Burkina Faso is a West African country, formerly called Alto Volta. It is located south of the Sahara desert and has a total area of 274 200 km2. It is bordered on the west and north by Mali; to the northeast, by Niger; to the southeast by Benin and to the south by Togo, Ghana and the Ivory Coast. The main cities are Ouagadougou, the capital, with 996 500 residents (2004), Bobo-Dioulasso (320 700 residents) (2004), Koudougou (72 600 residents) (2004) and Ouahigouya (52 000 residents) (2004 ).
It has a dry tropical climate. The dry season is longer in the north than in the south, where the rainy season can last for five consecutive months.
Economy
West African country, formerly called Alto Volta. It is located south of the Sahara desert and has a total area of 274 200 km2. It is bordered on the west and north by Mali; to the northeast, by Niger; to the southeast by Benin and to the south by Togo, Ghana and the Ivory Coast. The main cities are Ouagadougou, the capital, with 996 500 residents (2004), Bobo-Dioulasso (320 700 residents) (2004), Koudougou (72 600 residents) (2004) and Ouahigouya (52 000 residents) (2004 ).
Population
The population is 13 902 972 residents (est. 2006), which corresponds to a population density of 50.79 residents/km2. Birth rates and death rates are respectively in 2006, 45.62% and 15.6%. Average life expectancy is 48.85 years. The value of the Human Development Index (HDI) is 0.330 and the value of the Gender-adjusted Development Index (IDG) is 0.317 (2001). The rural population consists of sixty ethnic groups that are divided into two major linguistic groups: one that speaks the Voltaic languages and another that uses the languages of the Maude family. The main ethnic groups are the Mossi, who make up the majority, Mandé, Peul, Werewolves, Bisa, Samo, Marka, Bwa, Bobo, Dafari, Sénufo, Grusi, Gurmantché and Tuareg.
Religious manifestations are divided between traditional (animist) beliefs, which are largely in the majority, Islam, Catholicism and Protestantism. Although the official language is French, Moré, the Voltaic language of the Mossi ethnic group, is spoken by the vast majority of the population.
History
France began the annexation of the territory at the end of the 19th century, when the Mossi empires of Yatenga and Ouagadougou still existed. The country gained independence in 1960, under the name of Alto Volta. The current name, Burkina Faso, was adopted in 1984 and means “land of the incorruptible”. For Burkina Faso democracy and rights, please check getzipcodes.
Countryaah.com: Offers a full list of airports in the country of Burkina Faso, sorted by city location and acronyms.
Abbreviationfinder.org: Provides most commonly used abbreviations and initials containing the country name of Burkina Faso. Listed by popularity.
1UpTravel.com – Maps of Burkina Faso
Browse a collection of city, country, shaded relief and political maps of this Western African country, lying north of Ghana. Check out the city map of Ouagadougou.
