16.7 million (2002), 32.2 million (2050)

There are four main ethnic groups are Kru, Akan, Voltaic speakers and Mande. These are subdivided into about 80 smaller groups, and there are also many 'non-Ivorians' living in the country, mostly from neighbouring countries.

Nearly two-thirds profess traditional African or animist beliefs, while the rest are Muslims (23 percent) or Christians (12 percent). However, it is difficult to quantify the traditions and beliefs of 'non-Ivorian' immigrants.

Tropical with rain all year round; dry season November-April; southern and coastal areas have two separate seasons when rain is heaviest from April-July and October-November; inland and in north rain becomes less from June-October and in dry November-May.

CFA Franc

2004: Jan 1, Feb 2*, April 9, 12, May 1, 20, 31, Aug 7, 15, Nov 1, 14*, Dec 7, 25
*dependent on Islamic lunar calendar and may vary by one or two days from dates given

220V AC 50Hz

Passport required; visas required except for nationals of most West African countries and U.S. citizens.

International driving licence required.

Yellow fever required by all, hepatitis A, tetanus, typhoid immunisation recommended; malaria exists all year throughout the country.

102 per 1,000 live births (2001)

1,200 per 100,000 live births (1995)

41.2 years men, 42.1 years women (2001)

41 percent men, 63 percent women

80-94 percent (access to essential drugs) (1999)

81 percent (2000)

0.396 (2001)

$10.1 billion (2002)

$602 (2002)

1.0 percent (2002)

4.9 percent (2002)

$10.3 billion (2002)

$175 million (estimated) (2003)

$144 million (estimated) (2003)

17,050 active (estimated); 10,000 reserves

6,500; 5 light tanks

900 (estimated); 2 coastal patrol combat vessels

700; 9 combat aircraft, 8 armed helicopters

Movement for Justice and Peace, Greater West Ivorian Popular Movement, Patriotic Movement of Cote D'Ivoire

There are three international airports at Abidjan, Bouake and Yamoussoukro, and smaller airports at five other towns. Work to expand and modernize Abidjan's airport began in 1996 and was scheduled for completion in 2000.

Air Inter Ivoire, operated out of Abidjan, serves Cote d'Ivoire with internal flights.

Air Ivoire, operated out of Abidjan, is partially state-owned and serves western African and Ivory Coast.

In 1999, Cote d'Ivoire's rail network totalled 1,316 km, including 660 km from Abidjan to Niangoloko.

There are about 68,000 km of roads, of which about 6,000 km are paved. In the mid-1990s, tolls were being introduced on some roads to support a major project to rehabilitate, repair and extend the network.

293,600 main telephone lines in use (2001)

As a result of widespread civil unrest in 2002, much international freight transport that once moved into West Africa via Cote d'Ivoire now moves in through neighbouring countries. However, Abidjan is still the largest container and trading port in West Africa, and access to the port is via the 2.7-km Vridi Canal.