Ivory Coast or Côte d’Ivoire, officially the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire (French: République de Côte d’Ivoire), is a country in West Africa. It has an area of 322,462 square kilometres (124,503 sq mi), and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country’s population was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be 20,617,068 in 2009. Ivory Coast’s first national census in 1975 counted 6.7 million inhabitants.
The official language is French, although many of the 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.
Côte d’Ivoire Republic Flag
Côte d’Ivoire Republic Country Information:
Location of Ivory Coast (dark blue)
– in Africa (light blue & dark grey)
– in the African Union (light blue)
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% othersa
Demonym
Ivorian
Ivoirian
Government Presidential republic
– President Alassane Ouattara
– Prime Minister Daniel Kablan Duncan
Legislature National Assembly
Independence
– from France 7 August 1960
Area
– Total 322,463 km2 (69th)
124,502 sq mi
– Water (%) 1.4 (56th)
– 1998 census 15,366,672
– Density 63.9/km2 (139th)
165.6/sq mi
GDP (PPP) 2011 estimate
– Total $36.068 billion (low / 170th)
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