Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso

French West African CFA (XOF) French civil law
AU (suspended), ECOWAS (withdrawn), WAEMU, AfCFTA, OIC
Burkina Faso is Africa's fourth-largest gold producer, with mining operations by Endeavour Mining, IAMGOLD, and Nordgold accounting for over 70% of export revenue. The economy also depends on cotton (major producer) and livestock. A military government has been in power since September 2022, impacting international relations and development aid. Security challenges from jihadist groups affect large portions of the territory. Despite political uncertainty, the mining sector continues to attract investment.

Snapshot

Population~24.1 MWorld Bank WDI
GDP (current USD)$26.9 BIMF WEO
GDP per Capita$870IMF WEO
GDP Growth4.80%IMF WEO
Inflation (y/y)~3.70%Central Bank / IMF
Policy Rate (BCEAO rate)3.50%Central Bank
Unemployment5.00%ILO / National Stats
Internet Use~20.00%World Bank WDI
Electrification~22.00%World Bank WDI
CPI Score (Rank)37.0/100 (#100)Transparency Intl
HDI (Rank)0.449 (#184)UNDP HDR

Focus Sectors

Gold Mining (Africa's 4th largest)
Cotton
Agriculture
Livestock
Telecoms
Construction
Energy (solar potential)

Regulations & Taxes

Corporate Income Tax27.5% standard
VAT / Sales Tax18% standard
Data Notes: Population, GDP, and GDP per capita are latest IMF WEO / World Bank estimates. Inflation is year-over-year. Trade data from UN Comtrade/OEC (2023). Tax rates from PwC/KPMG country guides. CPI from Transparency International. HDI from UNDP Human Development Report.
Narrative last updated: April 8, 2026.