Sub Saharan Africa

Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
Last reviewed: 10 April 2012

Country information

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Area: 322,463 sq km; 133,425 sq miles
Population: 21,600,000 (2010 IMF estimate)
Capital City: Yamoussoukro (243,000)
Economic Capital: Abidjan (over 4,000,000)
People and Languages: Côte d'Ivoire is home to 60 ethnic groups, including the Akan, of which the Baoulé is the largest sub-group, the Senoufou, the Mande/Dioula, the Kru and the Yacouba. The official language is French, but Baoulé, Bété, Dioula and other local languages are widely used.
Religion: Muslim, Christian, indigenous beliefs.
Currency: CFA Franc (FCFA). Pegged at FCFA 656 = €1.00
Main Political Parties: PDCI-RDA - Parti démocratique de la Côte d’Ivoire -Rassemblement démocratique africain; FPI - Front populaire ivoirien; RDR - Rassemblement des républicains; UDPCI - Union pour la démocrates et la paix en Côte d’Ivoire .
Head of State: Alassane Ouattara.
Prime Minister: Jeannot Ahoussou.
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).