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Communications

Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

5 (2001)

Internet country code [time series]

.ci

Internet users [time series]

70,000 (2002)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 3 (1998)

Radios [time series]

2.26 million (1997)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

263,700 (2000)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

450,000 (2000)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

14 (1999)

Televisions [time series]

1.09 million (2000)

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: $1.72 billion expenditures: $2.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $420 million (2001 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

XOF

Debt - external [time series]

$13.3 billion (2000 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

37 (1995)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

ODA, $1 billion (1996 est.)

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 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 during 1996-99. Growth was negative in 2000 and 2001 because of the difficulty of meeting the conditions of international donors, continued low prices of key exports, and post-coup instability. Political instability continues to impede growth.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

2.57 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports [time series]

1.2 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - production [time series]

4.08 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 75% hydro: 25% other: 0% (1999) nuclear: 0%

Exchange rates [time series]

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 742.79 (January 2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997); note - from 1 January 1999, the XOF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF per euro

Exports [time series]

$3.6 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

cocoa 33%, coffee, timber, petroleum, cotton, bananas, pineapples, palm oil, cotton, fish (1999)

Exports - partners [time series]

France 13%, US 8%, Netherlands 7%, Germany 7%, Italy 6% (1999)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $25.5 billion (2001)

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

agriculture: 28% industry: 29% services: 43% (2000 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $1,550 (2001 est.)

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

-1% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 3% highest 10%: 29% (1995) (1995)

Imports [time series]

$2.4 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

food, consumer goods; capital goods, fuel, transport equipment, raw materials

Imports - partners [time series]

France 26%, Nigeria 10%, China 7%, Italy 5%, Germany 4% (1999)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

15% (1998 est.)

Industries [time series]

foodstuffs, beverages; wood products, oil refining, truck and bus assembly, textiles, fertilizer, building materials, electricity

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

2.5% (2000 est.)

Labor force [time series]

68% agricultural (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

13% in urban areas (1998 est.) (1998)

Geography

Area [time series]

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

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 [time series]

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

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

Geography - note [time series]

most of the inhabitants live along the sandy coastal region; apart from the capital area, the forested interior is sparsely populated

Irrigated land [time series]

730 sq km (1998 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: 9.28% permanent crops: 13.84% other: 76.88% (1998 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, natural gas, diamonds, manganese, iron ore, cobalt, bauxite, copper, hydropower

Terrain [time series]

mostly flat to undulating plains; mountains in northwest

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

58 departments (departements, singular - departement); Abengourou, Abidjan, Aboisso, Adiake, Adzope, Agboville, Agnibilekrou, Alepe, Bocanda, Bangolo, Beoumi, Biankouma, Bondoukou, Bongouanou, Bouafle, Bouake, Bouna, Boundiali, Dabakala, Dabou, Daloa, Danane, Daoukro, Dimbokro, Divo, Duekoue, Ferkessedougou, Gagnoa, Grand-Bassam, Grand-Lahou, Guiglo, Issia, Jacqueville, Katiola, Korhogo, Lakota, Man, Mankono, Mbahiakro, Odienne, Oume, Sakassou, San-Pedro, Sassandra, Seguela, Sinfra, Soubre, Tabou, Tanda, Tiebissou, Tingrela, Tiassale, Touba, Toulepleu, Toumodi, Vavoua, Yamoussoukro, Zuenoula

Capital [time series]

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

Constitution [time series]

3 November 1960; has been amended numerous times, last time 27 July 1998

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of Cote d'Ivoire conventional short form: Cote d'Ivoire local short form: Cote d'Ivoire former: Ivory Coast local long form: Republique de Cote d'Ivoire

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Arlene RENDER 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

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Pascal Dago KOKORA chancery: 3421 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 FAX: [1] (202) 462-9444 telephone: [1] (202) 797-0300

Executive branch [time series]

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 Seydou DIARRA (since 25 January 2003) note - appointed as transitional Prime Minister by President GBAGBO as part of a French brokered peace plan 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 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%

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]

ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

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

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 (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) note: a Senate is scheduled to be created in the next full election in 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

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 7 August (1960)

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

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 [Alassane OUATTARA]; Union for Democracy and Peace or UDPCI [Gen. Robert GUEI]; over 20 smaller parties

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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. In October 2001, President GBAGBO initiated a two-month-long National Reconciliation Forum, but its ability to conciliate Ivorians with one another remains unclear.

Military

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

Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary Gendarmerie, Republican Guard (includes Presidential Guard)

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$127.7 million (FY01)

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

1.3% (FY01)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 3,963,166 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 2,071,011 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

18 years of age (2002 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 188,411 (2002 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 46% (male 3,874,651; female 3,847,080) 15-64 years: 51.8% (male 4,468,242; female 4,238,998) 65 years and over: 2.2% (male 185,306; female 190,507) (2002 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

39.99 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate [time series]

16.74 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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 20,000 French) (1998)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

10.76% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

72,000 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

1 million (2000)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

92.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 44.72 years female: 46.03 years (2002 est.) male: 43.45 years

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 48.5% male: 57% female: 40%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Ivorian(s) adjective: Ivorian

Net migration rate [time series]

1.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population 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 (2002 est.)

Population [time series]

16,804,784 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 2002 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.45% (2002 est.)

Religions [time series]

Christian 20-30%, Muslim 35-40%, indigenous 25-40% (2001) note: the majority of foreigners (migratory workers) are Muslim (70%) and Christian (20%)

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: 0.97 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

5.61 children born/woman (2002 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Illicit drugs [time series]

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 and South Africa; 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

Transportation

Airports [time series]

36 (2001)

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 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 29 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 14 under 914 m: 8 (2002)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

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

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 note: an additional 600 km of this railroad extends into Burkina Faso, ending at Kaya, north of Ouagadougou (2000 est.)

Waterways [time series]

980 km (navigable rivers, canals, and numerous coastal lagoons)