Côte d'Ivoire

Full name of country: Republic of Cote d'Ivoire

Region: Africa

Official language: French

Population: 29,981,758 (2024 est.)

Nationality: Ivoirian(s) (noun), Ivoirian (adjective)

Land area: 318,003 sq km (122,782 sq miles)

Water area: 4,460 sq km (1,722 sq miles)

Capital: Yamoussoukro

National anthem: "L'Abidjanaise" (Song of Abidjan), by Mathieu Ekra, Joachim Bony, Pierre Marie Coty/Pierre Marie Coty and Pierre Michel Pango

National holiday: Independence Day, August 7 (1960)

Population growth: 2.13% (2024 est.)

Time zone: UTC +0

Flag: The flag of Cote d’Ivoire features a tricolor design of three equal vertical bands of orange (left), white (center), and green (right). The orange stripe stands for the land, particularly the northern savanna, and its fertility; white represents peace; and green represents hope and the country’s lush southern forests.

Motto: “Union, Discipline, Travail” (Unity, Discipline, Labor)

Independence: August 7, 1960 (from France)

Government type: republic; multiparty presidential regime established 1960

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Legal system: civil law system based on the French civil code; judicial review of legislation held in the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court

Côte d'Ivoire, formerly known as the Ivory Coast, is a nation in West Africa. It borders Ghana to the east, Mali and Burkina Faso to the north, Liberia and Guinea to the west, and the Atlantic Ocean to the south. Once known for its ivory trade, Côte d'Ivoire was a colony of France before gaining independence in 1960. Its people are known as Ivoirians.

Note: unless otherwise indicated, statistical data in this article is sourced from the CIA World Factbook, as cited in the bibliography.

People and Culture

Population: Côte d'Ivoire is populated by more than sixty ethnic groups. The largest is the Akan, who inhabit the central region of the country. The Akan people are divided into many tribal subgroups, the largest of which is the Baoulé. Like most of Côte d'Ivoire's tribal groups, the Baoulé live in chiefdoms, speak their own dialect, and tend to be farmers. Roughly 38 percent of Ivoirians are of Akan ethnicity (2021 estimate).

Other prominent ethnic groups in Côte d'Ivoire are the Gur people (formerly known as Voltaiques), who live in the northern areas of the country and represent 16.1 percent of the population; the Kru people, who inhabit the southwest region and represent 9.1 percent; and the Mandé people, who live in the western region and represent 30.6 percent total (22 percent Northern Mandé, 8.6 percent Southern Mandé). Prominent subgroups include the Senufo, the Bété, the Gio (or Dan), the Anyi (or Agni), and the Dyula (or Dioula) (2014 estimates).

Relationships between ethnic groups are often strained. Non-Ivoirian minorities, who accounted for approximately 24.2 percent of the country's population in 2014, are often the victims of discrimination. These include people from Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Lebanon, France, and Syria.

Although Côte d'Ivoire's official language is French, the Dioula (Dyula) language is the most widely spoken dialect among Ivoirians. Groups such as the Baoulé, Gio, Senufo, and Anyi peoples speak unique dialects as well. All of these native dialects belong to the Niger-Congo language family and, like most Niger-Congo languages, use changes in vocal tone and pitch to indicate meaning.

An estimated 42.9 percent of Ivoirians are Muslim, and about 33.9 percent are Christian (17.2 percent Catholic, 11.8 percent Evangelical, 1.7 percent Methodist, 3.2 percent other denominations). About 3.6 percent of the population follows animist religions, and many Ivoirians incorporate some animist practice specific to their ethnic group alongside Islam or Christianity. An estimated 10.1 percent profess no religion (2014 estimates).

Around 53.1 percent of Ivoirians live in urban areas (2023 estimate). Abidjan is Côte d'Ivoire's largest city and cultural center as well as its economic capital, with an estimated population of 5.686 million in 2023. Located on the southern coast, the city is divided into quarters by a lagoon. Abidjan was the official capital of Côte d'Ivoire until 1983, when the seat of government was moved to Yamoussoukro, located northwest of Abidjan. Yamoussoukro had an estimated population of around 231,000 people in 2023. Other major urban centers include Bouaké, an inland city and the site of much of the nation's commercial activity, and Man, which is known as the "City of Eighteen Mountains" and noted for its art community and market.

Many Ivoirians who live in rural areas live with their extended families or tribes. Mud huts with thatched roofs are the typical dwellings of rural Ivoirians, most of whom are farmers.

The standard of living in Côte d'Ivoire overall is low, mostly due to extreme poverty and high risk of disease. The nation ranked 159th out of 191 countries on the United Nations' 2022 Human Development Index, which measures quality-of-life indicators.

Indigenous People: A diverse array of ethnic groups have inhabited West Africa for thousands of years. Many African tribal groups have been nomadic throughout history and therefore moved around the continent, and territory also often changed hands with the rise and fall of various empires and other political entities. Most of the current population of Côte d'Ivoire is descended from groups that came to the region during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Some groups, such as the Senoufo people, are descended from groups that arrived in the fifteenth century.

European colonialism also significantly impacted the history of Indigenous peoples throughout Africa, often disrupting preexisting social dynamics. However, because the country has no natural harbors, Côte d'Ivoire was not affected by the slave trade to the same extent as neighboring countries. The French arrived in the mid-nineteenth century, and were primarily interested in exploiting the country's agricultural land, establishing coffee, banana, and cocoa plantations. Native farmers rebelled against French forced labor policies in the mid-twentieth century.

The French language and the structure of the Ivorian government are the two most notable effects of the colonial period, which lasted from 1893 to 1960.

Education: Education for Ivoirians is free and compulsory at the primary level. Secondary school lasts for four years. There are several universities, the largest of which is the University of Côte d'Ivoire in Abidjan. Many university students study abroad. In 2019, the literacy rate in Côte d'Ivoire was estimated at 89.9 percent overall, or 86.7 percent among women and 93.1 percent among men.

Health Care: Health conditions in Côte d'Ivoire are generally poor. Most Ivoirians do not receive adequate medical attention, and the country’s existing health care system is substandard.

Côte d'Ivoire struggles with high risk of numerous infectious diseases, including bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, dengue fever, typhoid fever, malaria, yellow fever, and schistosomiasis. The infant mortality rate (52.5 deaths per 1,000 live births according to 2024 estimates) and the maternal mortality rate (480 deaths per 1,000 live births, according to 2020 estimates) are both high. Average life expectancy at birth is 65.4 years for females and 60.9 years for males (2022 estimate).

Food: Rice, cassava, chicken, fish, and spices are present in most meals in Côte d'Ivoire. Ivoirians eat food with their right hands, rolling rice and cassava into bite-sized balls. In rural areas, meals are eaten in large groups of villagers, grouped according to age and gender.

Strong spices such as habanero peppers are used in the preparation of nearly every meal. Common dishes include aloco, a mixture of bananas, onions, and chili peppers; foutou, a paste made from banana and cassava; and kedjenou, which features chicken, vegetables, sauce, and banana leaves.

Ginger beer is the most popular beverage in Côte d'Ivoire. A palm wine called bangui is popular throughout the country as well. There are many restaurants in Abidjan. The most popular eating establishments are inexpensive outdoor restaurants called maquis.

Arts & Entertainment: Traditional crafts are the prominent art form in Côte d'Ivoire. West African crafts include woodcarvings, dyed cloths, metalwork and jewelry. Ivorian art often features aspects of storytelling or religious symbolism. Masks, usually carved from wood and decorated with shells and beads, are the most important works of art in Côte d'Ivoire. They are used in performances, rituals, and celebrations.

Ivorian art is created by various ethnic groups, each of which has a distinct traditional style. The three most prevalent ethnic groups in the arts are the Baoulé, the Gio, and the Senufo. The Musée Nationale in Abidjan is the nation's largest art museum, with over twenty thousand African artifacts.

The most famous Ivorian writer is Bernard Binlin Dadié, whose best-known work, Climbié (1956), deals with his travels in France. Other notable writers include Aké Loba and Ahmadou Kourouma.

The drum is the central instrument in West African music. Drums are commonly used in worship ceremonies and in exorcisms. Other percussion instruments, such as the balafon (an African xylophone), the thumb piano, clap sticks, and bells are also used.

Drum music is accompanied by dancing, both in tribal communities and in urban discotheques. Modern West African pop music combines traditional African drum beats with guitars, singing, and electronic music.

Soccer is the national sport of Côte d'Ivoire. Les Eléphants are the Ivorian national soccer team. Other popular sports include rugby, golf, basketball, and softball.

Holidays: Côte d'Ivoire's national holiday is Independence Day, which is observed on August 7. The Fête du Dipri, held in April, is a festival in which women and children perform midnight rituals to remove evil spells from villages. In November, the Dan people celebrate the Fêtes des Masques. During this celebration, one of the best known in West Africa, people dance and wear masks honoring the spirits of the forest. The participants then vote for the best dancers in the community.

Other holidays observed amongst Ivoirians are primarily religious, such as the Muslim month of Ramadan.

Environment and Geography

Topography: Though it was once home to the largest rainforest in Africa, Côte d'Ivoire is now mostly grasslands and scrublands. The terrain along the coast is flat, but features rocky cliffs at some points. The northern areas of the country are dry savannahs. In the west are the Guinea Highlands, which rise to an elevation of 1,500 meters (5,000 feet). The highest point in Côte d'Ivoire is at the peak of Mont Nimba, which reaches 1,752 meters (5,748 feet) above sea level.

A large tropical rainforest previously existed behind the coastal area, but it has been mostly leveled due to deforestation. The country has several major rivers, the longest of which is the Bandama, which runs 800 kilometers (500 miles). Other important rivers are the Cavally, the Comoé, and the Sassandra.

Natural Resources: Côte d'Ivoire is the world's leading exporter of cocoa beans, which grow on cacao trees on the country's plantations. Other significant resources are coffee, petroleum, natural gas, and diamonds. In addition, minerals such as manganese, iron ore, cobalt, bauxite, copper, and gold are mined.

A hydroelectric plant on the Bandama River provides Côte d'Ivoire's primary energy resource. Timber was once the country's leading natural resource, but supplies have been exhausted.

Plants & Animals: Côte d'Ivoire's rainforest, which was once home to more than 200 species of trees, has been almost entirely destroyed by deforestation. Many of Côte d'Ivoire's indigenous plants and animals have also been lost as a result. The Taï National Park nature reserve is the only remaining unexploited forest in Côte d'Ivoire.

Baobab trees are common in the savannah region. Ferns, mosses, shrubs, and evergreens make up the majority of plant life. Trees native to the Ivorian rainforest include obeche, teak, and mahogany.

Animals native to Côte d'Ivoire include jackals, hyenas, panthers, antelope, hogs, elephants, chimpanzees, and reptiles such as lizards, snakes, and crocodiles. Manatees live offshore as well as in the country's rivers. Taï National Park is home to a number of pygmy hippopotamuses. Birds such as the guinea fowl and the blue-bellied roller bird are found in the savannah.

The African elephant is the national symbol of Côte d'Ivoire. However, the animal has been endangered by ivory hunters, and the government of Côte d'Ivoire has banned the trade of elephant tusks to protect the African elephant population. Still, elephant poaching remains problematic.

Climate: Average temperatures along the coast are slightly cooler than inland temperatures. Though both areas experience hot, humid weather throughout the year, the average coastal temperature is about 26 degrees Celsius (80 degrees Fahrenheit), while the inland temperature often rises to around 39 degrees Celsius (103 degrees Fahrenheit).

There are two wet seasons in the southern part of the country, which receives most of its rain from May to July and from October to November. In the north, most of the rain comes in the months between June and October. Côte d'Ivoire receives an average of approximately 250 centimeters (100 inches) of rain annually. Coastal flooding is the country's main natural hazard.

Economy

Côte d'Ivoire's economy has changed significantly over the decades. Historically, the region was known for ivory exports, which gave the country its name. A boom during the 1960s and 1970s was spurred by a strong trade with France centered on timber, cocoa, and coffee exports. A long recession then followed, leaving Côte d'Ivoire in debt and without exploitable timber resources. This contributed to political instability that in turn hampered economic recovery.

Following the end of civil conflict in 2011, foreign investment increased significantly, and over the next decade the country's economy was one of the fastest-growing in the world. In 2023, Côte d'Ivoire's gross domestic product (GDP, purchasing power parity) was estimated at US$202.119 billion. However, despite this growth many Ivoirians remained impoverished; per capita GDP stood at US$6,500 in 2023.

Industry: Côte d'Ivoire has a small but developing industrial sector. Goods manufactured in the country include fertilizer, textiles, automobiles, building materials, and rubber. Other industries include food processing, oil refining, and shipbuilding. Overall, though, Côte d'Ivoire's economy remains focused on agriculture rather than industry. The existing industrial sector is a result of the government's attempts to diversify the nation's economy. The country has no natural harbors and few oil deposits.

Fuel and food are the country's two most significant imported commodities. Exports include cocoa (or cacao), coffee, timber, petroleum, cotton, fruit, and fish. Côte d'Ivoire's main export partners include the Netherlands, the United States, France, Spain, Malaysia, Switzerland, and Germany. Its main import partners are China, Nigeria, and France (2019 estimates).

Agriculture: What was once the largest forest resource in West Africa has been almost entirely depleted by deforestation. However, agriculture remains Côte d'Ivoire's most significant economic sector. Coffee and cocoa plantations were established during the period of French colonialism. Other than cocoa beans, important agricultural products include coffee, bananas, palm kernels, corn, rice, sugar, cotton, and rubber.

Tourism: Tourism in Côte d'Ivoire was restricted by the country's civil war and closed borders until 2011, when a dispute over the presidency was resolved. Tourism rebounded quickly after that and soon became a significant contributor to GDP and employment. Though the tourism sector was heavily disrupted by the global COVID-19 pandemic that broke out in 2020, it began to recover in the following years.

In years before the coups and civil war, Abidjan was nicknamed "the Paris of West Africa." Tourism flourished due to Abidjan's cultural offerings, including museums, galleries, and architecture. A popular destination is Yamoussoukro's Our Lady of Peace, the largest Christian church in Africa and one of the largest in the world. Côte d'Ivoire's national parks also attract visitors.

Government

After gaining independence from France in 1960, Côte d'Ivoire enjoyed a long period of relative political stability under president Félix Houphouët-Boigny. However, after economic conditions declined in the 1980s and Houphouët-Boigny died in 1993, the country experienced decades of social unrest and conflict. A military coup d'état in 1999 was followed by the creation of a new constitution and government in 2000. Another coup was attempted in 2002 but proved unsuccessful. This led to a civil war that lasted until a peace agreement was reached in 2007.

Elections were held in 2010 for the first time in a decade. Candidate Alassane Ouattara won the vote, but incumbent president Laurent Gbagbo challenged the results and refused to step down. Violence erupted between supporters of the two candidates and escalated into a second civil war. In April 2011, pro-Ouattara forces arrested Gbagbo with the support of French troops and the UN, putting an end to the worst of the violence and Ouattara officially took office. Ouattara was reelected in 2015 in an election that was peaceful and not marked by serious irregularities, which was considered a significant step forward for democracy in the country. A new constitution was approved in 2016.

Some concerns of democratic backsliding were raised when Ouattara won a third term in 2020, despite a two-term limit on the presidency in the 2016 constitution. Ouatarra and his supporters argued that his previous terms did not count under the new constitution. The opposition boycotted the 2020 presidential election but participated in peaceful legislative elections in 2021.

Under the 2016 constitution, Côte d'Ivoire is a presidential republic with a multiparty system. The president is the chief executive, while the prime minister is the head of the government. The president is elected by popular vote to a five year term, and is eligible for a second term. The prime minister and other ministers are appointed by the president, as is the vice president.

The bicameral legislature consists of the 99-member Senate and 255-member National Assembly. The members of the National Assembly are directly elected to five year terms. The Senate includes members appointed by the president as well as members elected by the National Assembly and regional or municipal councils. The highest judicial power is the Cour Supreme, or Supreme Court.

Interesting Facts

• Côte d'Ivoire was named by French sailors who traveled to the coast in the fourteenth century and established the ivory trade.
• Côte d'Ivoire is the world’s largest exporter of cocoa beans, the most important ingredient in chocolate.
• For years, the country was called the Ivory Coast. To avoid confusion when translating this name, the government passed a law in 1985 stating that the country should be called Côte d'Ivoire in every language.
• The world's largest church building is the Basilica of Our Lady Peace in Yamoussoukro, which covers an area of 30,000 square meters, or around 323,000 square feet.

Bibliography

"Cote d'Ivoire." The World Bank, 2024, data.worldbank.org/country/cote-divoire. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

"Cote d’Ivoire." The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency, 16 Jan. 2025, www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/cote-divoire/. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

"Human Development Insights." Human Development Reports, 13 Mar. 2024 United Nations Development Programme, hdr.undp.org/data-center/country-insights#/ranks. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

"Ivory Coast Country Profile." BBC News, 24 July 2023, www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13287216. Accessed 30 Nov. 2023.