Côte d’Ivoire Geography, Figures, and More

Cote D' ivoire

Geography

Economics

Demographics

Military

Politics

Located in the Western part of Africa, Ivory Coast consists of low hills or mountains which flow down into a flat coastal plain. Its terrain is lightly forested to the north which becomes more densely forested to the south. In total, Ivory Coast borders five other states with Mali and Burkina Faso to the north, Ghana to the east and Liberia and Guinea to the west. To the south, it is located on the Atlantic Ocean.

Known for its cocoa production as well as its coast after which it is named, Côte d'Ivoire, or Ivory Coast has had a troublesome 21st century. Throughout its early history, the area was inhabited by the indigenous tribes that migrated to Ivory Coast throughout the centuries. After coming into contact with Portuguese explorers, the French eventually took control over the coast of Ivory Coast by the end of the 19th century. After a period of decolonization following the second world war, Ivory Coast gained its independence in 1960. Since then, it has been ruled by a single president until his death in 1993. Following his death, a coup took plates in 1993 which was followed by a military coup as well as two civil wars. This has decreased internal instability and has given way to radical Islamist terrorist groups. Today, the situation in Ivory Coast remains unstable.

It is the 68th largest state in the world with a total surface area of 324,075 square kilometers or 125,126 square miles. This makes Ivory Coast slightly larger than Poland and slightly smaller than Malaysia.

Surface

Surface (in square kilometers)

Surface (in square miles)

Its total water surface area is 4482 square kilometers or 1728 square miles. This makes it the 95th state with the highest amount of surface water.

Surface (water)

Water Surface (in square kilometers)

Water Surface (in square miles)

Share of water (%)

Most of its water is derived from four large rivers with the Bandama being the largest. Most of its drinking water is derived from surface water and is considered unsafe to drink.

Its climate is a tropical climate with a minor fluctuation between its northern part and its southern part. It is known to have a wet season between June and October and a dry season between November and May. The average temperature is 26.3 degrees Celsius or 79.3 degrees Fahrenheit which makes it the 102nd warmest state in the world.

Temperature

The average high temperature is 30.1 degrees Celsius or 86.2 degrees Fahrenheit.

Average temperature (in Celcius)

Average temperature (in Farenheit)

Average high temperature (in Celcius)

Average high temperature (in Farenheit)

The average low temperature is 21.3 degrees Celsius or 70.3 degrees Fahrenheit.

Average low temperature (in Celcius)

Average low temperature (in Farenheit)

Rainfall

Rain typically occurs between June and October. It is also unevenly spread out throughout Ivory Coast with its northern part receiving one fourth of its southern part. The annual precipitation is 138.1 centimeters or 54.4 inches per year.

Average rainfall (mm)

Average rainfall (inch)

Distance to other capitals (kilometers)

Distance to other capitals (miles)

Proximity

The capital of Ivory Coast, Abidjan is home to roughly 4.1 million people. The capital that is closest to Abidjan is Accra of Ghana with a distance of 584.8 kilometers or 363.4 miles. The capital that is furthest removed from Abidjan is Funafuti Tuvalu with a distance of 19,568 kilometers or 12,160 miles.

The economy of Ivory Coast is a developing economy which is highly dependent on agriculture which employs roughly 2/3 of the population. As a result of its civil war, a large portion of its infrastructure as well as its industry has been demolished or neglected which further enhanced the poverty rates. Currently, most of its products are cocoa beans, coffee and rubber which are mainly exported to the United States and the Netherlands which combined represent just over 15 percent of all exports. Most of its imports comes from China, France and Nigeria which combined represent 40 percent of all imports.

Economic organizations

Gross Domestic Product (US$)

Gross Domestic Product per capita

Amount of memberships (economic organizations)

Absolute earnings for every 1$

Relative earnings

GDP in PPP per capita (in US$)

GDP in PPP per capita

Gross Domestic product (in million US$)

GDP per capita (in US$)

Ivory Coast is a member of 15 international economic organizations which makes it the 152nd most connected state in the world. It is a member of the following organizations:

Alliance for Financial Inclusion
African development Bank
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
International Monetary Fund
Islamic Development Bank
West African Development Bank
World Bank Group
World Customs Organization
World Trade Organization

Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States
Economic Community of West African States
International Renewable Energy Agency
International Solar Alliance
Group of 77
Group of 24

Below, you will find the graph that displays the states and their amount of memberships

It has the 174th highest GDP in the world which is US$53.3 billion. This represents 0.06 percent of total global GDP.

Its GDP per capita is US$2062 which is the 125th highest in the world.

The absolute earnings (GDP per capita) has shown what the average citizen earns per year. The figure below displays the average amount that inhabitant of other states earn for every 1$ that an average citizen makes.

Its GDP per square kilometer is US$165,000 or US$426,000 per square mile which is the 97th highest in the world.

Surface GDP

GDP per square kilometer (in US$)

GDP per square mile(in US$)

Relative GDP in PPP

Its purchasing power parity is 4901 US dollars which is the 142nd highest in the world.

The relative Gross Domestic Product in Purchasing Power Parity compares the purchasing power of Afghanistan with the rest of the world.

The graph on the left displays the purchasing power parity of the rest of the world in relation to the purchasing power of 1$ in Cote D'ivoire.

It is the 102nd most populous state in the world with a total population of 25.9 million people. There are more than 50 ethnic tribes in Ivory Coast with the Malinke and the Dioula being the largest. Each tribe speaks its own language, but it has French is its official language.

Population

Population density

It has a population density of 80 people per square kilometer which makes it the 105th most densely populated state in the world.

Emigration

4.3 percent of the population, or nearly 200.000 people, have migrated to other states. The main reason for migration has been its internal unrest as well as its economic underdevelopment. The main destinations for migration have been Mali, Burkina Faso and France.

Immigration

Immigration to Ivory Coast is represented by 9.7 percent of the population, or just over 2.5 million people. This makes Ivory Coast the 168th state with the highest number of emigrants and represents 0.009 percent of total global emigration. The main reason for migration has been growing stability as well as increasing instability in Burkina Faso.

Literacy

It has a literacy rate of 44.3 percent which is the 185th highest in the world. Because of its low economic status, Ivory Coast lacks the funding for its educational system which is mainly provided by charity workers.

Health

It has the 110th highest life expectancy in the world which stands at 73.6 years. Women reach an average age of 76.8 years while men reach an average age of 70.2 years. As previously mentioned, the economic situation in Ivory Coast has been unstable and has also led to low investments in its healthcare system. This has given way to communicable diseases which are responsible for more than two thirds of all deaths. The largest health threats are waterborne diseases such as cholera as well as tuberculosis.

Population density (in km2)

Population density (in mi2)

Religion

The government provides freedom of religion for all religions.

Christianity is the second largest religion in Ivory Coast and is represented by 39.4 percent of the population. This makes it the 73rd most Christian state in the world. The largest denomination is Roman Catholicism which has been introduced by the Portuguese and expanded by the French.

Christianity (share of the total population)

Islam (share of the total population)

Islam is represented by 42.4 percent of the population and has been introduced through Arab merchants, Berbers and Arab kingdoms throughout the ninth century.

There are no official Buddhist organizations in Ivory Coast.

Buddhism (share of the total population)

There is a small Hindu population in the capital which are mainly represented by the Krishna denomination. These represent 0.03 percent of the total population.

Hinduism (share of the total population)

Judaism (share of the total population)

There is a small Jewish community also located in the capital which represent less than 0.01 percent of the population.

Other religions (share of the total population)

Other religions are mainly traditional African religions that are represented by 1.13 percent of the population.

Non-religious (share of the total population)

Irreligion represents 6 percent of the population.

Military spending (in % of GDP)

Military spending

In total, Ivory Coast and spends US$536 million, or 0.9 percent of its GDP on its military. This makes it the 167th highest military spender in the world.

The military of Ivory Coast, called the Ivorian military, consists of an army, a Navy and an air force. After inheriting its military from the French, it currently has a mixed military of soldiers, as well as rebels that have formed during its the first civil war.

Military membership

It is a member of five international military organizations which makes it the 103rd most militarily connected state in the world. It is a member of the following organizations:

South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone
Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
International Atomic Energy Agency
Non-Aligned Movement

Military membership

International wars

In total, Ivory Coast has partaken in one international war. This is:

First Ivorian Civil War 2001-2007

Number of international wars fought

Military spending (in US$ million)

Membership (international political organizations)

It is a member of 12 international political organizations which makes it the 133rd most politically connected state in the world. It is a member of the following organizations:

Member state of the United Nations
International Labour Organization
African Union
Conseil de l'Entente
International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property
Member states of the Organization internationale de la Francophonie
Organization of Islamic Cooperation
International Criminal Court
Interpol

Political Membership

Democracy/dictatorship rating

Because of its internal unrest, as well as repressing political opponents, it is the 98th most democratic state in the world. This is largely due to the inability of the people to have elections as well as a semi-independent judicial branch.

Democracy/Dictatorship

The politics of Ivory Coast to place in the form of a republic where the president is head of state as well as head of government. Due to its internal instability, its current government is not being recognized internationally.