What is the population of Ouagadougou?
Ouagadougou's metropolitan area has about 3,055,000 people, making it the 105th largest metro area in our dataset of 140 major cities.
In Burkina Faso
Metro population
3,055,000
0.037% of world population
Archive estimateAnnual growth
+4.75%
About 398 people a day
Archive estimateDensity
5,898/km²
518 km² metro area
City proper
2,415,266
Within the administrative boundary
GeoNamesAbout Ouagadougou
Ouagadougou was founded around 1050 and has grown into Burkina Faso's largest urban center, with a city-proper population of 2,415,266 and a metropolitan area of 3,055,000. The city expands rapidly at an annual growth rate of 4.8%, reflecting the influx of people seeking opportunity in the region. At an elevation of 299 meters, the city sits in the Sahel zone.
Population density reaches 5,898 people per km², creating one of West Africa's most densely populated urban areas. Ouagadougou Thomas Sankara International Airport (OUA) serves as the main aviation hub for the country and the surrounding region, facilitating both domestic and international travel.
This summary is AI-generated from the statistics on this page. The figures themselves come from the sources cited beside each value.
Key Facts
- Country
- Burkina Faso
- Continent
- Africa
- World rank
- #105 of 140
- Share of country
- 12.7%
- Founded
- 1050
- Leadership
- Armand Béouindé
- Elevation
- 299 m
- Coordinates
- 12.366, -1.534
Airports
Scheduled-service airports within 100 km, nearest first.
- Ouagadougou Thomas Sankara International AirportOUA
3 km from the city centre
Source: OurAirports, matched by distance.
Compared with the World's Largest Cities
Metropolitan population against the fifteen largest metro areas.
| Name | Metro population |
|---|---|
| Tokyo | 37.4M |
| Delhi | 32.9M |
| Shanghai | 29.2M |
| São Paulo | 22.6M |
| Dhaka | 22.5M |
| Mexico City | 22.3M |
| Cairo | 22.2M |
| Mumbai | 21.7M |
| Beijing | 21.5M |
| Osaka | 19M |
| New York | 18.9M |
| Karachi | 17.1M |
| Kinshasa | 17.1M |
| Chongqing | 16.9M |
| Lagos | 15.9M |
| Ouagadougou | 3.06M |
Population Trend in Burkina Faso
No free source publishes metropolitan population back to 1950, so the parent country's series is shown instead.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 4,213,152 |
| 1960 | 4,778,621 |
| 1970 | 5,610,304 |
| 1980 | 6,947,900 |
| 1990 | 9,159,356 |
| 2000 | 11,925,546 |
| 2010 | 16,176,498 |
| 2020 | 21,478,690 |
| 2030 | 26,730,324 |
| 2040 | 32,193,645 |
| 2050 | 37,304,383 |
| 2060 | 41,703,264 |
| 2070 | 45,317,075 |
| 2080 | 47,909,726 |
| 2090 | 49,338,636 |
| 2100 | 49,854,228 |
Nearest Major Cities
Closest cities in our dataset by great-circle distance.
Ouagadougou Population FAQ
What is the difference between Ouagadougou's city and metro population?
About 2,415,266 people live within the city proper, while the wider metropolitan area holds roughly 3,055,000. Metro figures include surrounding commuter areas that fall outside the city's administrative boundary.
Is Ouagadougou growing or shrinking?
Ouagadougou is growing at +4.75% a year.
What share of Burkina Faso's population lives in Ouagadougou?
Ouagadougou's metro area holds about 12.7% of Burkina Faso's total population.
How densely populated is Ouagadougou?
Ouagadougou has roughly 5,898 people per km² across a metro area of about 518 km².
Which airports serve Ouagadougou?
The nearest major airports are Ouagadougou Thomas Sankara International Airport (OUA).
Which country is Ouagadougou in?
Ouagadougou is in Burkina Faso, in Africa.
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