Cote d'Ivoire
General Information for Cote d'Ivoire
Geo-political:
Capital City: Yamoussoukro.
Nationality: (noun) Ivoirian, (adjective) Ivoirian.
Population: 20,617,068.
Communications:
International Direct Dial Code: 225.
Number of Internal Airports: 7.
Major Languages Spoken: French (official), 60 native dialects with Dioula the most widely spoken.
Economy:
Currency: 1 CFA Franc BCEAO (XOF) of 100 Centimes.
Main Industries: Foodstuffs, beverages, wood products, oil refining, truck and bus assembly, textiles,
fertiliser, building materials, electricity and ship construction and repair.
Environment:
Territorial Sea: 12 n.m.
Other Maritime Claims: Continental Shelf: 200 n.m. Exclusive Economic Zone: 200 n.m.
Coastline Extent: 515 km.
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).
Natural Resources: Petroleum, natural gas, diamonds, manganese, iron ore, cobalt, bauxite, copper, gold,
nickel, tantalum, silica sand, clay, cocoa beans, coffee, palm oil and hydropower.
Natural Hazards: Coast has heavy surf and no natural harbors; during the rainy season torrential flooding
is possible.
Terrain: Mostly flat to undulating plains; mountains in northwest.
Average Temperatures:
| Month | High | Low |
|---|---|---|
| January | 32° C | 23° C |
| June | 28° C | 22° C |
| September | 28° C | 22° C |
MEDICAL:
Medical treatment of a reasonable standard is available in Abidjan, but it can be
expensive, and emergency facilities are limited to a few major hospitals. Medical
facilities outside the major towns are often rudimentary. Serious medical treatment
would require medical evacuation. Crew members are obliged to have valid certificates
against yellow fever.
Cases of yellow fever, cholera and measles have been reported in and around Abidjan
and blamed in part on worsening sanitary conditions. Over twenty deaths from cholera
have been reported since the start of 2011. Yellow fever is endemic (consistently
present) in the country.
Malaria and yellow fever are common to Cote d'Ivoire, while cholera is present in
rural areas. You should drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in
drinks unless you are confident that it has been made from pure water. If you suffer
from diarrhoea during a visit to Cote d'Ivoire you should seek immediate medical attention.
In September 2017 there was an outbreak of Dengue fever in Cote d'Ivoire. Additionally,
there is a risk of Zika virus transmission.
