90% of the population

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population: 18%
male: 28%
female: 9%

Labor force: NA (most adults are employed in subsistance agriculture)
by occupation: agriculture 80%, industry 15%, commerce, services, and
government 5%
note: 20% of male labor force migrates annually to neighboring
countries for seasonal employment (1984)

@Burkina:Government

Names:
conventional long form: Burkina Faso
conventional short form: Burkina
former: Upper Volta

Digraph: UV

Type: parliamentary

Capital: Ouagadougou

Administrative divisions: 30 provinces; Bam, Bazega, Bougouriba,
Boulgou, Boulkiemde, Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houet, Kadiogo,
Kenedougou, Komoe, Kossi, Kouritenga, Mouhoun, Namentenga, Naouri,
Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Sanguie, Sanmatenga, Seno,
Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Yatenga, Zoundweogo

Independence: 5 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday: Anniversary of the Revolution, 4 August (1983)

Constitution: 2 June 1991

Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law

Suffrage: none

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Captain Blaise COMPAORE (since 15 October
1987); election last held December 1991
head of government: Prime Minister Roch KABORE (since March 1994)
cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral
Assembly of People's Deputies: elections last held 24 May 1992 (next
to be held 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (107
total), ODP-MT 78, CNPP-PSD 12, RDA 6, ADF 4, other 7
note: the current law also provides for a second consultative chamber,
which has not been formally constituted

Judicial branch: Appeals Court

Political parties and leaders: Organization for People's Democracy -
Labor Movement (ODP-MT), ruling party, Simon COMPAORE, Secretary
General; National Convention of Progressive Patriots-Social Democratic
Party (CNPP-PSD), Moussa BOLY; African Democratic Rally (RDA), Gerard
Kango OUEDRAOGO; Alliance for Democracy and Federation (ADF), Amadou
Michel NANA

Other political or pressure groups: committees for the defense of the
revolution; watchdog/political action groups throughout the country in
both organizations and communities

Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ,
G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,