From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 02/2026

 

 

Motto: "La Patrie ou la Mort, Nous Vaincrons" (French)

"Homeland or Death, we will overcome"

 

and the largest city

Ouagadougou

12°22′N 1°32′W

 

Mooré, Dyula and Fula, 

plus any other languages so recognized by law

 

• English French

 

53.7% Mossi

6.8% Fula

5.9% Gurunsi

5.4% or 1.5%[clarification needed] Bissa

5.2% Gurma

3.4% Bobo

2.2% Senufo

1.5% Lobi

0.1% Tuareg and Bella

 

63.8% Islam

26.3% Christianity

20.1% Catholicism

6.2% Protestantism

9% Animism

0.7% irreligion

 

 

Burkinabé

 

Government

Unitary semi-presidential republic under a military junta[

 

• President

 

• Prime Minister

 

Legislature

National Assembly

History

 

11 December 1958

 

5 August 1960

 

3 January 1966

 

28 October - 3 November 2014

 

23–24 January 2022

 

30 September 2022

 

 

274,223 km2 (105,878 sq mi) (74th)

 

0.148%

 

• 2023 estimate

 22,489,126 (58th)

 

86/km2 (222.7/sq mi) (126th)

 

2025 estimate

 

 $72.820 billion (114th)

 

$2,980 (172nd)

 

2025 estimate

 

$27.06 billion (114th)

 

$1,110 (166th)

Gini (2021)

37.4

medium inequality

 

0.459

low (186th)

 

West African CFA franc (XOF)

 

UTC±00:00 (GMT)

 

+226

 

BF

 

.bf

 

 

 

 

It is bordered by Mali to the northwest, Niger to the northeast, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Ivory Coast to the southwest.

 

 It covers an area of 274,223 km2 (105,878 sq mi). 

 

In 2024, the country had an estimated population of approximately 23,286,000.

 

Called the Republic of Upper Volta from 1958 to 1984, it was renamed Burkina Faso by at the time president Thomas Sankara. 

 

Its citizens are known as Burkinabes, and its capital and largest city is Ouagadougou.

 

The largest ethnic group in Burkina Faso is the Mossi people, who settled the area in the 11th and 13th centuries. 

 

They established kingdoms such as Ouagadougou, Tenkodogo, and Yatenga. 

 

In 1896, it was colonized by the French as part of French West Africa; in 1958, Upper Volta became a self-governing colony within the French Community. 

 

In 1960, it gained full independence with Maurice Yaméogo as president. 

 

Burkina Faso remains one of the least developed countries in the world, with a GDP of $16.226 billion in 2022. 

 

Approximately 63.8% of its population practices Islam, while 26.3% practices Christianity.

 

The country's official languages include Mooré, Dyula and Fula (as of 1998), with the first one being spoken by over half the population; there are over 60 indigenous languages, and the constitution provides for other languages to be made official by law. 

 

The former government and business language was French until January 2024, when its status was demoted to that of a "working language" alongside English by ratification of a constitutional amendment.

 

The country's territory is geographically biodiverse, and includes plentiful reserves of gold, manganese, copper and limestone. 

 

Due to its multicultural make-up, Burkinabè art has a rich and long history, and is globally renowned for its orthodox style.

 

The country is governed as a semi-presidential republic, with executive, legislative and judicial powers. 

 

It is a member of the United Nations, La Francophonie and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. 

 

 

 

Formerly the Republic of Upper Volta, the country was renamed "Burkina Faso" on 4 August 1984 by then-President Thomas Sankara. 

 

The words "Burkina" and "Faso" stem from different languages spoken in the country: "Burkina" comes from Mooré and means "upright", showing how the people are proud of their integrity, while "Faso" comes from the Dyula language (as written in N'Ko: ߝߊ߬ߛߏ߫ faso) and means "fatherland" (literally, "father's house"). 

 

The "-bé" suffix added onto "Burkina" to form the demonym "Burkinabé" comes from the Fula language and means "women or men".

 

The US Central Intelligence Agency's World Fact Book gives the translation as "Land of the Honest (Incorruptible) Men".