Côte d'Ivoire

‪Ivory Coast‬
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ivory Coast, officially the Republic of Ivory Coast (French: République de Côte d'Ivoire), is a country in West Africa. It borders Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea.

Prior to its colonization by Europeans, Ivory Coast was home to several states, including Gyaaman, the Kong Empire, and Baoulé. There were two Anyi kingdoms, Indénié and Sanwi, which attempted to retain their separate identity through the French colonial period and after independence.

An 1843-44 treaty made Ivory Coast a protectorate of France and in 1893, it became a French colony as part of the European scramble for Africa. 

Ivory Coast became independent on 7 August 1960. From 1960 to 1993, the country was led by Félix Houphouët-Boigny. It maintained close political and economic association with its West African neighbours, while at the same time maintaining close ties to the West, especially to France.

Since the end of Houphouët-Boigny's rule, Ivory Coast has experienced one coup d’état, in 1999, and a civil war, which broke out in 2002. A political agreement between the government and the rebels brought a return to peace.

Ivory Coast is a republic with a strong executive power invested in the President of Ivory Coast. Its de jure capital is Yamoussoukro and the biggest city is the port city of Abidjan.

The country is divided into 19 regions and 81 departments. It is a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, African Union, La Francophonie, Latin Union, Economic Community of West African States and South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone. 

Through production of coffee and cocoa, the country was an economic powerhouse during the 1960s and 1970s in West Africa. However, Ivory Coast went through an economic crisis in the 1980s, leading to the country's period of political and social turmoil.

The 21st-century Ivoirian economy is largely market-based and relies heavily on agriculture, with smallholder cash-crop production being dominant.

The official language is French, although many indigenous local languages are widely used, including Baoulé, Dioula, Dan, Anyin and Cebaara Senufo. The main religions are Islam, Christianity (primarily Roman Catholic) and various indigenous religions.

Republic of Ivory Coast - République de Côte d'Ivoire

Motto: "Union - Discipline - Travail" (French) / "Unity - Discipline - Work"

Capital: Yamoussoukro: 6°51′N 5°18′W

Largest city: Abidjan

Official languages: French

Vernacular languages:    

• Dioula 
• Baoulé 
• Dan 
• Anyin 
• Cebaara 
• Senufo 
• others

Ethnic groups (1998):

42.1% Akan
17.6% Voltaiques / Gur 
16.5% Northern Mandé  
11.0% Krous
10.0% Southern Mandé
2.8% others

Demonym: Ivorian, Ivoirian

Government: Presidential republic
• President: 
• Prime Minister: 

Legislature: National Assembly

Independence from France: 7 August 1960 

Area:
• Total: 322,463 km2 (69th) 124,502 sq mi
• Water (%): 1.4

Population: 2013 estimate 22,400,835 (53rd) - 1998 census 15,366,672 

Density: 63.9/km2 (139th) - 165.6/sq mi

GDP (PPP): 2012 estimate -

• Total: $40.348 billion 
• Per capita: $1,726

Currency: 
West African CFA franc (XOF)
Time zone:
GMT (UTC+0) - Summer (DST) not observed (UTC+0)
Drives on the right
Calling code: +225
ISO 3166 code: CI
Internet TLD: .ci