Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast, also called Cote d'Ivoire, is a country in West Africa. It is the world's biggest producer of cocoa beans, which are used to make chocolate. Ivory Coast has tropical forests, savannas, and a long coastline.

Land and People

About 28 million people live in Ivory Coast. The biggest city is Abidjan, but the official capital is Yamoussoukro. The country has rainforests in the south and drier grasslands in the north. It sits on the Gulf of Guinea.

Smooth polished stone tool from the Ivory Coast.
Smooth polished stone tool from the Ivory Coast. (gbaku / Wikimedia Commons)

Culture and Fun Facts

About 40 percent of the world's cocoa comes from Ivory Coast. The Basilica in Yamoussoukro is the largest church in the world. Soccer is the most popular sport. Ivorians love attieke, a side dish made from cassava. The country has many different ethnic groups and dances.

Fun Facts

  • Ivory Coast produces about 40 percent of the world's cocoa.
  • The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro is the largest church in the world.
  • The country's name comes from the ivory trade that once took place along its coast.

Did You Know?

If you have ever eaten a piece of chocolate, there is a good chance the cocoa came from Ivory Coast. The country produces more cocoa than any other place on Earth. Cocoa trees grow in the warm, rainy southern part of the country.