Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Burkina Faso instead of China, you would:

Health

live 13.4 years less

In China, the average life expectancy is 76 years (74 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2020. In Burkina Faso, that number is 63 years (61 years for men, 64 years for women) as of 2020.

Economy

make 89.6% less money

China has a GDP per capita of $18,200 as of 2018, while in Burkina Faso, the GDP per capita is $1,900 as of 2017.

be 19.7 times more likely to be unemployed

In China, 3.9% of adults are unemployed as of 2017. In Burkina Faso, that number is 77.0% as of 2004.

be 12.2 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In China, 3.3% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Burkina Faso, however, that number is 40.1% as of 2009.

Life

have 3.0 times more children

In China, there are approximately 11.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2020. In Burkina Faso, there are 35.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2020.

be 11.0 times more likely to die during childbirth

In China, approximately 29.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2017. In Burkina Faso, 320.0 women do as of 2017.

be 57.4% less likely to be literate

In China, the literacy rate is 96.8% as of 2018. In Burkina Faso, it is 41.2% as of 2018.

be 4.6 times more likely to die during infancy

In China, approximately 11.4 children die before they reach the age of one as of 2020. In Burkina Faso, on the other hand, 52.0 children do as of 2020.

Basic Needs

be 80.8% less likely to have access to electricity

In China, approximately 100% of the population has electricity access as of 2016. In Burkina Faso, 19% of the population do as of 2016.

be 70.5% less likely to have internet access

In China, approximately 54.3% of the population has internet access as of 2018. In Burkina Faso, about 16.0% do as of 2018.

be 18.5% less likely to have access to improved drinking water

In China, approximately 93% of people have improved drinking water access (98% in urban areas, and 88% in rural areas) as of 2017. In Burkina Faso, that number is 76% of people on average (95% in urban areas, and 68% in rural areas) as of 2017.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook.

Burkina Faso: At a glance

Burkina Faso is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 273,800 sq km. Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta) achieved independence from France in 1960. Repeated military coups during the 1970s and 1980s were followed by multiparty elections in the early 1990s. Current President Blaise COMPAORE came to power in a 1987 military coup and has won every election since then. There have been increasing protests over the belief that the president may try to run for a currently unconstitutional third term in the 2015 presidential elections. Burkina Faso's high population growth and limited natural resources result in poor economic prospects for the majority of its citizens.
Read more

How big is Burkina Faso compared to China? See an in-depth size comparison.

Share this

ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY

Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Burkina Faso. It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.