Partner risk indices

Country Risk Index

59.1

Political Risk Index

52.4

Short-Term Economic Risk Index

55.8

Long-Term Economic Risk Index

54.2

Operational Risk Index

69.9

Source: Partner Research Partner, as of 8 Nov 2026. 0-100, higher means higher risk.

Key indicators

Market overview

• Burkina Faso is in West Africa and is classified by the World Bank as Low income. (World Bank)
• Population: 24.1 million (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• GDP: US$27.7bn in 2025 (estimate). (IMF WEO)

Economic conditions

• Real GDP growth: 5.3% in 2025 (estimate); the IMF projects 4.4% for 2026. (IMF WEO)
• Average consumer price inflation: -0.5% in 2025 (estimate); projected 2.1% for 2026. (IMF WEO)
• General government gross debt: 53.2% of GDP in 2025 (estimate). (IMF WEO)
• Current account balance: 5.8% of GDP in 2025 (estimate). (IMF WEO)
• Government net lending/borrowing: -1.5% of GDP in 2025 (estimate). (IMF WEO)
• Official exchange rate averaged 581.93 local currency units per US dollar in 2025, against 606.57 in 2023: 4.1% more units per dollar fewer (the currency strengthened against the dollar). (World Bank WDI)

Key risks

• Partner risk indices (0-100, higher = higher risk), as of 8 Nov 2026: Country Risk Index 59.1 (rank 33 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk); Political Risk Index 52.4 (rank 29 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk); Short-Term Economic Risk Index 55.8 (rank 27 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk); Long-Term Economic Risk Index 54.2 (rank 18 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk); Operational Risk Index 69.9 (rank 40 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk). (Partner Research Partner)
• Highest-scoring Partner risk component: logistics risk (78.9, operational). (Partner Research Partner)
• World Bank governance scores (2025, 0-100, higher is better): control of corruption 44; government effectiveness 36; political stability and absence of violence 34; rule of law 43; regulatory quality 45. (World Bank WGI)
• External debt stocks: 43.6% of GNI (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Unemployment (modelled ILO estimate): 3.5% of labour force (2025). (World Bank WDI)

Investment considerations

• Foreign direct investment, net inflows: 1.1% of GDP (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Domestic credit to the private sector: 22.7% of GDP (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Bank lending interest rate: 6.3% (2021). (World Bank WDI)
• Trade (exports plus imports): 65% of GDP (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• The Meridian holds 297 published records tagged to Burkina Faso. (The Meridian)

Sector snapshot

• Energy and power: access to electricity 34% of population (2024); renewable share of final energy consumption 71.4% (2022). (World Bank WDI)
• Mining and minerals: mineral rents 15.5% of GDP (2021); ores and metals exports 0.2% of merchandise exports (2024). (World Bank WDI)
• Financial services: foreign direct investment, net inflows 1.1% of GDP (2025); bank lending interest rate 6.3% (2021). (World Bank WDI)
• Technology, media and telecoms: internet users 28.3% of population (2024); mobile subscriptions 116.6 per 100 people (2024). (World Bank WDI)
• Agriculture: agriculture, forestry and fishing, value added 19.9% of GDP (2025); employment in agriculture 51.8% of employment (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Manufacturing and industry: manufacturing, value added 6.6% of GDP (2025); industry (including construction), value added 30.1% of GDP (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Infrastructure and real estate: urban population 28.9% of population (2025); access to electricity 34% of population (2024). (World Bank WDI)

Data limitations and sources

• Older data, shown with its period and not described as current: Bank lending interest rate (Latest published value is for 2021); Renewable share of final energy consumption (Latest published value is for 2022); Oil rents (Latest published value is for 2021); Mineral rents (Latest published value is for 2021).
• IMF figures for the most recent year are IMF estimates and later years are projections. World Bank series typically lag by one to two years. Headlines come from automated news monitoring and are not verified by The Meridian.
• Sources last checked 15 Nov 2026.

Meridian transactions

• Circle Ventures invests in CrissCross’ operations in Africa
• AgriFI, Acumen and partners invest EUR 1.8 million in Vitara Agritech’s operations in Ghana
• Shelter Afrique Development Bank launches XOF60bn sustainable bond on the WAEMU regional market
• Moussa Diao and Hervé Bouvet acquire Oryx Energies in a management buyout
• CDG Invest Growth and Mediterrania Capital Partners joint acquisition of a majority stake in Societe Nouvelle des Conduites d’Eau (SNCE)
• Africa Finance Corporation US$2bn syndicated term loan (26 lenders): Nigerian counsel to the lenders

Meridian articles

• Burkina Faso to inaugurate its first gold refinery, RAFFINOR-BF, with 150-tonne annual capacity
• Burkina Faso commits CFAF 104bn to electrification drive under a US$10.3bn energy compact
• BOAD approves 157.5bn FCFA, including financing for Yattassaye’s purchase of Benin oil assets
• Libyan Foreign Bank files ICSID claim against Burkina Faso over nationalisation of BCB