1999 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1999 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Area
total: 322,460 sq km land: 318,000 sq km water: 4,460 sq km
Area--comparative
slightly larger than New Mexico
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)
Coastline
515 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Gulf of Guinea 0 m highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m
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
Environment--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 signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geographic coordinates
8 00 N, 5 00 W
Irrigated land
680 sq km (1993 est.)
Land boundaries
total: 3,110 km border countries: Burkina Faso 584 km, Ghana 668 km, Guinea 610 km, Liberia 716 km, Mali 532 km
Land use
arable land: 8% permanent crops: 4% permanent pastures: 41% forests and woodland: 22% other: 25% (1993 est.)
Location
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Ghana and Liberia
Map references
Africa
Maritime claims
continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural hazards
coast has heavy surf and no natural harbors; during the rainy season torrential flooding is possible
Natural resources
petroleum, diamonds, manganese, iron ore, cobalt, bauxite, copper
Terrain
mostly flat to undulating plains; mountains in northwest
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 47% (male 3,702,051; female 3,664,672) 15-64 years: 51% (male 4,154,440; female 3,952,999) 65 years and over: 2% (male 174,065; female 169,841) (1999 est.)
Birth rate
41.76 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate
16.17 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Ethnic groups
Baoule 23%, Bete 18%, Senoufou 15%, Malinke 11%, Agni, Africans from other countries (mostly Burkinabe and Malians, about 3 million), non-Africans 130,000 to 330,000 (French 30,000 and Lebanese 100,000 to 300,000)
Infant mortality rate
94.17 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Languages
French (official), 60 native dialects with Dioula the most widely spoken
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 46.05 years male: 44.48 years female: 47.67 years (1999 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 48.5% male: 57% female: 40%
Nationality
noun: Ivorian(s) adjective: Ivorian
Net migration rate
-2.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.) note: after Liberia's civil war started in 1990, more than 350,000 refugees fled to Cote d'Ivoire and, by September 1998, according to the UNHCR, about 85,000 remain
Population
15,818,068 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate
2.35% (1999 est.)
Religions
Muslim 60%, Christian 22%, indigenous 18% (some of these are also numbered among the Christians and Muslims)
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: 1.02 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate
5.89 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Government
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 58 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, Tiebissou, Toulepleu, Bocanda
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
Constitution
3 November 1960; has been amended numerous times, last time July 1998
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
Data code
IV
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 head of government: Prime Minister Daniel Kablan DUNCAN (since 10 December 1993) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president 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%
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
Government type
republic; multiparty presidential regime established 1960
Independence
7 August 1960 (from France)
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, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MINURCA, NAM, OAU, OPCW, 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 chancery: 2424 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador George MU embassy: 5 Rue Jesse Owens, Abidjan mailing address: 01 B. P. 1712, Abidjan
Judicial branch
Supreme Court (Cour Supreme) Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party of the Cote
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
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 NA November 2000) election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PDCI 150, RDR 13, FPI 12 note: a Senate will be created in 2000
National holiday
National Day, 7 August
Suffrage
21 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture--products
coffee, cocoa beans, bananas, palm kernels, corn, rice, manioc (tapioca), sweet potatoes, sugar, cotton, rubber; timber
Budget
revenues: $2.3 billion expenditures: $2.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $640 million (1997 est.)
Currency
1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Debt--external
$16.8 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid--recipient
ODA, $1 billion (1996 est.)
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 68% of the population. After several years of lagging performance, the Ivorian economy began a comeback in 1994, due to the devaluation of the CFA franc and 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 sharply in 1996-98. Moreover, government adherence to donor-mandated reforms led to a jump in growth to 6% annually in 1996-98. Growth may slow in 1999-2000 because of the difficulty of meeting the conditions of international donors and continued low prices of key exports.
Electricity--consumption
1.88 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--production
1.88 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source
fossil fuel: 22% hydro: 47% nuclear: 0% other: 31% (1996)
Exchange rates
CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1--560.01 (January 1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994)
Exports
$4.3 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities
cocoa 36%, coffee, tropical woods, petroleum, cotton, bananas, pineapples, palm oil, cotton, fish
Exports--partners
Netherlands 17%, France 15%, Germany 7%, US 6%, Italy 5% (1997)
Fiscal year
calendar year
GDP
purchasing power parity--$24.2 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector
agriculture: 31% industry: 20% services: 49% (1995)
GDP--per capita
purchasing power parity?$1,680 (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate
6% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 28.5% (1988)
Imports
$2.5 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities
food, consumer goods; capital goods, fuel, transport equipment
Imports--partners
France 28%, Nigeria 20%, US 6%, Italy 5%, Germany 4% (1997)
Industrial production growth rate
15% (annual rate, first half 1998)
Industries
foodstuffs, beverages; wood products, oil refining, automobile assembly, textiles, fertilizer, construction materials, electricity
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
6% (1998 est.)
Labor force
NA
Population below poverty line
NA%
Unemployment rate
NA%
Communications
Radio broadcast stations
AM 71, FM 4, shortwave 13
Radios
NA
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
Telephones
200,000 (1988 est.)
Television broadcast stations
14 (1997)
Televisions
810,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Airports
36 (1998 est.) Airports--with paved runways: total: 7 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (1998 est.) Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 29 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 9 (1998 est.)
Highways
total: 50,400 km paved: 4,889 km unpaved: 45,511 km (1996 est.)
Merchant marine
total: 1 oil tanker (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,200 GRT/1,500 DWT (1998 est.)
Railways
total: 660 km narrow gauge: 660 km 1.000-meter gauge; 25 km double track (1995 est.)
Waterways
980 km navigable rivers, canals, and numerous coastal lagoons Ports and harbors: Abidjan, Aboisso, Dabou, San-Pedro
Military and Security
Military branches
Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary Gendarmerie, Republican Guard (includes Presidential Guard), Sapeur-Pompier (Military Fire Group)
Military expenditures--dollar figure
$94 million (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP
0.9% (1996)
Military manpower--availability
males age 15-49: 3,677,627 (1999 est.) Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,917,433 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--military age
18 years of age
Military manpower--reaching military age annually
males: 178,860 (1999 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international
none
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