| Government | Parliamentary |
| Capital | Ouagadougou |
| Population | 15,264,735 |
| Ethnic groups | Mossi over 40%, other approximately 60% (includes Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi, Bobo, Mande, and Fulani) |
| Religion | Religions: Muslim 50%, indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 10% |
| Language | Native African languages, French |
| GDP per capita | $1,200 |
| Unemployment rate | 77 % |
| Poverty (% of population living on less than US$ a day) | 72 |
| Infant mortality rate | 86.02 deaths/1,000 live births |
| Life expectancy at birth | 52.55 years |
| People living with HIV/AIDS | 300,000 |
| Major infectious diseases (very high risk) | bacterial&protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, typhoid fever, malaria, schistosomiasis, meningococcal meningitis |
Burkina Faso, formerly Upper Volta under French colonial rule, achieved independence in 1960. In a 1983 coup Thomas Sankara, a Marxist-Leninist, took power. He gave the country its present name which translates as “land of honest men” and allied the country with North Korea, Libya, and Cuba. In 1987 Mr Sankara was overthrown and then executed in a military coup masterminded by Blaise Compaore who has been in power ever since.
Burkina Faso’s high population density, limited natural resources as well as droughts and desertification that severely affect agricultural activities result in poor economic prospects for the majority of its citizens. Furthermore, the internal unrest in neighbouring Cote d'Ivoire, which caused migrant workers to flee, is negatively affecting Burkina Faso’s trade and employment. Burkina Faso is classified as one of the world’s 22 least developed countries. The UN rates Burkina Faso as the world's third poorest country.
Educational Challenges:
| Literacy rate | 21.8% (male 29.4%, female 15.2%) |
| School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) | 5 years |
| Pre-primary enrolment | 2 % |
| Primary enrolment | 48 % |
| Secondary enrolment | 10% of girls, 14% of boys |
| Tertiary enrolment | 2 % |
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