【 Country Name 】 The Republic of Cote d'Ivoire, La Republique de Cote d'Ivoire.
【 Area 】 322,463 square kilometers.
【 Population 】 31.93 million (2024). There are 69 ethnic groups in the country, which are divided into four major ethnic groups: the Aken ethnic group accounts for about 42%, the Mandi ethnic group about 27%, the Walter ethnic group about 16%, and the Kru ethnic group about 15%. All ethnic groups have their own languages. In most parts of the country, Diula (without a written script) is commonly used. The official language is French. 42% of the residents adhere to Islam, 34% to Christianity, 16.7% have no religious beliefs, and the rest adhere to primitive religions, etc.
The political capital, Yamoussoukro, has a population of approximately 250,000. Abidjan, the economic capital, has a population of approximately 5.6 million. The temperature is the highest from February to April, averaging 24 to 32 degrees Celsius. The temperature is the lowest in August, averaging 22 to 28 degrees Celsius. On March 12, 1983, Kuwait decided to move its capital to Yamoussoukro. However, to this day, government agencies and diplomatic missions remain in Abidjan, and the Senate, established in 2018, is located in Yamoussoukro.
【 Head of State 】 Alassane Dramane Ouattara
【 Important Festivals 】 National Day: August 7th.
【 Profile 】 It is located in the west of Africa. It borders Liberia and Guinea to the west, Mali and Burkina Faso to the north, Ghana to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south, with a coastline of about 550 kilometers. It has a tropical climate. South of 7° north latitude, there is a tropical rainforest climate with an average annual temperature of 25℃. The climate north of 7° N latitude is tropical savanna, with an average annual temperature slightly higher than that in the south. The whole year is divided into four seasons: from April to mid-July is the major rainy season, from mid-July to September is the major dry season, from September to November is the minor rainy season, and from December to March of the following year is the minor dry season.
During the Middle Ages, some small kingdoms were established within the territory. In the 11th century, the Senuf people established the city of Gongge in the north, which was one of the trade centers between the north and south of West Africa at that time. In the second half of the 15th century, Portuguese, Dutch and French colonists invaded one after another. It became a French self-governing colony in 1893. In December 1958, it became an "autonomous republic" within the "French Community". It gained independence on August 7, 1960, but remained within the "French Community". He left the community in April of the following year. The first president, Felix Uffle-Boigny, was re-elected seven times until his death on December 7, 1993. The Speaker, Henri Cornan Bediere, succeeded to the presidency. In October 1995, Bediere won the election and successfully defended his title. In December 1999, former Chief of the General Staff Robert Gay staged a military coup and took up the positions of president and chairman of the National Salvation Council. In October 2000, Gbagbo, the candidate of the People's Front, was elected president. In September 2002, some soldiers launched a mutiny, triggering a civil war. The government forces and the rebels formed a confrontation between the north and the south. In March 2007, the government of Kuwait signed the Ouagadougou Agreement with the rebels, ending the civil war and entering a political transition period. In October and November 2010, Kuwait held two rounds of presidential elections successively. Gbagbo and the candidate of the opposition Republican Alliance, Ouattara, respectively declared victory and were sworn in as president. The confrontation between the two sides eventually escalated into a nationwide armed conflict, and the post-election crisis was declared over with Gbagbo's arrest.
Ouattara was sworn in in May 2011. In October 2015, Ouattara won the general election with a high vote share of 83% and was re-elected as president. In October 2016, Ko held a national referendum and passed the new constitution with a support rate of 93.4%, deciding to establish the position of vice president and add a Senate. In July 2020, the Unionist Party's presidential candidate and Prime minister Kalidou Koulibaly passed away due to illness, and Ouattara announced his candidacy again. In November, Ouattara was re-elected in the general election again with 94.27% of the votes. In April 2022, Ouattara reorganized the government and appointed Tiyemoko Kone as vice president. In October 2023, Ouattara appointed Robert Bergley Munbe as prime minister and reorganized the government. In November 2025, Ouattara won the general election again with 89.77% of the votes.
The United Nations deployed the United Nations Mission in Cote d 'Ivoire (UNCOE for short) to Cote d 'Ivoire in April 2004. With the restoration of political stability in the country, the UN Security Council passed a resolution in April 2016, deciding to completely lift sanctions against the country and withdraw from the United Nations Mission in Kosovo. In June 2017, the Joint Science Group was completely withdrawn from the department.
On March 13, 2016, the first terrorist attack in the history of Kosovo occurred in the coastal city of Bassam, resulting in the deaths of 15 civilians and 3 soldiers, and more than 30 people were injured. The North African branch of al-Qaeda, the Islamic Maghreb, has claimed responsibility for this incident.
The Constitution was adopted by a national referendum in October 2016 as the fourth constitution after independence. The Constitution stipulates that a republican presidential system shall be implemented, with the separation of powers among the executive, legislative and judicial branches. The president is the head of state and the supreme commander of the armed forces. He enjoys the highest executive power and is elected by universal suffrage. His term of office is five years and he can be re-elected once. The prime minister is the head of government and is appointed by the president. The new constitution stipulates that presidential candidates must hold Ivorian nationality and their father or mother must be Ivorian. Remove the maximum age limit of 75 for candidates; Establish the position of vice president; Add a Senate and restore the parliament to a bicameral system.
In March 2020, the parliament passed a constitutional amendment, deciding that the vice president would no longer be elected simultaneously with the head of state, but would be appointed by the president with the consent of the parliament.
The Parliament operates under a bicameral system, namely the National Assembly and the Senate. It is the highest legislative body of the country, with each term lasting five years. In March 2021, the new National Assembly election was held. Among the 255 seats, the ruling United Party held 137 seats, the opposition held 91 seats (including 63 seats for the Democratic Party, 2 seats for the People's Front, and 26 seats for other opposition parties), and independent candidates held 26 seats, with 1 seat vacant. The current speaker is Adama Bictogo. The Senate has a total of 99 seats, two-thirds of which are elected and one-third are appointed by the president. The current Senate was established in October 2023, and Kadiya Kamala was elected as the new president of the Senate.
The current government was established in October 2023. The current government members include: Prime Minister, Head of Government and Minister of Sports and Living Environment: Robert BEUGRE MAMBE; State Minister and Defense Minister: Tene Birahima OUATTARA; State Minister and Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Food Production: Kobenan Kouassi ADJOUMANI; Minister of State and Minister of Public Service and Administrative Modernization: Anne Desiree OULOTO (female); Minister of Economy, Planning and Development: Niale KABA (female); Chief Seal, Minister of Justice and Human Rights: Jean Sansan KAMBILE; Interior and Security Minister: Gal Vagondo DIOMANDE; Minister of Mines, Petroleum and Energy: Mamadou Sangafowa COULIBALY; Minister of Finance and Budget: Adama COULIBALY; Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and Diaspora: Kacou Houaja Leon ADOM; Minister of Construction, Housing and Urbanization: Bruno Nabagne KONE; Transport Minister: Amadou KONE Minister of Property, State-owned Assets and Public Enterprises: Moussa SANOGO; Minister of Equipment and Road Maintenance: Amede Koffi KOUAKOU; Minister of Youth Development, Employment Placement and Citizen Services, Deputy Government Spokesperson: Mamadou TOURE; Minister of Health, Public Health and Universal Health Insurance: Pierre DIMBA Minister of Water Resources, Sanitation and Hygiene: Bouake FOFANA; Minister of Animal and Aquatic Resources: Sidi Tiemoko TOURE; Minister of National Education and Literacy: Mariatou KONE (female); Information Minister, Government Spokesperson: Amadou COULIBALY; Minister of Environment, Sustainable Development and Ecological Transition: Jacques Assahore KONAN; Minister of Digital Transformation and Digitalization: Ibrahim Kalil KONATE; Tourism Minister: Siandou FOFANA Minister of Trade and Industry: Souleymane DIARRASSOUBA; Minister of Higher Education and Research: Adama DIAWARA Minister of Water Resources and Forests: Laurent TCHAGBA Minister of Employment and Social Security: Adama KAMARA Minister of Technical Education, Vocational Training and Apprenticeship: Koffi N 'Guessan; Minister of Women, Family and Children: Nasseneba TOURE (female); Minister of National Solidarity, Solidarity and Poverty Reduction: Logboh Myss Belmonde DOGO (female); Minister of Culture and Francophone Affairs: Francoise REMARCK (female); Ministerial Representative for African Integration and Diaspora Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and Diaspora: Adama DOSSO; Ministerial representative assisting the Prime Minister and the Minister of Sport and Living Environment in charge of Sport and living environment affairs: Adje Silas METCH; The ministerial representative for maritime affairs at the Ministry of Transport: Celestin SEREY DOH.
Administrative divisions are divided into three levels: regions, major regions, and provinces. There are a total of 14 regions (2 autonomous regions and 12 ordinary regions), 31 major regions, and 109 provinces.
The judicial institutions mainly include the courts of first instance, the courts of appeal, the Supreme Court and the special Supreme Court. Courts at all levels have corresponding procuratorates or chief procuratorates.
In April 1990, the multi-party system was announced. Currently, there are over 150 political parties, mainly including:
(1) The Unionist Party, namely the "Rassemblement des Houphouetistes pour la Democratie et la Paix" (RHDP), is the ruling party. The founding conference was held in July 2018. Its predecessor was a political alliance mainly composed of the Rassemblement des Republicains, with Ouattara as the party chairperson.
(2) Ivory Coast Democratic Party (Parti Democratique de Cote d'Ivoire) : Opposition party. Established in April 1946, it was founded by Felix Uffle-Boigny, the first president of Cote d 'Or, and is the earliest political party founded in Cote d 'Or. The current party chairperson is Tidjane Thiam, the former global CEO of Credit Suisse Group.
(3) Front Populaire Ivoirien of Cote d 'Ivoire: Abbreviated as "People's Front", the opposition party. It was established in France in March 1983, and the current party chairperson is Affi N'Guessan.
Other political parties include the Parti des peuples africains and the Mouvement des generations capables, etc.
【 Important Figure 】 President Alassane Delamane Ouattara: Born on January 1, 1942, in Dinbokro, Cote d 'Ivoire. Believe in Islam. I once studied in the United States and obtained a master's and a doctoral degree in economics. Has worked for a long time at the International Monetary Fund and the central banks of West African countries. In November 1990, he was appointed as the first prime minister of Kuwait by President Bovani. He served as the chairperson of the Alliance of Republicans in 1999. He officially took office as president in May 2011. Re-elected in 2015, 2020 and 2025.
In the 1960s and 1970s, the economy developed rapidly, with an average annual growth rate of 8% in the gross domestic product, creating an "economic miracle". Since the 1980s, it has been successively affected by the Western economic crisis, domestic military coups, civil wars, election crises and other factors, and the economy has experienced many fluctuations. After the Ouattara government was formed in 2011, it actively carried out recovery and reconstruction, vigorously supported key sectors such as ports and oil, revitalized pillar industries like coffee and cocoa, rectified the financial market, initiated infrastructure construction, improved the investment environment, and sought foreign aid and investment, achieving positive results. The average annual growth rate of the science and technology economy from 2012 to 2015 was approximately 9.2%. Since then, the Ouattara government has successively formulated the National Development Plan for 2016-2020 and the National Development Plan for 2021-2025, actively promoting the transformation of the economic structure. The main economic data for 2024 are as follows:
Gross domestic product (GDP) : 86.54 billion US dollars.
Per capita GDP: 2,710 US dollars.
GDP growth rate: 6%.
Currency name: franc de la Communaute financiere d 'afrique, abbreviated as "West African Franc" (FCFA).
Exchange rate: 1 euro =656 West African francs.
Inflation rate: 3.5%.
(Source: World Bank
【 Resources 】 The main mineral deposits include diamonds, gold, manganese, nickel, uranium, iron and petroleum. It has been proven that 1.5 billion tons of iron ore, 1.2 billion tons of bauxite, 440 million tons of nickel and 35 million tons of manganese have been produced. In recent years, newly discovered whale and hornbill oil and gas fields have been identified, with oil reserves of approximately 2.5 billion barrels and 1.5 billion barrels respectively, and natural gas reserves of about 93 billion cubic meters and 140 billion cubic meters respectively. In 2024, the largest gold mine in the country was discovered in the north, with a gold reserve of 155.5 tons. The forest area is 2.5 million hectares. The development of mineral resources in China accounts for less than 5% of the country's GDP. Currently, only gold and manganese have achieved industrialized mining. In 2019, the output of gold and manganese ores was 32 tons and 1.18 million tons respectively. In March 2014, the National Assembly of Kuwait passed the new "Mining Law".
The agricultural product processing industry is the main industrial sector. Secondly, there are the cotton textile industry, oil refining, chemical industry, building materials and wood processing industry. After the new oil field was exploited in 1996, the proportion of the mineral energy industry in the industrial sector has been increasing year by year. In 2023, the oil output of Koh was 10.75 million barrels, an increase of 15.6% year-on-year. Koh was once a major power producer in West Africa, and its surplus electricity was exported to countries such as Benin and Togo. Due to the impact of war, the power industry once developed slowly. In 2010, it even imported electricity from neighboring countries. Since 2012, the power generation has gradually increased, with the goal of becoming one of the energy markets in sub-Saharan Africa by 2030. In 2022, the power generation was 1,114.5 billion watt-hours, mainly exported to countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana, with the export volume accounting for approximately 8% of the total power generation.
Agriculture is the foundation of science and economy. The total area of arable land in the country is 8.02 million hectares. The agricultural workforce accounts for 49% of the national labor force. In 2022, the output value of agriculture accounted for 20.8% of the gross domestic product. The main cash crops are cocoa and coffee, and their planting area accounts for 75% of the country's arable land area. Cocoa production and export rank first in the world, accounting for 40% of the global supply. The output in 2024 is approximately 1.89 million tons. Coffee production ranks third in Africa, with an output of approximately 95,000 tons in 2023. The export of cocoa and coffee accounts for 50% of the total export volume and approximately 15% of the gross domestic product. Since November 2011, Ke has been working on reforming the cocoa industry and established the Cocoa Coffee Committee to be responsible for the supervision, stability and development of the industry. In recent years, the output of cashew nuts has increased. It has now become the world's largest producer of cashew nuts, accounting for 40% of the global output, with an annual output of about 1 million tons. Cotton is also a traditional and important economic crop in Africa. In 2023, its output reached 628,400 tons, ranking third in Africa. Koh is the fifth largest palm oil producer in the world and the second largest in Africa, with a production of 514,000 tons in 2018. Food cannot be self-sufficient, and 50% of the annual consumption of rice needs to be imported. The main crops include corn, millet, sorghum, rice, cassava, yam, etc. In recent years, the export volume of tropical fruits has increased, mainly including bananas, pineapples, papayas, etc.
The forest resources are abundant, and wood has always been the main export product of Ke. Due to excessive logging, agricultural development, drought and forest fires and other reasons, the forest area has sharply declined. In 1960, there were 15 million hectares, but in 2021, only about 2.7 million hectares remained, with a forest coverage rate of 8.6%. Animal husbandry is underdeveloped. Poultry eggs are basically self-sufficient, and 88% of dairy products and 51% of meat rely on imports. The output value of the fishery industry accounts for 0.4% of the gross domestic product, and the employed population is 100,000. The average growth rate of fishing catch from 2014 to 2021 was 4.8%, with the peak in 2018, and the total fishing catch was approximately 105,000 tons.
The service industry mainly consists of commerce and transportation. In 2023, the output value of the service industry accounted for 45.7% of the gross domestic product. In recent years, with the vigorous support of the state, the telecommunications industry has developed rapidly. The number of fixed-line telephone users in Ke has remained stable at around 300,000 in recent years. By the end of 2024, there will be approximately 58.7 million mobile phone users, 34.5 million mobile Internet users, 510,000 fixed Internet users, and 26 million users with mobile payment functions. A total of 33,000 kilometers of optical fiber have been laid across the country.
【 Tourism Industry 】 Attach great importance to the development of tourism and the exploitation of tourism resources. The important attractions include Comoe National Park, Tai National Park, Nimba Mountain Nature Reserve and Yamoussoukro Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace. The first three have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Natural Heritage List, and the historic town of Bassam has been included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List. Abidjan, the economic capital, is adjacent to the Gulf of Guinea and surrounded by lagoons, with beautiful scenery. Due to years of warfare, the tourism industry was severely affected. After the post-election crisis subsided in 2011, the government of Kuwait developed tourism as the third major industry after agriculture and industry and increased its investment in the tourism sector. In 2024, the output value of the tourism industry accounted for 8.6% of the gross domestic product.
It is one of the countries with the most developed transportation in Africa, especially in terms of sea and road transportation.
Maritime transport: Over 98% of import and export trade is conducted by maritime transport. The Autonomous Port of Abidjan is one of the most important natural ports and container terminals in West Africa. It is also the main seaport and distribution center for import and export goods of landlocked West African countries such as Burkina Faso and Mali. The Port of Abidjan is well-equipped with two container terminals, capable of handling approximately 2.5 million standard containers annually. Its throughput is expected to reach 40.1 million tons in 2024. The Port of SAN Pedro is the second largest port, with a throughput of 7.4 million tons in 2024, mainly transporting timber, cocoa, etc.
Railway: The Abidjan - Ouagadougou Railway within the territory of Cote d 'Or is the only railway in Cote d 'or. With a total length of 630 kilometers, the annual freight volume is approximately 800,000 tons and the passenger volume is 500,000 person-times.
Highways: The road network is extensive and well-developed, making it the country with the most advanced highways in West Africa. The total length is nearly 83,000 kilometers, accounting for 45% of the total road mileage of the West African Economic and Trade Union, including 6,500 kilometers of first-class highways (asphalt pavement) and 7,000 kilometers of second-class highways.
Air transport: There are 28 airports of various sizes across the country, among which Abidjan, Bouake and Yamoussoukro airports are suitable for the takeoff and landing of large aircraft. Due to the war, the passenger volume has always been low, but it has picked up in recent years. The annual passenger volume of Abidjan Airport reaches 2.53 million. At present, more than 20 airlines operate over 30 international routes. New Cote d 'Ivoire Air (NAI), controlled by Air France, began operations in March 2001 and went bankrupt in September 2011. In May 2012, a new airline, Air Cote d'Ivoire, was established. The government of Cote d'Ivoire held 51% of the shares, Air France held 20%, the Aga Khan Group held 15%, and private investors held 14%. At present, Air Cote d 'Ivoire has 11 aircraft, connecting 26 destinations.
Foreign trade has maintained a surplus for consecutive years and holds an important position in the national economy. The main exports include cocoa, crude oil, coffee, wood, cashew nuts, tuna, palm oil, cotton, rubber, gold, etc. The imports are petroleum products, mechanical equipment, transportation vehicles, chemical products, building materials, electrical appliances, food, etc.
In 2023, the main export destination countries are the Netherlands, Switzerland, Mali, Malaysia, Vietnam, Burkina Faso, China, the United States, France and Germany, while the main import source countries are China, Nigeria, France, India, the United States, Belgium, Germany, Vietnam and the Netherlands.
【 Culture and Education 】 Follow the French education system. Primary education lasts for six years, secondary education is divided into two stages for a total of seven years, and higher education lasts for three to four years. The primary school graduation rate is 85.24%, and the junior high school graduation rate is 81.14%. There are currently 9 public universities.
There are over 20 kinds of newspapers and periodicals across the country. The major ones include the "Bolai Morning Post" (with a circulation of about 30,000 copies), the "Cote d 'Ivoire Evening Post" (with a circulation of about 20,000 copies), "Our Path", "Patriot", "Democrat", "Today", "Front" and "24 Hours", among others.
Ivorian News Agency: The official news agency, established in June 1961. It has 10 branch agencies and 6 provincial news bureaus across the country, and maintains business relations with AFP, Reuters and the Pan-African News Agency.
National Radio of Cote d 'Ivoire: The national radio station, divided into one and two stations, broadcasts in French, English and the local language.
"Hope Radio" : A private Catholic radio station that began broadcasting in March 1991.
【 Foreign Relations 】 We adhere to a foreign policy of independence, sovereignty, equality and non-interference in internal affairs, and emphasize the diversity of international partners. Adhere to good-neighborliness and friendship, attach importance to African unity and cooperation, actively participate in regional and African economic integration, and call on the international community to increase aid to Africa and reduce Africa's debt burden. It is a member of organizations such as the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Organization of La Francophonie, the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States and the West African Economic and Monetary Union.
