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Burkina Faso
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Burkina Faso is a landlocked nation in West Africa.
It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger
to the east, Benin to the south east, Togo and Ghana to the
south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the south west. Formerly the
Republic of Upper Volta, it was renamed on August 4, 1984 by
President Thomas Sankara to mean "the land of upright
people" (or "upright land") in Mossi and Dioula, the major
native languages of the country. Independence from France
came 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 Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana in search of paid
labour. The inhabitants of Burkina Faso are known as
Burkinabé.
Geography
Main article: Geography of Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso is made up of two major types of countryside:
The larger part of the country is covered by a peneplain
which forms a gently undulating landscape with, in some
areas, a few isolated hills, the last vestiges of a
precambrian massif.
The south-west of the country forms a sandstone massif,
where the highest peak is found: Ténakourou (749 m, 2,450
ft). The massif is bordered by sheer cliffs up to 150 m (490
ft) high.
The average altitude is 400 m (1,300 ft) and the difference
between the highest and lowest terrain is no greater than
600 m (2,000 ft). Burkina Faso is therefore a relatively
flat country, with a very few localised exceptions.
Demographics of Burkina Faso
Population growth rate: 2.71% (2000 est.)
Population estimates 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 2000 est.): the 11,946,065 Burkinabe belong
to two major West African cultural groups--the Voltaic and
the Mande. The Voltaic are far more numerous and include the
Mossi, who make up about one-half of the population.
Additionally, about 5,000 Europeans live in Burkina Faso.
The population is concentrated in the south and center of
the country, sometimes exceeding 48 per square kilometer
(125/sq. mi.). This high population density, causes annual
migrations of hundreds of thousands, for seasonal
employment.
Besides traditional African religions, Islam and
Christianity are also practised.
Few Burkinabe have had formal education. Though schooling is
free, it is not compulsory, and only about 29% of Burkina's
primary school-age children receive a basic education.
Institutions of higher education include The University of
Ouagadougou, and The Polytechnical University in
Bobo-Dioulasso.
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Background:
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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. |
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Location:
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Western Africa, north of Ghana |
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Geographic coordinates:
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13 00
N, 2 00 W
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Map references:
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Africa |
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Area:
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total: 274,200 sq km
water: 400 sq km
land: 273,800 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly larger than Colorado |
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Land boundaries:
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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 |
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Climate:
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tropical; warm, dry winters; hot, wet summers |
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Terrain:
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mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills
in west and southeast |
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Ethnic groups:
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Mossi
over 40%, Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi, Bobo, Mande, Fulani
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Religions:
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indigenous beliefs 40%, Muslim 50%, Christian
(mainly Roman Catholic) 10% |
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Languages:
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French (official), native African languages
belonging to Sudanic family spoken by 90% of the
population |
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Currency:
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Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note -
responsible authority is the Central Bank of the
West African States |
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Currency code:
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XOF
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Exchange rates:
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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
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