Economy overview: Burkina Faso is one of the poorest countries in the world. She is landlocked; characteristic features are high population density, few natural resources and low soil fertility. About 90% of the population is engaged in agriculture (mostly subsistence); agriculture is extremely dependent on fluctuations in rainfall levels. The industrial sector is dominated by inefficient state corporations. After the devaluation of the CFA franc in January 1994, the government, with the cooperation of international organizations, improved its development program, and exports and economic growth increased. Whether the country’s economic progress will continue in 2001-02 depends on keeping inflation low, reducing the trade deficit, and implementing reforms that are conducive to private investment. See businesscarriers.com to know more about Burkina Faso Economics and Business. GDP: Purchasing Power Parity $12 billion (2000 est.) Real GDP growth rate: 5% (2000 est.). GDP per capita: Purchasing Power Parity $1,000 (2000 est.). The composition of GDP by sectors of the economy: agriculture: 26%; industry: 27%; services: 47% (1998). Proportion of the population below the poverty line: no data available. Percentage distribution of family income or consumption: per 10% of the poorest families: 2.2%; by the top 10% of families: 39.5% (1994). Inflation rate at consumer prices: 1.5% (2000 OTs.). Work force: 5 million people (1999); note: a significant part of the male labor force migrates annually to neighboring countries for seasonal work. Employment structure: agriculture – 90%. Unemployment rate: no data. Budget: revenues: $277 million; expenses: $492 million, including capital expenditures of $233 million (1995 est.). Spheres of economy: production of cotton lint, beverages, processing of agricultural products, soap industry, tobacco industry, textile industry, gold mining. Growth in industrial production: 4.2% (1995). Electricity generation: 285 million kWh (1999). Sources of electricity generation: fossil fuels: 71.93%; hydropower: 28.07%; nuclear fuel: 0%; others: 0% (1999). Electricity consumption: 265.1 million kWh (1999) Electricity export: 0 kWh (1999). Electricity import: 0 kWh (1999). Agricultural products: peanuts, butternuts, sesame, cotton, sorghum, millet, corn, rice; livestock. Exports: $220 million (free on board, 2000 est.) Exports: cotton, livestock products, gold. Export partners: Italy 13%, France 10%, Indonesia 8%, Thailand 7% (1999). Imports: $610 million (free on board, 2000 est.) Imports: machinery, foodstuffs, crude oil. Import partners: Cote d’Ivoire 30%, France 28%, Benelux 3%, Spain 3%. External debt: $1.3 billion (1997) Economic aid recipient: $484.1 million (1995) Economic aid donor: Currency: African Financial Community Franc (CFA franc, Communaute Finan-ciere Africaine franc); note – the circulation of the CFA franc is regulated by the Central Bank of West African countries. Currency code: XOF. Exchange rate: XOF/USD – 699.21 (January 2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996); note On January 1, 1999, the CFA franc is exchanged for the euro at a ratio of 655.957 CFA francs to 1 euro. Fiscal year: calendar year.
Telecommunications
Telecommunications Telephone lines: 36,000 (1997). Mobile cellular telephones: 1,503 (1997). Telephone system: service level is very low; internal: microwave radio relay, terrestrial wire lines and radiotelephone stations; international: satellite earth stations – 1 Intepsat (Atlantic Ocean). Broadcast stations: AM -2, FM -17, shortwave – 1 (1998). Radio receivers: 370,000 (1997). Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997). Televisions: 100,000 (1997). Internet country code: bf Internet providers: 1 (2000). Number of users: 4,000 (2000).
Transport
Transport Railways: total length: 622 km (517 km from Ouagadougou to the border of Côte d’Ivoire and 105 km from Ouagadougou to the city of Kaya); narrow gauge: 622 km (1,000 m gauge) (1995 est.). Roads: total length: 12,506 km; coated: 2,001 km; unpaved: 10,505 km (1996 est.) Ports and harbours: none. Airports: 33 (2000 est.). Airports with paved runways: total: 2; over 3,047 m: 1; from 2438 to 3047 m: 1 (2000 OZ). Airports with unpaved runways: total: 31; from 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3; from 914 to 1,523 m: 12; less than 914 m: 16 (2000 est.).
Armed Forces
Branches of the Armed Forces: Army, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Police, People’s Militia. Total military manpower: male 15 to 49: 2,592,974 (2001 est.). Eligible for military service: men aged 15 to 49: 1,329,885 (2001 est.). Number of persons reaching military age each year: Military spending in dollar terms: $66 million (1996). Military spending as part of GDP: 2% (1996).
