Western Africa · AfricaIvory Coast
Discover Ivory Coast - the world's largest cocoa producer, home to Abidjan's glittering skyline, diverse ethnic traditions, and a football legacy that spans generations.
Where Is Ivory Coast?
Ivory Coast is a country in Western Africa. Its official capital is Yamoussoukro, while Abidjan is the de facto administrative capital.
- Capital Yamoussoukro (administrative: Abidjan)
- Population 32.7M
- Area 322,463 km²
Ivory Coast produces more cocoa than any other country on Earth - roughly 40% of the global supply. That means nearly half of the world's chocolate bars start their life in the humid plantations of this West African nation. The country's official name is Cote d'Ivoire, and the government insists on that name in all languages, though English speakers stubbornly continue to call it Ivory Coast. Either way, this is the economic powerhouse of Francophone West Africa.
Abidjan, the economic capital, has a skyline that surprises first-time visitors - the Plateau district looks more like a modest Manhattan than a typical African city. The real capital is Yamoussoukro, a sleepy administrative town famous for the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, a Catholic church modeled on St. Peter's in Rome that is the largest church in the world (yes, larger than St. Peter's itself). The country's 60-plus ethnic groups each bring distinct traditions, from the stilt dancers of the Dan people in the west to the gold-weighing traditions of the Baoule in the center. And then there's football - the generation of Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure, and Kolo Toure made Ivory Coast a force on the world stage.
At a glance
Largest cities in Ivory Coast
Abidjan
Yamoussoukro
Bouake
Daloa
San Pedro
Famous people from Ivory Coast
Didier Drogba
SportChelsea legend and Ivory Coast's greatest footballer, whose plea to warring factions helped secure a ceasefire during the civil war
Felix Houphouet-Boigny
PoliticsFirst president who led Ivory Coast for 33 years, transforming it into West Africa's economic miracle and building the Yamoussoukro basilica
Yaya Toure
SportManchester City midfield powerhouse, four-time African Footballer of the Year, and one of the Premier League's most dominant players
Alpha Blondy
MusicReggae superstar who sings in multiple languages and became one of Africa's most internationally recognized musicians
Ahmadou Kourouma
LiteratureNovelist whose works like Allah Is Not Obliged exposed the realities of child soldiers and won major French literary prizes
Traditional cuisine of Ivory Coast
- Attiieke
- Fermented cassava couscous that is Ivory Coast's signature side dish, served with grilled fish, onions, and tomatoes
- Aloco
- Fried plantain slices served with chili sauce and often grilled fish, the most popular street food in Abidjan
- Kedjenou
- Slowly simmered chicken or guinea fowl with vegetables in a sealed pot, cooked without water using only natural juices
- Garba
- Street food combination of attiieke with fried tuna, onions, and chili pepper - Abidjan's favorite quick meal named after a neighborhood
- Foutou Banane
- Pounded plantain and cassava formed into a smooth ball, served with light soup or peanut sauce
Nature and landmarks in Ivory Coast
- Tai National ParkNational Park
- UNESCO World Heritage Site protecting one of the last significant areas of primary tropical forest in West Africa, home to forest elephants and pygmy hippos
- Comoe National ParkNational Park
- UNESCO-listed savanna park and one of the largest protected areas in West Africa, with diverse habitats from grassland to gallery forest
- Mount NimbaMountain
- Shared with Guinea and Liberia, this UNESCO site reaches 1,752 meters with unique endemic species in its highland grasslands
- Grand-BassamLandmark
- UNESCO World Heritage coastal town that served as the first colonial capital, with preserved French colonial architecture along the beach
- Banco National ParkNational Park
- Remarkable patch of primary rainforest right inside Abidjan, a green lung in the middle of West Africa's biggest city
Sports in Ivory Coast
- Football
- Les Elephants won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2015 and 2023 (as hosts), with a golden generation including Drogba, Toure brothers, and Gervinho
- Athletics
- Sprinter Marie-Josee Ta Lou has won multiple World Championship medals, becoming one of Africa's fastest women
- Taekwondo
- Ruth Gbagbi won Olympic bronze medals in both 2016 and 2020, establishing Ivory Coast as a taekwondo contender
Did you know?
Ivory Coast produces roughly 40% of the world's cocoa - more than any other country - meaning nearly half your chocolate starts here
The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro is the largest church in the world, even bigger than St. Peter's in Vatican City
Didier Drogba's plea to warring factions after a 2005 World Cup qualifier is credited with helping broker a ceasefire in the Ivorian Civil War
The country officially insists on being called Cote d'Ivoire in all languages, though English speakers mostly ignore this request
Ivory Coast's first president built his hometown Yamoussoukro into the political capital, complete with crocodile-filled lakes around the presidential palace
Grand-Bassam, the old colonial capital, is a UNESCO World Heritage site with eerily beautiful abandoned French buildings along the shore
Abidjan has been called the Paris of West Africa for its French-influenced cafe culture, fashion scene, and nightlife
Read more about Ivory Coast
Can you find Ivory Coast on a map?
Drop a pin where you think it is and see how close you got. A few rounds and you will place Ivory Coast and its neighbours without a second thought.
