| | | | Burkina Faso |
 EXTERNAL LINK Land Area 273,800 sq km (105,714 sq miles)
Landforms Located on the southern fringes of the Sahara Desert, the country is mostly a wide, flat plain with hillier land in the west and far southeast. The Black, Red and White Voltas are the major rivers, and all flow south into Ghana.
Highest Point Tena Kouron, at 2,451 ft. (747 m)
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BURKINA FASO
Independence: August 5, 1960 Official Name Burkina Faso
Population 13,902,972
Capital City Ouagadougou (996,000)
Largest Cities Oaugadougou, Bobo Dioulasso, Koudougou
Currency CFA Franc
National Day 11 December; Republic Day
Latitude/Longitude 12° 37'N, 1° 53'W
Languages French (official), tribal dialects
Religions Traditional beliefs, Muslim, Christian
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NGO ( Africa ) Burkina Faso, once known as Upper Volta, and as the longtime kingdom of the Mossi people, was colonized by France in the late 1800s.
Its name was changed to Burkina Faso when it gained independence from France in 1960, and subsequently (after that independence) suffered from numerous military coups that thankfully ended with countrywide elections in 1992. The results of those elections helped form a stable coalition government.
With a high population density and very limited natural resources, most of the citizens remain economically suppressed. Local health conditions are improving, but still generally poor in the rural areas. The country is reported to have the second-highest illiteracy rate on the planet.
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Land Divisions 45 provinces, including: Bale, Bam, Banwa, Bazega, Bougouriba, Boulgou, Boulkiemde, Comoe, Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houet, Ioba, Kadiogo, Kenedougou, Komondjari, Kompienga, Kossi, Koulpelogo, Kouritenga, Kourweogo, Leraba, Loroum, Mouhoun, Namentenga, Nahouri, Nayala, Noumbiel, Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Sanguie, Sanmatenga, Seno, Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Tuy, Yagha, Yatenga, Ziro, Zondoma, Zoundweogo
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