Burkina Faso

AMDC-17 assessment appears to be well researched. However, as Burkina Faso is not known for many other minerals than gold, the estimate probably includes development minerals. → 1,000,000
Min/Max: A range of +/- 10% is reasonable → (+/- 100,000)
Female participation: term “significant” in AMDC-17 and 90% of processing suggests ~30% → 300,000
Gold: “over two thirds of whom are engaged in production of gold” (AMDC-17) suggests 70% → 700,000

2018: 200,000

(IGF-18): Table 3

Directly working in ASM: 200,000
Estimated number of dependants: 1,000,000
Main Minerals: Gold

2017: 1,000,000

(AMDC-17):

Total estimate: "Official estimates indicate that there are at least 1,000,000 Artisanal and small scale miners (ASM) in Burkina Faso who, provide a source of livelihood for almost 4 to 5 million women and men, over two thirds of whom are engaged in production of gold."
Women: "Our contacts in Burkina Faso were not able to provide statistics about the involvement of children and women in the ASM sector; however other sources indicate that women and children are reported to be significantly involved in ASM. ...  Guye (2001) reported that women involved in small scale mining in Burkina Faso performed 90% of mine ore processing activities."

2016: 200,000

(HIL-16):

Directly working in ASM: 200,000\\
Estimated number of dependants: 1,000,000\\

2013: 150,000

(IIED-13): 100,000 - 200,000

2003: 150,000

(MMSD-03): Estimate for MMSD research country: 100-200,000
MMSD study by D.Gueye (http://pubs.iied.org/pdfs/G00717.pdf)

1999: 65,000

(ILO-99): Employment: 60,000 - 70,000
Number of mines: 35 - 60
Illegal mines: +/- 60%

ReferenceYearCitationArchived CopyLink
AMDC-172017AMDC (2017): ASM Sector Report. Selected countries policy profile review of ASMamdc-17.pdfknowledge.uneca.org/…
ARM-182018Barreto, M.L.,Schein, P., Hinton, J., Hruschka, F. (2018): The Impact of Small-Scale Mining Operations on Economies and Livelihoods in Low- to Middle-Income Countries. ARM, Envigado, PACT, Westcombe.arm-18.pdfresponsiblemines.org/…
IIED-132013Buxton, A. (2013): Responding to the challenge of artisanal and small-scale mining. How can knowledge networks help? IIED, London.iied-13.pdfpubs.iied.org/…
MMSD-032003Hentschel, T., Hruschka, F., Priester, M. (2003): Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining - Challenges and Opportunities. MMSD (IIED), London.mmsd-03.pdfpubs.iied.org/…
HIL-162016Hilson, G. (2016): Artisanal and small-scale mining and agriculture: Exploring their links in rural sub-Saharan Africa. IIED, London.hil-16.pdfpubs.iied.org/…
IGF-182018IGF (2018): Global Trends in Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM): A review of key numbers and issues. IIED/IISD, London, Winnipeg.igf-18.pdfiisd.org/…
ILO-991999Jennings, N. (1999): Social and labour issues in small-scale mines. Report for discussion at the Tripartite Meeting on Social and Labour Issues in Small-scale Mines. ILO, Geneva.ilo-99.pdfilo.org/…
GMA-182018UNEP (2018): Global Mercury Assessment 2018. Technical Background Report E-Annex. Chapter 3.2. UNEP, Geneva.gma-18.pdfwedocs.unep.org/…
ASM DATA - Country Database Record
Country CodeBFA
CountryBurkina Faso
ASM StatusExisting (data assessed)
Country Count1
Data year2017
Publ. year2018
ASM Miners1,000,000
- gold700 ,000
Data curation as reported
Inc. DevMinyes
- min.900,000
- max.1,100,000
- female300 ,000
ASM Commoditiesgold
  • country/burkina_faso.txt
  • Last modified: 2022/11/04
  • by Felix Hruschka