Updated
Overview
Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) has about 35% more people than Burkina Faso: 32.71 million against 24.07 million (2025).
Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)'s economy is 3.6 times the size of Burkina Faso's, at $99.77B versus $27.63B.
Per person, Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) is the wealthier of the two: $3,050 against $1,148 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) | Burkina Faso | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $99.77B | $27.63B | 2025 | $86.54B / $23.25B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $3,050 | $1,148 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 6.5% | 5.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 0.1% | Lower: -0.6% | 2025 | 3.5% / 4.2% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.3% | 3.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 37 | 37 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $207 | Higher: $212 | 2022 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $124 | $74 | 2024 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 32.71 million | 24.07 million | 2025 | 31.86 million / 23.49 million |
| Population growth | 2.4% | 2.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 18.3 yrs | 17.7 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 4.17 | 4.00 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 62.1 yrs | 61.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 55% | 29% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 41% | 28% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 322,463 km² | 272,967 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 101.4/km² | 88.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 15 Mt | Lower: 6.51 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 0.5 t | Lower: 0.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $658.35M | $1.02B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.8% | 4.7% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 27,000 | 11,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) is growing faster: 6.5% annual GDP growth versus 5.3%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 0.1% in Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) and -0.6% in Burkina Faso.
Average monthly earnings favour Burkina Faso: $212 against $207 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 18.3 (Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)) and 17.7 (Burkina Faso).
Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) is considerably more urbanized: 55% of people live in cities, against 29%.
Internet adoption is higher in Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) (41% vs 28% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) is 18% larger than Burkina Faso: 322,463 km² versus 272,967 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Military
Burkina Faso spends about 55% more on defence than Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast): $1.02B versus $658.35M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Burkina Faso carries the heavier military burden: 4.7% of GDP versus 0.8%.
Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) fields the larger armed forces: 27,000 personnel against 11,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) bigger than Burkina Faso?
- Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) is larger by land area. Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) covers 322,463 km² while Burkina Faso covers 272,967 km², so Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) is 18% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) or Burkina Faso?
- Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) has the larger population: 32.71 million versus 24.07 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) richer than Burkina Faso?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) is richer: $3,050 against $1,148. Total GDP tells the same story: $99.77B for Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) versus $27.63B for Burkina Faso.
- Who spends more on their military, Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) or Burkina Faso?
- Burkina Faso spends more: $1.02B versus $658.35M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).
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