Ivory Coast
Portuguese merchant-explorers in the 15th and 16th centuries divided the west coast of Africa into four regions based on available resources. They named one stretch the Costa do Marfim, meaning 'coast of ivory', reflecting the major trade that occurred there. This name translated into French as Côte d'Ivoire and remained in use through French rule and independence in 1960. The coastline of the modern state is not quite coterminous with what merchants knew as the Ivory Coast, which stretched from Cape Palmas to Cape Three Points. That area is now divided between Ghana and Ivory Coast, with a minute portion belonging to Liberia. In April 1986, the government declared that Côte d'Ivoire would be its formal name for diplomatic protocol. Since then, the country has officially refused to recognize any translations from French to other languages in international dealings. Despite this request, English media outlets frequently still use the translation Ivory Coast.
Five important states flourished during the pre-European early modern period within the territory now known as Ivory Coast. The Muslim Kong Empire was established by the Dyula in the early 18th century in the north-central region inhabited by the Sénoufo people. Although Kong became a prosperous center of agriculture, trade, and crafts, ethnic diversity and religious discord gradually weakened the kingdom. In 1895, the city of Kong was sacked and conquered by Samori Ture of the Wassoulou Empire. The Abron kingdom of Gyaaman was established in the 17th century by an Akan group who had fled the developing Ashanti confederation. From their settlement south of Bondoukou, the Abron extended their hegemony over the Dyula people. Bondoukou developed into a major center of commerce and Islam, attracting Quranic scholars from all parts of West Africa. Other Akan groups fleeing the Asante established a Baoulé kingdom at Sakasso and two Agni kingdoms, Indénié and Sanwi. The Baoulé developed a highly centralized political and administrative structure under three successive rulers before splitting into smaller chiefdoms. Despite the breakup, the Baoulé strongly resisted French subjugation.
French Admiral Louis Édouard Bouët-Willaumez signed treaties with kings of Grand-Bassam and Assinie regions in 1843, 44, making their territories a French protectorate. Pacification was not accomplished until 1915, as African populations resisted French penetration even where treaties existed. Among those offering the greatest resistance was Samori Ture, whose large army could manufacture and repair its own firearms. French campaigns against Ture intensified in the mid-1890s until he was captured in 1898 and his empire dissolved. France imposed a head tax in 1900 to support public works programs, provoking protests that many Ivorians saw as a violation of protectorate treaties. In 1905, the French officially abolished slavery in most of French West Africa. From 1904 to 1958, Ivory Coast was part of the Federation of French West Africa. During World War II, the Vichy regime remained in control until 1943 when General Charles de Gaulle's provisional government assumed control. The Brazzaville Conference of 1944 led to governmental reforms granting French citizenship to all African subjects and abolishing forced labor. Until 1958, governors appointed in Paris administered the colony using direct centralized administration.
Félix Houphouët-Boigny formed the country's first agricultural trade union for African cocoa farmers like himself in 1944. He rose to prominence and was elected to the French Parliament within a year before becoming the first African minister in a European government. By 1960, the country contributed over 40% of West Africa's total exports, making it the region's most prosperous nation. When Houphouët-Boigny became president, his government gave farmers good prices for their products to stimulate production. Coffee production increased significantly, catapulting Ivory Coast into third place in world output behind Brazil and Colombia. By 1979, the country became the world's leading producer of cocoa. For 20 years, the economy maintained an annual growth rate of nearly 10%, the highest among Africa's non-oil-exporting countries. The French community grew from only 30,000 before independence to 60,000 in 1980, mostly teachers, managers, and advisors. In contrast to other African nations where people drove out Europeans, Ivorians invited them in.
An armed uprising occurred on the early hours of the 19th of September 2002 while President Laurent Gbagbo was in Italy. Mutinied troops launched attacks in several cities, causing the government to lose control of the north of the country. Rebel forces made their stronghold in the northern city of Bouaké. France deployed troops from its base to stop rebel advances, though each side accused the French of supporting the opposite party. During one airstrike in Bouaké on the 6th of November 2004, nine French soldiers were killed when they were hit by Ivorian airstrikes. The government claimed it was a mistake, but France responded by destroying most Ivorian military aircraft including two Su-25 planes and five helicopters. A peace accord between the government and rebels was signed on the 4th of March 2007, making Guillaume Soro leader of the New Forces prime minister. The presidential elections held in November 2010 led to the Second Ivorian Civil War after results showed a loss for Gbagbo in favor of former Prime Minister Ouattara. Gbagbo was taken into custody after a raid into his residence on the 11th of April 2011. He was later taken to the International Criminal Court in January 2016 before being declared acquitted.
Ivory Coast is the world's largest exporter of cocoa beans, with farmers earning $2.53 billion for exports in 2009. In 2012, 100,000 rubber farmers earned a total of $105 million from their crops. Around 7.5 million people made up the workforce in 2009, though unemployment rates rose to 9.4% in 2012 due to economic crises since 1999. Self-employment policy established by the government allowed for strong growth in small trade with an increase of 142% in seven years from 1995. As of 2023, Ivory Coast had the second-highest GDP per capita in West Africa behind Cape Verde. From 2012 to 2023, the economy grew by an average of 7.1% per year in real terms, the second-fastest rate of economic growth in Africa. Despite this growth, as of the most recent survey in 2016, 46.1% of the population continues to be affected by multidimensional poverty. The country remains heavily reliant on agriculture, with smallholder cash-crop production predominating.
According to the 14th of December 2021 census, the population was 29,389,150, up from 22,671,331 at the 2014 census. It is estimated that 78 languages are spoken in Ivory Coast, including Bété, Baoulé, Dyula, Dan, Anyin, and Cebaara Senufo. French serves as the official language and lingua franca, while a semi-creolized form known as Nouchi has emerged in Abidjan among younger generations. Macroethnic groupings include Akan (42.1%), Voltaiques or Gur (17.6%), Northern Mandés (16.5%), Kru-speaking peoples (11%), and Southern Mandés (10%). About 77% of the population is considered Ivorian, while about 20% consists of workers from neighboring Liberia, Burkina Faso, and Guinea. According to the latest 2021 census data, adherents of Islam represented 42.5% of the total population, while followers of Christianity comprised 39.8%. An additional 12.6% identified as irreligious, with 2.2% following animism.
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Common questions
What is the origin of the name Ivory Coast?
Portuguese merchant-explorers named the region Costa do Marfim, meaning 'coast of ivory', during the 15th and 16th centuries due to major trade in that resource. The French translation Côte d'Ivoire remained in use through independence in 1960 until the government declared it the formal diplomatic name in April 1986.
Which pre-European states flourished within modern Ivory Coast territory?
Five important states flourished including the Muslim Kong Empire established by the Dyula in the early 18th century and the Abron kingdom of Gyaaman founded in the 17th century. Other groups included the Baoulé kingdom at Sakasso and two Agni kingdoms known as Indénié and Sanwi.
When did France establish control over the territory now called Ivory Coast?
French Admiral Louis Édouard Bouët-Willaumez signed treaties with kings of Grand-Bassam and Assinie regions in 1843 and 1844 to create a protectorate. Full pacification was not accomplished until 1915 after African populations resisted French penetration for decades.
Who became the first president of independent Ivory Coast and what were his economic policies?
Félix Houphouët-Boigny formed the country's first agricultural trade union for cocoa farmers in 1944 and became president upon independence in 1960. His government gave farmers good prices which increased coffee production significantly and made the nation the world's leading producer of cocoa by 1979.
What happened during the armed uprising on the 19th of September 2002?
Mutinied troops launched attacks while President Laurent Gbagbo was in Italy causing the government to lose control of the northern part of the country. Rebel forces established their stronghold in the northern city of Bouaké before peace accords were signed on the 4th of March 2007.
How many people live in Ivory Coast according to the 2021 census data?
The population reached 29,389,150 according to the 14th of December 2021 census up from 22,671,331 at the 2014 census. Approximately 78 languages are spoken including Bété, Baoulé, Dyula, Dan, Anyin, and Cebaara Senufo with French serving as the official language.