Burkina Faso Population
Burkina Faso has an estimated population of about 23.5 million, which makes it the 59th most populous of the 115 countries tracked here.
Its population is growing rapidly, at 2.25% a year.
The capital is Ouagadougou.
The counter below is a live estimate interpolated from the World Bank's latest annual figures — not a real-time measurement. It links to its source, base year and method via the ⓘ next to it.
Statistics
Population trend
Population 2015–2024 (World Bank)
How Burkina Faso's population is changing
Burkina Faso records about 2,020 births and 510 deaths a day. That is a natural increase of roughly 1,510 people per day, or about 551,528 a year before migration is counted.
Net migration runs at about 25,807 over the reported period, with more people leaving than arriving. That is equivalent to about 5% of its natural change.
If the current rate held indefinitely, Burkina Faso would take roughly 31 years to double in size — a projection of today's rate, not a forecast.
Over the 9 years from 2015 to 2024, the population rose from 18.8 million to 23.5 million — a gain of 4.77 million, or 25.4%.
Where people live in Burkina Faso
With about 84 people per square kilometre, Burkina Faso is moderately populated, roughly 1.4× the world average of 62. That ranks 61st of the 115 countries here. Its closest comparisons on density are Morocco and Myanmar.
Burkina Faso covers about 273,600 km² of land, which is what turns a population of 23.5 million into that density figure.
About 28.3% of people live in urban areas, making Burkina Faso predominantly rural, below the world average of 57.6%. That works out to roughly 6.67 million town and city dwellers and 16.9 million living rurally.
Age, fertility and life expectancy in Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso has a very young population: about 41.8% are under 15 and 2.7% are 65 or older. Children outnumber over-65s by roughly 15.8 to one.
The total fertility rate is about 4.11 births per woman, above the ~2.1 replacement level, which is what sustains growth from births alone. The world figure is about 2.19.
Life expectancy at birth is about 61.3 years, roughly 12.2 years below the global average of 73.5.
Burkina Faso at a glance
| Indicator | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 23.5 million | 2024 |
| World rank by population | #59 | 2024 |
| Annual growth rate | 2.25% | 2024 |
| Population density | 84 /km² | 2023 |
| Land area | 273,600 km² | 2023 |
| Urban population | 28.3% | 2024 |
| Life expectancy at birth | 61.3 years | 2024 |
| Fertility rate | 4.11 births per woman | 2024 |
| Population under 15 | 41.8% | 2024 |
| Population 65 and over | 2.7% | 2024 |
| Net migration | -25,807 | 2024 |
| Births per day | 2,020 | 2024 |
| Deaths per day | 510 | 2024 |
Frequently asked questions
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Current local time in Burkina Faso
Methodology & sources
Data: World Bank (CC BY 4.0), base year 2024. The live counter animates the latest annual growth rate per second; it is an estimate, not a real-time measurement. No figures are invented — every number traces back to the World Bank indicators listed above.
Source: World Bank