GeoRealityMatch
Lush green farmland with trees in Tenkodogo, exhibiting a rural landscape.A young girl pushing a bicycle with containers in a rural field in Burkina Faso.

Burkina Faso

Africa · Western Africa

Low development

The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to the whole country. It is less peaceful than most countries.

Source: FCDO travel advice, read 29 October 2026.

Safety

147th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
2.882lower is more peacefulLow safety
#147 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$980national income per person, US dollarsVery low
World Bank · 2025

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 152% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 53% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$2.0K$4.0K$3,072 PPP$1,148Inflation, % a year15%0200620102015202020252006, $456 a person, $1,244 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2007, $515 a person, $1,290 at PPP, inflation -0.2%2008, $619 a person, $1,351 at PPP, inflation 10.7%2009, $602 a person, $1,360 at PPP, inflation 2.6%2010, $625 a person, $1,449 at PPP, inflation -0.8%2011, $725 a person, $1,531 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2012, $731 a person, $1,572 at PPP, inflation 3.8%2013, $760 a person, $1,643 at PPP, inflation 0.5%2014, $765 a person, $1,661 at PPP, inflation -0.3%2015, $630 a person, $1,692 at PPP, inflation 0.7%2016, $664 a person, $1,882 at PPP, inflation 0.4%2017, $709 a person, $2,042 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2018, $777 a person, $2,073 at PPP, inflation 2%2019, $765 a person, $2,232 at PPP, inflation -3.2%2020, $825 a person, $2,381 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2021, $896 a person, $2,486 at PPP, inflation 3.7%2022, $827 a person, $2,645 at PPP, inflation 14.3%2023, $873 a person, $2,762 at PPP, inflation 0.7%2024, $982 a person, $2,901 at PPP, inflation 4.2%2025, $1,148 a person, $3,072 at PPP, inflation -0.6%$0$2.0K$4.0KInflation, % a year15%0200620102015202020252006, $456 a person, $1,244 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2007, $515 a person, $1,290 at PPP, inflation -0.2%2008, $619 a person, $1,351 at PPP, inflation 10.7%2009, $602 a person, $1,360 at PPP, inflation 2.6%2010, $625 a person, $1,449 at PPP, inflation -0.8%2011, $725 a person, $1,531 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2012, $731 a person, $1,572 at PPP, inflation 3.8%2013, $760 a person, $1,643 at PPP, inflation 0.5%2014, $765 a person, $1,661 at PPP, inflation -0.3%2015, $630 a person, $1,692 at PPP, inflation 0.7%2016, $664 a person, $1,882 at PPP, inflation 0.4%2017, $709 a person, $2,042 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2018, $777 a person, $2,073 at PPP, inflation 2%2019, $765 a person, $2,232 at PPP, inflation -3.2%2020, $825 a person, $2,381 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2021, $896 a person, $2,486 at PPP, inflation 3.7%2022, $827 a person, $2,645 at PPP, inflation 14.3%2023, $873 a person, $2,762 at PPP, inflation 0.7%2024, $982 a person, $2,901 at PPP, inflation 4.2%2025, $1,148 a person, $3,072 at PPP, inflation -0.6%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Among the shortest life expectancies

Life expectancy
61.3years, at birthVery low
#186 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
47WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100Very lowWHO · 2023
Air pollution
36.2PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageVery highWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Moderate home internet speeds

Unemployment rate
3.5%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
49 Mbpsmedian download speedModerateOokla Speedtest · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet49 MbpsModerate

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

A young girl pushing a bicycle with containers in a rural field in Burkina Faso.
How it changed

Burkina Faso's Human Development Index

0.459Low human development

186th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 47th of 54 in Africa.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #184Yemen0.470
  2. #185Sierra Leone0.467
  3. #186Burkina Faso0.459
  4. #187Burundi0.439
  5. #188Mali0.419
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 2005

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.333 in 2005 to 0.459 in 2023.

0.300.400.500.4592005201020232005: 0.3332006: 0.3402007: 0.3442008: 0.3572009: 0.3662010: 0.3772011: 0.3892012: 0.3982013: 0.4052014: 0.4092015: 0.4192016: 0.4272017: 0.4382018: 0.4492019: 0.4532020: 0.4532021: 0.4542022: 0.4572023: 0.4590.300.400.502005201020232005: 0.3332006: 0.3402007: 0.3442008: 0.3572009: 0.3662010: 0.3772011: 0.3892012: 0.3982013: 0.4052014: 0.4092015: 0.4192016: 0.4272017: 0.4382018: 0.4492019: 0.4532020: 0.4532021: 0.4542022: 0.4572023: 0.459

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 19 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
61.3 years2024at birthUp 8 years from 53.3 years in 2005
Internet users
28%2024of people onlineUp 28 points from 1% in 2006
Urban population
29%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 6 points from 23% in 2006
Births per woman
4.112024births per womanDown 2.07 from 6.18 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
71%2022of energy usedDown 11 points from 82% in 2004
Access to electricity
34%2024of people with electricityUp 23 points from 11% in 2005
Infant mortality
442024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 37 from 80 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
0.3 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 0.2 t from 0.1 t in 2005
Forest area
22%2023of land under forestDown 3 points from 26% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Severe jihadist insurgency, a military coup in 2022, and a significant refugee crisis. The case against is the UK's advice against travel, a low peace ranking and low incomes.

About Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso is a landlocked Sahelian country in West Africa, known among those who know it for its extraordinary arts and crafts culture, its famous FESPACO film festival, and a tradition of warm, dignified hospitality. The landscape is flat and dry for much of the year, and life in the countryside is shaped by the rhythms of agriculture and community. It is a destination for experienced travellers who approach it with genuine respect and curiosity.

Practical facts

  • CapitalOuagadougou
  • LanguagesFrench
  • CurrencyWest African CFA franc (XOF)
  • Area273,600 km²
  • Plug typeType C/E
  • Drives on theright
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Quick answers

What is Burkina Faso's Human Development Index?

Burkina Faso's Human Development Index is 0.459 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #186 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Burkina Faso safe?

Burkina Faso scores 2.88 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #147 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

What is life expectancy in Burkina Faso?

Life expectancy at birth in Burkina Faso is 61.3 yrs (World Bank), ranked #186 of 195 countries.