At a Glance

Official Name: Republic of Côte d'Ivoire

Continent: Africa

Area: 122,780 square miles (318,000 sq km)

Population: 16,393,221

Capital City: Yamoussoukro (U.S. recognizes Abidjan as capital)

Largest City: Abidjan (1,929,079)

Unit of Money: CFA franc

Major Language: French (official)

Natural Resources: Crude oil, diamonds, manganese, iron ore, cobalt

The Place

Côte d'Ivoire—also known as the Ivory Coast—is in west central Africa. To the south, a coastline 320 miles (515 km) long touches the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean.

Côte d'Ivoire can be broken into four main physical regions. The coastal fringe extends about 40 miles (64 km) north from the Gulf of Guinea. There are many lagoons in the eastern part of this region. Beyond the coastal fringe is the equatorial forest zone. This dense forest is shaped like a triangle, with its base extending along the border of Liberia. To the east lies the cultivated forest zone. Some of this forest has been cleared for farming. The savanna stretches across the northern part of the country. The Komoe National Park covers about 4,500 square miles (11,655 sq km) of this region.

The tropical climate in the southern part of Côte d'Ivoire brings hot, rainy, and humid weather and four seasons. The northern savanna has two seasons with extreme temperatures.

The People

There are more than 60 different ethnic groups living in Côte d'Ivoire. Of the five major groups, the Baoule live in the central region, the Agni inhabit the east, the Senoufou are found in the north, and the Dan-Yacouba and Malinke live in the west.

Many Ivorians live along the country's coastal fringe in the south. About 58% of the population live in rural areas. Extended family members usually live together in a small group of homes in a village. These homes are made of mud and have thatched or metal roofs. Côte d'Ivoire's urban areas consist mainly of younger Ivorians that have come there in search of work. Many city dwellers also live in mud homes. Almost all non-Africans, and some rich Africans, live in modern buildings.

The urban standard of living in Côte d'Ivoire is better than in most other African countries. A dentist, for example, earns about 600 per month. Health conditions are improving, but the average life expectancy is 46 years of age and infant mortality is high.

Education

Education in Côte d'Ivoire is free, and children are required to attend classes if there is a school nearby. Approximately 75% of elementary aged children go to school, but only 20% of students make it to high school. The National University of Côte d'Ivoire, founded in 1958, is in Abidjan and averages about 21,000 students a year. Many Ivorians attend universities in foreign countries. Fewer than half of Ivorians are able to read and write.

Popular Culture/Daily Life

Although French culture has greatly influenced the way of life in Côte d'Ivoire, many ethnic groups are well known for their traditional art forms. The wood carvings of the Dan, Baoule, and Senoufou peoples are the best known. The Dan create masks of the human facial expressions and large rice spoons. The Baoule carve masks of recognizable people that are used mainly in special ceremonies. The Senoufou combine the characteristics of antelopes, wart hogs, and hyenas when they create their masks.