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Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture-products) [time series]

coffee, cocoa beans, bananas, palm kernels, corn, rice, manioc (tapioca), sweet potatoes, sugar; cotton, rubber; timber

Budget [time series]

revenues: $2.4 billion expenditures: $2.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $600 million (1996 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Debt - external (Debt-external) [time series]

$16.1 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $552 million (1993)

Economic overview (Economy-overview) [time series]

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 85% of the population. After several years of lagging performance, the Ivorian economy began a comeback in 1994, due to 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 to 7% in 1996 and an estimated 3.4% in 1997. Moreover, government adherence to donor-mandated reforms led to a jump in growth rates-6.5% in GDP in 1996 and again in 1997.

Electricity - capacity (Electricity-capacity) [time series]

1.173 million kW (1995)

Electricity - consumption per capita (Electricity-consumption per capita) [time series]

127 kWh (1995)

Electricity - production (Electricity-production) [time series]

1.875 billion kWh (1995)

Exchange rates [time series]

CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1-608.36 (January 1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993) note: beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948

Exports [time series]

total value: $4.2 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: cocoa 36%, coffee 22%; tropical woods 4%, petroleum, cotton, bananas, pineapples, palm oil, cotton, fish partners: France 18%, Germany 8%, Italy 8%, Netherlands 8%, Burkina Faso, Mali, US, UK

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year Communications

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity-$25.8 billion (1997 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP-composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 31% industry: 20% services: 49% (1995)

Real GDP per capita (GDP-per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity-$1,700 (1997 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP-real growth rate) [time series]

6.5% (1997 est.)

Imports [time series]

total value: $3.2 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: food, consumer goods; capital goods, fuel, transport equipment partners: France 32%, Nigeria 20%, US 6%, Ghana, Germany, Italy

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

9% (first half of 1996)

Industries [time series]

foodstuffs, beverages; wood products, oil refining, automobile assembly, textiles, fertilizer, construction materials, electricity

Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate-consumer price index) [time series]

3.4% (1997 est.)

Labor force [time series]

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 71, FM 0, shortwave 13

Radios [time series]

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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 - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

87,700 (1987 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

Televisions [time series]

810,000 (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 322,460 sq km land: 318,000 sq km water: 4,460 sq km

Area - comparative (Area-comparative) [time series]

slightly larger than New Mexico

Climate [time series]

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 [time series]

515 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Gulf of Guinea 0 m highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m

Environment - current issues (Environment-current issues) [time series]

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

International environmental agreements (Environment-international agreements) [time series]

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 [time series]

8 00 N, 5 00 W

Irrigated land [time series]

680 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 3,110 km border countries: Burkina Faso 584 km, Ghana 668 km, Guinea 610 km, Liberia 716 km, Mali 532 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 8% permanent crops: 4% permanent pastures: 41% forests and woodland: 22% other: 25% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Ghana and Liberia

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

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

Natural resources [time series]

petroleum, diamonds, manganese, iron ore, cobalt, bauxite, copper

Terrain [time series]

mostly flat to undulating plains; mountains in northwest

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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 56 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, Tiebussan

Constitution [time series]

3 November 1960; has been amended numerous times, last time November 1990

Country name [time series]

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 [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Lannon WALKER embassy: 5 Rue Jesse Owens, Abidjan mailing address: 01 B. P. 1712, Abidjan telephone: [225] 21 09 79

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Koffi Moise KOUMOUE-KOFFI chancery: 2424 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 797-0300

Executive branch [time series]

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 prime minister 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%

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[225] 22 32 59

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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 [time series]

republic; multiparty presidential regime established 1960

Independence [time series]

7 August 1960 (from France)

International organization participation [time series]

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, ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Legal system [time series]

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 [time series]

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 November 2000) election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-PDCI 150, RDR 13, FPI 12

Capital (National capital) [time series]

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

National holiday [time series]

National Day, 7 August

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Democratic Party of the Cote d'Ivoire or PDCI [Henri Konan BEDIE]; Rally of the Republicans or RDR [Djeny KOBINA]; Ivorian Popular Front or FPI [Laurent GBAGBO]; Ivorian Worker's Party or PIT [Francis WODIE]; Ivorian Socialist Party or PSI [Morifere BAMBA]; over 20 smaller parties

Suffrage [time series]

21 years of age; universal

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary Gendarmerie, Presidential Guard

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures-dollar figure) [time series]

$140 million (1993)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures-percent of GDP) [time series]

1.4% (1993)

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower-availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 3,583,410 (1998 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower-fit for military service) [time series]

males: 1,866,896 (1998 est.)

Military manpower - military age (Military manpower-military age) [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually (Military manpower-reaching military age annually) [time series]

males: 172,000 (1998 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 47% (male 3,629,286; female 3,590,782) 15-64 years: 51% (male 4,049,355; female 3,842,508) 65 years and over: 2% (male 170,120; female 164,180) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

42.15 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate [time series]

16.12 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Baoule 23%, Bete 18%, Senoufou 15%, Malinke 11%, Agni, foreign Africans (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 [time series]

95.95 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Languages [time series]

French (official), 60 native dialects with Dioula the most widely spoken

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 46.24 years male: 44.73 years female: 47.8 years (1998 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 40.1% male: 49.9% female: 30% (1995 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Ivorian(s) adjective: Ivorian

Net migration rate [time series]

-1.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.) note: of the more than 350,000 refugees that fled to Cote d'Ivoire since 1989 to escape the civil war in Liberia, only about 210,000 remained in Cote d'Ivoire according to a 1997 census

Population [time series]

15,446,231 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.41% (1998 est.)

Religions [time series]

Muslim 60%, Christian 12%, indigenous 25% (some of these are also numbered among the Christians and Muslims)

Sex ratio [time series]

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: 1.03 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

5.97 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (Disputes-international) [time series]

none

Illicit drugs [time series]

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 CROATIA

Transportation

Airports [time series]

36 (1997 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports-with paved runways) [time series]

total: 7 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (1997 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports-with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 29 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 9 (1997 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 50,400 km paved: 4,889 km unpaved: 45,511 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 1 oil tanker (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,200 GRT/1,500 DWT (1997 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Abidjan, Aboisso, Dabou, San-Pedro

Railways [time series]

total: 660 km narrow gauge: 660 km 1.000-meter gauge; 25 km double track (1995 est.)

Waterways [time series]

980 km navigable rivers, canals, and numerous coastal lagoons