Country Profile: Cote d'Ivoire

Cote d'Ivoire, located in Western Africa, is bordered by the North Atlantic Ocean and shares land borders with Ghana, Liberia, Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Mali. With a population of approximately 29.98 million, it is characterized by a rich diversity of ethnic groups and languages, with French as the official language. The economy is one of the most influential and rapidly developing in the region, largely driven by agriculture and the export of cocoa and other commodities. Governed as a presidential republic, Cote d'Ivoire has experienced significant political turmoil, but recent years have seen efforts toward reconciliation and stability.

Geography

Cote d'Ivoire's terrain is mostly flat to undulating plains, with higher elevations in the northwest, including the Monts Nimba range. The country has a total area of 322,463 sq km, slightly larger than New Mexico, and a coastline of 515 km along the Atlantic Ocean. Its climate varies from tropical along the coast to semiarid in the north, with distinct wet and dry seasons.

84.2% of land is used for agriculture (2022 est.)
Highest point: Monts Nimba at 1,752 m
Major rivers include the Bandama and Cavally
3,458 km of land borders with five countries

People and Society

Cote d'Ivoire has an estimated population of 29,981,758 as of 2024, with a median age of 21.2 years. The country is home to diverse ethnic groups, predominantly Akan (38%), Voltaique or Gur (22%), and Northern Mande (22%). The population is mostly urbanized, with 53.1% of people living in urban areas as of 2023.

36.1% of the population is aged 0-14 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy: 63.2 years (2024 est.)
Literacy stands at 50% (2021 est.)
42.9% of the population is Muslim (2014 est.)

Economy

Cote d'Ivoire is one of West Africa's most influential economies, with a real GDP of $215.018 billion estimated for 2024. The country has a diverse economic portfolio, heavily reliant on agriculture, particularly cocoa production. The economy has shown resilient growth, with a GDP growth rate of 6% projected for 2024, while unemployment remains low at 2.3%.

66% of GDP is derived from household consumption (2024 est.)
Major agricultural products include cocoa beans, yams, and cassava
External debt estimated at $26.576 billion (2023)
37.5% of the population lived below the poverty line in 2021

Government

Cote d'Ivoire operates as a presidential republic with a bicameral legislature, consisting of the National Assembly and Senate. The capital is split between Yamoussoukro (legislative) and Abidjan (administrative). The current president is Alassane Dramane OUATTARA, in power since December 2010, who has faced challenges, including a controversial third term in 2020.

255 members in the National Assembly; last elected in March 2021
99 seats in the Senate, last elected in September 2023
Independence from France was achieved on 7 August 1960
The constitution was last approved in 2016

Military and Security

Cote d'Ivoire's military, known as FACI, comprises units of the army, navy, and air force, totaling approximately 25-30,000 active personnel. The country experiences ongoing security challenges, particularly related to threats from jihadist groups. Military expenditure is approximately 0.8% of GDP as of 2024.

The military has mutinied multiple times since the late 1990s
The FACI is involved in counter-terrorism operations
180 Ivorian troops are deployed in the Central African Republic (2024)
Compulsory military service age ranges from 18-26 years

Energy

Electricity access in Cote d'Ivoire is at 70.4% of the total population as of 2022, with urban access significantly higher at 95% compared to 45.3% in rural areas. The country has a generating capacity of 2.315 million kW, with fossil fuels accounting for 68.9% of its energy generation mix.

87,000 bbl/day of refined petroleum consumption (2023)
29,000 bbl/day of total petroleum production (2023)
Proven natural gas reserves are estimated at 28.317 billion cubic meters (2021)
Carbon dioxide emissions totaled 16.28 million metric tonnes (2023)

Transportation

Cote d'Ivoire maintains a network of transportation infrastructure, including 29 airports and 660 km of railways. The major ports facilitate significant export and import activities, with Abidjan being the principal port.

25 vessels in the merchant marine (2023)
5 significant ports, including key oil terminals (2024)
1 helicopter pad in operation (2025)
The civil aircraft registration prefix is TU

Communications

The communications sector in Cote d'Ivoire includes 53.6 million mobile cellular subscriptions, indicating a penetration rate of 174 mobile subscriptions per 100 inhabitants. Internet usage stands at 41% of the population as of 2023.

244,000 fixed-line subscriptions (2023)
425,000 fixed broadband subscriptions (2023)
State-controlled media services are widespread throughout the country
Internet country code for Cote d'Ivoire is .ci

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	29,981,758	2024 estimate
Area	322,463 sq km	Total area
GDP (PPP)	$215.018 billion	2024 estimate
Energy consumption per capita	8.489 million Btu/person	2023 estimate
Birth rate	27.5 births/1,000 population	2024 estimate
Unemployment rate	2.3%	2024 estimate
Life expectancy	63.2 years	2024 estimate
Urban population	53.1%	2023 estimate
Total fertility rate	3.4 children born/woman	2024 estimate
Poverty rate	37.5%	Below poverty line, 2021 estimate