Map of Côte d'Ivoire | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide19891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023 | More stats

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Background: Close ties to France since independence in 1960 diversification of agriculture for export and encouragement of foreign investment have made Cote d'Ivoire the most prosperous of the tropical African states. About 20% of the population are workers from neighboring countries.


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Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Ghana and Liberia

Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 5 00 W

Map reference: Africa

Area
Total: 322,460 km²
Land: 318,000 km²
Water: 4,460 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than New Mexico

Land boundaries
Total: 3,110 km
Border countries: (5) Burkina Faso 584 km; , Ghana 668 km; , Guinea 610 km; , Liberia 716 km; , Mali 532 km

Coastline: 515 km

Maritime claims
Continental shelf: 200 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical along coast, semiarid in far north; three seasons_warm and dry (November to March), hot and dry (March to May), hot and wet (June to October)

Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plains; mountains in northwest

Elevation
Extremes lowest point: Gulf of Guinea 0 m
Extremes highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m

Natural resources: petroleum, diamonds, manganese, iron ore, cobalt, bauxite, copper

Land use
Arable land: 8%
Permanent crops: 4%
Permanent pastures: 41%
Forests and woodland: 22%
Other: 25% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 680 km² (1993 est.)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: coast has heavy surf and no natural harbors; during the rainy season torrential flooding is possible

Geography


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Population: 15,446,231 (July 1998 est.)
Growth rate: 2.41% (1998 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Ivorian(s)
Adjective: Ivorian

Ethnic groups: Baoule 23%, Bete 18%, Senoufou 15%, Malinke 11%, Agni, foreign Africans (mostly Burkinabe and Malians, about 3 million), non-Africans 130,000 to 330,000 (French 30,000 and Lebanese 100,000 to 300,000)

Languages: French (official), 60 native dialects with Dioula the most widely spoken

Religions: Muslim 60%, Christian 12%, indigenous 25% (some of these are also numbered among the Christians and Muslims)

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 47% (male 3,629,286; female 3,590,782)
15-64 years: 51% (male 4,049,355; female 3,842,508)
65 years and over: 2% (male 170,120; female 164,180) (July 1998 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 2.41% (1998 est.)

Birth rate: 42.15 births/1000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate: 16.12 deaths/1000 population (1998 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.96 migrant(s)/1000 population (1998 est.)
Note: of the more than 350,000 refugees that fled to Cote d'Ivoire since 1989 to escape the civil war in Liberia, only about 210,000 remained in Cote d'Ivoire according to a 1997 census

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: deforestation (most of the country's forests_once the largest in West Africa_have been cleared by the timber industry; water pollution from sewage and industrial and agricultural effluents
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 95.95 deaths/1000 live births (1998 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 46.24 years
Male: 44.73 years
Female: 47.8 years (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate: 5.97 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 40.1%
Male: 49.9%
Female: 30% (1995 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Cote d'Ivoire
Conventional short form: Cote d'Ivoire
Local long form: Republique de Cote d'Ivoire
Local short form: Cote d'Ivoire
Former: Ivory Coast

Government type: republic; multiparty presidential regime established 1960

Capital: Yamoussoukro
Note: although Yamoussoukro has been the capital since 1983, Abidjan remains the administrative center; the US, like other countries, maintains its Embassy in Abidjan

Administrative divisions: 50 departments (departements, singular_departement); Abengourou, Abidjan, Aboisso, Adzope, Agboville, Agnibilekrou, Bangolo, Beoumi, Biankouma, Bondoukou, Bongouanou, Bouafle, Bouake, Bouna, Boundiali, Dabakala, Daloa, Danane, Daoukro, Dimbokro, Divo, Duekoue, Ferkessedougou, Gagnoa, Grand-Lahou, Guiglo, Issia, Katiola, Korhogo, Lakota, Man, Mankono, Mbahiakro, Odienne, Oume, Sakassou, San-Pedro, Sassandra, Seguela, Sinfra, Soubre, Tabou, Tanda, Tingrela, Tiassale, Touba, Toumodi, Vavoua, Yamoussoukro, Zuenoula
Note: Cote d'Ivoire may have a new administrative structure consisting of 56 departments; the following additional departments have been reported but not yet confirmed by the US Board on Geographic Names (BGN); Adiake', Ale'pe', Dabon, Grand Bassam, Jacqueville, Tiebussan

Dependent areas

Independence: 7 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday: National Day, 7 August

Constitution: 3 November 1960; has been amended numerous times, last time November 1990

Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review in the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Henri Konan BEDIE (since 7 December 1993); note_succeeded to the presidency following the death of President Felix HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY, who had served continuously since November 1960: ead of
Government: Prime Minister Daniel Kablan DUNCAN (since 10 December 1993)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
Elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 22 October 1995 (next to be held October 2000); prime minister appointed by the president
Election results: Henri Konan BEDIE elected president; percent of vote_Henri Konan BEDIE 96%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (175 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)
Elections: elections last held 27 November 1995 (next to be held November 2000)
Election results: percent of vote by party_NA; seats by party_PDCI 150, RDR 13, FPI 12

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Koffi Moise KOUMOUE-KOFFI
In the us chancery: 2,424 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 797-0300
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Lannon WALKER
From the us embassy: 5 Rue Jesse Owens, Abidjan
From the us mailing address: 01 B. P. 1712, Abidjan
From the us telephone: [225] 21 09 79
From the us fax: [225] 22 32 59

Flag description: three equal vertical bands of orange (hoist side), white, and green; similar to the flag of Ireland, which is longer and has the colors reversed - green (hoist side), white, and orange; also similar to the flag of Italy, which is green (hoist side), white, and red; design was based on the flag of France

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: Cote d'Ivoire is among the world's largest producers and exporters of coffee, cocoa beans, and palm oil. Consequently, the economy is highly sensitive to fluctuations in international prices for these products and to weather conditions. Despite attempts by the government to diversify the economy, it is still largely dependent on agriculture and related activities, which engage roughly 85% of the population. After several years of lagging performance, the Ivorian economy began a comeback in 1994, due to improved prices for cocoa and coffee, growth in nontraditional primary exports such as pineapples and rubber, limited trade and banking liberalization, offshore oil and gas discoveries, and generous external financing and debt rescheduling by multilateral lenders and France. The 50% devaluation of Franc Zone currencies on 12 January 1994 caused a one-time jump in the inflation rate to 26% in 1994, but the rate fell to 7% in 1996 and an estimated 3.4% in 1997. Moreover, government adherence to donor-mandated reforms led to a jump in growth rates_6.5% in GDP in 1996 and again in 1997.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 6.5% (1997 est.)

Real gdp per capita ppp

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 31%
Industry: 20%
Services: 49% (1995)

Agriculture products: coffee, cocoa beans, bananas, palm kernels, corn, rice, manioc (tapioca), sweet potatoes, sugar; cotton, rubber; timber

Industries: foodstuffs, beverages; wood products, oil refining, automobile assembly, textiles, fertilizer, construction materials, electricity

Industrial production growth rate: 9% (first half of 1996)

Labor force: NA

Unemployment rate: NA%

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $2.4 billion
Expenditures: $2.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $600 million (1996 est.)

Public debt

Taxes and other revenues

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Current account balance

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports: total value:$4.2 billion (f.o.b., 1996)
Commodoties: cocoa 36%, coffee 22%; tropical woods 4%, petroleum, cotton, bananas, pineapples, palm oil, cotton, fish
Partners: France 18%, Germany 8%, Italy 8%, Netherlands 8%, Burkina Faso, Mali, US, UK

Imports: total value:$3.2 billion (f.o.b., 1996)
Commodoties: food, consumer goods; capital goods, fuel, transport equipment
Partners: France 32%, Nigeria 20%, US 6%, Ghana, Germany, Italy

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $16.1 billion (1996 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1_608.36 (January 1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993)
Note: beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948


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Electricity access

Electricity production: 1.875 billion kWh (1995)

Electricity consumption
Per capita: 127 kWh (1995)

Electricity exports

Electricity imports

Electricity installed generating capacity

Electricity transmission distribution losses

Electricity generation sources

Petroleum

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones fixed lines

Telephones mobile cellular

Telephone system: well-developed by African standards but operating well below capacity
Domestic: open-wire lines and microwave radio relay
International: satellite earth stations_2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean); 2 coaxial submarine cables

Broadcast media

Internet country code

Internet users

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $140 million (1993)
Percent of gdp: 1.4% (1993)

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 36 (1997 est.)
With paved runways total: 7
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 2
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 4 (1997 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 29
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 8
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 12
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 9 (1997 est.)

Airports with paved runways
Total: 7
Over 3047 m: 1
2438 to 3047 m: 2
15-24 to 2437 m: 4 (1997 est.)

Airports with unpaved runways
Total: 29
15-24 to 2437 m: 8
914 to 1523 m: 12
Under 914 m: 9 (1997 est.)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways
Total: 660 km
Narrow gauge: 660 km 1.000-meter gauge; 25 km double track (1995 est.)

Roadways

Waterways: 980 km navigable rivers, canals, and numerous coastal lagoons

Merchant marine: total:1 oil tanker (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,200 GRT/1,500 DWT (1997 est.)

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for local consumption; minor transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin to Europe and occasionally to the US, and for Latin American cocaine destined for Europe