Burkina Faso ( Upper Volta, Republic of Upper Volta) is a country in Western Africa, north of Ghana. Burkina Faso geographic coordinates 13 00 N, 2 00 W; area 273,800 sq km; area comparative slightly larger than Colorado; land boundaries Benin 306 km, Cote d'Ivoire 584 km, Ghana 549 km, Mali 1,000 km, Niger 628 km, Togo 126 km; coastline 0 km (landlocked); maritime claims none (landlocked); climate tropical; warm, dry winters; hot, wet summers; terrain mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in west and southeast; elevation extremes Tena Kourou 749 m; natural resources manganese, limestone, marble; small deposits of gold, phosphates, pumice, salt; land use 85.38% (2001); irrigated land 250 sq km (1998 est.); natural hazards recurring droughts; environment current issues recent droughts and desertification severely affecting agricultural activities, population distribution, and the economy; overgrazing; soil degradation; deforestation; environment international agreements none of the selected agreements; geography note landlocked savanna cut by the three principal rivers of the Black, Red, and White Voltas;

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Burkina 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. government type parliamentary republic; capital Ouagadougou; administrative divisions 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; independence 5 August 1960 (from France); national holiday Republic Day, 11 December (1958); constitution 2 June 1991 approved by referendum; 11 June 1991 formally adopted; amended April 2000; legal system based on French civil law system and customary law; suffrage universal;

people

Burkina Faso population 13,925,313 estimates for this country explici; age structure 2.8% (male 164,418/female 231,332) (2005 est.); median age 17.22 years (2005 est.); population growth rate 2.53% (2005 est.); birth rate 44.17 births/1,000 population (2005 est.); death rate 18.86 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.); net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.); sex ratio 0.97 male(s)/female (2005 est.); infant mortality rate 105.55 deaths/1,000 live births; life expectancy at birth 45.7 years (2005 est.); total fertility rate 6.23 children born/woman (2005 est.); hiv adult rate 4.2% (2003 est.); hiv people with aids 300,000 (2003 est.); hiv deaths 29,000 (2003 est.); major infectious diseases malaria is a hi; nationality Burkinabe; ethnic groups Mossi over 40%, Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi, Bobo, Mande, Fulani; religions indigenous beliefs 40%, Muslim 50%, Christian (mainly Roman Catholic) 10%; languages French (official), native African languages belonging to Sudanic family spoken by 90% of the population; literacy 16.6% (2003 est.);

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