With more than ten million inhabitants, Burkina is one of the most populated states in Western Africa. Its population is composed of adiverse array of ethnic groups : Mossi, Gourounsi, Lobi, Bobo, Peulh, Gourmantché, Sénoufo, Bissa, Mandé, etc…

Approximately sixty ethnic groups exist in Burkina Faso and they do not always occupy a specific geographical area. Certain ethnic groups with commercial traditions are found in all parts of the country, particularly urban centers and large villages. A case in point includes the yarse which are found in mossi’s areas and dioulas who are present in the south-west and in various cities.

The peuls for example, are Nomads, shepherds of the Soudanian, victims of successive droughts and desertification who migrated towards the south with their cattle, either settling near permanent water points, or migrating in the dry season. They remain prominent in the north-eastern provinces.

The inhabitants of Burkina Faso are called Burkinabe.


Languages

In Burkina Sahelian, foulfoude is the main spoken language amongst the peuls and tamacheq amongst the touaregs. Languages spoken throughout the entire country by the rural/agricultural population are split between two, gour and mande.

While French is the official language, Moré, Dioula, and Peuhl are the main national languages.

Les religions

- Animism, 25, 9% of the population were animists in 1991
- Islam is prominent in the North with 52, 4% in 1991 (62 % of the urban population and 50, 8 % of the rural population).
- Christianity has grown spectacularly in the last 30 years. In 1991, 20, 7 % of the population (34% in the zone) were Christians.