21 May 2013 Last updated at 05:35 ET

Burkina Faso profile

Horse cart going through urban Burkina Faso Droughts and coups have contributed to Burkina Faso becoming the world's third poorest country
  • Full name: Burkina Faso
  • Population: 17.4 million (UN, 2012)
  • Capital: Ouagadougou
  • Area: 274,200 sq km (105,870 sq miles)
  • Major languages: French, indigenous languages
  • Major religions: Indigenous beliefs, Islam, Christianity
  • Life expectancy: 55 years (men), 57 years (women) (UN)
  • Monetary unit: 1 CFA (Communaute Financiere Africaine) franc = 100 centimes
  • Main exports: Cotton, animal products, gold
  • GNI per capita: US $580 (World Bank, 2011)
  • Internet domain: .bf
  • International dialling code: +226

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