Legend:
 Definition
 Field Listing
 Rank Order
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Background:
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Close ties to France since independence in 1960, the development of cocoa production for export, and foreign investment made Cote d'Ivoire one of the most prosperous of the tropical African states, but did not protect it from political turmoil. On 25 December 1999, a military coup - the first ever in Cote d'Ivoire's history - overthrew the government led by President Henri Konan BEDIE. Junta leader Robert GUEI held elections in late 2000, but excluded prominent opposition leader Alassane OUATTARA, blatantly rigged the polling results, and declared himself winner. Popular protest forced GUEI to step aside and brought runner-up Laurent GBAGBO into power. Ivorian dissidents and disaffected members of the military launched a failed coup attempt in September 2002. Rebel forces claimed the northern half of the country and in January 2003 were granted ministerial positions in a unity government under the auspices of the Linas-Marcoussis Peace Accord. President GBAGBO and rebel forces resumed implementation of the peace accord in December 2003 after a three-month stalemate, but issues that sparked the civil war, such as land reform and grounds for nationality remain unresolved. The central government has yet to exert control over the northern regions and tensions remain high between GBAGBO and rebel leaders. Several thousand French and West African troops remain in Cote d'Ivoire to maintain peace and facilitate the disarmament, demobilization, and rehabilitation process.
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Location:
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Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Ghana and Liberia
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Geographic coordinates:
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8 00 N, 5 00 W
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Map references:
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Africa
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Area:
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total: 322,460 sq km
land: 318,000 sq km
water: 4,460 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly larger than New Mexico
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Land boundaries:
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total: 3,110 km
border countries: Burkina Faso 584 km, Ghana 668 km, Guinea 610 km, Liberia 716 km, Mali 532 km
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Coastline:
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515 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
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Climate:
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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)
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Terrain:
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mostly flat to undulating plains; mountains in northwest
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Gulf of Guinea 0 m
highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m
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Natural resources:
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petroleum, natural gas, diamonds, manganese, iron ore, cobalt, bauxite, copper, gold, nickel, tantalum, silica sand, clay, cocoa beans, coffee, palm oil, hydropower
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Land use:
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arable land: 9.75%
permanent crops: 13.84%
other: 76.41% (2001)
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Irrigated land:
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730 sq km (1998 est.)
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Natural hazards:
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coast has heavy surf and no natural harbors; during the rainy season torrential flooding is possible
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Environment - current issues:
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deforestation (most of the country's forests - once the largest in West Africa - have been heavily logged); water pollution from sewage and industrial and agricultural effluents
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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Geography - note:
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most of the inhabitants live along the sandy coastal region; apart from the capital area, the forested interior is sparsely populated
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Population:
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17,298,040
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.)
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 41% (male 3,490,536/female 3,596,208)
15-64 years: 56.3% (male 4,920,726/female 4,820,326)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 231,514/female 238,730) (2005 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 19.05 years
male: 19.36 years
female: 18.76 years (2005 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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2.06% (2005 est.)
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Birth rate:
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35.51 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
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Death rate:
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14.94 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
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Net migration rate:
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0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 90.83 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 107.64 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 73.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 48.62 years
male: 46.05 years
female: 51.27 years (2005 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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4.58 children born/woman (2005 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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7% (2003 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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570,000 (2003 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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47,000 (2003 est.)
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Major infectious diseases:
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degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria, yellow fever, and others are high risks in some locations
water contact: schistosomiasis (2004)
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Nationality:
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noun: Ivoirian(s)
adjective: Ivoirian
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Ethnic groups:
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Akan 42.1%, Voltaiques or Gur 17.6%, Northern Mandes 16.5%, Krous 11%, Southern Mandes 10%, other 2.8% (includes 130,000 Lebanese and 14,000 French) (1998)
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Religions:
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Christian 20-30%, Muslim 35-40%, indigenous 25-40% (2001)
note: the majority of foreigners (migratory workers) are Muslim (70%) and Christian (20%)
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Languages:
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French (official), 60 native dialects with Dioula the most widely spoken
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 50.9%
male: 57.9%
female: 43.6% (2003 est.)
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Country name:
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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
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Government type:
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republic; multiparty presidential regime established 1960
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Capital:
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Yamoussoukro; note - although Yamoussoukro has been the official capital since 1983, Abidjan remains the commercial and administrative center; the US, like other countries, maintains its Embassy in Abidjan
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Administrative divisions:
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19 regions; Agneby, Bafing, Bas-Sassandra, Denguele, Dix-Huit Montagnes, Fromager, Haut-Sassandra, Lacs, Lagunes, Marahoue, Moyen-Cavally, Moyen-Comoe, N'zi-Comoe, Savanes, Sud-Bandama, Sud-Comoe, Vallee du Bandama, Worodougou, Zanzan
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Independence:
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7 August 1960 (from France)
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 7 August (1960)
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Constitution:
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a new constitution was adopted 4 August 2000
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Legal system:
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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
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: President Laurent GBAGBO (since 26 October 2000);
head of government: Prime Minister Seydou DIARRA (since 25 January 2003); note - appointed as transitional Prime Minister by President GBAGBO as part of a French brokered peace plan
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 26 October 2000 (next to be held October 2005); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Laurent GBAGBO elected president; percent of vote - Laurent GBAGBO 59.4%, Robert GUEI 32.7%, Francis WODIE 5.7%, other 2.2%
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (225 seats; members are elected in single- and multi-district elections by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: elections last held 10 December 2000 with by-elections on 14 January 2001 (next to be held October 2005)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - FPI 96, PDCI-RDA 94, RDR 5, PIT 4, other 2, independents 22, vacant 2
note: a Senate is scheduled to be created in the next full election in 2005
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court or Cour Supreme consists of four chambers: Judicial Chamber for criminal cases, Audit Chamber for financial cases, Constitutional Chamber for judicial review cases, and Administrative Chamber for civil cases; there is no legal limit to the number of members
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Political parties and leaders:
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Citizen's Democratic Union or UDCY [Eg Theodore MEL]; Democratic Party of Cote d'Ivoire-African Democratic Rally or PDCI-RDA [Henri Konan BEDIE]; Ivorian Popular Front or FPI [Laurent GBAGBO]; Ivorian Worker's Party or PIT [Francis WODIE]; Rally of the Republicans or RDR [Alassane OUATTARA]; Union for Democracy and Peace or UDPCI [Paul Akoto YAO]; over 20 smaller parties
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA
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International organization participation:
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ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Daouda DIABATE
chancery: 3421 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 797-0300
FAX: [1] (202) 462-9444
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Aubrey HOOKS
embassy: 5 Rue Jesse Owens, Abidjan
mailing address: B. P. 1712, Abidjan 01
telephone: [225] 20 21 09 79
FAX: [225] 20 22 32 59
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Flag description:
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three equal vertical bands of orange (hoist side), white, and green; similar to the flag of Ireland, which is longer and has the colors reversed - green (hoist side), white, and orange; also similar to the flag of Italy, which is green (hoist side), white, and red; design was based on the flag of France
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Economy - overview:
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Cote d'Ivoire is among the world's largest producers and exporters of coffee, cocoa beans, and palm oil. Consequently, the economy is highly sensitive to fluctuations in international prices for these products and weather conditions. Despite government attempts to diversify the economy, it is still heavily dependent on agriculture and related activities, engaging roughly 68% of the population. After several years of lagging performance, the Ivorian economy began a comeback in 1994, due to the 50% devaluation of the CFA franc and improved prices for cocoa and coffee, growth in nontraditional primary exports such as pineapples and rubber, limited trade and banking liberalization, offshore oil and gas discoveries, and generous external financing and debt rescheduling by multilateral lenders and France. Moreover, government adherence to donor-mandated reforms led to a jump to 5% annual growth during 1996-99. Growth was negative in 2000-03 because of the difficulty of meeting the conditions of international donors, continued low prices of key exports, and severe civil war. In November 2004 the situation deteriorated when President GBAGBO's troops attacked and killed nine French peacekeeping forces, and the UN imposed an arms embargo. Political uncertainty has clouded the economic outlook for 2005, with fear among Ivorians spreading, foreign investment shriveling, businessmen fleeing, travel within the country falling, and criminal elements that traffic in weapons and diamonds gaining ground.
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $24.78 billion (2004 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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-1% (2004 est.)
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $1,500 (2004 est.)
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 27.8%
industry: 19.4%
services: 52.8% (2004 est.)
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Investment (gross fixed):
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11.3% of GDP (2004 est.)
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Population below poverty line:
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37% (1995)
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: 3.1%
highest 10%: 28.8% (1995)
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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36.7 (1995)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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1.4% (2004 est.)
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Labor force:
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6.7 million (68% agricultural) (2004 est.)
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Unemployment rate:
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13% in urban areas (1998)
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Budget:
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revenues: $2.412 billion
expenditures: $2.767 billion, including capital expenditures of $420 million (2004 est.)
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Public debt:
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74.8% of GDP (2004 est.)
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Agriculture - products:
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coffee, cocoa beans, bananas, palm kernels, corn, rice, manioc (tapioca), sweet potatoes, sugar, cotton, rubber; timber
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Industries:
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foodstuffs, beverages; wood products, oil refining, truck and bus assembly, textiles, fertilizer, building materials, electricity, ship construction and repair
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Industrial production growth rate:
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15% (1998 est.)
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Electricity - production:
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4.759 billion kWh (2002)
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Electricity - consumption:
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2.976 billion kWh (2002)
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Electricity - exports:
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1.45 billion kWh (2002)
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2002)
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Oil - production:
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29,300 bbl/day (2004 est.)
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Oil - consumption:
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32,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
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Oil - exports:
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NA
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Oil - imports:
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NA
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Oil - proved reserves:
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220 million bbl (2004 est.)
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Natural gas - production:
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1.35 billion cu m (2001 est.)
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Natural gas - consumption:
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1.35 billion cu m (2001 est.)
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m (2001 est.)
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Natural gas - imports:
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0 cu m (2001 est.)
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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14.87 billion cu m (2004)
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Current account balance:
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$-421.5 million (2004 est.)
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Exports:
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$5.124 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
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Exports - commodities:
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cocoa, coffee, timber, petroleum, cotton, bananas, pineapples, palm oil, fish
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Exports - partners:
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France 19%, Netherlands 17.7%, US 7.1%, Spain 5.6% (2003)
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Imports:
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$3.36 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
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Imports - commodities:
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fuel, capital equipment, foodstuffs
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Imports - partners:
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France 32.7%, Nigeria 14.4%, UK 7% (2003)
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Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:
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$1.95 billion (2004 est.)
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Debt - external:
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$11.81 billion (2004 est.)
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Economic aid - recipient:
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ODA, $1 billion (1996 est.)
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Currency:
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Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States
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Currency code:
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XOF
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Exchange rates:
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Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 528.28 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.988 (2002), 733.039 (2001), 711.976 (2000)
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year
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Railways:
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total: 660 km
narrow gauge: 660 km 1.000-meter gauge
note: an additional 622 km of this railroad extends into Burkina Faso (2003)
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Highways:
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total: 50,400 km
paved: 4,889 km
unpaved: 45,511 km (1999 est.)
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Waterways:
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980 km (navigable rivers, canals, and numerous coastal lagoons) (2003)
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Pipelines:
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condensate 107 km; gas 223 km; oil 104 km (2004)
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Ports and harbors:
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Abidjan, Aboisso, Dabou, San-Pedro
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Airports:
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37 (2004 est.)
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 7
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2004 est.)
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 30
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 8 (2004 est.)
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Disputes - international:
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rebel and ethnic fighting against the central government in 2002 has spilled into neighboring states, driven out foreign cocoa workers from nearby countries, and, in 2004, resulted in 6,000 peacekeepers deployed as part of UN Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) assisting 4,000 French troops already in-country; the Ivorian Government accuses Burkina Faso and Liberia of supporting Ivorian rebels
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Refugees and internally displaced persons:
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refugees (country of origin): 71,711 (Liberia)
IDPs: 500,000 (2002 coup; most IDPs are in western regions) (2004)
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Illicit drugs:
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illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for local consumption; transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin to Europe and occasionally to the US, and for Latin American cocaine destined for Europe and South Africa; while rampant corruption and inadequate supervision leave the banking system vulnerable to money laundering, the lack of a developed financial system limits the country's utility as a major money-laundering center
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This page was last updated on 17 May, 2005
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