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Brief History. European colonialists came to the area to trade in ivory and slaves beginning in the 15th century, and local kingdoms gave way to French influence in the 19th century. The French colony of Côte d'Ivoire was founded in 1893, and full French occupation took place in 1908-18. In 1946 it became a territory in the French Union; in 1947 the northern part of the country separated and became part of Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso). Côte d'Ivoire peacefully achieved autonomy in 1958 and independence in 1960, when Félix Houphouët-Boigny was elected president. The country's first multiparty presidential elections were held in 1990. Political turmoil has persisted since Houphouët-Boigny died in 1993, and factional warfare broke out in 2002.
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Country Information
Local name: Cote d'Ivoire Capital: Yamoussoukro Population: 17,654,843 Government: republic; multiparty presidential regime established 1960 Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF) Land size: 322,460 sq km Topography: mostly flat to undulating plains; mountains in northwest Typical foods: Major exports: cocoa, coffee, timber, petroleum, cotton, bananas, pineapples, palm oil, fish |
Information on the People
Official language: French Other languages spoken: 60 native dialects with Dioula the most widely spoken Religions: Muslim 35-40%, indigenous 25-40%, Christian 20-30% (2001) note: the majority of foreigners (migratory workers) are Muslim (70%) and Christian (20%) Literacy rate: 50.9% Male/Female Ratio: 1 male(s) to every 1 female Life expectancy: 48.82 years 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) Internet users: 300,000 Famous people: |
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