Burkina Faso vs US size comparison
How Big Is Burkina Faso Compared to the US?
The US is about 36 times the size of Burkina Faso. Burkina Faso is about 2.53 times as densely populated. Drag Burkina Faso over the US below to see the difference at true size.
Hawaii and the territories are not drawn.
Printable Burkina Faso vs US size comparison
Free to print or share: Burkina Faso laid over the US at true size, with both areas, on one landscape A4 or US Letter page.
Key facts
- Area of Burkina Faso
- 274,200 km² (105,869 sq mi)
- Area of the US
- 9,833,517 km² (3,796,741 sq mi)
- Size difference
- The US is about 36 times bigger
- Closest US state in size
- Colorado (269,605 km²)
- Population (2025)
- Burkina Faso 24,074,580; the US 341,784,857
- Burkina Faso's rank by area
- 74th-largest of 197
How big Burkina Faso is compared with the US
The US is about 36 times the size of Burkina Faso: 9,833,517 km² (3,796,741 sq mi) against 274,200 km² (105,869 sq mi). Even the 48 contiguous states alone, without Alaska, could hold Burkina Faso about 30 times. Burkina Faso is bigger than 43 of the 50 US states and smaller than the other 7; the state closest in size is Colorado (269,605 km²). It is the 74th-largest of the world's 197 countries, and the 29th-largest of 54 in Africa; the US is the third-largest.
Burkina Faso has about 24 million people (2025), the 59th-most populous country in the world, against 342 million in the US. With 88 people per km² it is about 2.53 times as crowded as the US (35 per km²), the 99th-most densely populated country.
Burkina Faso and the US on a world map
Burkina Faso reaches from 9°N to 15°N; the US from 19°N to 71°N, with Hawaii in the south and Alaska in the far north. Most world maps use the Mercator projection, which enlarges places more the further they are from the Equator. It draws Burkina Faso about 1.05 times its real size and the US about 2.3 times (Alaska far more than Florida). So on a normal world map the US looks about 79 times the size of Burkina Faso, when it is really about 36 times. The equal-area map above shows the real difference.
Where Burkina Faso is
Burkina Faso's capital, Ouagadougou, is 7,900 km (4,910 miles) from Washington, D.C. as the crow flies. Burkina Faso borders 6 countries: Benin, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Mali, Niger and Togo. It has no coast.
Burkina Faso and US in numbers
| Burkina Faso | US | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area | 274,200 km² 105,869 sq mi | 9,833,517 km² 3,796,741 sq mi | The US is 36× bigger |
| Population (2025) | 24,074,580 | 341,784,857 | The US has 14× more |
| Rank by area | 74th-largest | Third-largest | of 197 countries |
| People per km² | 88 | 35 | Burkina Faso is 2.53× denser |
| Capital | Ouagadougou | Washington, D.C. | 7,900 km apart |
| Neighbouring countries | 6 | 2 |
Burkina Faso compared with US states
Frequently asked questions
Is Burkina Faso bigger than the US?
No. The US is about 36 times the size of Burkina Faso: 9,833,517 km² (3,796,741 sq mi) against 274,200 km² (105,869 sq mi).
How many times would Burkina Faso fit into the US?
About 36 times (35.86). Into the 48 contiguous states alone, about 30 times.
Which US state is Burkina Faso closest in size to?
Colorado (269,605 km²). Burkina Faso is about the same size as Colorado.
Is Burkina Faso bigger than Texas?
No. Texas is about 2.54 times the size of Burkina Faso.
Which has more people, Burkina Faso or the US?
The US: about 342 million people in 2025, about 14 times the 24 million in Burkina Faso.
Why does Burkina Faso look so small on a world map?
Most world maps use the Mercator projection, which stretches places more the further they are from the Equator. The US is further from the Equator than Burkina Faso, so it is stretched more. On a Mercator map the US looks about 79 times the size of Burkina Faso, not 36.
Where does Burkina Faso rank by size?
Burkina Faso is the 74th-largest of the world's 197 countries by total area and the 29th-largest in Africa. The US is the third-largest.
How far is Burkina Faso from the US?
Burkina Faso's capital, Ouagadougou, is 7,900 km (4,910 miles) from Washington, D.C. in a straight line.
Sources
- Areas: CIA World Factbook (total area, land and water). US states: US Census Bureau.
- Populations: World Bank, World Development Indicators (2025).
- Outlines are drawn on an equal-area projection, so their sizes on the map match their real areas.