Facts

Location: Western Africa, north of Ghana

Area (only Total) total: 274,200 sq km

Climate: tropical; warm, dry winters; hot, wet summers

Terrain: mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in west and southeast

Population: 15,264,735

Main Language (only first): French (official)

Government type: parliamentary republic

Capital (Name): Ouagadougou

Capital (Time Difference): UTC 0

Independence: 5 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday: Republic Day, 11 December (1958)