Here are some facts about the country of Burkina Faso, courtesy of the Compassion web site.

Capital: Ouagadougou

Population: 18,365,123 (2014 estimate)

French (official),
native African languages belonging to Sudanic family spoken by 90 percent of the population.

Muslim 60.5%,
Christian 23.2% (Roman Catholic 19%, Protestant 4.2%),
animist 15.3%

Literacy rate (age 15 and over can read and write):
Male: 36.7%
Female: 21.6%

Percentage of population using improved drinking water sources:
Urban: 96.4%
Rural: 74.1%

Percentage of population using adequate sanitation facilities:
Urban: 50.1%
Rural: 6.5%


Percentage of population urbanized: 26.5%

Life expectancy:
Male: 52.77 years
Female: 56.85 years

Number of people living with HIV/AIDS: 114,500

Percentage of population living below $1.25 a day: 45%