Est Region (Burkina Faso)

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Est Region (East) is one of Burkina Faso’s 13 administrative regions. It is in the eastern part of the country, and its capital is Fada N’Gourma. The region was created on 2 July 2001 and is made up of five provinces: Gnagna, Gourma, Komondjari, Kompienga, and Tapoa. It covers about 46,228 square kilometers and had about 1.94 million people in 2019, roughly 9.5% of the country’s population. About half of the residents are women.

Geography and climate: Est Region sits on a hot plateau and has three major rivers — the Black Volta, White Volta, and Red Volta. Rainfall averages around 100 cm per year, with a long dry season (October to May) and a rainy season (June to September). The soil is porous, which can lead to lower crop yields. The area includes savanna and some forested landscape, and elephants are common in the country.

Economy and agriculture: The region relies mainly on farming. Common crops are millet, sorghum, maize, cotton, cowpeas, groundnuts, and rice. In 2015, cereal production covered more than the region’s needs (about 108%). There are roads connecting towns and villages, including highways and regional and local roads.

Demographics and development: Literacy was about 28.5% in 2007, close to the national average. The region has both urban and rural areas, with many people working in agriculture. Burkina Faso’s local government system includes regions, provinces, and communes, with elected mayors and some financial autonomy for communes.