 Background:
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. Current President Blaise COMPAORE came to power in a
1987 military coup and has won every election since then.
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.
Borders:
Benin 306 km, Cote d'Ivoire 584 km, Ghana 549 km, Mali
1,000 km, Niger 628 km, Togo 126 km
|
Population:
13,227,840
|
GDP
per capita:
$430.76 per capita
|
Capital with population:
Ouagadougou - 500,000
|
Largest city with population:
Ouagadougou - 500,000
|
