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Guide
Introduction
| |
| Background: |
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 tropical African states. Falling cocoa prices and political turmoil,
however, sparked an economic downturn in 1999 and 2000. On 25 December
1999, a military coup - the first ever in Cote d'Ivoire's history -
overthrew the government led by President Henri Konan BEDIE.
Presidential and legislative elections held in October and December 2000
provoked violence due to the exclusion of opposition leader Alassane
OUATTARA. In October 2000, Laurent GBAGBO replaced junta leader Robert
GUEI as president, ending 10 months of military rule. |
| Location: |
Western Africa, bordering the
North Atlantic Ocean, between Ghana and Liberia |
| Geographic
coordinates: |
8 00 N, 5 00 W |
| Area: |
total: 322,460
sq km
land: 318,000 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 |
| Maritime
claims: |
continental shelf:
200 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
| 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) |
| Terrain: |
mostly flat to undulating
plains; mountains in northwest |
| Elevation
extremes: |
lowest point:
Gulf of Guinea 0 m
highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m |
| Natural
resources: |
petroleum, natural gas,
diamonds, manganese, iron ore, cobalt, bauxite, copper, hydropower |
| Land
use: |
arable land: 8%
permanent crops: 4%
permanent pastures: 41%
forests and woodland: 22%
other: 25% (1993 est.) |
| Irrigated
land: |
680 sq km (1993 est.) |
| Natural
hazards: |
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, 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 |
| Population: |
16,393,221
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 and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2001
est.) |
| Age
structure: |
0-14 years:
46.21% (male 3,802,397; female 3,773,455)
15-64 years: 51.57% (male 4,343,518; female 4,110,805)
65 years and over: 2.22% (male 180,463; female 182,583)
(2001 est.) |
| Population
growth rate: |
2.51% (2001 est.) |
| Birth
rate: |
40.38 births/1,000 population
(2001 est.) |
| Death
rate: |
16.65 deaths/1,000 population
(2001 est.) |
| Net
migration rate: |
1.4 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2001 est.)
note: after Liberia's civil war started in 1990, more than
350,000 refugees fled to Cote d'Ivoire; by the end of 1999 most Liberian
refugees were assumed to have returned |
| Sex
ratio: |
at birth: 1.03
male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.99 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2001 est.) |
| Infant
mortality rate: |
93.65 deaths/1,000 live
births (2001 est.) |
| Life
expectancy at birth: |
total population:
44.93 years
male: 43.58 years
female: 46.33 years (2001 est.) |
| Total
fertility rate: |
5.7 children born/woman (2001
est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- adult prevalence rate: |
10.76% (1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- people living with HIV/AIDS: |
760,000 (1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- deaths: |
72,000 (1999 est.) |
| Nationality: |
noun: Ivorian(s)
adjective: Ivorian |
| Ethnic
groups: |
Akan 42.1%, Voltaiques or Gur
17.6%, Northern Mandes 16.5%, Krous 11%, Southern Mandes 10%, other 2.8%
(1998) |
| Religions: |
Christian 34%, Muslim 27%, no
religion 21%, animist 15%, other 3% (1998)
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: 48.5%
male: 57%
female: 40% |
| 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 |
| Government
type: |
republic; multiparty
presidential regime established 1960 |
| Capital: |
Yamoussoukro; note - although
Yamoussoukro has been the official capital since 1983, Abidjan remains
the administrative center; the US, like other countries, maintains its
Embassy in Abidjan |
| 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 |
| Independence: |
7 August (1960) (from France) |
| National
holiday: |
Independence Day, 7 August
(1960) |
| Constitution: |
3 November 1960; has been
amended numerous times, last time 27 July 1998 |
| 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 |
| Suffrage: |
18 years of age; universal |
| Executive
branch: |
chief of state:
President Laurent GBAGBO (since 26 October 2000); note - took power
following a popular overthrow of the interim leader Gen. Robert GUEI who
had claimed a dubious victory in presidential elections; Gen. GUEI
himself had assumed power on 25 December 1999, following a military coup
against the government of former President Henri Konan BEDIE
head of government: Prime Minister and Minister of Planning
and Development Affi N'GUESSAN (since 27 October 2000) appointed by the
president
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a
five-year term; election last held 26 October 2000 (next is scheduled to
be held NA 2005); 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 are elected in single- and
multi-district elections by direct popular vote to serve five-year
terms)
elections: elections last held 10 December 2000 with
by-elections on 14 January 2001 (next to be held NA 2005)
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 is scheduled to be created in the next full
election in 2005 |
| 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: |
Democratic Party of Cote
d'Ivoire-African Democratic Rally or PDCI-RDA [Aime Henri Konan BEDIE];
Ivorian Popular Front or FPI [Laurent GBAGBO]; Ivorian Worker's Party or
PIT [Francis WODIE]; Rally of the Republicans or RDR [Henriette
DAGRI-DIABATE]; Union for Democracy and Peace [Gen. Robert GUEI]; over
20 smaller parties |
| Political
pressure groups and leaders: |
NA |
| International
organization participation: |
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, IOM, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC (observer), OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO |
| Diplomatic
representation in the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Youssouf BAMBA
chancery: 3421 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC
20007
telephone: [1] (202) 797-0300 |
| Diplomatic
representation from the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador George MU
embassy: 5 Rue Jesse Owens, Abidjan
mailing address: B. P. 1712, Abidjan 01
telephone: [225] 20 21 09 79
FAX: [225] 20 22 32 59 |
| 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 |
| 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 government attempts 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
50% 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. Moreover, government adherence to
donor-mandated reforms led to a jump in growth to 5% annually in
1996-99. Growth was negative in 2000 because of the difficulty of
meeting the conditions of international donors, continued low prices of
key exports, and post-coup instability. In 2001-02, a moderate rebound
in the cocoa market could boost growth back above 3%; however, political
instability could impede growth again. |
| GDP: |
purchasing power parity -
$26.2 billion (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- real growth rate: |
-0.3% (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- per capita: |
purchasing power parity -
$1,600 (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- composition by sector: |
agriculture: 32%
industry: 18%
services: 50% (1998) |
| Population
below poverty line: |
NA% |
| Household
income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%: 3.1%
highest 10%: 28.8% (1995) |
| Inflation
rate (consumer prices): |
2.5% (2000 est.) |
| Labor
force: |
68% agricultural (2000 est.) |
| Unemployment
rate: |
13% in urban areas (1998
est.) |
| Budget: |
revenues: $1.5
billion
expenditures: $2.1 billion, including capital expenditures
of $420 million (2000 est.) |
| Industries: |
foodstuffs, beverages; wood
products, oil refining, truck and bus assembly, textiles, fertilizer,
building materials, electricity |
| Industrial
production growth rate: |
15% (1998 est.) |
| Electricity
- production: |
4.06 billion kWh (1999) |
| Electricity
- production by source: |
fossil fuel:
75.37%
hydro: 24.63%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1999) |
| Electricity
- consumption: |
3.183 billion kWh (1999) |
| Electricity
- exports: |
593 million kWh (1999) |
| Electricity
- imports: |
0 kWh (1999) |
| Agriculture
- products: |
coffee, cocoa beans, bananas,
palm kernels, corn, rice, manioc (tapioca), sweet potatoes, sugar,
cotton, rubber; timber |
| Exports: |
$3.8 billion (f.o.b., 2000
est.) |
| Exports
- commodities: |
cocoa 33%, coffee, tropical
woods, petroleum, cotton, bananas, pineapples, palm oil, cotton, fish
(1999) |
| Exports
- partners: |
France 15%, US 8%,
Netherlands 7%, Germany 6%, Italy 6% (1999) |
| Imports: |
$2.5 billion (f.o.b., 2000
est.) |
| Imports
- commodities: |
food, consumer goods; capital
goods, fuel, transport equipment |
| Imports
- partners: |
France 26%, Nigeria 10%,
China 7%, Italy 5%, Germany 4% (1999) |
| Debt
- external: |
$13.9 billion (2000 est.) |
| Economic
aid - recipient: |
ODA, $1 billion (1996 est.) |
| Currency: |
Communaute Financiere
Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank
of the West African States |
| Exchange
rates: |
Communaute Financiere
Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 699.21 (January 2001), 711.98
(2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996); note
- from 1 January 1999, the XOF is pegged to the euro at a rate of
655.957 XOF per euro |
| Fiscal
year: |
calendar year |
| Telephones
- main lines in use: |
219,283 (31 December 1999) |
| Telephones
- mobile cellular: |
322,500 (May 2000) |
| Telephone
system: |
general assessment:
well developed by African standards but operating well below capacity
domestic: open-wire lines and microwave radio relay; 90%
digitalized
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1
Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean); 2 coaxial submarine cables (June
1999) |
| Radio
broadcast stations: |
AM 2, FM 8, shortwave 3
(1998) |
| Radios: |
2.26 million (1997) |
| Television
broadcast stations: |
14 (1999) |
| Televisions: |
900,000 (1997) |
| Internet
country code: |
.ci |
| Internet
Service Providers (ISPs): |
5 (2001) |
| Internet
users: |
20,000 (2000) |
| Railways: |
total: 660 km
narrow gauge: 660 km 1.000-meter gauge; 25 km double track
note: an additional 600 km of this railroad extends into
Burkina Faso, ending at Kaya, north of Ouagadougou (2000) |
| Highways: |
total: 50,400 km
paved: 4,889 km
unpaved: 45,511 km (1996) |
| Waterways: |
980 km (navigable rivers,
canals, and numerous coastal lagoons) |
| Ports
and harbors: |
Abidjan, Aboisso, Dabou,
San-Pedro |
| Merchant
marine: |
total: 1 ship
(1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,200 GRT/1,500 DWT
ships by type: petroleum tanker 1 (2000 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 (2000 est.) |
| Airports
- with unpaved runways: |
total: 29
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 9 (2000 est.) |
| Military
branches: |
Army, Navy, Air Force,
paramilitary Gendarmerie, Republican Guard (includes Presidential
Guard), Sapeur-Pompier (Military Fire Group) |
| Military
manpower - military age: |
18 years of age |
| Military
manpower - availability: |
males age 15-49:
3,851,432 (2001 est.) |
| Military
manpower - fit for military service: |
males age 15-49:
2,010,862 (2001 est.) |
| Military
manpower - reaching military age annually: |
males: 188,411
(2001 est.) |
| Military
expenditures - dollar figure: |
$94 million (FY96) |
| Military
expenditures - percent of GDP: |
1% (FY96) |
| Disputes
- international: |
none |
| Illicit
drugs: |
illicit producer of cannabis,
mostly for local consumption; transshipment point for Southwest and
Southeast Asian heroin to Europe and occasionally to the US, and for
Latin American cocaine destined for Europe |
|
