The provinces of Burkina Faso are divided into 351 departments.

The well-defined administrative system helps manage its cities, towns, villages, and rural lands. At the heart of this structure are the departments of Burkina Faso, which play a crucial role in local governance, public services, and national administration. Understanding how these departments work offers valuable insight into how the country is organized and governed at the grassroots level.

Centre Region

Kadiogo Province

• Komki-Ipala
• Komsilga
• Koubri
• Ouagadougou
• Pabré
• Saaba
• Tanghin-Dassouri

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Plateau-Central Region

Ganzourgou Province

• Boudry
• Kogho
• Méguet
• Mogtédo
• Salogo
• Zam
• Zorgho
• Zoungou

Kourwéogo Province

• Boussé
• Laye
• Niou
• Sourgoubila
• Toéghin

Oubritenga Province

• Absouya
• Dapélogo
• Loumbila
• Nagréongo
• Ourgou-Manéga
• Ziniaré
• Zitenga

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Centre-Nord Region

Bam Province

• Bourzanga
• Guibaré
• Kongoussi
• Nasséré
• Rollo
• Rouko
• Sabcé
• Tikaré
• Zimtenga

Namentenga Province

• Boala
• Boulsa
• Bouroum
• Dargo
• Nagbingou
• Tougouri
• Yalgo
• Zéguédéguin

Sanmatenga Province

• Barsalogho
• Boussouma
• Dablo
• Kaya
• Korsimoro
• Mané
• Namissiguima
• Pensa
• Pibaoré
• Pissila
• Ziga

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Nord Region

Loroum Province

• Banh
• Ouindigui
• Sollé
• Titao

Passoré Province

• Arbollé
• Bagaré
• Bokin
• Gomponsom
• Kirsi
• Lâ-Todin
• Pilimpikou
• Samba
• Yako

Yatenga Province

• Barga
• Kaïn
• Kalsaka
• Kossouka
• Koumbri
• Namissiguima
• Ouahigouya
• Oula
• Rambo
• Séguénéga
• Tangaye
• Thiou
• Zogoré

Zondoma Province

• Bassi
• Boussou
• Gourcy
• Léba
• Tougo

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Sahel Region

Oudalan Province

• Déou
• Gorom-Gorom
• Markoye
• Oursi
• Tin-Akoff

Séno Province

• Bani
• Dori
• Falagountou
• Gorgadji
• Sampelga
• Seytenga

Soum Province

• Arbinda
• Baraboulé
• Diguel
• Djibo
• Kelbo
• Koutougou
• Nassoumbou
• Pobé-Mengao
• Tongomayel

Yagha Province

• Boundoré
• Mansila
• Sebba
• Solhan
• Tankougounadié
• Titabé

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Est Region

Gnagna Province

• Bilanga
• Bogandé
• Coalla
• Liptougou
• Manni
• Piéla
• Thion

Gourma Province

• Diabo
• Diapangou
• Fada N’Gourma
• Matiacoali
• Tibga
• Yamba

Komondjari Province

• Bartiébougou
• Foutouri
• Gayéri

Kompienga Province

• Kompienga
• Madjoari
• Pama

Tapoa Province

• Botou
• Diapaga
• Kantchari
• Logobou
• Namounou
• Partiaga
• Tambaga
• Tansarga

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Centre-Est Region

Boulgou Province

• Bagré
• Bané
• Béguédo
• Bissiga
• Bittou
• Boussouma
• Garango
• Komtoèga
• Niaogho
• Tenkodogo
• Zabré
• Zoaga
• Zonsé

Koulpélogo Province

• Comin-Yanga
• Dourtenga
• Lalgaye
• Ouargaye
• Sangha
• Soudougui
• Yargatenga
• Yondé

Kouritenga Province

• Andemtenga
• Baskouré
• Dialgaye
• Gounghin
• Kando
• Koupéla
• Pouytenga
• Tensobentenga
• Yargo

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Centre-Sud Region

Bazèga Province

• Doulougou
• Gaongo
• Ipelcé
• Kayao
• Kombissiri
• Saponé
• Toécé

Nahouri Province

• Guiaro
• Pô
• Tiébélé
• Zecco
• Ziou

Zoundwéogo Province

• Béré
• Bindé
• Gogo
• Gomboussougou
• Guiba
• Manga
• Nobéré

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Centre-Ouest Region

Boulkiemdé Province

• Bingo
• Imasgo
• Kindi
• Kokologho
• Koudougou
• Nanoro
• Nandiala
• Pella
• Poa
• Ramongo
• Sabou
• Siglé
• Soaw
• Sourgou
• Thyou

Sanguié Province

• Dassa
• Didyr
• Godyr
• Kordié
• Kyon
• Pouni
• Réo
• Ténado
• Zamo
• Zawara

Sissili Province

• Biéha
• Boura
• Léo
• Nébiélianayou
• Niabouri
• Silly
• Tô

Ziro Province

• Bakata
• Bougnounou
• Cassou
• Dalo
• Gao
• Sapouy

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Hauts-Bassins Region

Houet Province

• Bama
• Bobo-Dioulasso
• Dandé
• Faramana
• Fô
• Karangasso-Sambla
• Karangasso-Vigué
• Koundougou
• Léna
• Padéma
• Péni
• Satiri
• Toussiana

Kénédougou Province

• Banzon
• Djigouéra
• Kangala
• Kayan
• Koloko
• Kourinion
• Kourouma
• Morolaba
• N’Dorola
• Orodara
• Samogohiri
• Samorogouan
• Sindo

Tuy Province

• Békuy
• Béréba
• Boni
• Founzan
• Houndé
• Koti
• Koumbia

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Boucle du Mouhoun Region

Balé Province

• Bagassi
• Bana
• Boromo
• Fara
• Oury
• Pâ
• Pompoï
• Poura
• Siby
• Yaho

Banwa Province

• Balavé
• Kouka
• Sami
• Sanaba
• Solenzo
• Tansila

Kossi Province

• Barani
• Bomborokui
• Bourasso
• Djibasso
• Dokuy
• Doumbala
• Kombori
• Madouba
• Nouna
• Sono

Mouhoun Province

• Bondokuy
• Dédougou
• Douroula
• Kona
• Ouarkoye
• Safané
• Tchériba

Nayala Province

• Gassam
• Gossina
• Kougny
• Toma
• Yaba
• Yé

Sourou Province

• Di
• Gomboro
• Kassoum
• Kiembara
• Lanfièra
• Lankoué
• Toéni
• Tougan

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Cascades Region

Comoé Province

• Banfora
• Bérégadougou
• Mangodara
• Moussodougou
• Niangoloko
• Ouo
• Sidéradougou
• Soubakaniédougou
• Tiéfora

Léraba Province

• Dakoro
• Douna
• Kankalaba
• Loumana
• Niankorodougou
• Ouéléni
• Sindou
• Wolonkoto

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Sud-Ouest Region

Bougouriba Province

• Bondigui
• Diébougou
• Dolo
• Iolonioro
• Tiankoura

Ioba Province

• Dano
• Dissin
• Guéguéré
• Koper
• Niégo
• Oronkua
• Ouessa
• Zambo

Noumbiel Province

• Batié
• Boussoukoula
• Kpuéré
• Legmoin
• Midebdo

Poni Province

• Bouroum-Bouroum
• Bousséra
• Djigoué
• Gaoua
• Gbomblora
• Kampti
• Loropéni
• Malba
• Nako
• Périgban

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Understanding the Administrative Structure of Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso follows a three-tier administrative hierarchy:

1. Regions – the highest subnational level
2. Provinces – subdivisions of regions
3. Departments (Communes) – the lowest and most local administrative units

As of the administrative reforms finalized after the 2012 local elections, Burkina Faso is divided into 351 departments, also officially recognized as communes.

Each department shares its name with its main town or urban center, which serves as the administrative seat.

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What Are the Departments of Burkina Faso?

The departments of Burkina Faso are the country’s smallest official administrative units. They include both urban and rural areas and are designed to bring governance closer to the population.

Departments serve several purposes:

• Managing local development projects
• Overseeing civil registration (births, marriages, deaths)
• Coordinating basic public services
• Representing the state at the community level

Every department is legally recognized as a commune, giving it a degree of administrative autonomy.

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Types of Departments (Communes)

Burkina Faso classifies its departments into three main types:

1. Rural Communes (rur.)

These cover villages and surrounding countryside. Most departments in Burkina Faso fall into this category. Rural communes focus on agriculture, land management, and village-level development.

2. Urban Communes (urb.)

Urban communes are centered around towns and cities. They have higher population densities and more developed infrastructure than rural communes.

3. Urban Communes with Special Status (urb.p.s.)

These are major cities with strategic importance, such as Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso. They are subdivided into arrondissements and have expanded administrative powers.

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Governance at the Department Level

Local governance in the departments of Burkina Faso operates through a dual system combining elected officials and state representatives.

Municipal Council and Mayor

• Citizens elect a municipal council
• The council elects a mayor
• The mayor manages local affairs, budgets, and development initiatives
• Each village or urban sector has elected representatives

The Prefect

Alongside local elected officials, the national government appoints a prefect in each department.
The prefect:

• Represents the state
• Ensures laws and national policies are applied
• Reports to the High Commissioner of the province

This system balances local autonomy with national oversight.

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Departments, Provinces, and Regions: How They Connect

Each department belongs to:

• One province, and
• One region

For example:

• Ouagadougou Department → Kadiogo Province → Centre Region
• Bobo-Dioulasso Department → Houet Province → Hauts-Bassins Region

This layered structure helps coordinate development plans from the national level down to individual villages.

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Why the Departments of Burkina Faso Matter

The departments of Burkina Faso are essential for:

• Decentralization of power
• Community participation in governance
• Efficient service delivery
• Local economic development

By empowering communes, Burkina Faso strengthens democracy and improves responsiveness to local needs.

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Key Facts About the Departments of Burkina Faso

Feature	Detail
Total number of departments	351
Also known as	Communes
Lowest administrative level	Yes
Governance	Mayor + Municipal Council + Prefect
Legal basis	Decentralization laws
Largest urban departments	Ouagadougou, Bobo-Dioulasso

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How many departments are there in Burkina Faso?

Burkina Faso has 351 departments, also called communes.

Are departments and communes the same thing?

Yes. In Burkina Faso, each department is legally recognized as a commune.

Who governs a department?

Departments are governed by an elected mayor and municipal council, alongside a state-appointed prefect.

What is the difference between rural and urban communes?

Rural communes focus on villages and agriculture, while urban communes manage towns and cities.

Which departments have special status?

Major cities like Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso are urban communes with special status.

Why are departments important?

They ensure local participation, decentralization, and effective public administration.

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The departments of Burkina Faso form the backbone of the country’s local governance system. By combining elected leadership with state oversight, they help deliver services, promote development, and strengthen democracy.