Burkina Faso is a landlocked West African country of 274,000 km2 with a population of about 18.9 million (2017), of which more than 65% are young (under the age of 25). A Low Income Country with per capita income of US$ 696 in 2017, Burkina Faso's economy depends on adequate rainfall. About 90% of the population is engaged in subsistence farming and cotton is the main cash crop.

The country has few natural resources and a weak industrial base. Droughts and desertification are severely affecting agricultural activities, population distribution, and the economy. Burkina Faso's 2016 Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.402 was below the regional average of 0.518 for Sub-Saharan Africa and the Country's global rank was 185 out of 188. Burkina Faso joined IsDB in 1978.