Burkina Faso is a landlocked country in the Sahel region of West Africa with a population of around 23.5 million, comprising a very young, predominantly rural population. The country is in the midst of a profound humanitarian and security crisis that affects almost every aspect of life. Insecurity, displacement and limited access to basic services are key challenges. Women, young people and children are particularly affected, with their daily lives marked by violence, precarious living conditions and interrupted education.
Politically, in 2025 the country remained under the transitional regime led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré. Repression of civil society intensified significantly: in April 2026, 118 civil society organisations were dissolved; since 2022, over 70 aid workers have been arrested; and in August 2025, the country’s most senior UN representative was expelled. By the end of 2025, only 33.1 per cent of humanitarian funding requirements had been met. The number of people in need of assistance is estimated at 4.5 million for 2026.
At the same time, the institutional framework governing issues relating to family, gender and rights has changed. Under the new Family Act of September 2025, a uniform minimum age of 18 for marriage applies to both women and men. Homosexuality has been criminalised for the first time. These developments mark a shift in family and social policy that is placing increasing pressure on efforts to achieve gender equality.
The humanitarian crisis has a direct impact on health and education: around 20 per cent of educational institutions were closed in 2025 due to insecurity. Menstrual health remains a severely neglected issue – a lack of sanitation infrastructure, inadequate access to water and the high cost of menstrual products mean that many girls miss school during their periods.
Gender-based violence remains a serious problem, exacerbated by displacement, poverty and insecurity. Despite this difficult starting point, existing local initiatives show that change is possible – particularly where young people, schools, health services and local authorities work together on prevention and protection. Thanks to strong feminist movements such as Femin-in, Voix des femmes and the Coalition Burkinaés pour les Droits des Femmes, the country is, on paper, one of the most progressive in West Africa.
Capital: Ouagadougou / approx. 2.92 million inhabitants
Population: 23.5 million (2024)
Population growth: 2.56 per cent per year
Urban population: 32.5 per cent
Life expectancy: 61.6 years
Infant mortality: 45.1 per 1,000 live births
Maternal mortality: 242 per 100,000 births
Fertility rate: 4.02 births per woman
Literacy rate: 46 per cent
Child marriage before the age of 18: 51.3 per cent (UN Women / UNICEF 2025)
Our programs are supported by core contributions from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
