Facts

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Ghana and Liberia

Area (only Total: 322,460 sq 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)

Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plains; mountains in northwest

Population: 20,179,602

Main Language (only first): French

Government type: republic; multiparty presidential regime established 1960

Capital (Name): Yamoussoukro

Capital (Time Difference): UTC 0

Independence: 7 August 1960

National holiday: Independence Day, 7 August