Figures, stats and information on Cote d'Ivoire

General information on Cote d'Ivoire:

Thanks to its close relationships with France Cote d'Ivoire is one of the most prosperous of the tropical African states even if it did not prevent the country from political instability.

In 1999, the country experienced its first ever military coup followed by another attempt 2002. However, the government still has to cope with rebel leaders that claim the northern regions. Once again French and some West African troops remain in Cote d'Ivoire to keep peace going on.

Geographical information on Cote d'Ivoire:

Geographical Position: Western Africa, along the Atlantic Ocean, between Liberia and Ghana.

Map Ref Latitude & Longitude 8 degrees 00’ North, 5 degrees 00’ West

Total Land & Sea Area: 322,500 square kilometres Sea Area:4,500 square kilometres land area: 315,000 square kilometres

Land boundaries: Total: 3,000 kilometres Border countries: Burkina Faso 590 kilometres , Ghana 670 kilometres , Guinea 600 kilometres , Liberia 720 kilometres , Mali 530 kilometres Coastal Length: 520 kilometres

Climatological Conditions:

Tropical in coastal areas, semiarid in the northern areas; three seasons: warm and dry from the months of November to the month of March, hot and dry from the month of March to the month of May and hot and wet from the months of June to the month of October. Country terrain: Mainly flat with plains; mountains in the northwestern areas.

Highest & Lowest Elevations: Lowest elevation: Gulf of Guinea at mean sea level highest point: Mont Northimba 1,750 meters

Natural resources: Petroleum resources, natural gas, diamonds and manganese deposits, iron, cobalt, bauxite mining, copper mining, hydro electrical power Land use: arable land area: 9 percent permanent crops: 14 percent other: 77 percent (1998 estimate.) Irrigated land area: 700 square kilometres (1998 estimate.)

Natural hazards: No natural harbors; some floods.

Geographical information on Cote d’Ivoire:

People Cote d'Ivoire Population: 16,962,500 Age structure: Under 15: 45.4 percent From 15 to 65: 52.4 percent Over 65: 2.2 percent Median age: Total: 16.5 years male: 17 years female: 16 years (2002) Population growth rate: 2 percent (2003 estimate.) Birth rate: 40 births per thousand population (2003 estimate.) Death rate: 18 deaths per thousand population (2003 estimate.) Net migration rate: -0.1 migrant per thousand population (2003 estimate.) Infant mortality rate: Total: 98 deaths per thousand live births female: 81 deaths per thousand live births (2003 estimate.) male: 115 deaths per thousand live births Life expectancy at birth: total population: 42 years male: 40 years female: 45 years (2003 estimate.) Total fertility rate: 5.5 children born/woman (2003 estimate.)

Nationality: Ivorian

Ethnicities: Akan 42 percent, Voltaiques or Gur 17 percent, Northern Mandes 16 percent, Southern Mandes 10 percent, Krous 10 percent, other 3 percent.

Religions: Christian 25 percent, Islam/Muslim faith 40 percent, indigenous 35 percent (2001)

Languages: French (official), 60 native Literacy: definition: age 15 and over that can read and write total population: 51 percent male: 58 percent female: 44 percent (2003 estimate.)

Government information on Cote d'Ivoire:

Republic of Cote d'Ivoire Government type: Republic; Capital city: Yamoussoukro; Independence: 7 August 1960 National holiday: Independence Day, 7 August (1960) Constitution: 3 November 1960; Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law; Suffrage: All citizens eligible to vote from the age of 18 years

Executive branch: Head of State: President Head of government: Prime Minister cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president

Legislative branch: Unicameral National Assembly

Economy:

Economy information on Cote d'Ivoire: Mainly based on coffee cocoa and palm oil the economy of Cote d'Ivoire is subject of international prices fluctiation and weather conditions and that is why the government tries to diversify it.

However the recent offshore oil and gas discoveries and the rescheduling of the debt by multilateral lenders and France and the 5 percent annually growth between 1996-99 are good prospects despite the difficulty of meeting the conditions of international donors, the low prices of the products exported and a tough civil war. GDP - Gross Domestic Product: - $USD24 billion (2002 estimate.) GDP - Gross Domestic Product - growth rate: -1.5 percent (2002 estimate.) GDP - Gross Domestic Product - per capita: - $USD1,500 (2002 estimate.) GDP - Gross Domestic Product - composition by sector: agriculture: 30 percent industry: 20 percent services: 50 percent (2001 estimate.) Population below poverty line: 38 percent (1995) Inflation rate: 3 percent (2002 estimate.) Labor force: 70 percent agricultural (2000 estimate.) rate of unemployment: 15 percent in urban areas (1998)

Budget information on Cote d'Ivoire: incomes: $USD1.7 billion spending: $USD2.5 billion, including capital spending of $USD400 million (2001 estimate.)

Industries: food processing, beverages; wood products, oil refining, vehicles assembly, textile products, compost, building materials, electricity production. Industrial production growth rate: 15 percent (1998 estimate.)

Agriculture - products:

Coffee plantations, cocoa beans, bananas, palm kernels, cereals, sweet potatoes, sugar cane, cotton, rubber; timber and lumber. Exports: $USD4 billion (2002 estimate.)

Exports - commodities: cocoa, coffee, timber, petroleum resources, cotton, bananas, pineapples, palm oil, fish Exports - partners: France 14.5 percent, Netherlands 13 percent, US 8 percent, Germany 5 percent, Mali 4 percent, Belgium 4 percent, Spain 4 percent (2002) Imports: $USD2.5 billion (2002 estimate.)

Imports - commodities: fuel, capital equipment, food processing Imports - partners: France 23 percent, Nigeria 17 percent, China 8 percent, Italy 40 percent (2002) Debt - external: $USD10 billion (2002 estimate.)

Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); Currency code: XOF

Communications in Cote d'Ivoire:

Telephones: 265,000 (2000) Radio broadcast stations: Amplitude Modulation 2, Frequency Modulation 9, SW 3 (1998) Television stations: 15 (1999) Internet country code: .ci

Travel information on Cote d'Ivoire:

Railroad networks: Total: 700 kilometres Roading System: Total: 50,000 kilometres Pipelines: condensate 100 kilometres ; gas 220 kilometres ; oil 100 kilometres Airports: 36 (2002)

Military information on Cote d'Ivoire:

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary Gendarmerie, Republican Guard ( Military spending: $USD140 million Military spending: - percent of GDP - Gross Domestic Product: 1 percent

International Issues in Cote d'Ivoire: Disputes - international: Burkina Faso and Liberia are accused of supporting Ivorian rebels

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Information sourced and adapted from the CIA Factbook

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