Cote d'Ivoire - General Information

Geographic Map | Geography | Natural resources | Economy
Population | History & politics | Security Information | Sources

Côte d'Ivoire - General Information

Official Name:

République de Côte d'Ivoire

Capital:

Abidjan - population: 2,500,000 (1996)

Head of State:

President Laurent Gbagbo (October 2000)

National Currencies and current exchange rates:

CFA Franc; Average exchange rate in 1999 – CFA franc 615.70:US$1; Exchange rate on January 25, 2002: CFA franc 741.87:US$1 = Euro 652.845

National Day and other important days:

1 January; 1 May (Labour Day), 7 August (Independence Day); 1 November (All Saints' Day); 7 December (National Day); 25 December. Variable dates: Eid el-Fitr, Eid el_Adha, Easter, Tabaski, Whit Monday

System Of Government:

Unitary republic

Ethnic groups:

The main groups are the Akans (Abron, Baoule and Agni) the Mandés (Malinkés, Doulas, Yaaoucouba and Gouros), and the Voltaïque ethnic groups, notably the Senoufos, and non-Africans 130,000 to 330,000 (mostly French and Lebanese). Nearly 40% of the population consists of first- and second-generation foreigners, chiefly of Burkinabè, Malian, Guinean, and Ghanaian origin. The influx from essentially Muslim countries has resulted in the country's religious majority to shift.

Languages:

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

Religions:

Muslim 45%, Christian 40%, and indigenous 18%. Previously a predominantly Christian country, the influx from essentially Muslim countries has caused the country's religious majority to shift.