Burkina Faso
Western Africa · BFA
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso appeals to travelers who want a concentrated West African cultural trip rather than a standard tourist circuit. The strongest itineraries focus on Ouagadougou, Bobo-Dioulasso, and nearby heritage or craft towns instead of trying to spread across the whole country.
Popular For
Things To See
- Ouagadougou
- Bobo-Dioulasso
- Sindou Peaks
- Banfora
- Tiébélé
- Nazinga Game Ranch
Best Months
Know Before You Go
- Dry-season timing is the most practical for overland travel.
- Keep the itinerary tight and focused on a few anchors.
- This is a destination where local logistics matter more than trying to build a long checklist.
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Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
Compare stays across major booking options
Open hotel and accommodation options for Burkina Faso.
Guidebooks
📚Browse Burkina Faso Guidebooks on AmazonTours & Activities
Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for Burkina Faso.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Ouagadougou
- Population
- 24,070,553
- Area
- 272,967 km²
- Region
- Western Africa
Languages
- French
Currency
West African CFA franc (Fr)
XOF
Exchange rate unavailable for USD.
Cost of Living (World Bank)
33.9
Price level index (US = 100)
Safety & Peace
lower score = more peaceful · 1.0–3.5 scale
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for Ouagadougou (12.37°N, 1.52°W).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
23/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 20/100
- Lived safety
- 28/100
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal✅
- Relationship recognitionNone
- Adoption recognition❌
- Anti-discrimination laws❌
- Employment protections❌
- Legal gender recognition❌
- Conversion therapy ban❌
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.459
Low human development
- 5-year change
- +0.010
- 10-year change
- +0.054
- Trend
- improving
- Data year
- 2023
- Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
- 0.881
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- 0.555
- Planetary-adjusted HDI (PHDI)
- 0.453
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (4)
- 🏛️
Royal Court of Tiébélé
Inscribed 2024
- 🏛️
Ancient Ferrous Metallurgy Sites of Burkina Faso
Inscribed 2019
- 🏛️
Ruins of Loropéni
Inscribed 2009
- 🌿
W-Arly-Pendjari Complex
Inscribed 1996
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 16.5%
- Forest cover
- 22.2%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 12
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 15
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
26/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Luxury Infrastructure
75/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
Do not travelto Burkina Faso for any reason due to crime, kidnapping, terrorism, and health. Do not travel to Burkina Faso for any reason. U.S. government employee travel restrictions U.S. government employees working in Burkina Faso are not allowed to travel outside of Ouagadougou due to safety risks. Personnel are discouraged from nighttime travel to the Balkiui and Rayongo (also known as Dayongo) neighborhoods of Ouagadougou’s Arrondissement 11. Americans in Burkina Faso are strongly advised to take the same precautions. Crime State of Emergency Violent crime is common throughout Burkina Faso. Crimes include kidnapping, assault, armed robbery, home invasion, and carjacking especially during local holidays and seasonal events. Roadblocks, including those set up by armed groups, occur throughout the country. In urban areas, police checkpoints may also be present, particularly at night. In addition, highways across the country are frequently the scene of attacks on government, civilian, and commercial targets. Local authorities may not recognize travelers with dual nationality. Your U.S. nationality may not be recognized if you are also a national of Burkina Faso. Review our information on Dual Nationality. The Government of Burkina Faso has declared a state of emergency in the following territories: The entire Sahel and East regions The provinces of Kossi and Sourou (Boucle de Mouhoun region) The province of Kenedougou (Hauts Bassins region) The province of Loroum (North region) The province of Koulpelogo (Center-East region) Kidnapping The threat of kidnapping of Westerners by criminal or terrorist groups remains high throughout the region in Burkina Faso. This includes Ouagadougou and especially in the Sahel and East Regions. Extortion and kidnapping for ransom are big sources of financing for terrorist and criminal groups. Terrorism There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Burkina Faso. Visit the U.S. Department of State's country reports on terrorism to learn more. Terrorist organizations continue to plan and conduct terrorist activities throughout Burkina Faso. Terrorists and armed groups target foreigners to kidnap for ransom. Terrorists may attack without warning: Spots frequented by foreigners anywhere in the country Police stations Customs offices Areas at or near mining sites Military posts Night clubs Hotels Restaurants Places of worship and religious sites International diplomatic missions Local security forces and civilians Health Medical services for routine and emergency procedures are limited. Health facilities are available in major cities. It may be harder to find adequate health care in rural areas. Public medical clinics lack basic resources and supplies. Patients must cover all costs for transferring to or between hospitals. Psychological and psychiatric services are limited, even in larger cities. Hospital-based care is only available through government institutions. Review the Health section of the Travel Guidance on this page for more information.
Read full advisory →Data current as of May 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data