culture
Burkina Faso's name means "Land of Upright People," combining Mòoré and Dyula words chosen after independence to replace the colonial name Upper Volta.
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso
Population, GDP, and key facts about Burkina Faso — updated for 2026.
Capital · OUAGADOUGOUContinent · AFRICAISO · BFA
Burkina Faso quick facts
- Population
- 23,548,781
- Area
- 274,200 km²
- Population density
- 84 people/km²
- GDP
- US$ 23.1 Billion
- GDP per capita
- US$ 982.5
- Capital
- Ouagadougou
- Currency
- West African CFA franc (Fr, XOF)
- Language
- French
Burkina Faso at human scale
Where does Burkina Faso rank in the world?
Compare Burkina Faso with other countries
🇧🇫 vs 🇲🇱Compare Burkina Faso vs Mali🇧🇫 vs 🇲🇿Compare Burkina Faso vs Mozambique1.5× difference in population
Compare Burkina Faso with any country →Everything we know about Burkina Faso
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Fill the Country →Frequently asked questions about Burkina Faso
What is the capital of Burkina Faso?
The capital of Burkina Faso is Ouagadougou.
What is Burkina Faso's population?
Burkina Faso has a population of 23,548,781.
What is Burkina Faso's GDP per capita?
Burkina Faso's GDP per capita is US$ 982.5.
What is the currency of Burkina Faso?
The currency of Burkina Faso is the West African CFA franc (XOF).
Is Burkina Faso bigger than Mali?
Mali is about 4.5× the size of Burkina Faso by land area.
Data from the World Bank, updated September 2026.