Cote d'Ivoire

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

NA

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 8, shortwave 3 (1998)

Radios

2.26 million (1997)

Telephone system

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 - main lines in use

182,000 (1998)

Telephones - mobile cellular

more than 60,000 (December 1998)

Television broadcast stations

14 (1999)

Televisions

900,000 (1997)

Agriculture - products

coffee, cocoa beans, bananas, palm kernels, corn, rice, manioc (tapioca), sweet potatoes, sugar, cotton, rubber; timber

Budget

revenues: $2.3 billion expenditures: $2.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $640 million (1997 est.)

Currency

1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Debt - external

$16.8 billion (1998 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

ODA, $1 billion (1996 est.)

Economy - overview

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 attempts by the government 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 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. The 50% devaluation of Franc Zone currencies on 12 January 1994 caused a one-time jump in the inflation rate to 26% in 1994, but the rate fell sharply in 1996-99. Moreover, government adherence to donor-mandated reforms led to a jump in growth to 5% annually in 1996-99. Growth may slow in 2000 because of the difficulty of meeting the conditions of international donors, continued low prices of key exports, and post-coup instability.

Electricity - consumption

3.165 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

40 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

3.36 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 35.71% hydro: 64.29% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)

Exchange rates

CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 647.25 (January 2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995) note: since 1 January 1999, the CFAF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro

Exports

$3.9 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Exports - commodities

cocoa 37%, coffee, tropical woods, petroleum, cotton, bananas, pineapples, palm oil, cotton, fish (1998)

Exports - partners

France 17%, Netherlands 12%, US 9%, Italy 6% (1998)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $25.7 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 32% industry: 18% services: 50% (1998)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,600 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

5% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 28.5% (1988)

Imports

$2.6 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

France 29%, US 5%, Italy 5%, Germany 5% (1998)

Industrial production growth rate

15% (1998 est.)

Industries

foodstuffs, beverages; wood products, oil refining, automobile assembly, textiles, fertilizer, construction materials, electricity

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.5% (1999 est.)

Labor force

NA

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

NA%

Area

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

Area - comparative

slightly larger than New Mexico

Climate

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

515 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Gulf of Guinea 0 m highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m

Environment - current issues

deforestation (most of the country's forests - once the largest in West Africa - have been cleared by the timber industry); water pollution from sewage and industrial and agricultural effluents

Environment - international agreements

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

8 00 N, 5 00 W

Irrigated land

680 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 3,110 km border countries: Burkina Faso 584 km, Ghana 668 km, Guinea 610 km, Liberia 716 km, Mali 532 km

Land use

arable land: 8% permanent crops: 4% permanent pastures: 41% forests and woodland: 22% other: 25% (1993 est.)

Location

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Ghana and Liberia

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural hazards

coast has heavy surf and no natural harbors; during the rainy season torrential flooding is possible

Natural resources

petroleum, diamonds, manganese, iron ore, cobalt, bauxite, copper, hydropower

Terrain

mostly flat to undulating plains; mountains in northwest

Administrative divisions

50 departments (departements, singular - departement); Abengourou, Abidjan, Aboisso, Adzope, Agboville, Agnibilekrou, Bangolo, Beoumi, Biankouma, Bondoukou, Bongouanou, Bouafle, Bouake, Bouna, Boundiali, Dabakala, Daloa, Danane, Daoukro, Dimbokro, Divo, Duekoue, Ferkessedougou, Gagnoa, Grand-Lahou, Guiglo, Issia, Katiola, Korhogo, Lakota, Man, Mankono, Mbahiakro, Odienne, Oume, Sakassou, San-Pedro, Sassandra, Seguela, Sinfra, Soubre, Tabou, Tanda, Tingrela, Tiassale, Touba, Toumodi, Vavoua, Yamoussoukro, Zuenoula note: Cote d'Ivoire may have a new administrative structure consisting of 58 departments; the following additional departments have been reported but not yet confirmed by the US Board on Geographic Names (BGN); Adiake', Ale'pe', Dabon, Grand Bassam, Jacqueville, Tiebissou, Toulepleu, Bocanda

Capital

Yamoussoukro note: although Yamoussoukro has been the capital since 1983, Abidjan remains the administrative center; the US, like other countries, maintains its Embassy in Abidjan

Constitution

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

Country name

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

Data code

IV

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador George MU embassy: 5 Rue Jesse Owens, Abidjan mailing address: 01 B. P. 1712, Abidjan telephone: [225] 21 09 79, 21 46 72 FAX: [225] 22 32 59

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Koffi Moise KOUMOUE-KOFFI chancery: 3421 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 797-0300

Executive branch

chief of state: Gen. Robert GUEI (since 25 December 1999); note - took power following a military coup against the government of former President Henri Konan BEDIE; president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: Gen. Robert GUEI (since 25 December 1999); note - took power following a military coup against the government of former President Henri Konan BEDIE; president is both chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: prior to the coup, president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 22 October 1995 (next was scheduled to be held by October 2000); prime minister appointed by the president election results: results of the last election prior to the coup were: Henri Konan BEDIE elected president; percent of vote - Henri Konan BEDIE 95.25%

Flag description

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

republic; multiparty presidential regime established 1960

Independence

7 August (1960) (from France)

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Legal system

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

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (175 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: elections last held 27 November 1995 (next to be held NA) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDCI 150, RDR 13, FPI 12 note: a Senate will be created in the next election

National holiday

National Day, 7 August

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Party of Cote d'Ivoire or PDCI [Jean Konan BANNY, acting head]; Ivorian Popular Front or FPI [Laurent GBAGBO]; Ivorian Worker's Party or PIT [Francis WODIE]; Rally of the Republicans or RDR [Henriette DAGRI-DIABATE]; over 20 smaller parties

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

Background

Close ties to France since independence in 1960, diversification of agriculture for export, and encouragement of foreign investment have made Cote d'Ivoire the most prosperous of the tropical African states. About 20% of the population are workers from neighboring countries. On 25 December 1999, a military coup - the first ever in Cote d'Ivoire's history - overthrew the government. The new regime has promised to return the country to democratic rule in 2000.

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary Gendarmerie, Republican Guard (includes Presidential Guard), Sapeur-Pompier (Military Fire Group)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$94 million (FY96)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1% (FY96)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 3,743,353 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 1,952,882 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 182,936 (2000 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 46.45% (male 3,726,388; female 3,696,462) 15-64 years: 51.36% (male 4,222,333; female 3,985,249) 65 years and over: 2.19% (male 175,606; female 174,912) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

40.78 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

16.57 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

Baoule 23%, Bete 18%, Senoufou 15%, Malinke 11%, Agni, Africans from other countries (mostly Burkinabe and Malians, about 3 million), non-Africans 130,000 to 330,000 (French 30,000 and Lebanese 100,000 to 300,000)

Infant mortality rate

95.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 45.15 years male: 43.72 years female: 46.63 years (2000 est.)

Literacy

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

Nationality

noun: Ivorian(s) adjective: Ivorian

Net migration rate

1.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) note: after Liberia's civil war started in 1990, more than 350,000 refugees fled to Cote d'Ivoire; by the end of 1999 all Liberian refugees were assumed to have returned; the 2000 rate reflects labor in migration

Population

15,980,950 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 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

2.58% (2000 est.)

Religions

Muslim 60%, Christian 22%, indigenous 18% (some of these are also numbered among the Christians and Muslims)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.8 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for local consumption; minor transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin to Europe and occasionally to the US, and for Latin American cocaine destined for Europe [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Airports

36 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 7 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 29 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 9 (1999 est.)

Highways

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

Merchant marine

total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,200 GRT/1,500 DWT ships by type: petroleum tanker 1 (1999 est.)

Ports and harbors

Abidjan, Aboisso, Dabou, San-Pedro

Railways

total: 660 km narrow gauge: 660 km 1.000-meter gauge; 25 km double track (1995 est.)

Waterways

980 km navigable rivers, canals, and numerous coastal lagoons