Instruct: Given a question, retrieve relevant passages that answer the question.
Query: How big is Burkina Faso?
Burkina Faso (UK: /bɜːrˌkiːnə ˈfæsoʊ/, US: /- ˈfɑːsoʊ/(listen);[7] French:[buʁkina faso]) is a landlocked country in West Africa. It covers an area of around 274,200 square kilometres (105,900sqmi) and is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north; Niger to the east; Benin to the southeast; Togo and Ghana to the south; and Ivory Coast to the southwest. The July 2018 population estimate by the United Nations was 19,751,651.[8] Burkina Faso is a francophone country, with French as the official language of government and business. Roughly 40% of the population speaks the Mossi language.[9] Formerly called the Republic of Upper Volta (1958–1984), the country was renamed "Burkina Faso" on 4August 1984 by then-President Thomas Sankara. Its citizens are known as Burkinabé (/bɜːrˈkiːnəbeɪ/ bur-KEE-nə-bay). Its capital is Ouagadougou.
The Bibliothèque nationale du Burkina Faso (in English: "National Library of Burkina Faso") is the legal deposit and copyright library for Burkina Faso. It was established on November 6, 1996.
Popular traditional groups from Burkina Faso include balafon bands, percussion ensembles and others such as Farafina and Gabin Dabiré, who uses elements of traditional Burkinabé music. Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso's second-largest city, is a cultural centre of Burkina Faso's Mandé people of the southwest.
Burkina Faso–Sweden relations refers to the current and historical relationship between Sweden and Burkina Faso. Burkina Faso has a non resident ambassador located in Copenhagen, Denmark and an honorary consulate in Uppsala.
Burkina Faso is a small, landlocked country north of Ghana and south of Mali and Niger. Economically, it is one of the four or five poorest countries in the world. Culturally, it is extremely rich. In part this is because so few people from Burkina have become Muslim or Christian. Many of the ancient artistic traditions for which Africa is so well known have been preserved in Burkina Faso because so many people continue to honor the ancestral spirits, and the spirits of nature. In great part they honor the spirits through the use of masks and carved figures. Many of the countries to the north of Burkina Faso had become predominantly Muslim, while many of the countries to the south of Burkina Faso are heavily Christian. In contrast many of the people of Burkina Faso continue to offer prayers and sacrifices to the spirits of nature and to the spirits of their ancestors. The result is that they continue to use the sorts of art that we see in museums in Europe and America.
Burkina Faso is a member of:Military of Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso–Taiwan relations referred to the historical relationship between the Republic of China (Taiwan) and Burkina Faso. Taiwan had an embassy in Ouagadougou, and Burkina Faso had an embassy in Taipei. The last ambassador of Burkina Faso to Taiwan, appointed in August 2017, was Aminata Sana Congo.
Government of Burkina Faso
Foreign relations of Burkina Faso
This is a list of the bird species recorded in Burkina Faso. The avifauna of Burkina Faso include a total of 499 species, of which seven are rare or accidental. One species listed is extirpated in Burkina Faso and is not included in the species count.
Burkina Faso–Canada relations refers to bilateral foreign relations between the two countries, Burkina Faso and Canada. Canada and Burkina Faso established diplomatic relations in 1962. Canada and Burkina Faso share French as a common language and work together on regional and multilateral issues.
Burkina Faso–Denmark relations refers to the current and historical relationship between Burkina Faso and Denmark. Burkina Faso has an embassy in Copenhagen, and Denmark has an embassy in Ouagadougou.
Burkina Faso–Russia relations () are the bilateral relations between the two countries, Burkina Faso and Russia. Diplomatic relations between Burkina Faso and the Soviet Union were established for the first time on February 18, 1967. After the breakup of the Soviet Union, Burkina Faso recognized Russia as the USSR's successor. However financial reasons has shut the embassies between the two nations. In 1992, the embassy of the Russian Federation in Ouagadougou was closed, and in 1996, the embassy of Burkina Faso in Moscow was closed. Burkina Faso has since re-opened its embassy in Moscow. Russia is accredited to Burkina Faso from its embassy in Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire).
Elections in Burkina Faso gives information on election and election results in Burkina Faso.
Engberg-Perderson, Lars, Endangering Development: Politics, Projects, and Environment in Burkina Faso (Praeger Publishers, 2003). Englebert, Pierre, Burkina Faso: Unsteady Statehood in West Africa (Perseus, 1999). Howorth, Chris, Rebuilding the Local Landscape: Environmental Management in Burkina Faso (Ashgate, 1999). McFarland, Daniel Miles and Rupley, Lawrence A, Historical Dictionary of Burkina Faso (Scarecrow Press, 1998). Manson, Katrina and Knight, James, Burkina Faso (Bradt Travel Guides, 2011). Roy, Christopher D and Wheelock, Thomas G B, Land of the Flying Masks: Art and Culture in Burkina Faso: The Thomas G.B. Wheelock Collection (Prestel Publishing, 2007). Sankara, Thomas, Thomas Sankara Speaks: The Burkina Faso Revolution 1983–1987 (Pathfinder Press, 2007). Sankara, Thomas, We are the Heirs of the World's Revolutions: Speeches from the Burkina Faso Revolution 1983–1987 (Pathfinder Press, 2007).
Days before the government resigned, it was confirmed by officials that a Canadian geologist, Kirk Woodman, was abducted and killed at a mine exploration camp in the country's northern provinces near the border with Mali. He was the second Canadian national to be killed in the country within a span of weeks. The Foreign Ministry of Canada condemned the attacks and stated that it will work with the government of Burkina Faso to pursue those responsible, and the Foreign Ministry of Burkina Faso stated that it will open an investigation. The Security Ministry of Burkina Faso believes that Islamist militants from outside of the country are responsible. Other Canadian nationals in Burkina Faso, including Edith Blais and her Italian partner Luca Tacchetto, have been known to be missing since December. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that to the best of his knowledge, Blais is still alive, and that Canadian authorities are working to gain information about her disappearance in Burkina Faso. In response to these abductions, Canada has issued travel warnings for Burkina Faso, warning of banditry and kidnappings. The United States issued a similar warning the same day, advising against travel to Burkina Faso's northern and eastern provinces. In the interests of public safety, Burkina Faso's government imposed a curfew in Orodara from 19 to 23 January, citing severe threats of terrorism and kidnappings.
The Burkina Faso national rugby union team represents Burkina Faso in international rugby union. Burkina Faso are a member of the International Rugby Board (IRB), but have yet to play in a Rugby World Cup tournament. 
In 2006, an Indian proposal surfaced to link the railways in Benin and Togo with landlocked Niger and Burkina Faso. Additionally, a Czech proposal also surfaced to link Ghana railways with Burkina Faso. The manganese deposits near Dori are one source of traffic. Burkina Faso would also be a participant in the AfricaRail project.
India was the second largest destination for exports from Burkina Faso in 2015. Bilateral trade between Burkina Faso and India totaled US$264.40 million in 2014-15, growing from $119.76 million the previous fiscal. India exported $112.76 million worth of goods to Burkina Faso, and imported $151.64 million. The main commodities exported by India to Burkina Faso are pharmaceutical products, vehicles and spare parts, iron and steel and articles thereof, machinery and mechanical appliances, rubber and rubber articles. The major commodities imported by India from Burkina Faso are gold and cotton.
Burkina Faso–Libya relations refers to the current and historical relationship between State of Libya and the Republic of Burkina Faso. Libya maintains an embassy in the Burkinabé capital of Ouagadougou, and Burkina Faso one in the Libyan capital of Tripoli.
The Politics of Burkina Faso takes place in a framework of a semi-presidential republic, whereby the Prime Minister of Burkina Faso is the head of government, and of a multi-party system. The President of Burkina Faso is the head of state. Executive power is exercised by both the President and the Government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament. The party system was dominated by the Congress for Democracy and Progress (CDP) until the 2014 Burkinabé uprising. Since then, the CDP has lost influence. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. The Economist Intelligence Unit rated Burkina Faso as a "hybrid regime" in 2016.
Société Nationale d'électricité du Burkina Faso (SONABEL) is the national electricity company of Burkina Faso. The company represents Burkina Faso in the West African Power Pool.
The Peace Corps entered Burkina Faso in 1966. The Peace Corps program was phased out in 1987, but was invited to return to Burkina Faso in 1995 as part of a newly established health project. One year later, the Peace Corps established a secondary education project and in 2003, Peace Corps introduced a small enterprise development project to complement the government's poverty reduction and private sector promotional programs. In 2005, the Government of Burkina Faso asked for assistance to increase the level of girls' access to education, which later became the focus of the Millennium Challenge Corporation's Threshold Compact with Burkina Faso. All Peace Corps Volunteers, regardless of sector, are trained in how to promote awareness on HIV/AIDS and Gender and Development.
Rugby union, or just rugby, in Burkina Faso is relatively new, but growing more popular every year. Rugby was introduced by the French, who had ruled Burkina Faso, or Upper Volta, as it was known at the time, for many years. Rugby in Burkina Faso is, like many other nations in Africa, centered around the capital, Ouagadougou.
Index of Burkina Faso-related articles Outline of Burkina Faso
The Military ranks of Burkina Faso are the military insignia used by the Military of Burkina Faso. Being a former colony of France, Burkina Faso shares a rank structure similar to that of France (plus an additional field officer rank). Burkina Faso is a landlocked country, and does therefore not possess a navy.