Quick answer: Islam is the largest religion in Burkina Faso, followed by Christianity, according to the latest country-level composition published by the Pew Research Center using 2010–2020 data.
Burkina Faso sits at the cultural crossroads of the Sahel and West Africa, where religion is central to social life, local leadership, and political identity. Understanding the country’s religious composition helps explain everything from community dispute resolution to the tenor of national politics under President Ibrahim Traoré. It also clarifies why questions about the president’s own faith attract attention and how much that actually matters to governance.
The largest religion, based on credible data
The most widely cited, nonpartisan reference for global religious demography is the Pew Research Center. In its 2025 global report on changes from 2010 to 2020, Pew’s country tables show that in 2020 Burkina Faso’s population was approximately 67.4% Muslim and 28.0% Christian, with small shares unaffiliated and in folk religions. You can review the topline narrative and the data appendix directly here: Pew Research 2025 report.
How we got here: 2010–2020 shifts
Pew’s dataset allows a clean comparison across a decade. During 2010–2020, the share of Muslims remained the national plurality and then clear majority, while Christian communities—both Catholic and Protestant—continued to represent a large minority. Unaffiliated and folk-religion shares remained modest, but they are important in local cultural practice and seasonal ceremonies. The overall pattern mirrors neighboring Sahel states, with variations by province and urban–rural split.
Where religion meets public life
Although Burkina Faso is constitutionally secular, religious life is woven into civic structures and everyday social relations. Mosques and churches function as community hubs. Imams, priests, catechists, and customary authorities are often key mediators in local conflicts. This is particularly visible in the context of displacement and insecurity, where religious networks mobilize aid and provide social safety nets.
Why this matters under Traoré
With Ibrahim Traoré’s religion widely reported as Muslim, his personal identity aligns with the national majority. Yet the administration’s public posture has emphasized sovereignty, security, and economic independence rather than religious rhetoric. This distinction is crucial: it signals a bid to maintain broad social cohesion among Muslims and Christians while the state pursues new regional and economic alignments.
Regional and geopolitical context
Religious makeup alone does not determine foreign policy, but it shapes public perception and diplomacy. Burkina Faso’s cooperation with Mali and Niger inside the Alliance of Sahel States sits alongside a turn toward alternative economic partners and debates about reducing dollar dependency, themes we analyzed in our coverage of the BRICS-linked de-dollarization push. Within this shifting landscape, understanding the country’s religious majority helps explain domestic narratives about legitimacy, reform, and sovereignty that the government communicates to its citizens.
Key takeaways for readers
- Islam is the main religion in Burkina Faso (majority share), followed by Christianity—per Pew’s 2010–2020 country dataset.
- Religious leaders and institutions remain critical for local mediation and social support, especially amid displacement and security pressures.
- The presidency’s current messaging centers on sovereignty and security rather than religion, which is important for maintaining interfaith cohesion.
For more on the president’s profile, background, and how faith intersects with governance, see our continually updated hub: Ibrahim Traoré: biography, policies, and latest.
