In Burkina Faso, the education follows a 6-4-3 system, where the primary school lasts for 6 years, the secondary school for 4 years and the secondary school for 3 years. According to UNESCO, 71.3% of people over the age of 15 were illiterate in 2007.

• A2zdirectory: Describes prehistory and early history of Burkina Faso. Includes history from colony to an independent nation.

Country data

Area: 274,200 km² (world ranking: 73)

Residents: 19,193,000

Population density: 70 per km² (as of 2017, world ranking: 60)

Capital: Ouagadougou

Official languages: French

Gross domestic product: 12.9 billion US$; Real growth: 6.7%

Gross national product (GNP, per resident and year): US $ 610

Currency: CFA Franc

Embassy

Karolingerplatz 10
11, 14052 Berlin
Telephone 030 30105990,
Fax 030 301059920
www.embassy-bf.org

Government
Head of State: Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, Head of Government: Paul Kaba Thiéba, Exterior: Alpha Barry

National Day: 12/11 (Proclamation of the Republic 1958)

Administrative structure
13 regions

State and form of government
Constitution of 1991
Presidential republic
Parliament: National Assembly (Assemblée Nationale) with 127 members, election every 5 years
Direct election of the head of state every 5 years (one-time re-election)
Right to vote from 18 years

Population of: Burkins, last census 2006: 14,017,262 residents
around 60 ethnic groups: Volta peoples (including 48% Mossi), Mande groups (17% Bobo; Sanike, Diula, etc.); 10% Fulbe, 7% Dagara and Lobi, 5% Gourmantché (Gur)

Cities (with population): (Status 2006) Ouagadougou 1,475,223 inh., Bobo-Dioulasso 489,967, Koudougou 88,184, Banfora 75,917, Ouahigouya 73,153, Pouytenga 60,618, Kaya 54,365, Tenkodogo 44,491, Fada N’gourma 41,785, Gargano 38,458, Dougibo 38,058, Dougibo 38,015 28,990, Réo 28,446

Religions: 55% Muslims (especially Sunnis), 30% followers of indigenous religions, 15% Christians (mostly Catholics) (as of 2006)

Languages: French; Mòoré (Gur language of the Mossi), Mande languages ​​(Manding, Soninke et al.), Ful, Arabic Employed

persons by economic sector
no information

Unemployment (in% of all labor force): no information

Inflation rate (in%): 2017: 0.4%

Foreign trade: Import: US $ 3.4 billion (2017); Export: US $ 2.4 billion (2017)

• Countryaah: Get latest country flag of Burkina Faso and find basic information about Burkina Faso including population, religion, languages, etc.

Basic education

In principle, the primary school is compulsory and free, but the compulsory schooling is not enforced. According to UNESCO, 79% of children of primary school age begin in primary school, and 23% of relevant age classes continue in secondary school (2011). There are large variations between the different regions of the country. Check topschoolsintheusa for test centers of ACT, SAT, and GRE as well high schools in the country of Burkina Faso.

The language of instruction is French. Literacy programs in national languages ​​are difficult to implement because of approx. 60 languages ​​are just 14 written languages.

Higher education

The school year is divided into trimester, and about four percent of the population takes higher education (2011). The University of Ouagadougou, founded in 1974, is the country’s foremost institution of higher education.