1.
[syn: Burkina Faso, Upper Volta]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
Burkina Faso
n 1: a desperately poor landlocked country in western Africa;
was formerly Upper Volta under French rule but gained
independence in 1960 [syn: Burkina Faso, Upper Volta]
CIA World Factbook 2002:
Burkina Faso
Introduction Burkina Faso
-------------------------
Background: Independence from France came to
Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta)
in 1960. Governmental instability
during the 1970s and 1980s was
followed by multiparty elections in
the early 1990s. Several hundred
thousand farm workers migrate south
every year to Cote d'Ivoire and
Ghana.
Geography Burkina Faso
----------------------
Location: Western Africa, north of Ghana
Geographic coordinates: 13 00 N, 2 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 274,200 sq km
water: 400 sq km
land: 273,800 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Colorado
Land boundaries: total: 3,193 km
border countries: Benin 306 km, Cote
d'Ivoire 584 km, Ghana 549 km, Mali
1,000 km, Niger 628 km, Togo 126 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 extremes: lowest point: Mouhoun (Black Volta)
River 200 m
highest point: Tena Kourou 749 m
Natural resources: manganese, limestone, marble; small
deposits of gold, antimony, copper,
nickel, bauxite, lead, phosphates,
zinc, silver
Land use: arable land: 12.43%
permanent crops: 0.18%
other: 87.39% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: 250 sq km (1998 est.)
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 party to: Biodiversity, Climate
agreements: Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine
Life Conservation, Ozone Layer
Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the
Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
Geography - note: landlocked savanna cut by the three
principal rivers of the Black, Red,
and White Voltas
People Burkina Faso
-------------------
Population: 12,603,185
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
and death rates, lower population
and growth rates, and changes in the
distribution of population by age
and sex than would otherwise be
expected (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 47.3% (male 3,007,675;
female 2,960,697)
15-64 years: 49.8% (male 3,000,411;
female 3,271,594)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male
151,976; female 210,832) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.64% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 44.34 births/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Death rate: 17.07 deaths/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Net migration rate: -0.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2002 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/
female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/
female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 105.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2002
est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 46.11 years
female: 46.78 years (2002 est.)
male: 45.45 years
Total fertility rate: 6.26 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 6.44% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/ 350,000 (1999 est.)
AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 43,000 (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Burkinabe (singular and
plural)
adjective: Burkinabe
Ethnic groups: Mossi over 40%, Gurunsi, Senufo,
Lobi, Bobo, Mande, Fulani
Religions: indigenous beliefs 40%, Muslim 50%,
Christian (mainly Roman Catholic)
10%
Languages: French (official), native African
languages belonging to Sudanic
family spoken by 90% of the
population
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total population: 36% (2001)
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government Burkina Faso
-----------------------
Country name: conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Burkina
Faso
former: Upper Volta, Republic of
Upper Volta
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital: Ouagadougou
Administrative divisions: 30 provinces; Bam, Bazega,
Bougouriba, Boulgou, Boulkiemde,
Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houe,
Kadiogo, Kenedougou, Komoe, Kossi,
Kouritenga, Mouhoun, Namentenga,
Naouri, Oubritenga, Oudalan,
Passore, Poni, Sanguie, Sanmatenga,
Seno, Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa,
Yatenga, Zoundweogo
note: a new electoral code was
approved by the National Assembly in
January 1997; the number of
administrative provinces was
increased from 30 to 45 (Bale, Bam,
Banwa, Bazega, Bougouriba, Boulgou,
Boulkiemde, Comoe, Ganzourgou,
Gnagna, Gourma, Houet, Ioba,
Kadiogo, Kenedougou, Komandjari,
Kompienga, Kossi, Koupelogo,
Kouritenga, Kourweogo, Leraba,
Loroum, Mouhoun, Nahouri,
Namentenga, Nayala, Naumbiel,
Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni,
Samentenga, Sanguie, Seno, Sissili,
Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Tuy, Yagha,
Yatenga, Ziro, Zondomo, Zoundweogo),
however, this change has not yet
been confirmed by the US Board on
Geographic Names
Independence: 5 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Republic Day, 11 December (1958)
Constitution: 2 June 1991 approved by referendum;
11 June 1991 formally adopted
Legal system: based on French civil law system and
customary law
Suffrage: universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Blaise
COMPAORE (since 15 October 1987)
head of government: Prime Minister
Ernest Paramanga YONLI (since 6
November 2000)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister
election results: Blaise COMPAORE
reelected president with 87.5%
percent of the vote
note: President COMPAORE faces an
increasingly well-coordinated
opposition; recent charges against a
former member of his Presidential
Guard in the 1998 assassination of a
newspaper editor signify an attempt
to defuse chronic areas of
dissatisfaction
elections: president elected by
popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 15 November 1998
(next to be held NA 2005); in April
2000, the constitution was amended
reducing the presidential term from
seven to five years, enforceable as
of 2005, and allowing the president
to be reelected only once; it is
unclear whether this amendment will
be applied retroactively or not;
prime minister appointed by the
president with the consent of the
legislature
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or
Assemblee Nationale (111 seats;
members are elected by popular vote
to serve five-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by
party - NA%; seats by party - CDP
57, RDA-ADF 17, PDP/PS 10, CFD 5,
PAI 5, others 17
elections: National Assembly
election last held 5 May 2002 (next
to be held NA May 2007)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Appeals Court
Political parties and leaders: African Democratic Rally-Alliance
for Democracy and Federation or RDA-
ADF [Herman YAMEOGO]; Confederation
for Federation and Democracy or CFD
[Amadou Diemdioda DICKO]; Congress
for Democracy and Progress or CDP
[Roch Marc-Christian KABORE];
Movement for Tolerance and Progress
or MTP [Noyabtigungu Congo KABORE];
Party for African Independence or
PAI [Philippe OUEDRAOGO]; Party for
Democracy and Progress or PDP
[Joseph KI-ZERBO]; Union of Greens
for the Development of Burkina Faso
or UVDB [Ram OVEDRAGO]
Political pressure groups and Burkinabe General Confederation of
leaders: Labor or CGTB; Burkinabe Movement
for Human Rights or MBDHP; Group of
14 February; National Confederation
of Burkinabe Workers or CNTB;
National Organization of Free Unions
or ONSL; watchdog/political action
groups throughout the country in
both organizations and communities
International organization ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS,
participation: Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO
(subscriber), ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAU,
OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU,
WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,
WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Tertius
ZONGO
chancery: 2340 Massachusetts Avenue
NW, Washington, DC 20008
FAX: [1] (202) 667-1882
telephone: [1] (202) 332-5577
Diplomatic representation from the chief of mission: Ambassador Jimmy
US: J. KOLKER
embassy: 2440 Ouagadougou Place,
Ouagadougou
mailing address: 01 B. P. 35,
Ouagadougou 01
telephone: [226] 306723
FAX: [226] 303890
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of red
(top) and green with a yellow five-
pointed star in the center; uses the
popular pan-African colors of
Ethiopia
Economy Burkina Faso
--------------------
Economy - overview: One of the poorest countries in the
world, landlocked Burkina Faso has a
high population density, few natural
resources, and a fragile soil. About
90% of the population is engaged in
(mainly subsistence) agriculture,
which is highly vulnerable to
variations in rainfall. Industry
remains dominated by unprofitable
government-controlled corporations.
Following the African franc currency
devaluation in January 1994 the
government updated its development
program in conjunction with
international agencies, and exports
and economic growth have increased.
Maintenance of macroeconomic
progress depends on continued low
inflation, reduction in the trade
deficit, and reforms designed to
encourage private investment.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $12.8
billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 4.7% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,040
(2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 31%
industry: 28%
services: 41% (2000)
Population below poverty line: 45% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by lowest 10%: 2.2%
percentage share: highest 10%: 39.5% (1994)
Distribution of family income - Gini 48.2 (1994)
index:
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.5% (2001 est.)
Labor force: 5 million (1999)
note: a large part of the male labor
force migrates annually to
neighboring countries for seasonal
employment
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 90% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $316 million
expenditures: $NA, including capital
expenditures of $NA (2001)
Industries: cotton lint, beverages, agricultural
processing, soap, cigarettes,
textiles, gold
Industrial production growth rate: 14% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production: 282 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 70.92%
hydro: 29.08%
other: 0% (2000)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: 262.26 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: peanuts, shea nuts, sesame, cotton,
sorghum, millet, corn, rice;
livestock
Exports: $265 million (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Exports - commodities: cotton, animal products, gold
Exports - partners: Venezuela 14.7%, Benelux 12.2%,
Italy 9.6%, France 7.0% (2000)
Imports: $580 million (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Imports - commodities: capital goods, food products,
petroleum
Imports - partners: Cote d'Ivoire 25.1%, Venezuela
23.4%, France 17.0% (2000)
Debt - external: $1.5 billion (1999)
Economic aid - recipient: $484.1 million (1995)
Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine
franc (XOF); note - responsible
authority is the Central Bank of the
West African States
Currency code: XOF
Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine
francs (XOF) per US dollar - 742.79
(January 2002), 733.04 (2001),
711.98 (2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95
(1998), 583.67 (1997); note - from 1
January 1999, the XOF is pegged to
the euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF
per euro
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications Burkina Faso
---------------------------
Telephones - main lines in use: 53,200 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 25,200 (2000)
Telephone system: general assessment: all services
only fair
domestic: microwave radio relay,
open wire, and radiotelephone
communication stations
international: satellite earth
station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 17, shortwave 3 (2002)
Radios: 394,020 (2000)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (2001)
Televisions: 131,340 (2002)
Internet country code: .bf
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 4 (2001)
Internet users: 10,000 (2001)
Transportation Burkina Faso
---------------------------
Railways: total: 622 km (517 km from
Ouagadougou to the Cote d'Ivoire
border and 105 km from Ouagadougou
to Kaya)
narrow gauge: 622 km 1.000-m gauge
(1995 est.)
Highways: total: 12,506 km
paved: 2,001 km
unpaved: 10,505 km (1996)
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 33 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 31
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 16 (2001)
Military Burkina Faso
---------------------
Military branches: Army, Air Force, National
Gendarmerie, National Police,
People's Militia
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 2,688,072 (2002
est.)
Military manpower - fit for military males age 15-49: 1,379,010 (2002
service: est.)
Military expenditures - dollar $40.1 million (FY01)
figure:
Military expenditures - percent of 1.4% (FY01)
GDP:
Transnational Issues Burkina Faso
---------------------------------
Disputes - international: two villages are in dispute with
Benin