Close ties to France since
independence in 1960, the development of cocoa production for export,
and foreign investment made Cote d'Ivoire one of the most prosperous of
the West African states, but did not protect it from political turmoil.
In December 1999, a military coup - the first ever in Cote d'Ivoire's
history - overthrew the government. Junta leader Robert GUEI blatantly
rigged elections held in late 2000 and declared himself the winner.
Popular protest forced him to step aside and brought Laurent GBAGBO into
power. Ivorian dissidents and disaffected members of the military
launched a failed coup attempt in September 2002. Rebel forces claimed
the northern half of the country, and in January 2003 were granted
ministerial positions in a unity government under the auspices of the
Linas-Marcoussis Peace Accord. President GBAGBO and rebel forces resumed
implementation of the peace accord in December 2003 after a three-month
stalemate, but issues that sparked the civil war, such as land reform
and grounds for citizenship, remained unresolved. In March 2007
President GBAGBO and former New Force rebel leader Guillaume SORO signed
the Ouagadougou Political Agreement. As a result of the agreement, SORO
joined GBAGBO's government as Prime Minister and the two agreed to
reunite the country by dismantling the zone of confidence separating
North from South, integrate rebel forces into the national armed forces,
and hold elections. Disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of
rebel forces have been problematic as rebels seek to enter the armed
forces. Citizen identification and voter registration pose election
difficulties, and balloting planned for November 2009 was postponed with
no future date set. Several thousand UN troops and several hundred
French remain in Cote d'Ivoire to help the parties implement their
commitments and to support the peace process.
Geography ::Cote d'Ivoire
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Ghana and Liberia
Geographic coordinates:
8 00 N, 5 00 W
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 322,463 sq km
country comparison to the world: 68
land:
318,003 sq km
water:
4,460 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries:
total: 3,110 km
border countries:
Burkina Faso 584 km, Ghana 668 km, Guinea 610 km, Liberia 716 km, Mali 532 km
Coastline:
515 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
continental shelf:
200 nm
Climate:
Current Weather
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
coast has heavy surf and no natural harbors; during the rainy season torrential flooding is possible
Environment - current issues:
deforestation (most of
the country's forests - once the largest in West Africa - have been
heavily logged); water pollution from sewage and industrial and
agricultural effluents
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
most of the inhabitants
live along the sandy coastal region; apart from the capital area, the
forested interior is sparsely populated
People ::Cote d'Ivoire
Population:
21,058,798
note:estimates
for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess
mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher
infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and
changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would
otherwise be expected (July 2010 est.)
65 years and over:
2.9% (male 307,813/female 312,008) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 19.4 years
male:
19.6 years
female:
19.3 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.105% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
Birth rate:
31.48 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Death rate:
10.43 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
Net migration rate:
NA
Urbanization:
urban population: 49% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization:
3.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.99 male(s)/female
total population:
1.03 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 66.43 deaths/1,000 live births
5
male:
73.37 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
59.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 56.19 years
96
male:
55.27 years
female:
57.13 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.01 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
3.9% (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
480,000 (2007 est.)
0
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
38,000 (2007 est.)
6
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases:
bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases:
malaria and yellow fever
water contact:
schistosomiasis
animal contact disease:
rabies
note:highly
pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it
poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US
citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Ivoirian(s)
adjective:
Ivoirian
Ethnic groups:
Akan 42.1%, Voltaiques or
Gur 17.6%, Northern Mandes 16.5%, Krous 11%, Southern Mandes 10%, other
2.8% (includes 130,000 Lebanese and 14,000 French) (1998)
Religions:
Muslim 38.6%, Christian 32.8%, indigenous 11.9%, none 16.7% (2008 est.)
note:the majority of foreigners (migratory workers) are Muslim (70%) and Christian (20%)
Languages:
French (official), 60 native dialects with Dioula the most widely spoken
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
48.7%
male:
60.8%
female:
38.6% (2000 est.)
Education expenditures:
4.6% of GDP (2001)
Government ::Cote d'Ivoire
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
note:pronounced coat-div-whar
former:
Ivory Coast
Government type:
republic; multiparty presidential regime established 1960
note:the government is currently operating under a power-sharing agreement mandated by international mediators
Capital:
name: Yamoussoukro
geographic coordinates:
6 49 N, 5 17 W
time difference:
UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
note:although
Yamoussoukro has been the official capital since 1983, Abidjan remains
the commercial and administrative center; the US, like other countries,
maintains its Embassy in Abidjan
based on French civil law
system and customary law; judicial review in the Constitutional Chamber
of the Supreme Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with
reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Laurent GBAGBO (since 26 October 2000)
head of government:
Prime Minister Guillaume SORO (since 4 April 2007)
cabinet:
Council
of Ministers appointed by the president; note - under the current
power-sharing agreement the prime minister and the president share the
authority to appoint ministers
elections:
president
elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits); election
last held on 26 October 2000 (next to be held undetermined after being
repeatedly postponed by the government; the UN Security Council has
extended the government's mandate); prime minister appointed by the
president
election results:
Laurent GBAGBO elected president; percent of vote - Laurent GBAGBO 59.4%, Robert GUEI 32.7%, Francis WODIE 5.7%, other 2.2%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National
Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (225 seats; members elected in single-
and multi-district elections by direct popular vote to serve five-year
terms)
elections:
elections
last held on 10 December 2000 with by-elections on 14 January 2001
(elections originally scheduled for 2005 have been repeatedly postponed
by the government)
election results:
percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FPI 96, PDCI-RDA 94, RDR 5, PIT 4, other 2, independents 22, vacant 2
note:a Senate was scheduled to be created in October 2006 elections that never took place
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour
Supreme consists of four chambers: Judicial Chamber for criminal cases,
Audit Chamber for financial cases, Constitutional Chamber for judicial
review cases, and Administrative Chamber for civil cases; there is no
legal limit to the number of members
Political parties and leaders:
Citizen's Democratic
Union or UDCY [Theodore MEL EG]; Democratic Party of Cote d'Ivoire or
PDCI [Henri Konan BEDIE]; Ivorian Popular Front or FPI [Pascale Affi
N'GUESSAN]; Ivorian Worker's Party or PIT [Francis WODIE]; Opposition
Movement of the Future or MFA [Innocent Augustin ANAKY]; Rally of the
Republicans or RDR [Alassane OUATTARA]; Union for Democracy and Peace in
Cote d'Ivoire or UDPCI [Toikeuse MABRI]; over 144 smaller registered
parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Federation of University
and High School Students of Cote d'Ivoire or FESCI [Serges KOFFI]; Rally
of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace or RHDP [Alphonse DJEDJE
MADY]; Young Patriots [Charles BLE GOUDE]
chancery:
2424 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
[1] (202) 797-0300
FAX:
[1] (202) 244-3088
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Wanda L. NESBITT
embassy:
Cocody Riviera Golf 01, Abidjan
mailing address:
B. P. 1712, Abidjan 01
telephone:
[225] 22 49 40 00
FAX:
[225] 22 49 43 32
Flag description:
three equal vertical
bands of orange (hoist side), white, and green; orange symbolizes the
land (savannah) of the north and fertility, white stands for peace and
unity, green represents the forests of the south and the hope for a
bright future
note: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
Economy ::Cote d'Ivoire
Economy - overview:
Cote d'Ivoire is the world's
largest producer and exporter of cocoa beans and a significant producer
and exporter of coffee and palm oil. Consequently, the economy is highly
sensitive to fluctuations in international prices for these products,
and, to a lesser extent, in climatic conditions. Despite government
attempts to diversify the economy, it is still heavily dependent on
agriculture and related activities, engaging roughly 68% of the
population. Since 2006, oil and gas production have become more
important engines of economic activity than cocoa. According to IMF
statistics, earnings from oil and refined products were $1.3 billion in
2006, while cocoa-related revenues were $1 billion during the same
period. Cote d'Ivoire's offshore oil and gas production has resulted in
substantial crude oil exports and provides sufficient natural gas to
fuel electricity exports to Ghana, Togo, Benin, Mali and Burkina Faso.
Oil exploration by a number of consortiums of private companies
continues offshore, and President GBAGBO has expressed hope that crude
output could reach 200,000 barrels per day by the end of the decade.
Since the end of the civil war in 2003, political turmoil has continued
to damage the economy, resulting in the loss of foreign investment and
slow economic growth. GDP grew by more than 2% in 2008 and nearly 4% in
2009. Per capita income has declined by 15% since 1999.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$35.82 billion (2009 est.)
00
$34.51 billion (2008 est.)
$33.75 billion (2007 est.)
note:data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$23.18 billion (2009 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.8% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
2.3% (2008 est.)
1.7% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,700 (2009 est.)
90
$1,700 (2008 est.)
$1,700 (2007 est.)
note:data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 28.2%
industry:
21.3%
services:
50.6% (2009 est.)
Labor force:
7.44 million (2009 est.) (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 68%
industry and services:
NA (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate:
note:unemployment may have climbed to 40-50% as a result of the civil war
Population below poverty line:
42% (2006 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
foodstuffs, beverages;
wood products, oil refining, truck and bus assembly, textiles,
fertilizer, building materials, electricity, ship construction and
repair
Industrial production growth rate:
5% (2009 est.)
4
Electricity - production:
5.275 billion kWh (2007 est.)
12
Electricity - consumption:
3.231 billion kWh (2007 est.)
23
Electricity - exports:
772 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
47,900 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Oil - consumption:
25,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
19
Oil - exports:
115,700 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Oil - imports:
80,960 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - proved reserves:
250 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
Natural gas - production:
1.3 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Natural gas - consumption:
1.3 billion cu m (2008 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
86
Natural gas - proved reserves:
28.32 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
Current account balance:
-$113 million (2009 est.)
$488 million (2008 est.)
Exports:
$8.749 billion (2009 est.)
$10.09 billion (2008 est.)
Exports - commodities:
cocoa, coffee, timber, petroleum, cotton, bananas, pineapples, palm oil, fish
Exports - partners:
Germany 11.8%, US 10.9%, Netherlands 10.5%, Nigeria 8.4%, France 6.9%, Italy 4.1%, Burkina Faso 4% (2008)
Imports:
$6.475 billion (2009 est.)
04
$6.76 billion (2008 est.)
Imports - commodities:
fuel, capital equipment, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Nigeria 27.8%, France 15.9%, China 7.6%, Thailand 4.1% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$3.267 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
$2.253 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Debt - external:
$12.08 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
$14.05 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere
Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 469.21 (2009), 447.81 (2008),
481.83 (2007), 522.89 (2006), 527.47 (2005)
note:since
1 January 1999, the West African CFA franc (XOF) has been pegged to the
euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro; West African CFA franc
(XOF) coins and banknotes are not accepted in countries using Central
African CFA francs (XAF), and vice versa, even though the two currencies
trade at par
Communications ::Cote d'Ivoire
Telephones - main lines in use:
356,500 (2008)
09
Telephones - mobile cellular:
10.449 million (2008)
Telephone system:
general assessment: well
developed by African standards; telecommunications sector privatized in
late 1990s and operational fixed-lines have more than quadrupled since
that time with two fixed-line providers operating over open-wire lines,
microwave radio relay, and fiber-optics; 90% digitalized
domestic:
with
multiple mobile-cellular service providers competing in the market,
usage has increased sharply to roughly 55 per 100 persons
international:
country
code - 225; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine
cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; satellite earth
stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 3 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
14 (1998)
Internet country code:
.ci
Internet hosts:
9,822 (2009)
16
Internet users:
660,000 (2008)
01
Transportation ::Cote d'Ivoire
Airports:
28 (2009)
18
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 7
over 3,047 m:
2
2,438 to 3,047 m:
1
1,524 to 2,437 m:
4 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 21
1,524 to 2,437 m:
7
914 to 1,523 m:
11
under 914 m:
3 (2009)
Pipelines:
condensate 86 km; gas 180 km; oil 92 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 660 km
08
narrow gauge:
660 km 1.000 meter gauge
note:an additional 622 km of this railroad extends into Burkina Faso (2008)
Roadways:
total: 80,000 km
country comparison to the world: 59
paved:
6,500 km
unpaved:
73,500 km
note:includes
intercity and urban roads; another 20,000 km of dirt roads are in poor
condition and 150,000 km of dirt roads are impassable (2006)
Waterways:
980 km (navigable rivers, canals, and numerous coastal lagoons) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 67
Ports and terminals:
Abidjan, Espoir, San-Pedro
Military ::Cote d'Ivoire
Military branches:
Cote d'Ivoire Defense and Security Forces (FDSCI): Army, Navy, Air Force (2006)
Military service age and obligation:
18-25 years of age for
compulsory and voluntary male and female military service; voluntary
recruitment of former rebels into the new national army is restricted to
ages 22-29 (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 5,094,762
females age 16-49:
4,895,446 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 3,242,965
females age 16-49:
3,069,569 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 240,989
female:
237,180 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.5% of GDP (2009)
Transnational Issues ::Cote d'Ivoire
Disputes - international:
despite the presence of over 9,000
UN forces (UNOCI) in Cote d'Ivoire since 2004, ethnic conflict still
leaves displaced hundreds of thousands of Ivorians in and out of the
country as well as driven out migrants from neighboring states who
worked in Ivorian cocoa plantations; the March 2007 peace deal between
Ivorian rebels and the government brought significant numbers of rebels
out of hiding in neighboring states
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 25,615 (Liberia)
IDPs:
709,000 (2002 coup; most IDPs are in western regions) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
Cote d'Ivoire is a
source, transit, and destination country for women and children
trafficked for forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation;
trafficking within the country is more prevalent than international
trafficking and the majority of victims are children; women and girls
are trafficked from northern areas to southern cities for domestic
servitude, restaurant labor, and sexual exploitation; boys are
trafficked internally for agricultural and service labor and
transnationally for forced labor in agriculture, mining, construction,
and in the fishing industry; women and girls are trafficked to and from
other West and Central African countries for domestic servitude and
forced street vending
tier rating:
Tier
2 Watch List - Cote d'Ivoire is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its
failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to eliminate
trafficking in 2007, particularly with regard to its law enforcement
efforts and protection of sex trafficking victims; in addition, Ivoirian
law does not prohibit all forms of trafficking, and Cote d'Ivoire has
not ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2008)
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of
cannabis, mostly for local consumption; utility as a narcotic
transshipment point to Europe reduced by ongoing political instability;
while rampant corruption and inadequate supervision leave the banking
system vulnerable to money laundering, the lack of a developed financial
system limits the country's utility as a major money-laundering center
(2008)
