Burkino Faso

Wealth and National Well-Being

Country Comparisons:
2010: see chart

World Factbook: "One of the poorest countries in the world, landlocked Burkina Faso has few natural resources and a weak industrial base. About 90% of the population is engaged in subsistence agriculture, which is vulnerable to periodic drought. Cotton is the main cash crop and the government has joined with three other cotton producing countries in the region - Mali, Niger, and Chad - to lobby in the World Trade Organization for fewer subsidies to producers in other competing countries."

Exports/imports
2010: exports only 67% of imports.

People

Living in an urban area
2010: 26%
2008: 20%

Density estimated for 2005: 50 persons per square kilometer.

Literacy (age 15 and older)
male 29.4%, female 15.2%

Ethnicities
Mossi over 40%, other approximately 60% (includes Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi, Bobo, Mande, and Fulani)

Religions
Muslim 50%, indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian (mainly Roman Catholic) 10%

Geography

This is a landlocked country, slightly larger than Colorado, in tropical western Africa, just north of Ghana and west of Nigeria.

Government

Burkino Faso is a parliamentary republic. Chief of state is the president, elected by popular vote for five-year terms. Unicameral legislature: the National Assembly, its members elected by populr vote for five-year terms.

Capital: Ouagadougou

Recent History

In 1960, Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta) acquired complete independence from France.

During the 1970s and 80's were military coups.

President Compaore has been in office since 15 October 1987, following a coup that ousted then-President Thomas Sankara. He began his rule as part of a triumvirate. In September 1989 the other two, Henri Zongo and Jean-Baptiste Boukary Lingani, were arrested, charged with plotting to overthrow the government and executed.

SOURCES:
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/