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Background:
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B urkina
Faso (formerly Upper Volta) achieved independence from France
in 1960. Repeated military coups during the 1970s and 1980s
were followed by multiparty elections in the early 1990s.
Burkina Faso's high population density and limited natural
resources result in poor economic prospects for the majority
of its citizens. Recent unrest in Cote d'Ivoire and northern
Ghana has hindered the ability of several hundred thousand
seasonal Burkinabe farm workers to find employment in
neighboring countries. |
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Location:
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Western Africa,
north of Ghana |
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Map references:
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Africa |
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Area:
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total:
274,200 sq km
water: 400 sq km
land: 273,800 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly larger
than Colorado |
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Land boundaries:
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total:
3,193 km
border countries: Benin 306 km, Cote d'Ivoire 584 km,
Ghana 549 km, Mali 1,000 km, Niger 628 km, Togo 126 km |
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Coastline:
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0 km (landlocked) |
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Climate:
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tropical; warm,
dry winters; hot, wet summers |
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Terrain:
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mostly flat to
dissected, undulating plains; hills in west and southeast |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Mouhoun (Black Volta) River 200 m
highest point: Tena Kourou 749 m |
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Natural resources:
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manganese,
limestone, marble; small deposits of gold, antimony, copper,
nickel, bauxite, lead, phosphates, zinc, silver |
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Land use:
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arable land:
12.43%
permanent crops: 0.18%
other: 87.39% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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250 sq km (1998
est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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recurring
droughts |
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Environment - current issues:
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recent droughts
and desertification severely affecting agricultural
activities, population distribution, and the economy;
overgrazing; soil degradation; deforestation |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone
Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea |
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Geography - note:
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landlocked
savanna cut by the three principal rivers of the Black, Red,
and White Voltas |
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Population:
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13,574,820
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into
account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can
result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and
death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in
the distribution of population by age and sex than would
otherwise be expected (July 2004 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14
years: 46% (male 3,135,098; female 3,114,354)
15-64 years: 51.1% (male 3,391,848; female 3,545,115)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 163,137; female 225,268)
(2004 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
16.8 years
male: 16.4 years
female: 17.2 years (2004 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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2.57%
(2004 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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44.46
births/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Death rate:
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18.79
deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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0
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at
birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2004 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
98.67 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 90.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 106.7 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 44.2 years
male: 42.62 years
female: 45.83 years (2004 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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6.5%
(2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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440,000
(2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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44,000
(2001 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Burkinabe (singular and plural)
adjective: Burkinabe |
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Ethnic groups:
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Mossi
over 40%, Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi, Bobo, Mande, Fulani |
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Religions:
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indigenous
beliefs 40%, Muslim 50%, Christian (mainly Roman Catholic) 10% |
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Languages:
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French
(official), native African languages belonging to Sudanic
family spoken by 90% of the population |
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Literacy:
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definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 26.6%
male: 36.9%
female: 16.6% (2003 est.) |
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Country name:
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conventional
long form: none
conventional short form: Burkina Faso
former: Upper Volta, Republic of Upper Volta |
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Government type:
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parliamentary
republic |
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Capital:
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Ouagadougou |
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Administrative divisions:
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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, Namentenga,
Nahouri, Nayala, Noumbiel, Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni,
Sanguie, Sanmatenga, Seno, Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Tuy,
Yagha, Yatenga, Ziro, Zondoma, Zoundweogo |
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Independence:
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5 August 1960
(from France) |
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National holiday:
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Republic Day, 11
December (1958) |
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Constitution:
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2 June 1991
approved by referendum; 11 June 1991 formally adopted;
ammended April 2000 |
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Legal system:
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based on French
civil law system and customary law |
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Suffrage:
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universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief of
state: President Blaise COMPAORE (since 15 October 1987)
head of government: Prime Minister Ernest Paramanga
YONLI (since 6 November 2000)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the
president on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a
five-year term; election last held 15 November 1998 (next to
be held NA 2005); in April 2000, the constitution was amended
reducing the presidential term from seven to five years,
enforceable as of 2005, and allowing the president to be
reelected only once; it is unclear whether this amendment will
be applied retroactively or not; prime minister appointed by
the president with the consent of the legislature
election results: Blaise COMPAORE reelected president
with 87.5% percent of the vote |
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Legislative branch:
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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 5 May
2002 (next to be held NA May 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats
by party - CDP 57, RDA-ADF 17, PDP/PS 10, CFD 5, PAI 5, others
17 |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court;
Appeals Court |
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Political parties and leaders:
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African
Democratic Rally-Alliance for Democracy and Federation or RDA-ADF
[Herman YAMEOGO]; Confederation for Federation and Democracy
or CFD [Amadou Diemdioda DICKO]; Congress for Democracy and
Progress or CDP [Roch Marc-Christian KABORE]; Movement for
Tolerance and Progress or MTP [Nayabtigungou Congo KABORE];
Party for African Independence or PAI [Philippe OUEDRAOGO];
Party for Democracy and Progress or PDP [Joseph KI-ZERBO];
Union of Greens for the Development of Burkina Faso or UVDB
[Ram OVEDRAGO] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Burkinabe General
Confederation of Labor or CGTB; Burkinabe Movement for Human
Rights or MBDHP; Group of 14 February; National Confederation
of Burkinabe Workers or CNTB; National Organization of Free
Unions or ONSL; watchdog/political action groups throughout
the country in both organizations and communities |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of
mission: Ambassador Tertius ZONGO
FAX: [1] (202) 667-1882
telephone: [1] (202) 332-5577
chancery: 2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC
20008 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of
mission: Ambassador Anthony HOLMES
embassy: 602 Avenue Raoul Follereau, Koulouba, Secteur
4
mailing address: 01 B. P. 35, Ouagadougou 01; pouch
mail - U. S. Department of State, 2440 Ouagadougou Place,
Washington, DC 20521-2440
telephone: [226] 306723
FAX: [226] 303890 |
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Economy - overview:
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One of the
poorest countries in the world, landlocked Burkina Faso has
few natural resources, a fragile soil, and a highly unequal
distribution of income. About 90% of the population is engaged
in (mainly subsistence) agriculture, which is vulnerable to
variations in rainfall. Cotton is the key crop. Industry
remains dominated by unprofitable government-controlled
corporations. Following the African franc currency devaluation
in January 1994 the government updated its development program
in conjunction with international agencies, and exports and
economic growth have increased. Maintenance of macroeconomic
progress depends on continued low inflation, reduction in the
trade deficit, and reforms designed to encourage private
investment. The internal crisis in neighboring Cote d'Ivoire
continues to hurt trade and industrial prospects and deepens
the need for international assistance. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power
parity - $14.33 billion (2003 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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4.6% (2003 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power
parity - $1,100 (2003 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture:
35%
industry: 17%
services: 48% (2001) |
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Population below poverty line:
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45% (2003 est.) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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4.5% (2003 est.) |
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Labor force:
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5 million
note: a large part of the male labor force migrates
annually to neighboring countries for seasonal employment
(2003) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 90%
(2003 est.) |
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Unemployment rate:
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NA% |
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Budget:
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revenues:
$316 million
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of
$NA (2001) |
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Industries:
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cotton lint,
beverages, agricultural processing, soap, cigarettes,
textiles, gold |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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14% (2001 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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279.2 million kWh
(2001) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel:
69.9%
hydro: 30.1%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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259.6 million kWh
(2001) |
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day (2001
est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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8,000 bbl/day
(2001 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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cotton, peanuts,
shea nuts, sesame, sorghum, millet, corn, rice; livestock |
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Exports:
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$293 million
f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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cotton,
livestock, gold |
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Exports - partners:
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Singapore 15.2%,
Italy 11.7%, Colombia 8.8%, France 7.6%, India 7%, Ghana 6.4%,
Japan 4.7%, Thailand 4.1% (2002) |
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Imports:
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$633.6 million
f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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capital goods,
foodstuffs, petroleum |
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Imports - partners:
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France 27.4%,
Cote d'Ivoire 22.6%, Togo 4.2% (2002) |
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Debt - external:
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$1.3 billion
(2000) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$484.1 million
(1995) |
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Currency:
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Communaute
Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority
is the Central Bank of the West African States |
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Currency code:
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XOF |
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Exchange rates:
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Communaute
Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 581.2
(2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.7
(1999) |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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64,300 (2002) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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89,900 (2002) |
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Telephone system:
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general
assessment: all services only fair
domestic: microwave radio relay, open-wire, and
radiotelephone communication stations
international: country code - 226; satellite earth
station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 3, FM 17,
shortwave 3 (2002) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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1 (2002) |
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Internet country code:
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.bf |
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Internet hosts:
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409 (2002) |
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Internet users:
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25,000 (2002) |
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Railways:
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total: 622
km
narrow gauge: 622 km 1.000-m gauge
note:: another 660 km of this railway extends into Cote
D'Ivoire (2003) |
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Highways:
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total:
12,506 km
paved: 2,001 km
unpaved: 10,505 km (1999) |
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Waterways:
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none |
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Ports and harbors:
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none |
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Airports:
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33 (2003 est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2003 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 31
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 17 (2003 est.) |
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Military branches:
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Army, Air Force |
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Military manpower - availability:
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males age
15-49: 3,047,306 (2004 est.) |
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Military manpower - fit for military service:
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males age
15-49: 1,552,212 (2004 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$52.7 million
(2003) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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1.6% (2003) |
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Disputes - international:
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two villages are
in dispute along the border with Benin; Benin accuses Burkina
Faso of moving boundary pillars; Burkina Faso border regions
have become a staging area for Liberia and Cote d'Ivoire
rebels and an asylum for refugees caught in regional fighting;
the Ivoirian Government accuses Burkina Faso of supporting
Ivoirian rebels |
This page was last updated on 11 May, 2004
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