Country Name: Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)

Capital: Yamoussoukro

Government Type: presidential republic

Background: Various small kingdoms ruled the area of Cote d'Ivoire between the 15th and 19th centuries, when European explorers arrived and then began to expand their presence. In 1844, France established a protectorate. During this period, many of these kingdoms and tribes fought to maintain their cultural identities - some well into the 20th century. For example, the Sanwi kingdom - originally founded in the 17th century - tried to break away from Cote d’Ivoire and establish an independent state in 1969. 

Cote d’Ivoire achieved independence from France in 1960 but has maintained close ties with France. The export and production of cocoa and foreign investment drove economic growth that led Cote d’Ivoire to become one of the most prosperous states in West Africa. In December 1999, a military coup overthrew the government. In late 2000, junta leader Robert GUEI held rigged elections and declared himself the winner. Popular protests forced him to step aside, and Laurent GBAGBO was elected. In September 2002, Ivoirian dissidents and members of the military launched a failed coup that developed into a civil war. In 2003, a cease-fire resulted in rebels holding the north, the government holding the south, and peacekeeping forces occupying a buffer zone in the middle. In March 2007, President GBAGBO and former rebel leader Guillaume SORO signed an agreement in which SORO joined GBAGBO's government as prime minister. The two agreed to reunite the country by dismantling the buffer zone, integrating rebel forces into the national armed forces, and holding elections. In November 2010, Alassane Dramane OUATTARA won the presidential election, but GBAGBO refused to hand over power, resulting in five months of violent conflict. In April 2011, after widespread fighting, GBAGBO was formally forced from office by armed OUATTARA supporters and UN and French forces. In 2015, OUATTARA won a second term. In October 2020, OUATTARA won a controversial third presidential term, despite a two-term limit in the Ivoirian constitution, in an election boycotted by the opposition. Through political compromise with OUATTARA, the opposition did participate peacefully in March 2021 legislative elections and won a substantial minority of seats. Also in March 2021, the International Criminal Court in The Hague ruled on a final acquittal for GBAGBO, who was on trial for crimes against humanity, paving the way for GBAGBO’s June 2021 return to Abidjan. GBAGBO has publicly met with President OUATTARA since his return in June 2021 as a demonstration of political reconciliation. The next presidential election is scheduled for 2025.

Continent: Africa

Population: 29,344,847 (2023 est.)

Ethnic Groups: Akan 38%, Voltaique or Gur 22%, Northern Mande 22%, Kru 9.1%, Southern Mande 8.6%, other 0.3% (2021 est.)

Languages: French (official), 60 native dialects of which Dioula is the most widely spoken

Religions: Muslim 42.9%, Catholic 17.2%, Evangelical 11.8%, Methodist 1.7%, other Christian 3.2%, animist 3.6%, other religion 0.5%, none 19.1% (2014 est.) note: the majority of foreign migrant workers are Muslim (72.7%) and Christian (17.7%)

Economic Overview: one of West Africa’s most influential, stable, and rapidly developing economies; poverty declines in urban but increases in rural areas; strong construction sector and increasingly diverse economic portfolio; increasing but manageable public debt; large labor force in agriculture

Currency: West African CFA Franc (XOF)

Reserves of Foreign Exchange & Gold: $6.257 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity): $155.935 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2017 dollars

Real GDP Growth Rate: 6.74% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per Capita: $5,500 (2022 est.) note: data in 2017 dollars

Exports: 

• $16.23 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

• Comparison Ranking: 95

Export Commodities: cocoa products, rubber, gold, cashews, crude petroleum, bananas (2021)

Export Partners: Netherlands 10%, United States 6%, France 6%, Spain 5%, Malaysia 5%, Switzerland 5%, Germany 5%, Vietnam 5% (2019)

Imports: 

• $16.191 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

• Comparison Ranking: 102

Import Commodities: crude petroleum, rice, frozen fish, refined petroleum, packaged medicines (2019)

Import Partners: China 18%, Nigeria 13%, France 11% (2019)

Natural Resources: petroleum, natural gas, diamonds, manganese, iron ore, cobalt, bauxite, copper, gold, nickel, tantalum, silica sand, clay, cocoa beans, coffee, palm oil, hydropower

Agricultural Products: yams, cassava, cocoa, oil palm fruit, sugar cane, rice, plantains, maize, cashew nuts, rubber

Industries: foodstuffs, beverages; wood products, oil refining, gold mining, truck and bus assembly, textiles, fertilizer, building materials, electricity

Industrial Production Growth Rate: 

• 8.09% (2022 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

• Comparison Ranking: 27

Labor Force: 10.609 million (2022 est.)

Unemployment Rate: 2.49% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

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

Geography:

• Total: 322,463 sq km

• Land: 318,003 sq km

• Water: 4,460 sq km

(Country Summary, The World Factbook, CIA.gov)

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