Country Details
Côte d'Ivoire
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Ghana and Liberia
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Geography
Detailed information and insights
Location
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Ghana and Liberia
Geographic coordinates
8 00 N, 5 00 W
Map references
Africa
Area
Total
322,463 sq km
Land
318,003 sq km
Water
4,460 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries
Total
3,458 km
Border countries
Burkina Faso 545 km; Ghana 720 km; Guinea 816 km; Liberia 778 km; Mali 599 km
Coastline
515 km
Maritime claims
Territorial sea
12 nm
Exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Continental shelf
200 nm
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
Elevation
Highest point
Monts Nimba 1,752 m
Lowest point
Gulf of Guinea 0 m
Mean elevation
250 m
Natural resources
petroleum, natural gas, diamonds, manganese, iron ore, cobalt, bauxite, copper, gold, nickel, tantalum, silica sand, clay, cocoa beans, coffee, palm oil, hydropower
Land use
Agricultural land
86.5% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 15.1% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 29.9% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 41.5% (2023 est.)
Forest
12.4% (2023 est.)
Other
1.1% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land
730 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km)
Salt water lake(s)
Lagune Aby - 780 sq km
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Atlantic Ocean drainage
Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Volta (410,991 sq km)
Population distribution
the population is primarily located in the forested south, with the highest concentration of people residing in and around the cities on the Atlantic coast; most of the northern savanna remains sparsely populated, with higher concentrations located along transportation corridors, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards
coast has heavy surf and no natural harbors; during the rainy season torrential flooding is possible
Geography - note
most of the inhabitants live along the sandy coastal region; apart from the capital area, the forested interior is sparsely populated