About Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso is a landlocked country with a population of around 21 million and a population density of 76 people per km2. The northern part of the country experiences an arid Sahelian climate, with a rainfall average of 500 to 600 mm annually, while the southern regions present a wetter monsoon climate, with a rainfall average of around 1000 to 1200 mm annually.

Around 80% of the population is engaged in agriculture, suffering from growing levels of food insecurity, worsened by the recent internal instability. Cotton production represents an important part of the country’s economy and is produced mostly in the southern region, along with crops such as maize, cowpea, peanuts and rice. Livestock production is prevalent in the northern region, where crops such as millet and sorghum are more common. Livestock population in 2002 included 5 million cattle and almost 16 million small ruminants (sheep and goats). French is the country’s official language, with Mooré and Dioula as two of the most important local languages. The country ranks 182 of 189 in the 2020 human development index report, with a score of 0.452. These figures indicate a low human development rating for Burkina Faso.