Country information

Area: 322,463 sq km; 133,425 sq miles
Population: 18,154,000 (2005 UN estimate)
Capital City: Yamoussoukro (110,000)
Economic Capital: Abidjan (over 3 million)
People and Languages: Côte d'Ivoire is home to 60 ethnic groups, including the Akan, of which the Baoule is the largest sub-group, the Senoufou, the Mande/Dioula, the Krou and the Yacouba. The official language is French, but Dioula, Baoule and other local languages are widely used.
Religion: Muslim, Christian, indigenous beliefs.
Currency: CFA Franc (FCFA). Pegged at FCFA 655.957 = euro 1.00
Major Political Parties: PDCI-RDA - Parti democratique de Cote d'Ivoire-Rassemblement democratique africain; FPI – Front populaire ivoirien; RDR – Rassemblement des Republicains; UDPCI – Union pour la Democratie et la Paix en Cote d'Ivoire.
Head of State: Laurent Gbagbo.
Prime Minister: Charles Guillaume Soro.
Membership of international groups/organisations: United Nations (UN), African Union (AU), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Union economique et monetaire ouest africaine (UEMOA), African Development Bank (AFDB), International Organisation of the Francophonie (OIF).  

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