World Factbook
Burkina Faso
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Area
land
273,800 sq km
water
400 sq km
total
274,200 sq km
Climate
three climate zones including a hot tropical savanna with a short rainy season in the southern half, a tropical hot semi-arid steppe climate typical of the Sahel region in the northern half, and small area of hot desert in the very north of the country bordering the Sahara Desert
Terrain
mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in the west and southeast; occupies an extensive plateau with savanna that is grassy in the north and gradually gives way to sparse forests in the south
Land use
other
33.9% (2023 est.)
forest
12.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
53.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 28.9% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 2.6% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 21.9% (2023 est.)
Location
Western Africa, north of Ghana
Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Elevation
lowest point
Mouhoun (Black Volta) River 200 m
highest point
Tena Kourou 749 m
mean elevation
297 m
Irrigated land
550 sq km (2016)
Map references
Africa
Land boundaries
total
3,611 km
border countries
Benin 386 km; Cote d'Ivoire 545 km; Ghana 602 km; Mali 1325 km; Niger 622 km; Togo 131 km
Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Natural hazards
recurring droughts
Geography - note
landlocked savanna cut by the three principal rivers, the Black, Red, and White Voltas
Natural resources
gold, manganese, zinc, limestone, marble, phosphates, pumice, salt
Area - comparative
slightly larger than Colorado
Geographic coordinates
13 00 N, 2 00 W
Population distribution
most of the population is located in the center and south; nearly one third lives in cities, including the capital city of Ouagadougou (Ouaga), as shown in this population distribution map (2019)
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Atlantic Ocean drainage
Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Volta (410,991 sq km)
Major rivers (by length in km)
Volta river source (shared with Ghana [m]) - 1,600 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth