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

Area: 32,460 square kilometers (slightly larger than New Mexico)

Capital: Yamoussoukro (note: although Yamoussoukro has been the capital since 1983, Abidjan remains the administrative center; foreign governments, including the US, maintain official presences in Abidjan)

Border Countries: Burkina Faso, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali

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)

Terrain: Mostly flat to undulating plains; mountains in northwest

Natural Resources: petroleum, diamonds, manganese, iron ore, cobalt, bauxite, copper

Land use: Arable land: 9%; permanent crops: 14%; other: 77% (1998 estimate)

Environment: Current Issues: deforestation (most of the country's forests - once the largest in West Africa - have been heavily logged); water pollution from sewage and industrial and agricultural effluents  Natural Hazards: coast has heavy surf and no natural harbors; during the rainy season torrential flooding is possible

People

Population: 16,804,784  (July 2002 est.); 0-14 years: 46% ; 15-64 years: 51.8%; 65 years and over: 2.2%; Infant mortality rate: 92.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.); Life expectancy at birth: 44.72 years.

People Groups: Akan 42.1%, Voltaiques or Gur 17.6%, Northern Mandes 16.5%, Krous 11%, Southern Mandes 10%, other 2.8%

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

Literacy: Age 15 and over can read and write - total population: 48.5%; male: 57%; female: 40%.

Government

Type of Government: Republic, multiparty presidential regime established 1960

Independence: 7 August 1960 (from France)

Administrative divisions: 58 departments

National Holiday: Independence Day, 7 August (1960)

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

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Chief of State: President Laurent GBAGBO (since 26 October 2000)

Head of Government: Prime Minister and Minister of Planning and Development Affi N'GUESSAN (since 27 October 2000)

Flag: 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

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 government attempts 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 50% 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. Moreover, government adherence to donor-mandated reforms led to a jump in growth to 5% annually during 1996-99. Growth was negative in 2000 and 2001 because of the difficulty of meeting the conditions of international donors, continued low prices of key exports, and post-coup instability. Political instability continues to impede growth.

Labor force: 5.718 million (68% agricultural)

Industries: foodstuffs, beverages; wood products, oil refining, truck and bus assembly, textiles, fertilizer, building materials, electricity

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

Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF)

Transportation: Railways: total: 660 km; narrow gauge: 660 km 1.000-meter gauge; 25 km double-track note: an additional 600 km of this railroad extends into Burkina Faso, ending at Kaya, north of Ouagadougou (2000 est.); Highways: total: 50,400 km; paved: 4,889 km; unpaved: 45,511 km (1996 ); Waterways: 980 km (navigable rivers, canals, and numerous coastal lagoons)  Ports: Abidjan, Aboisso, Dabou, San-Pedro

Religion

Religions: Christian 20-30%; Muslim 35-40%, indigenous beliefs 25-40%

The country has two of the largest Catholic cathedrals in the world, most of the Christians are Protestant. Most of the Muslim populations lives in the north. The majority practice traditional religions involving ancestral worship. They believe that the dead are transformed into spirits and remain in constant contact with the living; through various rituals, the living seek their blessings and protection. Magic is also common, and good magic keeps evil spirits away. Medicine men or juju priests dispense charms, tell fortunes and give advice on how to avoid danger.