Poverty and living standards in Sahel, Burkina Faso: official figures
76.1% of people in Sahel lived below the national poverty line in 2021 (Harmonised Survey on Household Living Conditions, EHCVM), the highest of the 13 regions (Burkina Faso: 43.2%). The region holds 9.3% of the country's poor.
Is poverty rising in Sahel?
The poverty rate in Sahel rose from 44.2% in 2018 to 76.1% in 2021 (Burkina Faso: 41.4% to 43.2%).
Source: Institut national de la statistique et de la démographie (INSD) · saved copyHow much do households in Sahel spend?
Households in Sahel spent an average of 195,561 CFA francs per person in 2021 (1,553,981 per household), the lowest of the 13 regions (Burkina Faso: 383,648 per person).
Source: Institut national de la statistique et de la démographie (INSD) · saved copyHow many homes in Sahel have no toilet?
46.3% of households in Sahel had no toilet and used the open air in 2018, 7th highest of the 13 regions (Burkina Faso: 36.7%).
Source: Institut national de la statistique et de la démographie (INSD) · saved copyHow many road accidents are there in Sahel?
Police and gendarmerie recorded 247 road traffic accidents in Sahel in 2024, 20 per 100,000 people (Burkina Faso: 22,645, 97 per 100,000).
Source: Institut national de la statistique et de la démographie (INSD) · saved copyMore figures
- The poverty gap in Sahel was 28.4 in 2021 (the average shortfall below the poverty line, as a share of the line, across the whole population), the deepest of the 13 regions (Burkina Faso: 13.0). Source: Institut national de la statistique et de la démographie (INSD) · saved copy
How Sahel compares with other regions
People below the national poverty line (2021)
Sahel ranks 1 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People below the national poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sahel | 76.1% |
| 2 | Nord | 67.5% |
| 3 | Boucle du Mouhoun | 56.1% |
| 4 | Est | 53.9% |
| 5 | Centre-Nord | 49.6% |
| 6 | Plateau-Central | 45.5% |
| 7 | Centre-Ouest | 44.6% |
Household spending per person per year (FCFA) (2021)
Sahel ranks 13 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Household spending per person per year (FCFA) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Centre-Nord | 292,859 |
| 8 | Est | 271,869 |
| 9 | Plateau-Central | 270,269 |
| 10 | Cascades | 262,902 |
| 11 | Boucle du Mouhoun | 253,033 |
| 12 | Nord | 242,401 |
| 13 | Sahel | 195,561 |
More on Sahel: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · Burkina Faso
Sources
- Institut national de la statistique et de la démographie (INSD): Annuaire statistique national 2024 (census, EHCVM poverty, education, health, energy, water, roads, agriculture, regional council accounts, road accidents by region), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 9f9fc3790552…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.