification, overgrazing, soil degradation, and deforestation (2019)
Total water withdrawal
municipal
375.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial
21.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural
420.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
total emissions
5.243 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke
7 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids
5.243 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions
38.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources
13.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
International environmental agreements
party to
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified
Nuclear Test Ban
Government
Flag
description: two equal horizontal stripes of red (top) and green, featuring a central five-pointed yellow star
meaning: red symbolizes the nation's fight for independence, green represents hope and prosperity, while yellow denotes the nation’s mineral resources
history: incorporates the colors associated with the Pan-African movement
Capital
name
Ouagadougou
etymology
Ouagadougou is the French rendition of the indigenous name "Wogodogo," which may derive from the personal name "Waga" or "Woga" alongside the Dyula term "dugu," translating to "village"
time difference
UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
12 22 N, 1 31 W
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
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
Constitution
history
several previous; the most recent was ratified by referendum on 2 June 1991, enacted on 11 June 1991, and temporarily suspended from late October to mid-November 2014; the initial draft of a new constitution intended to establish the new republic was finalized in January 2017, with a final version submitted to the government in December 2017; a constitutional referendum planned for March 2019 was delayed; on 1 March 2022, a transition charter was ratified, permitting military leaders to govern for three years and prohibiting the transitional president from running for election post-transition
amendment process
introduced by the president, with the support of a majority in the National Assembly, or through a petition signed by no fewer than 30,000 eligible voters submitted to the Assembly; to pass, a three-fourths majority vote in the Assembly is necessary; if this threshold is not achieved, majority voter approval via a referendum is required; constitutional aspects regarding the governmental structure, multiparty system, and national sovereignty are immutable
Country name
former
Upper Volta, Republic of Upper Volta
etymology
the name means "Land of the Worthy Men," derived from the Dyula terms burkina, meaning "worthy," and faso, translating to "land" or more literally "father village," composed of fa, meaning "father," and so, meaning "village"
local long form
none
local short form
Burkina Faso
conventional long form
none
conventional short form
Burkina Faso
Independence
5 August 1960 (from France)
Legal system
civil law modeled after the French system along with customary law
Government type
presidential republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court of Appeals or Cour de Cassation (composed of National Assembly judges); Council of State (comprised of National Assembly judges); Constitutional Council or Conseil Constitutionnel (includes the council president and 9 members)
subordinate courts
Appeals Court; High Court; first instance tribunals; district courts; specialized courts addressing labor, children, and juveniles; village (customary) courts
judge selection and term of office
Supreme Court judges are predominantly appointed by the president of Burkina Faso; there are no term limits for judges; the appointment and tenure of judges on the Council of State are not available; judges of the Constitutional Council are appointed by the president of Burkina Faso following a recommendation from the minister of justice and the president of the National Assembly; judges serve 9-year terms with one-third of the council members renewed every 3 years
Executive branch
cabinet
before the 2022 coups and the temporary suspension of laws and constitutional provisions, the Council of Ministers was appointed by the president based on the prime minister's recommendations
chief of state
Transitional President Capt. Ibrahim TRAORE (since 30 September 2022)
election results
2020: Roch Marc Christian KABORE was reelected president in the first round; vote percentages - Roch Marc Christian KABORE (MPP) 57.9%, Eddie KOMBOIGO (CDP) 15.5%, Zephirin DIABRE (UPC) 12.5%, others 14.1%
head of government
Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel OUEDRAOGO (since 9 December 2024)
most recent election date
22 November 2020
election/appointment process
prior to the 2022 coups and the temporary suspension of laws and constitutional provisions, the president was elected directly by an absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds if necessary, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); the prime minister was appointed by the president with the National Assembly's consent
expected date of next election
were to be held by July 2024, but were delayed
National holiday
Republic Day, 11 December (1958)
National color(s)
red, yellow, green
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
4 (3 cultural, 1 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Ruins of Loropéni (c); Ancient Ferrous Metallurgy Sites of Burkina Faso (c); W-Arly-Pendjari Complex (n); Royal Court of Tiébélé (c)
Political parties
Act Together
African Democratic Rally/Alliance for Democracy and Federation or ADF/RDA
Congress for Democracy and Progress or CDP
Convergence for Progress and Solidarity-Generation 3 or CPS-G3
Movement for the Future Burkina Faso or MBF
National Convention for Progress or CNP
New Era for Democracy or NTD
Pan-African Alliance for Refoundation or APR
Party for Democracy and Socialism/Metba or PDS/Metba
Party for Development and Change or PDC
Patriotic Rally for Integrity or RPI
Peoples Movement for Progress or MPP
Progressives United for Renewal or PUR
Union for Progress and Reform or UPC
Union for Rebirth - Sankarist Party or UNIR-PS
Legislative branch
chamber name
Transitional Legislative Assembly (Assemblée législative de la transition)
number of seats
71
electoral system
proportional representation
legislature name
Parliament (Parlement)
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
11/11/2022
expected date of next election
June 2029
percentage of women in chamber
18.3%
National anthem(s)
title
"Le Ditanye" (Anthem of Victory)
history
adopted in 1974; also referred to as "Une Seule Nuit" (One Single Night); authored by the former president, who was a passionate guitar player
lyrics/music
Thomas SANKARA
National symbol(s)
white stallion
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
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 667-1882
chancery
2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 332-5577
chief of mission
Ambassador Kassoum COULIBALY (since 24 July 2025)
email address and website
[email protected]
https://burkina-usa.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
(226) 25-49-56-23
embassy
Secteur 15, Ouaga 2000, Avenue Sembene Ousmane, Rue 15.873, Ouagadougou
telephone
(226) 25-49-53-00
mailing address
2440 Ouagadougou Place, Washington, DC 20521-2440
chief of mission
Ambassador Joann M. LOCKARD (since 28 June 2024)
email address and website
[email protected]
https://bf.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AU (suspended), CD, 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, MINUSCA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNITAR, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
has not made an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Economy
Budget
revenues
$5.174 billion (2023 est.)
expenditures
$6.308 billion (2023 est.)
Exports
Exports 2021
$6.234 billion (2021 est.)
Exports 2022
$5.814 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023
$5.912 billion (2023 est.)
Imports
Imports 2021
$5.835 billion (2021 est.)
Imports 2022
$6.761 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023
$6.834 billion (2023 est.)
Industries
cotton lint, beverages, agricultural processing, soap, cigarettes, textiles, gold
Labor force
6.461 million (2024 est.)
Public debt
Public debt 2023
61.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2021
2.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
Remittances 2022
2.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023
2.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020
575.586 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021
554.531 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022
623.76 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023
606.57 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024
606.345 (2024 est.)
Debt - external
Debt - external 2023
$3.565 billion (2023 est.)
Economic overview
an economy that is predominantly agrarian and low-income; constrained by limited natural resources; experiencing widespread poverty; facing terrorism that hinders economic activity; working towards an improved trade balance through increased gold exports; seeing a rise in inflation after a previous deflation; accumulating public debt that remains manageable
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2022
5.4% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023
5.4% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024
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)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2022
$2,500 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023
$2,500 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024
$2,500 (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2022
1.5% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023
3% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024
5% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products
maize, sorghum, fruits, vegetables, millet, cowpeas, cotton, groundnuts, sugarcane, rice (2023)
Exports - commodities
gold, cotton, oil seeds, coconuts/brazil nuts/cashews, cement (2023)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, plastic products, cement, electricity, packaged medicine (2023)
Current account balance
Current account balance 2021
$77.255 million (2021 est.)
Current account balance 2022
-$1.404 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023
-$1.017 billion (2023 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
18.4% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$23.25 billion (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption
60.6% (2024 est.)
government consumption
18.8% (2024 est.)
investment in inventories
10.6% (2024 est.)
investment in fixed capital
16.5% (2024 est.)
exports of goods and services
28.5% (2024 est.)
imports of goods and services
-34.9% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line
43.2% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
14.3% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
0.7% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
4.2% (2024 est.)
Industrial production growth rate
-5.4% (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$55.508 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$57.152 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$60.001 billion (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male
7.8% (2024 est.)
total
8.1% (2024 est.)
female
8.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry
29.7% (2024 est.)
services
40.2% (2024 est.)
agriculture
18.6% (2024 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
3% (2021 est.)
highest 10%
30.2% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021
37.4 (2021 est.)
Energy
Coal
exports
1 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports
74 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
refined petroleum consumption
37,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Electricity
imports
1.577 billion kWh (2023 est.)
consumption
3.096 billion kWh (2023 est.)
installed generating capacity
749,000 kW (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses
212.254 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity access
electrification - rural areas
3.4%
electrification - urban areas
60.5%
electrification - total population
19.5% (2022 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
Total energy consumption per capita 2023
3.481 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
solar
5.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
fossil fuels
82.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity
6.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste
5.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Communications
Internet users
percent of population
17% (2023 est.)
Broadcast media
A total of 14 digital television channels exist, with 2 being state-owned; there are more than 140 national radio stations (encompassing commercial, religious, and community types), which include both a national and a regional state-owned network; among the most accessible are state-operated Radio Burkina and private Radio Omega, both of which transmit in French as well as local languages (2019)
Internet country code
.bf
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions
72,700 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
(2022 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions
26.9 million (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
119 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total
15,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
(2022 est.) less than 1
Transportation
Airports
49 (2025)
Railways
total
622 km (2014)
narrow gauge
622 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
XT
Military & Security
Military - note
The Armed Forces of Burkina Faso (FABF) are tasked with external defense, while also playing a role in internal security. They may be deployed to assist security forces in restoring public order, fighting crime, securing borders, and carrying out counterterrorism, counterinsurgency, and internal defense missions. Since their establishment in 1960-61, the FABF has been involved in the nation’s politics, executing eight coups, with the latest occurring in September 2022.
The primary objective of the FABF is to combat militants associated with al-Qa'ida and the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS), both of which have been active in Burkina Faso for over a decade and control parts of the territory. Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), a coalition of al-Qa'ida affiliated militant groups functioning as the Sahel branch of al-Qa'ida in the Land of the Islamic Magreb (AQIM), is predominantly strong in the northern regions but operates in nearly all of the country's 13 provinces. Conversely, ISIS in the Greater Sahara (also known as ISIS-Sahel) is active in the eastern sections of Burkina Faso (2025).
Military expenditures
Military Expenditures 2020
2.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021
2.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022
2.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023
4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2024
4.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military and security forces
Armed Forces of Burkina Faso (FABF; aka National Armed Forces (FAN), aka Defense and Security Forces (Forces de Défense et de Sécurité or FDS)): Army of Burkina Faso, Air Force of Burkina Faso, National Gendarmerie, National Fire Brigade (Brigade Nationale de Sapeurs-Pompiers or BNSP); Homeland Defense Volunteers (Forcés de Volontaires de Défense pour la Patrie or VDP)
Ministry of Territorial Administration, Decentralization and Security (Ministère de l'Administration Territoriale, de la Décentralisation et de la Sécurité): National Police of Burkina Faso (includes Border Police, Judicial Police, and Intervention Units, as well as State and Public Security forces) (2025)
Military service age and obligation
Typically, individuals aged 18 to 35 are eligible for voluntary military service for both men and women, while citizens aged 18 to 77 can volunteer for the VDP (2025).
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
The FABF comprises a combination of older and some modern weaponry obtained from various suppliers, such as China, Egypt, France, Russia, South Africa, Türkiye, the UK, and the UAE (2025).
Military and security service personnel strengths
The Armed Forces are estimated to number around 20,000, while the Homeland Defense Volunteers are estimated to be approximately 50,000 (2025).
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
Ansarul Islam; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham in the Greater Sahara (ISIS-GS); al-Mulathamun Battalion (al-Mourabitoun); Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM)
Transnational Issues
Trafficking in persons
tier rating
Tier 2 Watch List — the government failed to show significant progress in combating trafficking relative to the prior reporting period, which is why Burkina Faso has stayed on the Tier 2 Watch List for a second successive year; for further information, visit: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/burkina-faso/
Refugees and internally displaced persons
IDPs
2,065,358 (2024 est.)
refugees
41,408 (2024 est.)
