Spatial information and availability of topographic data is used in projects for development
planning of every country. It can be considered as one of the indicators of the general
development of a country which on the other hand contributes to the level of development of
cartography as well as to the collection and management of topographic data. This paper is an
overview of cartography in one of the most undeveloped countries of the world – Burkina
Faso. It first presents some general information about the country, its social and economic
status and educational system which contributes mostly to the map (i)literacy of its
inhabitants. A description of cartographic organisation in Burkina Faso follows with emphasis
on Geographic Institute of Burkina as a national mapping agency. It is expected that planners
and decision-makers working on projects of development are the main users of available
spatial data, yet Burkina's state maps do not reach many users. A definition of (functional)
map literacy is explained as it is the basis of reading and using maps. The last part of the
paper presents a survey performed among randomly interviewed inhabitants of Burkina Faso
and reveals their knowledge about maps, their usage and level of map literacy.
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