Population and Demographics of Burkina Faso
A very young population · 41.8% under age 15 in 2024
The current population picture in Burkina Faso starts with 23.55 million people and +2.27% annual change, with a 39.15-point gap between the under-15 and 65-plus shares. The 2000-to-2024 series records a 97.5% increase, which is more informative than a single annual rate alone. By 2050, the medium path points to 37.3 million, equivalent to a +58.4% change from the 2024 estimate.
Population Over Time in Burkina Faso
Over the 24 years from 2000 to 2024, Burkina Faso added roughly 11.62 million people, leaving the 2024 total at 23.549M. By 2050, the medium path reaches 37.304M, which would make the population substantially larger than in 2024. The chart connects dated reference points only and should not be read as an annual interpolated series.
Age Structure and Sex Balance
In 2024, Burkina Faso's age mix can be described as very young on the broad UN age-group measures. Children under 15 make up 41.80% of the population, compared with 2.65% aged 65 or older, and 55.55% are 15 to 64. The age balance is weighted toward younger residents.
Population by broad age group
In the World Bank 2024 series, females account for 50.2% of Burkina Faso's population and males 49.8%. The split is close to even.
Female and male population share
Females made up 50.2% of the population in the World Bank's 2024 series, compared with 49.8% males.
What Is Shaping Population Change
Two current indicators frame Burkina Faso: +2.27% annual population change and fertility at 4.1, while the age balance leans younger, based on 41.80% under 15 versus 2.65% at 65-plus.
Burkina Faso's population path over 2000 to 2024 records +97.5% change, before the medium projection moves another +58.4% to 2050; component causes are not assigned without separate births, deaths and migration data.
2024 estimate for Burkina Faso. The world comparison value is 2.25 children per woman.
Burkina Faso vs. World
In 2024, Burkina Faso's annual population change, fertility and median age do not all sit on the same side of the world benchmarks: they are respectively higher than, above and younger than the global benchmarks.
| Indicator | Burkina Faso | World | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual population change | +2.27% | +0.87% | 2024 |
| Total fertility rate | 4.1 | 2.25 | 2024 |
| Median age | 17 | 30.6 | 2024 |
To keep the comparison defensible, all three indicators come from one harmonized 2024 table that attributes the demographic series to UN WPP 2024.
Key Takeaways
At 23.549M, the 2024 population is paired with an annual change rate of +2.27%.
The 2024 age structure is 41.80% under 15, 55.55% aged 15 to 64 and 2.65% aged 65 or older.
The World Bank 2024 sex-share series is 50.2% female and 49.8% male.
On the medium path, 2050 reaches 37.304M, a +58.4% shift from the 2024 level.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Burkina Faso?
The 2024 harmonized population estimate for Burkina Faso is 23,548,781 people.
Is the population of Burkina Faso growing or declining?
In the 2024 estimate, Burkina Faso's population is growing, with annual change of +2.27%.
What percentage of the population of Burkina Faso is aged 65 or older?
People aged 65 or older account for 2.65% of Burkina Faso's 2024 population in the UN WPP-based broad age data.
What is the projected population of Burkina Faso in 2050?
The UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium projection puts Burkina Faso's 2050 population at 37,304,383.
What is the fertility rate in Burkina Faso?
The 2024 harmonized fertility estimate for Burkina Faso is 4.1 children per woman.
Sources & methodology
This profile uses United Nations World Population Prospects 2024 as the primary framework for globally comparable population, age, fertility and projection data. The World Bank is the primary source for the female population share. Some country values were accessed through secondary retrieval interfaces that republish or organize UN data; those interfaces are identified below as secondary and are not treated as the original statistical publishers.
View sources used for this page
Primary global framework for the population estimates and projections.
Harmonized 2024 country table based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Harmonized broad age shares based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Harmonized reference for the 2000 population point.
Harmonized 2050 country projection based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Used for the 2024 female share; the male share is calculated as the remainder to 100%.