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 industry.
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| 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.
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| School Children |
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.
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| Planting chocolate |
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.
