Located in West Africa, Burkina Faso is a landlocked nation with a population of about 15,757,000, and was previously known as the Republic of Upper Volta. Burkina Faso has endured numerous droughts, and has suffered through military coups since the 1980s, establishing it as a relatively poor nation in comparison to neighbouring countries. The country has high reserves of gold, and cotton production is the main source of income for many people from Burkina Faso.