Land area

322,463 sq km

Population

21.6m (2010; IMF estimate)

Main towns

Population in '000 (The World Gazetteer, 2010 projections)

Abidjan: 4,123

Bouaké: 659

Daloa: 248

Yamoussoukro (capital): 243

Korhogo: 213

Climate

Tropical

Weather in Abidjan (altitude 20 metres)

Hottest months, February-April, 24-32°C (average daily minimum and maximum); coldest month, August, 22-28°C; driest month, January, 41 mm average rainfall; wettest month, June, 495 mm average rainfall

Languages

French, Dioula, Baoulé, Bété and other local languages

Measures

Metric system

Currency

CFA franc; fixed to the euro at a rate of CFAfr656:EUR1

Financial year

January-December

Time

GMT

Public holidays

Fixed: January 1st, Labour Day (May 1st), Independence Day (August 7th), Assumption (August 15th), All Saints' Day (November 1st), Peace Day (November 15th), Christmas (December 25th)

Variable (according to Christian and Muslim calendars): Prophet's birthday, Easter Monday, Ascension Day, Whit Monday, Eid Al Fitr, Tabaski