The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to parts of the country, and all but essential travel to other areas. FCDO travel advice, read 29 October 2026.

Drone shot of the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace with expansive gardens in Yamoussoukro, Côte d'Ivoire.Stunning aerial shot of the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro, Côte d'Ivoire.

Ivory Coast

Africa · Western Africa

Medium safetyAffordable cost of livingMedium development

Life expectancy is short.

Safety

92nd most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
2.061lower is more peacefulMedium safetyIEP GPI · 2026
Safety index
44.3Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferLowNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$2,780national income per person, US dollarsLow
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
21.8New York = 100ExpensiveNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 148% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 73% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$5.0K$10K$8,209 PPP$3,050Inflation, % a year8%0200620102015202020252006, $1,230 a person, $2,942 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2007, $1,368 a person, $2,985 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2008, $1,584 a person, $3,116 at PPP, inflation 6.3%2009, $1,540 a person, $3,177 at PPP, inflation 1%2010, $1,554 a person, $3,361 at PPP, inflation 1.2%2011, $1,597 a person, $3,176 at PPP, inflation 4.9%2012, $1,547 a person, $3,291 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2013, $1,786 a person, $3,619 at PPP, inflation 2.6%2014, $1,991 a person, $4,074 at PPP, inflation 0.4%2015, $1,815 a person, $4,404 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2016, $1,863 a person, $4,531 at PPP, inflation 0.7%2017, $1,964 a person, $4,690 at PPP, inflation 0.7%2018, $2,131 a person, $4,946 at PPP, inflation 0.4%2019, $2,142 a person, $5,516 at PPP, inflation 0.8%2020, $2,180 a person, $5,544 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2021, $2,456 a person, $6,045 at PPP, inflation 4.2%2022, $2,333 a person, $6,718 at PPP, inflation 5.2%2023, $2,592 a person, $7,243 at PPP, inflation 4.4%2024, $2,728 a person, $7,680 at PPP, inflation 3.5%2025, $3,050 a person, $8,209 at PPP, inflation 0.1%$0$5.0K$10KInflation, % a year8%0200620102015202020252006, $1,230 a person, $2,942 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2007, $1,368 a person, $2,985 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2008, $1,584 a person, $3,116 at PPP, inflation 6.3%2009, $1,540 a person, $3,177 at PPP, inflation 1%2010, $1,554 a person, $3,361 at PPP, inflation 1.2%2011, $1,597 a person, $3,176 at PPP, inflation 4.9%2012, $1,547 a person, $3,291 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2013, $1,786 a person, $3,619 at PPP, inflation 2.6%2014, $1,991 a person, $4,074 at PPP, inflation 0.4%2015, $1,815 a person, $4,404 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2016, $1,863 a person, $4,531 at PPP, inflation 0.7%2017, $1,964 a person, $4,690 at PPP, inflation 0.7%2018, $2,131 a person, $4,946 at PPP, inflation 0.4%2019, $2,142 a person, $5,516 at PPP, inflation 0.8%2020, $2,180 a person, $5,544 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2021, $2,456 a person, $6,045 at PPP, inflation 4.2%2022, $2,333 a person, $6,718 at PPP, inflation 5.2%2023, $2,592 a person, $7,243 at PPP, inflation 4.4%2024, $2,728 a person, $7,680 at PPP, inflation 3.5%2025, $3,050 a person, $8,209 at PPP, inflation 0.1%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Among the shortest life expectancies

Life expectancy
62.1years, at birthVery lowWorld Bank · 2024
Health coverage
46WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100Very lowWHO · 2023
Air pollution
31.0PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageVery highWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Fast home internet

Unemployment rate
2.3%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
63 Mbpsmedian download speedFastOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
393EF English Proficiency Index scoreVery lowEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet63 MbpsFast

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Stunning aerial shot of the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro, Côte d'Ivoire.
How it changed

Ivory Coast's Human Development Index

0.582Medium human development

157th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 24th of 54 in Africa.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #155Cameroon0.588
  2. #156Solomon Islands0.584
  3. #157Ivory Coast0.582
  4. #157Uganda0.582
  5. #159Rwanda0.578
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.389 in 1990 to 0.582 in 2023.

0.350.500.650.58219902000201020231990: 0.3891991: 0.3901992: 0.3921993: 0.3931994: 0.3961995: 0.3991996: 0.4031997: 0.4091998: 0.4131999: 0.4162000: 0.4192001: 0.4222002: 0.4242003: 0.4252004: 0.4302005: 0.4352006: 0.4402007: 0.4452008: 0.4522009: 0.4582010: 0.4652011: 0.4692012: 0.4782013: 0.4872014: 0.5112015: 0.5192016: 0.5302017: 0.5392018: 0.5452019: 0.5522020: 0.5532021: 0.5572022: 0.5652023: 0.5820.350.500.6519902000201020231990: 0.3891991: 0.3901992: 0.3921993: 0.3931994: 0.3961995: 0.3991996: 0.4031997: 0.4091998: 0.4131999: 0.4162000: 0.4192001: 0.4222002: 0.4242003: 0.4252004: 0.4302005: 0.4352006: 0.4402007: 0.4452008: 0.4522009: 0.4582010: 0.4652011: 0.4692012: 0.4782013: 0.4872014: 0.5112015: 0.5192016: 0.5302017: 0.5392018: 0.5452019: 0.5522020: 0.5532021: 0.5572022: 0.5652023: 0.582

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Life expectancy at birth
62.1 years2024at birthUp 9.7 years from 52.4 years in 2005
Internet users
41%2024of people onlineUp 40 points from 2% in 2006
Urban population
55%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 9 points from 46% in 2006
Births per woman
4.232024births per womanDown 1.27 from 5.50 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
58%2021of energy usedDown 17 points from 75% in 2004
Access to electricity
73%2024of people with electricityUp 14 points from 59% in 2005
Infant mortality
452024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 35 from 80 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
0.6 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 0.3 t from 0.3 t in 2005
Forest area
8%2023of land under forestDown 7 points from 15% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

West Africa's economic powerhouse; Abidjan is booming as the cocoa and finance capital. The case against is short lives, patchy access to essential health services and polluted air.

About Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast is the economic heart of French-speaking West Africa, a country that blends a vibrant cosmopolitan capital in Abidjan, a strong cocoa and coffee agricultural heritage, and a coastline of surf beaches and fishing villages. The music scene, rooted in zouglou and coupé-décalé, is among the most energetic in the continent. It suits travellers who enjoy urban culture, food, and the energy of a fast-moving West African city.

Practical facts

  • CapitalYamoussoukro
  • LanguagesFrench
  • CurrencyWest African CFA franc (XOF)
  • Area318,000 km²
  • Plug typeType C/E
  • Drives on theright
Every figure

Everything we hold on Ivory Coast

Quick answers

What is Ivory Coast's Human Development Index?

Ivory Coast's Human Development Index is 0.582 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #157 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Ivory Coast safe?

Ivory Coast scores 2.06 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #92 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is Ivory Coast?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Ivory Coast at 44.8 (New York = 100); that is #82 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Ivory Coast?

Life expectancy at birth in Ivory Coast is 62.1 yrs (World Bank), ranked #183 of 195 countries.