• The working-age population stands at 11.08 million people based on the INSD's H2 2024 survey results.

• This figure represents approximately 52.6% of Burkina Faso's total estimated population (24.5 million inhabitants).

• The largest share of the working-age cohort falls into the 16-to-39 age bracket, highlighting a youthful demographic structure.

Burkina Faso faces rapid population growth and persistent youth employment challenges. The latest data from the National Institute of Statistics and Demography (INSD) offers essential insight into the country's potential labor dynamics.

The INSD published results from the National Semiannual Employment Survey (ENES) for the second half of 2024 in April 2025. This report states Burkina Faso counts 11.08 million people of working age. This represents approximately 52.6% of the country's total population, estimated at 24.5 million inhabitants.

These figures confirm the youthfulness of the Burkinabè population. The majority belongs to the 16-to-39 age bracket, followed by the 40-to-59 age group. People aged 60 and over represent the smallest segment. This demographic structure underscores the country's human capital weight and emphasizes the importance of employment and training policies for inclusive growth.

The INSD clarified these figures do not yet include analysis of employment, unemployment, or qualification levels. Nevertheless, the numbers provide reliable monitoring indicators to measure the evolution of the potential working population and to guide national statistical and economic planning. Furthermore, these data remain consistent with regional trends observed in West Africa. The proportion of the working-age population in this region generally oscillates between 50% and 55%, according to estimates from international institutions like the World Bank and the African Development Bank.

This article was initially published in French by Félicien Houindo Lokossou

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum