# Library

ABOUT REFERENCES APPENDICES FAQs CONTACT

Africa :: Cote d'Ivoire

- ## Introduction :: COTE D'IVOIRE

- Background:
  Close ties to France following independence in 1960, the development of cocoa production for export, and foreign investment all made Cote d'Ivoire one of the most prosperous of the West African states but did not protect it from political turmoil. In December 1999, a military coup - the first ever in Cote d'Ivoire's history - overthrew the government. Junta leader Robert GUEI blatantly rigged elections held in late 2000 and declared himself the winner. Popular protest forced him to step aside and brought Laurent GBAGBO into power. Ivorian dissidents and disaffected members of the military launched a failed coup attempt in September 2002 that developed into a rebellion and then a civil war. The war ended in 2003 with a cease-fire that left the country divided with the rebels holding the north, the government the south, and peacekeeping forces a buffer zone between the two. In March 2007, President GBAGBO and former New Forces rebel leader Guillaume SORO signed an agreement in which SORO joined GBAGBO's government as prime minister and the two agreed to reunite the country by dismantling the buffer zone, integrating rebel forces into the national armed forces, and holding elections. Difficulties in preparing electoral registers delayed balloting until 2010. In November 2010, Alassane Dramane OUATTARA won the presidential election over GBAGBO, but GBAGBO refused to hand over power, resulting in a five-month stand-off. In April 2011, after widespread fighting, GBAGBO was formally forced from office by armed OUATTARA supporters with the help of UN and French forces. Several thousand UN peacekeepers and several hundred French troops remain in Cote d'Ivoire to support the transition process. OUATTARA is focused on rebuilding the country's economy and infrastructure while rebuilding the security forces. GBAGBO is in The Hague awaiting trial for crimes against humanity.

- ## Geography :: COTE D'IVOIRE

- Location:
  Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Ghana and Liberia
  Geographic coordinates:
  8 00 N, 5 00 W
  Map references:
  Africa
  Area:
  total: 322,463 sq km
  land: 318,003 sq km
  water: 4,460 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 69
  Area - comparative:
  slightly larger than New Mexico
  Land boundaries:
  total: 3,458 km
  border countries (5): Burkina Faso 545 km, Ghana 720 km, Guinea 816 km, Liberia 778 km, Mali 599 km
  Coastline:
  515 km
  Maritime claims:
  territorial sea: 12 nm
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  continental shelf: 200 nm
  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
  Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Gulf of Guinea 0 m
  highest point: Monts Nimba 1,752 m
  Natural resources:
  petroleum, natural gas, diamonds, manganese, iron ore, cobalt, bauxite, copper, gold, nickel, tantalum, silica sand, clay, cocoa beans, coffee, palm oil, hydropower
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 64.8%
  arable land 9.1%; permanent crops 14.2%; permanent pasture 41.5%
  forest: 32.7%
  other: 2.5% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  727.5 sq km (2003)
  Total renewable water resources:
  81.14 cu km (2011)
  Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
  total: 1.55 cu km/yr (41%/21%/38%)
  per capita: 83.07 cu m/yr (2008)
  Natural hazards:
  coast has heavy surf and no natural harbors; during the rainy season torrential flooding is possible
  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
  Environment - international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
  signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
  Geography - note:
  most of the inhabitants live along the sandy coastal region; apart from the capital area, the forested interior is sparsely populated

- ## People and Society :: COTE D'IVOIRE

- Nationality:
  noun: Ivoirian(s)
  adjective: Ivoirian
  Ethnic groups:
  Akan 42.1%, Voltaiques or Gur 17.6%, Northern Mandes 16.5%, Krous 11%, Southern Mandes 10%, other 2.8% (includes 130,000 Lebanese and 14,000 French) (1998)
  Languages:
  French (official), 60 native dialects of which Dioula is the most widely spoken
  Religions:
  Muslim 38.6%, Christian 32.8%, indigenous 11.9%, none 16.7% (2008 est.)
  note: the majority of foreigners (migratory workers) are Muslim (70%) and Christian (20%)
  Population:
  23,295,302
  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, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 55
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 37.94% (male 4,456,646/female 4,381,907)
  15-24 years: 20.95% (male 2,459,156/female 2,420,284)
  25-54 years: 33.53% (male 3,997,615/female 3,812,563)
  55-64 years: 4.25% (male 495,177/female 493,854)
  65 years and over: 3.34% (male 375,276/female 402,824) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 83.5%
  youth dependency ratio: 77.9%
  elderly dependency ratio: 5.6%
  potential support ratio: 18% (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 20.3 years
  male: 20.3 years
  female: 20.2 years (2014 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  1.91% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 53
  Birth rate:
  28.67 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 43
  Death rate:
  9.55 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 53
  Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 99
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 54.2% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 3.69% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  YAMOUSSOUKRO (capital) 259,000 (2014); ABIDJAN (seat of government) 4.86 million; Bouake 762,000 (2015)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 58.7 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 64.77 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 52.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 22
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 58.34 years
  male: 57.21 years
  female: 59.51 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 201
  Total fertility rate:
  3.54 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 43
  Contraceptive prevalence rate:
  18.2% (2011/12)
  Health expenditures:
  5.7% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 78
  Physicians density:
  0.14 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
  Hospital bed density:
  0.4 beds/1,000 population (2006)
  Drinking water source:
  improved:
  urban: 93.1% of population
  rural: 68.8% of population
  total: 81.9% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 6.9% of population
  rural: 31.2% of population
  total: 18.1% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 32.8% of population
  rural: 10.3% of population
  total: 22.5% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 67.2% of population
  rural: 89.7% of population
  total: 77.5% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  2.67% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 21
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  371,600 (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 18
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  27,900 (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 14
  Major infectious diseases:
  degree of risk: very high
  food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
  vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever
  water contact disease: schistosomiasis
  animal contact disease: rabies
  respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
  note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2013)
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  8% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 149
  Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
  15.7% (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 43
  Education expenditures:
  4.6% of GDP (2008)
  country comparison to the world: 89
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 43.1%
  male: 53.1%
  female: 32.5% (2015 est.)
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 9 years
  male: 10 years
  female: 8 years (2013)
  Child labor - children ages 5-14:
  total number: 1,796,802
  percentage: 35% (2006 est.)

- ## Government :: COTE D'IVOIRE

- 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
  note: pronounced coat-div-whar
  former: Ivory Coast
  Government type:
  republic; multiparty presidential regime established 1960
  Capital:
  name: Yamoussoukro; note - although Yamoussoukro has been the official capital since 1983, Abidjan remains the commercial and administrative center; the US, like other countries, maintains its Embassy in Abidjan
  geographic coordinates: 6 49 N, 5 16 W
  time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
  Administrative divisions:
  12 districts and 2 autonomous districts*; Abidjan*, Bas-Sassandra, Comoe, Denguele, Goh-Djiboua, Lacs, Lagunes, Montagnes, Sassandra-Marahoue, Savanes, Vallee du Bandama, Woroba, Yamoussoukro*, Zanzan
  Independence:
  7 August 1960 (from France)
  National holiday:
  Independence Day, 7 August (1960)
  Constitution:
  previous 1960; latest approved by referendum 23 July 2000; amended 2012 (2012)
  Legal system:
  civil law system based on the French civil code; judicial review of legislation held in the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court
  International law organization participation:
  accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Alassane Dramane OUATTARA (since 4 December 2010)
  head of government: Prime Minister Daniel Kablan DUNCAN (since 21 November 2012)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
  elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 31 October and 28 November 2010 (next to be held in 2015); prime minister appointed by the president
  election results: Alassane OUATTARA elected president; percent of vote - Alassane OUATTARA (RDR) 54.1%, Laurent GBAGBO (FPI) 45.9%; note - Prime Minister SORO resigned from the incumbent administration and was subsequently appointed to the same position by OUATTARA; on 12 March 2011, SORO was elected to the National Assembly and resigned as prime minister the same day; former president GBAGBO refused to cede office, resulting in a 5-month standoff, but was finally forced to stand down in April 2011
  Legislative branch:
  description: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (225 seats; members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms)
  elections: last held on 11 December 2011 (next to be held in 2016)
  election results: percent of vote by party - RDR 42.1%, PDCI 28.6%, UDPCI 3.1%, RDP 1.7%, other 24.5% ; seats by party - RDR 127, PDCI 76, UDPCI 7, RDP 4, other 2, independents 39
  Judicial branch:
  highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (organized into Judicial, Audit, Constitutional, and Administrative Chambers; consists of the court president, 3 vice-presidents for the Judicial, Audit, and Administrative chambers, and 9 associate justices or magistrates)
  judge selection and term offfice: judges nominated by the Superior Council of the Magistrature, a 7-member body consisting of the national president (chairman), 3 "bench" judges, and 3 public prosecutors; judges appointed for life
  subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal (organized into civil, criminal, and social chambers); first instance courts; peace courts
  Political parties and leaders:
  Citizen's Democratic Union or UDCY [Theodore MEL EG]
  Democracy and Liberty for the Republic or LIDER [Mamadou KOULIBALY]
  Democratic Party of Cote d'Ivoire or PDCI [Henri Konan BEDIE]
  Ivorian Popular Front or FPI [Pascal AFFI NGUESSAN]
  Ivorian Worker's Party or PIT [Daniel AKA AHIZ]
  Movement of the Future Forces or MFA [Innocent Augustin ANAKY KOBENA]
  Rally of the Republicans or RDR [Alassane OUATTARA]
  Union for Democracy and Peace in Cote d'Ivoire or UDPCI [Toikeuse MABRI]
  over 144 smaller registered parties
  Political pressure groups and leaders:
  Federation of University and High School Students of Cote d'Ivoire or FESCI [Augustin MIAN]
  National Congress for the Resistance and Democracy or CNRD [Bernard DADIE]
  Panafrican Congress for Justice and Peoples Equality or COJEP [Roselin BLY]
  Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace or RHDP
  International organization participation:
  ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), Entente, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Daouda DIABATE (since 11 February 2011)
  chancery: 2424 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 797-0300
  FAX: [1] (202) 462-9444
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Terence Patrick MCCULLEY (since 21 November 2013)
  embassy: Cocody Riviera Golf 01, Abidjan
  mailing address: B. P. 1712, Abidjan 01
  telephone: [225] 22 49 40 00
  FAX: [225] 22 49 42 02
  Flag description:
  three equal vertical bands of orange (hoist side), white, and green; orange symbolizes the land (savannah) of the north and fertility, white stands for peace and unity, green represents the forests of the south and the hope for a bright future
  note: 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
  National symbol(s):
  elephant; national colors: orange, white, green
  National anthem:
  name: "L'Abidjanaise" (Song of Abidjan)
  lyrics/music: Mathieu EKRA, Joachim BONY, and Pierre Marie COTY/Pierre Marie COTY and Pierre Michel PANGO
  note: adopted 1960; although the nation's capital city moved from Abidjan to Yamoussoukro in 1983, the anthem still owes its name to the former capital

- ## Economy :: COTE D'IVOIRE

- Economy - overview:
  Cote d'Ivoire is heavily dependent on agriculture and related activities, which engage roughly two-thirds of the population. Cote d'Ivoire is the world's largest producer and exporter of cocoa beans and a significant producer and exporter of coffee and palm oil. Consequently, the economy is highly sensitive to fluctuations in international prices for these products and in climatic conditions. Cocoa, oil, and coffee are the country's top export revenue earners, but the country is also mining gold. The country boasted two offshore oil finds in 2012. Following the end of more than a decade of civil conflict in 2011, Cote d’Ivoire has experienced a boom in foreign investment and economic growth. In June 2012, the IMF and the World Bank announced $4.4 billion in debt relief for Cote d'Ivoire under the Highly Indebted Poor Countries Initiative.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $71.12 billion (2014 est.)
  $66.17 billion (2013 est.)
  $60.88 billion (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 92
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $33.96 billion (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  7.5% (2014 est.)
  8.7% (2013 est.)
  10.7% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 8
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $3,100 (2014 est.)
  $2,900 (2013 est.)
  $2,700 (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 191
  Gross national saving:
  13.7% of GDP (2014 est.)
  12.1% of GDP (2013 est.)
  15.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 111
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 65.5%
  government consumption: 12.4%
  investment in fixed capital: 18.2%
  investment in inventories: 0%
  exports of goods and services: 49.6%
  imports of goods and services: -45.6%
  (2014 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 25.9%
  industry: 21.9%
  services: 52.1% (2014 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  coffee, cocoa beans, bananas, palm kernels, corn, rice, cassava (manioc, tapioca), sweet potatoes, sugar, cotton, rubber; timber
  Industries:
  foodstuffs, beverages; wood products, oil refining, gold mining, truck and bus assembly, textiles, fertilizer, building materials, electricity
  Industrial production growth rate:
  8.4% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 20
  Labor force:
  8.118 million (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 59
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 68%
  industry and services: NA% (2007 est.)
  Unemployment rate:
  NA%
  Population below poverty line:
  42% (2006 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 2.2%
  highest 10%: 31.8% (2008)
  Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  41.5 (2008)
  36.7 (1995)
  country comparison to the world: 51
  Budget:
  revenues: $7.218 billion
  expenditures: $8.173 billion (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  21.3% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 151
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -2.8% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 104
  Public debt:
  42.9% of GDP (2014 est.)
  44.6% of GDP (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 87
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  0.4% (2014 est.)
  2.6% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 42
  Central bank discount rate:
  4.25% (31 December 2010)
  4.25% (31 December 2009)
  country comparison to the world: 90
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  3.5% (31 December 2014 est.)
  3.5% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 165
  Stock of narrow money:
  $8.227 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $7.72 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 85
  Stock of broad money:
  $12.23 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $11.5 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 100
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $9.294 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $8.693 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 105
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $7.829 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
  $6.288 billion (31 December 2011)
  $7.099 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 79
  Current account balance:
  -$1.113 billion (2014 est.)
  -$350.2 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 71
  Exports:
  $14.58 billion (2014 est.)
  $12.87 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 82
  Exports - commodities:
  cocoa, coffee, timber, petroleum, cotton, bananas, pineapples, palm oil, fish
  Exports - partners:
  Ghana 8.8%, Netherlands 8.5%, Nigeria 8.4%, US 6.8%, Germany 6.1%, Gabon 5.7%, France 5.1%, Belgium 4.5% (2013)
  Imports:
  $9.788 billion (2014 est.)
  $8.976 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 103
  Imports - commodities:
  fuel, capital equipment, foodstuffs
  Imports - partners:
  Nigeria 23.1%, France 12.1%, China 8.7%, Bahamas, The 6.4% (2013)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $4.752 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $4.243 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 97
  Debt - external:
  $11.5 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $10.26 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 100
  Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
  $NA
  Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
  $NA
  Exchange rates:
  Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -
  491.2 (2014 est.)
  494.04 (2013 est.)
  510.29 (2012 est.)
  471.87 (2011 est.)
  495.28 (2010 est.)

- ## Energy :: COTE D'IVOIRE

- Electricity - production:
  5.87 billion kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 114
  Electricity - consumption:
  3.89 billion kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 126
  Electricity - exports:
  615 million kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 65
  Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 160
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  1.522 million kW (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 116
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  60.3% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 134
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 113
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  39.7% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 59
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 186
  Crude oil - production:
  37,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 63
  Crude oil - exports:
  32,190 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 50
  Crude oil - imports:
  49,780 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 58
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  100 million bbl (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 71
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  55,890 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 82
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  22,760 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 126
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  38,300 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 63
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  4,810 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 153
  Natural gas - production:
  1.619 billion cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 59
  Natural gas - consumption:
  1.619 billion cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 82
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 118
  Natural gas - imports:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 209
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  28.32 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 68
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  6.403 million Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 119

- ## Communications :: COTE D'IVOIRE

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 240,000
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 124
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 22.1 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 97 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 54
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: well-developed by African standards; telecommunications sector privatized in late 1990s and operational fixed lines have increased since that time with two fixed-line providers operating over open-wire lines, microwave radio relay, and fiber-optics; 90% digitalized
  domestic: with multiple mobile-cellular service providers competing in the market, usage has increased sharply to roughly 80 per 100 persons
  international: country code - 225; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) (2011)
  Broadcast media:
  2 state-owned TV stations; no private terrestrial TV stations, but satellite TV subscription service is available; 2 state-owned radio stations; some private radio stations; transmissions of several international broadcasters are available (2007)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 3 (1998)
  Television broadcast stations:
  14 (1998)
  Internet country code:
  .ci
  Internet users:
  total: 621,500
  percent of population: 2.7% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 129

- ## Transportation :: COTE D'IVOIRE

- Airports:
  27 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 124
  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 (2013)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 20
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
  914 to 1,523 m: 11
  under 914 m:
  3 (2013)
  Heliports:
  1 (2013)
  Pipelines:
  condensate 101 km; gas 256 km; oil 118 km; oil/gas/water 5 km; water 7 km (2013)
  Railways:
  total: 660 km
  narrow gauge: 660 km 1.000-m gauge
  note: an additional 622 km of this railroad extends into Burkina Faso (2008)
  country comparison to the world: 105
  Roadways:
  total: 81,996 km
  paved: 6,502 km
  unpaved: 75,494 km
  note: includes intercity and urban roads; another 20,000 km of dirt roads are in poor condition and 150,000 km of dirt roads are impassable (2007)
  country comparison to the world: 58
  Waterways:
  980 km (navigable rivers, canals, and numerous coastal lagoons) (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 66
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Abidjan, San-Pedro
  oil terminal(s): Espoir Offshore Terminal

- ## Military :: COTE D'IVOIRE

- Military branches:
  Republican Forces of Cote d'Ivoire (Force Republiques de Cote d'Ivoire, FRCI): Army, Navy, Cote d'Ivoire Air Force (Force Aerienne de la Cote d'Ivoire) (2015)
  Military service age and obligation:
  18-25 years of age for compulsory and voluntary male and female military service; conscription is not enforced; voluntary recruitment of former rebels into the new national army is restricted to ages 22-29 (2012)
  Manpower available for military service:
  males age 16-49: 5,247,522
  females age 16-49: 5,047,901 (2010 est.)
  Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 3,360,087
  females age 16-49: 3,196,033 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 247,011
  female: 242,958 (2010 est.)
  Military expenditures:
  1.65% of GDP (2012)
  1.49% of GDP (2011)
  1.65% of GDP (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 55

- ## Transnational Issues :: COTE D'IVOIRE

- Disputes - international:
  disputed maritime border between Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana
  Refugees and internally displaced persons:
  IDPs: 300,900 (post-election conflict in 2010-2011, as well as civil war from 2002-2004; most pronounced in western and southwestern regions) (2015)
  stateless persons: 700,000 (2014); note - many Ivoirians lack documentation proving their nationality, which prevent them from accessing education and healthcare; birth on Ivorian soil does not automatically result in citizenship; disputes over citizenship and the associated rights of the large population descended from migrants from neighboring countries is an ongoing source of tension and contributed to the country's 2002 civil war; some observers believe the government's mass naturalizations of thousands of people over the last couple of years is intended to boost its electoral support base; the government in October 2013 acceded to international conventions on statelessness and in August 2013 reformed its nationality law, key steps to clarify the nationality of thousands of residents
  Illicit drugs:
  illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for local consumption; utility as a narcotic transshipment point to Europe reduced by ongoing political instability; while rampant corruption and inadequate supervision leave the banking system vulnerable to money laundering, the lack of a developed financial system limits the country's utility as a major money-laundering center (2008)

GO TOP