Electricity and sockets
You will need an adapter for Types C and E. Plugs from the UK do not fit the sockets in Burkina Faso.
Sockets at the destination
Before you pack: Burkina Faso uses Types C and E, 230 V and 50 Hz. At 230 V the supply matches what UK and European appliances expect, so no converter is needed.
The same socket system is used in Congo, the Western Sahara, Mali and Mauritania, so one adapter covers all of them. Nearby but different: Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Tanzania – an adapter for Burkina Faso will not fit there. Across Africa this setup is common: 21 of 55 countries.
Protective earth
Not every socket in Burkina Faso is earthed: Type E yes, Type C no. Class I appliances belong in an earthed outlet.
Quick check by home country
| From the UK | adapter for Types C and E | Check route → |
|---|---|---|
| From the US | adapter for Types C and E | Check route → |
Phone chargers, laptop supplies and 230 V hair dryers from the UK all run in Burkina Faso without a converter. Check your own device →
The same sockets are used further afield: Belgium, France, Slovakia, Czechia, Monaco and Guadeloupe.
Common questions
Yes. UK plugs do not fit the sockets in Burkina Faso.
The records list Types C and E; the grid supplies 230 V at 50 Hz.
No. At 230 V the supply matches UK and European appliances.
If a socket gets hot, crackles or smells burnt, unplug the device straight away.
Data for Burkina Faso from IEC World Plugs and IEC TR 60083. Sources and method →