Burkina Faso

National Anthem: Ditanyè
(Hymn of Victory)
Info:
The Burkina Faso Embassy in the US has  info on Holidays, visas and much more
United States Embassy in Ouagadougou
Government Information

Capital City: Ouagadougou
Independence Day: 5 August 1960 (from France)
Government Type: parliamentary republic
Population: 13,902,972
Languages: French (official), African languages belonging to
Sudanic family spoken by 90% of the population 
Religion: indigenous beliefs 40%, Muslim 50%, Christian
(mainly Roman Catholic) 10%
Life Expectancy: 48.85

People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Burkinabe (accent on last e).
Population (2005): 13.9 million.
Annual growth rate (2005): 2.53%.
Ethnic groups: 63 ethnic groups among which are Mossi (almost half of the total population), Bobo, Mande, Lobi, Fulani, Gourounsi, and Senufo.
Religions: Traditional beliefs 20%, Muslim 55%, Christian 25%.
Languages: French (official), Moore, Dioula, others.
Education: Literacy (2003)--26.6%.
Health: Infant mortality rate (2005)--95.57/1,000. Life expectancy (2003)--48.45 years.
Work force: Agriculture--90%; industry--2.1%; commerce, services, and government--5.5%.

Geography Information
Geography
Area: 274,200 sq. km. (106,000 sq. mi.); about the size of Colorado.
Cities: Capital--Ouagadougou (pop.1 million). Other cities--Bobo-Dioulasso (410,000), Koudougou (83,000).
Terrain: Savanna; brushy plains and scattered hills.
Climate: Sahelian; pronounced wet and dry seasons

Economy
Burkina is one of the poorest countries in the world
GDP (2005): $5.6 billion.
Annual growth rate (2005): 5.6%.
Per capita income (2005): $424.
Avg. inflation rate (2005): 6.5%.
Natural resources (limited quantities): Manganese, gold, limestone, marble, phosphate.
Agriculture (37% of GDP): Products--cotton, millet, sorghum, rice, livestock, peanuts, shea nuts, maize.
Industry (19% of GDP): Type--mining, agricultural processing plants, brewing and bottling, light industry.
Trade (2004): Exports--$439 million: cotton, gold, livestock, peanuts, shea nut products. Major markets--Singapore, China, Thailand, European Union, Asia. Imports--$843 million.
Official exchange rate: Fixed to the euro. Communaute Financiere Africaine (CFA) francs 656=1 euro  CFA francs 520=U.S.$1).

Burkina Faso means: Land of the upright people
Practical Info:
More:
The UN has reports on almost everything  in Burkina, from lifespan to economy
Curious about the temperature?
Origin of the flag

In August 1984 there was a coup and a new flag and emblem were adopted. The new flag, adopted 4 August 1984, is in the pan-African colours, reflecting both a break with the country’s colonial past and its unity with other African ex-colonies. The red is also said to symbolize the revolution and the green the abundance of natural riches. The yellow star placed over the red and green stripes is the guiding light of the revolution.

Ivan Sache, 26 Dec 1999
Burkina CFA  = BCEAO
Languages in Burkina
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