Facts About Burkina Faso; What You Need To know

Burkina Faso has significant reserves of gold, but cotton production is the economic mainstay for many Burkinabes. The industry is vulnerable to changes in world prices.

* Full name: Burkina Faso
* Population: 16.3 million (UN, 2010)
* Capital: Ouagadougou
* Area: 274,200 sq km (105,870 sq miles)
* Major languages: French, indigenous languages
* Major religions: Indigenous beliefs, Islam, Christianity
* Life expectancy: 53 years (men), 56 years (women) (UN)
* Monetary unit: 1 CFA (Communaute Financiere Africaine) franc = 100 centimes
* Main exports: Cotton, animal products, gold
* GNI per capita: US $510 (World Bank, 2009)
* Internet domain: .bf
* International dialling code: +226

Facts About Burkina Faso; What You Need To know

Droughts and coups have contributed to Burkina Faso becoming the world's third poorest country. Formerly Upper Volta, Burkina Faso has spent many of its post-independence years under military rule.

After taking power in a 1983 coup, Thomas Sankara adopted a policy of nonalignment, developed relations with Libya and Ghana, and gave the country its present name, which translates as "land of honest men".

In 1987 Mr Sankara was overthrown and then executed in a coup masterminded by Blaise Compaore, who has since instituted a multi-party system.

Burkina Faso has faced domestic and external concern over the state of its economy and human rights, and allegations that it was involved in the smuggling of diamonds by rebels in Sierra Leone.

Troubles in neighbouring Ivory Coast have raised tensions. Ivory Coast has accused Burkina Faso of backing rebels in its north, a claim denied by Ouagadougou, which accuses its neighbour of mistreating Burkinabes living in Ivory Coast.

Facts About Burkina Faso; What You Need To know