Population: 17,298,040 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.)

Capital: 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

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

Religions: Christian 20-30%, Muslim 35-40%, indigenous 25-40% (2001) the majority of foreigners (migratory workers) are Muslim (70%) and Christian (20%)

Government: republic; multiparty presidential regime established 1960

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

Geography: most of the inhabitants live along the sandy coastal region; apart from the capital area, the forested interior is sparsely populated

Ethnic groups: 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)

Economy: 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. 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 turmoil damaged the economy in 2005, with fear among Ivorians spreading, foreign investment shriveling, French businesses and expats fleeing, travel within the country falling, and criminal elements that traffic in weapons and diamonds gaining ground. The Government will continue to survive financially off of the sale of cocoa, which represents 40% of GDP and 90% of foreign exchange earning. Though the 2005 harvest has been largely unaffected by past fighting, the Government will likely lose between 10% and 20% of its cocoa harvest to northern rebels who smuggle the cocoa they control to neighboring countries where cocoa prices are higher. The Government remains hopeful that ongoing exploration of Cote d'Ivoire's offshore oil reserves will result in signifcant production that could boost daily crude output from roughly 33,000 barrels per day (b/d) to over 200,000 b/d by the end of the decade.

GDP per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,400 (2005 est.)

GDP real growth: -1.5% (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate: 13% in urban areas (1998)

Internet country code: .ci

Dial code: +225