Burkina Faso – Facts & Figures
Burkina Faso essentially means: "Land of the
honourable people" or "Land of the upright ones".
The figures presented here are valid as of 12.02.2016.
| Capital/Seat of Government |
Ouagadougou |
| Area | 267.950 qm |
| Location | Inland region in Sudan belt south of the Niger bend |
| Climate | Shifting moist subtropical climate in the south, dry savannah in the north |
| Population | 23.4 mio. (09/2024) |
| Population growth |
3,1 % |
| Languages | Official language: French, working languages: Moore, Djoula, Fulfulde, some 60 native languages |
| Religions | Muslims 50 %, Animists 35 %, Christians 15 % |
| HDI (Human Development Index) rating | 181 out of 187 |
| BIP (gross domestic product) | $717 per capita, cf. Germany: $47774 per capita |
| Currency | Franc CFA |
| Form of government |
Presidential republic with a democratic constitution on the French model, centralised state with decentralisation process underway |
| National holiday |
11 December (Proclamation of the Republic, 1958) |
| Independence from France | 05.08.1960 |
| Head of state |
President Ibrahim Traoré |
