10,200,453 (1995).

37.2 per sq km.

Ouagadougou

634,479 (1991).

Burkina Faso is situated in West Africa and bordered to the north and west by Mali, to the east by Niger, to the southeast by Benin and to the south by Togo, Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire. The southern part of the country, less arid than the north, is wooded savannah, gradually drying out into sand and desert in the north. The Sahara desert is relentlessly moving south, however, stripping the savannah lands of trees and slowly turning the thin layer of cultivatable soil into sun-blackened rock-hard lakenite. Three great rivers, the Mouhoun, Nazinon and Nakambé (Black, Red and White Volta), water the great plains. The population does not live in the valleys along the river banks due to the diseases prevalent there.

Republic. Gained independence from France in 1960. Head of State: President Blaise Compaoré since 1991. Head of Government: Prime Minister Kadré Désiré Ouédraogo. Changed its name from Upper Volta to Burkina Faso (Land of Dignity) in 1984.

The official language is French. Several other languages such as Mooré, Dioula, Peul, Fulfuldé and Gourmantché are also spoken.

Mainly Animist. 30% are Muslim and fewer than 10% Christian (mostly Roman Catholic).

GMT

220 volts AC, 50Hz. 2-pin plugs are standard.