The 1999 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

      Climate: tropical along coast, semiarid in far north; three seasons—warm and dry (November to March), hot and dry (March to May), hot and wet (June to October)

      Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plains; mountains in northwest

      Elevation extremes: lowest point: Gulf of Guinea 0 m highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m

      Natural resources: petroleum, diamonds, manganese, iron ore,

       cobalt, bauxite, copper

      Land use:

       arable land: 8%

       permanent crops: 4%

       permanent pastures: 41%

       forests and woodland: 22%

       other: 25% (1993 est.)

      Irrigated land: 680 sq km (1993 est.)

      Natural hazards: coast has heavy surf and no natural harbors; during the rainy season torrential flooding is possible

      Environment—current issues: deforestation (most of the country's forests—once the largest in West Africa—have been cleared by the timber industry); water pollution from sewage and industrial and agricultural effluents

      Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

      People

      Population: 15,818,068 (July 1999 est.)

      Age structure:

       0–14 years: 47% (male 3,702,051; female 3,664,672)

       15–64 years: 51% (male 4,154,440; female 3,952,999)

       65 years and over: 2% (male 174,065; female 169,841) (1999 est.)

      Population growth rate: 2.35% (1999 est.)

      Birth rate: 41.76 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

      Death rate: 16.17 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

      Net migration rate: −2.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.) note: after Liberia's civil war started in 1990, more than 350,000 refugees fled to Cote d'Ivoire and, by September 1998, according to the UNHCR, about 85,000 remain

      Sex ratio:

       at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

       under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

       15–64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

       65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female

       total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

      Infant mortality rate: 94.17 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

      Life expectancy at birth: total population: 46.05 years male: 44.48 years female: 47.67 years (1999 est.)

      Total fertility rate: 5.89 children born/woman (1999 est.)

      Nationality: noun: Ivorian(s) adjective: Ivorian

      Ethnic groups: Baoule 23%, Bete 18%, Senoufou 15%, Malinke 11%,

       Agni, Africans from other countries (mostly Burkinabe and Malians,

       about 3 million), non-Africans 130,000 to 330,000 (French 30,000 and

       Lebanese 100,000 to 300,000)

      Religions: Muslim 60%, Christian 22%, indigenous 18% (some of

       these are also numbered among the Christians and Muslims)

      Languages: French (official), 60 native dialects with Dioula the

       most widely spoken

      Literacy:

       definition: age 15 and over can read and write

       total population: 48.5%

       male: 57%

       female: 40%

      Government

      Country name:

       conventional long form: Republic of Cote d'Ivoire

       conventional short form: Cote d'Ivoire

       local long form: Republique de Cote d'Ivoire

       local short form: Cote d'Ivoire

       former: Ivory Coast

      Data code: IV

      Government type: republic; multiparty presidential regime

       established 1960

      Capital: Yamoussoukro

       note: although Yamoussoukro has been the capital since 1983, Abidjan

       remains the administrative center; the US, like other countries,

       maintains its Embassy in Abidjan

      Administrative divisions: 50 departments (departements,

       singular—departement); Abengourou, Abidjan, Aboisso, Adzope,

       Agboville, Agnibilekrou, Bangolo, Beoumi, Biankouma, Bondoukou,

       Bongouanou, Bouafle, Bouake, Bouna, Boundiali, Dabakala, Daloa,

       Danane, Daoukro, Dimbokro, Divo, Duekoue, Ferkessedougou, Gagnoa,

       Grand-Lahou, Guiglo, Issia, Katiola, Korhogo, Lakota, Man, Mankono,

       Mbahiakro, Odienne, Oume, Sakassou, San-Pedro, Sassandra, Seguela,

       Sinfra, Soubre, Tabou, Tanda, Tingrela, Tiassale, Touba, Toumodi,

       Vavoua, Yamoussoukro, Zuenoula

       note: Cote d'Ivoire may have a new administrative structure

       consisting of 58 departments; the following additional departments

       have been reported but not yet confirmed by the US Board on

       Geographic Names (BGN); Adiake', Ale'pe', Dabon, Grand Bassam,

       Jacqueville, Tiebissou, Toulepleu, Bocanda

      Independence: 7 August 1960 (from France)

      National holiday: National Day, 7 August

      Constitution: 3 November 1960; has been amended numerous times, last time July 1998

      Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review in the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

      Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal

      Executive branch:

       chief of state: President Henri Konan BEDIE (since 7 December 1993);

       note—succeeded to the presidency following the death of President

       Felix HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY, who had served continuously since November

       1960

       head of government: Prime Minister Daniel Kablan DUNCAN (since 10

       December 1993)

       cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president

       elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;

       election last held 22 October 1995 (next to be held October 2000);

       prime minister appointed by the president

       election results: Henri Konan BEDIE elected president; percent of

       vote—Henri Konan BEDIE 96%