Burkina Faso’s rate of natural increase (RNI)—the difference between its crude birth rate and crude death rate—remains among the highest in West Africa, reflecting a young population and high fertility rates. As of recent estimates, Burkina Faso’s RNI hovers around 2.7% per year, indicating rapid population growth. This rate is comparable to neighboring Niger, which has one of the world’s highest RNIs at over 3.5%, driven by extremely high fertility rates. In contrast, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, also bordering Burkina Faso, have slightly lower RNIs, around 2.1% and 2.0% respectively, due to lower birth rates and improving health conditions reducing death rates. While all these countries experience positive population growth, Burkina Faso’s RNI stands out as higher than some neighbors but not as extreme as Niger’s, highlighting regional variations in demographic trends influenced by cultural, economic, and health factors.
| Year | Rate of Natural Increase | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 3.275 | 11,430,022 |
| 2005 | 3.269 | 13,569,965 |
| 2010 | 3.24 | 15,633,854 |
| 2015 | 2.99 | 18,133,139 |
| 2020 | 2.692 | 20,833,136 |
| 2024 | 2.456 | 23,042,199 |
| 2025 | 2.391 | 23,593,920 |
| 2026 | 2.342 | 24,145,473 |
| 2030 | 2.127 | 26,350,155 |
| 2035 | 1.907 | 29,082,087 |
| 2040 | 1.715 | 31,773,209 |
| 2045 | 1.54 | 34,402,362 |
| 2050 | 1.374 | 36,938,704 |
| 2055 | 1.254 | 39,382,623 |
| 2060 | 1.119 | 41,722,080 |
| 2065 | 0.98 | 43,900,436 |
| 2070 | 0.845 | 45,881,292 |
| 2075 | 0.717 | 47,639,964 |
| 2080 | 0.593 | 49,157,777 |
| 2085 | 0.471 | 50,414,722 |
| 2090 | 0.348 | 51,389,656 |
| 2095 | 0.225 | 52,063,099 |
| 2100 | 0.106 | 52,426,921 |
Data from US Census International Database