65 years and over: 2.5% (male 156,895/female 240,246) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 16.8 years
male: 16.6 years
female: 17 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.095% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
Birth rate:
43.98 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
Death rate:
13.02 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 80
Urbanization:
urban population: 20% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 82.98 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 12
male: 90.53 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 75.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 53.32 years
country comparison to the world: 203
male: 51.39 years
female: 55.31 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.21 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.6% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
130,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
9,200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria and yellow fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
animal contact disease: rabies
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Burkinabe (singular and plural)
adjective: Burkinabe
Ethnic groups:
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%
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: 21.8%
male: 29.4%
female: 15.2% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 6 years
male: 7 years
female: 6 years (2009)
Education expenditures:
4.6% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 86
Government ::Burkina Faso
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Burkina Faso
local long form: none
local short form: Burkina Faso
former: Upper Volta, Republic of Upper Volta
Government type:
parliamentary republic
Capital:
name: Ouagadougou
geographic coordinates: 12 22 N, 1 31 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
45 provinces; Bale, Bam, Banwa, Bazega, Bougouriba, Boulgou,
Boulkiemde, Comoe, Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houet, Ioba, Kadiogo,
Kenedougou, Komondjari, Kompienga, Kossi, Koulpelogo, Kouritenga,
Kourweogo, Leraba, Loroum, Mouhoun, Nahouri, Namentenga, Nayala,
Noumbiel, Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Sanguie, Sanmatenga,
Seno, Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Tuy, Yagha, Yatenga, Ziro,
Zondoma, Zoundweogo
Independence:
5 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
Republic Day, 11 December (1958); note - commemorates the day that
Upper Volta became an autonomous republic in the French Community
Constitution:
approved by referendum 2 June 1991; formally adopted 11 June 1991;
last amended January 2002
Legal system:
based on French civil law system and customary law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Blaise COMPAORE (since 15 October 1987)
head of government: Prime Minister Tertius ZONGO (since 4 June 2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 21 November 2010
(next to be held in 2015); prime minister appointed by the president
with the consent of the legislature
election results: Blaise COMPAORE reelected president; percent of
popular vote - Blaise COMPAORE 80.2%, Hama Arba DIALLO 8.2%,
Benewende Stanislas SANKARA 6.3%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (111 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: National Assembly election last held on 6 May 2007 (next
to be held in May 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
CDP 73, ADF-RDA 14, UPR 5, UNIR-MS 4, CFD-B 3, UPS 2, PDP-PS 2, RDB
2, PDS 2, PAREN 1, PAI 1, RPC 1, UDPS 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Appeals Court
Political parties and leaders:
African Democratic Rally-Alliance for Democracy and Federation or
ADF-RDA [Gilbert OUEDRAOGO]; Citizen's Popular Rally or RPC [Antoine
QUARE]; Coalition of Democratic Forces of Burkina or CFD-B [Amadou
Diemdioda DICKO]; Congress for Democracy and Progress or CDP [Roch
Marc-Christian KABORE]; Democratic and Popular Rally or RDP [Nana
THIBAUT]; Movement for Tolerance and Progress or MTP [Nayabtigungou
Congo KABORE]; Party for African Independence or PAI [Soumane
TOURE]; Party for Democracy and Progress-Socialist Party or PDP-PS
[Ali LANKOANDE]; Party for Democracy and Socialism or PDS [Felix
SOUBEIGA]; Party for National Rebirth or PAREN [Jeanne TRAORE];
Rally for the Development of Burkina or RDB [Antoine KARGOUGOU];
Rally of Ecologists of Burkina Faso or RDEB [Ram OUEDRAGO];
Republican Party for Integration and Solidarity or PARIS; Union for
Democracy and Social Progress or UDPS [Fidele HIEN]; Union for
Rebirth - Sankarist Movement or UNIR-MS [Benewende STANISLAS]; Union
for the Republic or UPR [Toussaint Abel COULIBALY]; Union of
Sankarist Parties or UPS [Ernest Nongma OUEDRAOGO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Burkinabe General Confederation of Labor or CGTB [Tole SAGNON];
Burkinabe Movement for Human Rights or MBDHP [Chrysigone ZOUGMORE];
Group of 14 February [Benewende STANISLAS]; National Confederation
of Burkinabe Workers or CNTB [Laurent OUEDRAOGO]; National
Organization of Free Unions or ONSL [Paul KABORE]
other: watchdog/political action groups throughout the country in
both organizations and communities
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM,
OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR,
UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Paramanga Ernest YONLI
chancery: 2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-5577
FAX: [1] (202) 667-1882
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas DOUGHERTY
embassy: 602 Avenue Raoul Follereau, Koulouba, Secteur 4
mailing address: 01 B. P. 35, Ouagadougou 01; pouch mail - US
Department of State, 2440 Ouagadougou Place, Washington, DC
20521-2440
telephone: [226] 50-30-67-23
FAX: [226] 50-30-38-90
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a yellow
five-pointed star in the center; red recalls the country's struggle
for independence, green is for hope and abundance,and yellow
represents the country's mineral wealth
note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia
National anthem:
name: "Le Ditanye" (Anthem of Victory)
lyrics/music: Thomas SANKARA
note: adopted 1974; also known as "Une Seule Nuit" (One Single
Night), Burkina Faso"s anthem was written by the country"s
president, an avid guitar player
Economy ::Burkina Faso
Economy - overview:
Burkina Faso is a poor, landlocked country that relies heavily on
cotton and gold exports for revenue. The country 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. Since 1998, Burkina Faso has
embarked upon a gradual privatization of state-owned enterprises and
in 2004 revised its investment code to attract foreign investment.
As a result of this new code and other legislation favoring the
mining sector, the country has seen an upswing in gold exploration
and production. By 2010, gold had become the main source of export
revenue.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$20.06 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
$19.07 billion (2009 est.)
$18.48 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$8.672 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
3.2% (2009 est.)
5.2% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,200 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
$1,200 (2009 est.)
$1,200 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 30.1%
industry: 20.7%
services: 49.2% (2009 est.)
Labor force:
6.668 million
country comparison to the world: 64
note: a large part of the male labor force migrates annually to
neighboring countries for seasonal employment (2007)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 90%
industry and services: 10% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
77% (2004)
country comparison to the world: 197
Population below poverty line:
46.4% (2004)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 32.2% (2004)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
39.5 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 64
48.2 (1994)
Investment (gross fixed):
19.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
2.6% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
4.25% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 103
4.75% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2009 est.)
NA% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$1.416 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 127
$1.303 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$2.406 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
$2.22 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.373 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
$1.236 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
cotton, peanuts, shea nuts, sesame, sorghum, millet, corn, rice;
livestock
Industries:
cotton lint, beverages, agricultural processing, soap, cigarettes,
textiles, gold
Industrial production growth rate:
5.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Electricity - production:
611.6 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Electricity - consumption:
568.8 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
Oil - consumption:
9,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
Oil - imports:
8,283 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
Current account balance:
-$486 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
-$330 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$991 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
$772 million (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
cotton, livestock, gold
Exports - partners:
Singapore 16.76%, Belgium 12.78%, China 7.59%, Ghana 6.89%, India
6.36%, Denmark 5.76%, Niger 5.13%, Thailand 4.52% (2009)
Imports:
$1.48 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
$1.186 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
capital goods, foodstuffs, petroleum
Imports - partners:
Cote d'Ivoire 24.31%, France 19.48%, Togo 6.42% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.588 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
$1.296 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$2.002 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
$1.784 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 506.04
(2010), 472.19 (2009), 447.81 (2008), 493.51 (2007), 522.59 (2006)
Communications ::Burkina Faso
Telephones - main lines in use:
167,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 132
Telephones - mobile cellular:
3.299 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 109
Telephone system:
general assessment: system includes microwave radio relay,
open-wire, and radiotelephone communication stations; in 2006 the
government sold a 51 percent stake in the national telephone company
and ultimately plans to retain only a 23 percent stake in the company
domestic: fixed-line connections stand at less than 1 per 100
persons; mobile-cellular usage, fostered by multiple providers, is
increasing rapidly from a low base
international: country code - 226; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)
Broadcast media:
2 TV stations - 1 state-owned and 1 privately-owned; state-owned
radio runs a national and regional network; substantial number of
privately-owned radio broadcast stations; transmissions of several
international broadcasters available in Ouagadougou (2007)
Internet country code:
.bf
Internet hosts:
1,877 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 155
Internet users:
178,100 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 144
Transportation ::Burkina Faso
Airports:
24 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 132
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 22
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 6 (2010)
Railways:
total: 622 km
country comparison to the world: 109
narrow gauge: 622 km 1.000-m gauge
note: another 660 km of this railway extends into Cote d'Ivoire
(2008)
Roadways:
total: 92,495 km
country comparison to the world: 53
paved: 3,857 km
unpaved: 88,638 km (2004)
Military ::Burkina Faso
Military branches:
Army, Air Force of Burkina Faso (Force Aerienne de Burkina Faso,
FABF), National Gendarmerie (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; women may serve in
supporting roles (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 3,608,963 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,280,776
females age 16-49: 2,278,474 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 188,394
female: 185,975 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.2% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 120
Transnational Issues ::Burkina Faso
Disputes - international:
in September 2007, Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS) intervened to attempt to resolve the dispute over two
villages along the Benin-Burkina Faso border that remain from a 2005
ICJ decision; in recent years citizens and rogue security forces rob
and harass local populations on both sides of the poorly defined
Burkina Faso-Niger border; despite the presence of more than 9,000
UN forces (UNOCI) in Cote d'Ivoire since 2004, ethnic conflict
continues to spread into neighboring states that can no longer send
their migrant workers to work in Ivorian cocoa plantations
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Burma (East & Southeast Asia)
Introduction ::Burma
Background:
Britain conquered Burma over a period of 62 years (1824-1886) and
incorporated it into its Indian Empire. Burma was administered as a
province of India until 1937 when it became a separate,
self-governing colony; independence from the Commonwealth was
attained in 1948. Gen. NE WIN dominated the government from 1962 to
1988, first as military ruler, then as self-appointed president, and
later as political kingpin. In September 1988, the military deposed
NE WIN and established a new ruling junta. Despite multiparty
legislative elections in 1990 that resulted in the main opposition
party - the National League for Democracy (NLD) - winning a
landslide victory, the junta refused to hand over power. NLD leader
and Nobel Peace Prize recipient AUNG SAN SUU KYI, who was under
house arrest from 1989 to 1995 and 2000 to 2002, was imprisoned in
May 2003 and subsequently transferred to house arrest. She was
finally released in November 2010. After the ruling junta in August
2007 unexpectedly increased fuel prices, tens of thousands of
Burmese marched in protest, led by prodemocracy activists and
Buddhist monks. In late September 2007, the government brutally
suppressed the protests, killing at least 13 people and arresting
thousands for participating in the demonstrations. Since then, the
regime has continued to raid homes and monasteries and arrest
persons suspected of participating in the pro-democracy protests.
Burma in early May 2008 was struck by Cyclone Nargis which official
estimates claimed left over 80,000 dead and 50,000 injured. Despite
this tragedy, the junta proceeded with its May constitutional
referendum, the first vote in Burma since 1990. Parliamentary
elections held in November 2010, considered flawed by many in the
international community, saw the junta's Union Solidarity and
Development Party garnering over 70 percent of the seats. Parliament
is constitutionally mandated to convene within 90 days of the
election; the president, two vice presidents, and ministers will be
selected at that time.
Geography ::Burma
Location:
Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal,
between Bangladesh and Thailand
Geographic coordinates:
22 00 N, 98 00 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 676,578 sq km
country comparison to the world: 40
land: 653,508 sq km
water: 23,070 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 5,876 km
border countries: Bangladesh 193 km, China 2,185 km, India 1,463 km,
Laos 235 km, Thailand 1,800 km
Coastline:
1,930 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:
tropical monsoon; cloudy, rainy, hot, humid summers (southwest
monsoon, June to September); less cloudy, scant rainfall, mild
temperatures, lower humidity during winter (northeast monsoon,
December to April)
Terrain:
central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Andaman Sea 0 m
highest point: Hkakabo Razi 5,881 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead,
coal, marble, limestone, precious stones, natural gas, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 14.92%
permanent crops: 1.31%
other: 83.77% (2005)
Irrigated land:
18,700 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
1,045.6 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 33.23 cu km/yr (1%/1%/98%)
per capita: 658 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
destructive earthquakes and cyclones; flooding and landslides common
during rainy season (June to September); periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; industrial pollution of air, soil, and water;
inadequate sanitation and water treatment contribute to disease
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
strategic location near major Indian Ocean shipping lanes
People ::Burma
Population:
53,414,374
country comparison to the world: 24
note: estimates for this country take into account the effects of
excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life
expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 25.3% (male 6,193,263/female 5,990,658)
15-64 years: 69.3% (male 16,510,648/female 16,828,462)
65 years and over: 5.4% (male 1,121,412/female 1,493,298) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 26.5 years
male: 26 years
female: 27.1 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.096% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
Birth rate:
19.49 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
Death rate:
8.23 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
Net migration rate:
-0.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 134
Urbanization:
urban population: 33% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 50.76 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 50
male: 57.85 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 43.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 64.52 years
country comparison to the world: 167
male: 62.23 years
female: 66.94 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.28 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.7% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
240,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
25,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
water contact disease: leptospirosis
animal contact disease: rabies
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Burmese (singular and plural)
adjective: Burmese
Ethnic groups:
Burman 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%, Chinese 3%, Indian 2%,
Mon 2%, other 5%
Religions:
Buddhist 89%, Christian 4% (Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic 1%), Muslim
4%, animist 1%, other 2%
Languages: