
Ivory Coast Guide
Ivory Coast – country information
Country name | Ivory Coast |
Official name | Republika Ivory Coast |
Capital | Yamoussoukro |
continent | Africa |
Area | 322,463 km2 |
Population | 23 202 000 (2012) |
Foundation of a state | 7. 8. 1960 |
The highest mountains | Nimba 1752 m |
Longest rivers | Comoé 810 km |
State system | a pluralist republic with a unicameral parliament |
The biggest cities | Abidjan (Capital – Legislature) 2,550,000, Bouaké 415,000, Yamoussokro (Capital – Administration) |
Official language | French |
Ethnicity/National Composition | Akan 43%, Kru 17%, Volta 16%, Malink 14.5%, Southern Mando 9.5%, others 1% |
Religious affiliation | Muslims 39%, Christians 28%, Animists 17%, Atheists 13%, Other 3% |
Currency | 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes |
gross domestic product (GDP) | US$1,707 (2012) |
Average life expectancy of the population | 48.82 let (2006) |
Structure of GDP | agriculture and fishing 28.5%, mining and industry 13%, construction 4%, services 54.5% |
Ivory Coast – Neighboring States
State | Capital | Area | Populace |
Burkina | Ouagadougou | 274,000 km | 17 322 796 |
Ghana | Accra | 238,533 km2 | 24 658 823 |
Guinea | Conakry | 245,857 km | 10 824 200 |
liberie | Monrovia | 111,369 km2 | 4 294 000 |
Mali | Bamako | 1,240,190 km | 15 302 000 |
Country overview
According to Abbreviationfinder, Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire) is located on the West African coast of the Gulf of Guinea, bordering Mali and Burkina to the north, Ghana to the east, Liberia and Guinea to the west.
Côte d’Ivoire (Republic of the Ivory Coast) is a state in West Africa. Shared borders with Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana. The capital is Yamoussoukro. The official language is French.
The climate is equatorial. Temperature +28*С.
Resorts and attractions of Côte d’Ivoire
Despite the fact that Côte d’Ivoire is one of the smallest countries in Africa, this state has an extraordinary cultural wealth.
While the southern coastal zone has served as a benchmark for prosperity and modernization over the past few decades, the northern and western regions of the country have managed to preserve two fascinating and vital traditional cultures – Senufo and Dan. But outside of Africa, few have heard these names.
Interesting facts
For the first time, Europeans began to land on the shores of modern Côte d’Ivoire in the 15th century.
Country data
Location: West Africa
Time zone: CET – 1 (during summer time CET – 2)
Total area: 322,462 km²
Land area: 318,002 km²
Water area: 4,460 km²
Length of the state border: 3,458 km
Bordering countries:
Burkina Faso: 545 km
Ghana: 720 km
Guinea: 816 km
Liberia: 778 km
Mali: 559 km
Coastline: 515 km
Capital: Yamoussoukro
Regions: 14
Abidjan, Bas-Sassandra, Comoe, Denguele, Goh-Djiboua, Lacs, Lagunes, Montagnes, Sassandra-Marahoue, Savanes, Vallee du Bandama, Woroba, Yamoussoukro, Zanzan
Telephone code: 00 225 (Source: Allcitycodes)
Highest point: Monts Nimba 1,752 m
Population
Population: approx. 22.8 million residents (Countryaah, 2021)
Population growth: 2% per year
Population density (residents per km²): 71
Life expectancy: 57 (male), 59 (female)
Official language: French
Religions:
- 39% Muslim
- 33% Christians
- 28% other
Climate
The tropical rainy climate divides the country into two zones.
While it is constantly hot and humid in the south, it gets drier towards the north. The rainy seasons in the south last from March to July and from September to November.
In the north there is only one rainy season, which lasts from June to September. The average annual temperature is 26 ° C.
Currency / finance
Currency unit: CFA franc (XOF)
Classification: 1 Franc = 100 Centimes
ATMs: not available
International credit cards: Very rarely accepted.
Regulations: The import of national and foreign currencies is permitted in unlimited amounts. There is an obligation to declare.
Foreign currencies can be exported up to the declared amount (max. 25,000 CFA Fr).
The export of the local currency is limited to 10,000 CFA francs.
You should keep all exchange receipts until you leave the country.
When paying by credit card, you should never lose sight of it. There are always cases of abuse!
Customs regulations
The following may be carried duty-free:
- 200 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 200 g tobacco
- 1 liter of alcoholic beverages
- small amounts of perfume
(Information applies to people aged 18 and over)
Tourists and people in transit can bring items of personal use with them duty-free.
Weapons (including sport rifles) can only be imported with an import permit.
Video cameras may only be introduced for personal use and upon payment of a deposit, which will be refunded upon departure.
Travel advice
Before traveling to the north or west of the country, you should contact the German embassy in Abidjan.
Find out about the current situation on site and leave your contact details and the planned travel route in the embassy.
There are always armed robberies, even during the day.
Economy
The Ivory Coast is the largest exporter of cocoa beans in the world, as well as one of the largest coffee producers.
The main export goods also include cotton, fruit, vegetables and petroleum.
Industries: Cocoa and coffee products, agriculture, wood industry, light industry, natural gas and oil production, cigarette production
Natural resources: diamonds, iron ores, natural gas, petroleum, copper, magnesium, hydropower
Land use:
- Usable land: 8%
- Grain cultivation: 4%
- Pasture area: 41%
- Forests: 22%
- other: 25%
Plants
The vegetation-rich region of the south diminishes the further north one goes.
There are large forest areas mainly inland.
Although huge areas have already fallen victim to the clearing, there are still over 200 different types of construction.
Animals
Antelopes, gorillas, chimpanzees and monkeys live in the pronounced tropical forests.
The animal species adapted to life in the savannah include jackals, elephants, leopards, hyenas, panthers, buffalos, chimpanzees, baboons and crocodiles.
Among the small animals there are many different types of lizards and venomous snakes.