African Food and Art

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West Africa Côte d’Ivoire 28 Facts

As the world’s top exporter of cocoa and raw cashew nuts, Côte d’Ivoire is the largest economy in the West African economic and currency union.

28 facts about Africa’s Côte d’Ivoire, her name, people and cocoa farming industry.

Cote d'Ivoire is the world's largest producer and exporter of cocoa beans and a significant producer and exporter of coffee and palm oil.
Cote d'Ivoire is the world's largest producer and exporter
of cocoa beans and a significant producer
and exporter of coffee and palm oil.


1. Cote d'Ivoire pronounced coat-div-whar. 

2. Ivory Coast name changed in 1986 to Cote d'Ivoire. 

3. Cote d'Ivoire former name Ivory Coast reflects the intense ivory trade that took place in the region from the 15th to 17th centuries. 

4. The French name Côte d'Ivoire literally means Ivory Coast. Côte d'Ivoire was unofficially known as Costa do Marfim by the Portuguese, côte des dents or the teeth coast and the Ivory Coast reflecting the trade in ivory. 

5. Despite the official name change by the government, the African country of Côte d'Ivoire is still incorrectly referred to as Ivory Coast. 

6. In December 1999, a military coup - the first ever in Cote d'Ivoire's history - overthrew the government. 

7. Cote d'Ivoire is located in Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Ghana and Liberia. 

8. Cote d'Ivoire covers an area of 322,463 km² or 79,682,342 acres, compared it is slightly larger than the U.S. state of New Mexico. 

9. Cote d'Ivoire population is around 23.7 million people. 

10. Nationality of Cote d'Ivoire is Ivorian. 

11. Cote d’Ivoire’s population is likely to continue growing for the near future because almost 60% of the populace is younger than 25. 

12. Ethnic groups in Cote d'Ivoire are Akan 28.8%, Voltaique or Gur 16.1%, Northern Mande 14.5%, Kru 8.5%, Southern Mande 6.9%, unspecified 0.9%, non-Ivorian 42.3%. 

13. Foreigners from West Africa, Europe (mainly France), and Lebanon composed about 25% of the population by 1998. 

14. Religions Muslim 42.9%, Catholic 17.2%, Evangelical 11.8%, Methodist 1.7%, other Christian 3.2%, animist 3.6%, other religion 0.5%, none 19.1%. 

15. Major urban areas are the capital Yamoussoukro, Abidjan seat of government and Bouake 762,000.

16. Cote d'Ivoire capital city moved from Abidjan to Yamoussoukro in 1983. 

17. National symbols is the elephant. 

18. Cote d'Ivoire national colors are orange, white, and green. 

19. Military branches are Republican Forces of Cote d'Ivoire (Force Republiques de Cote d'Ivoire, FRCI): Army, Navy, Cote d'Ivoire Air Force (Force Aerienne de la Cote d'Ivoire). 

20. Cocoa, oil, and coffee are the country's top export revenue earner. 

21. Cote d'Ivoire is heavily dependent on agriculture and related activities, which engage roughly two-thirds of the population. 

22. Cote d'Ivoire is the world's largest producer and exporter of cocoa beans and a significant producer and exporter of coffee and palm oil. 

23. In West Africa, cocoa has been identified as a major driver of deforestation that has led to serious soil degradation, water insecurity and crop failures in the region. 

24. More than 90% of production comes from smallholder farms that depend on cocoa for their livelihoods. 

25. To address deforestation issues, Cote d'Ivoire and other West African governments including the private sector are becoming increasingly active on sustainability in the cocoa industry. 

26. Population without electricity, 15 million. 

27. Cote d'Ivoire has 27 airports seven of which are paved. 

28. Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana have a long-standing disputed maritime border.

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