Geography and Landscapes of Ivory Coast

Published on November 10, 2025 and written by Cyril Jarnias

Located on the West African coast, Côte d’Ivoire stands out for its fascinating geographical diversity that captivates travelers and researchers alike.

Between the golden beaches of the Atlantic Ocean and the lush forests of the Sassandra river basin, the country reveals varied landscapes ranging from the majestic mountains of Mount Nimba to the vast northern savannas.

This natural wealth is complemented by a tropical climate that nurtures astonishing biodiversity, making Côte d’Ivoire a territory for ecotourism exploration and environmental research.

Adding to this mosaic, the expanding urban infrastructure in dynamic cities like Abidjan, nicknamed the “Manhattan of the Tropics,” contrasts with traditions rooted in rural villages, offering a captivating glimpse of an evolving nation.

General Geography of Côte d’Ivoire

Côte d’Ivoire is a West African country, located on the southern coast of the continent, along the Gulf of Guinea. It shares borders with five countries: Liberia and Guinea to the west, Mali and Burkina Faso to the north, and Ghana to the east. To the south, it is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, with a coastline of approximately 515 km.

Bordering Countries	Border Length (km)
Liberia	716
Guinea	610
Mali	532
Burkina Faso	584
Ghana	668

Total area: 322,462 km²

Main Geographical Features:

• Relief mainly consisting of plains and plateaus extending from south to north.
• Mountainous western region: presence of Mount Nimba (1,753 m), the country’s highest point.
• Landscape diversity:
  • Coastal beaches and lagoons in the south.
  • Dense forests in the southern and central-southern zones.
  • Savannas in the north and central-north.
  • Plateaus dominating most of the territory.

Climate:

• Equatorial climate in the south, characterized by high temperatures and high humidity, with two rainy seasons (April-July and October-November) and two dry seasons.
• Tropical climate in the north, with a single rainy season (May-October) and a more pronounced dry season (November-April).
• Regional variations: more humid in the south, drier and hotter in the north.

Main Rivers and River Basins:

• Bandama Basin (Bandama River, the country’s longest river).
• Comoé River.
• Sassandra River.
• Cavally River (natural border with Liberia to the west).
• Numerous lagoons (notably Ébrié Lagoon, around Abidjan).

River	Main Location	Special Feature
Bandama	Center of the country	Longest Ivorian river
Comoé	East	Important agricultural basin
Sassandra	Southwest	Hydroelectric power
Cavally	West (Liberian border)	Natural border

Main Geographical or Administrative Regions:

• The country is divided into 14 administrative districts, themselves subdivided into regions, departments, and communes.
• Main geographical regions:
  • Southern forest and lagoon region: Abidjan, Grand-Bassam, San Pedro.
  • Center: Yamoussoukro (political capital), Bouaké.
  • Northern savanna region: Korhogo, Boundiali.
  • Mountainous west: Man, Mount Nimba region.
  • East and central-east: Abengourou, border region with Ghana.

Role in Territorial Structure:

• Districts and regions structure administrative management, land use planning, and resource distribution.
• Major cities like Abidjan (economic capital), Yamoussoukro (political capital), Bouaké (industrial and commercial center), and San Pedro (export port) play a driving role in national development.

Main Regions and Cities

Main Geographical Regions of Côte d’Ivoire and Characteristics

Administrative Region	Geographical Characteristics	Climate	Economic/Cultural/Historical Importance
Autonomous District of Abidjan	Coastline, lagoons, plains	Humid equatorial	Economic center, port, cultural diversity
Autonomous District of Yamoussoukro	Central plateau, savanna	Tropical savanna	Political capital, symbolic, basilica
Bas-Sassandra Region	Southwest coastline, beaches	Equatorial, high humidity	Port of San-Pédro, beach tourism
Worodougou Region	Northwest, savannas	Dry tropical	Agriculture, Senufo traditions
Gbêkê Region	Center, plateaus	Tropical savanna	City of Bouaké, textile industry, Baoulé culture
Tonkpi Region	West, mountains (Man, Mount Nimba)	Mountain climate	Coffee-cocoa, ecotourism, Dan peoples
Zanzan Region	Northeast, savannas and open forests	Dry tropical	Royal history, subsistence farming
Mé Region	Southeast, lagoons and forests	Humid equatorial	Industrial crops, Akan heritage

Geographical and Climatic Characteristics

• South (Lagoons, Bas-Sassandra, Mé): Plains, lagoons, Atlantic coastline, humid equatorial climate with two rainy seasons, dense forests and industrial crops (coffee, cocoa, oil palm).
• Center (Gbêkê, Yamoussoukro): Plateaus, savannas, tropical savanna climate, more marked seasonal contrasts, Baoulé culture, political capital.
• North (Worodougou, Zanzan): Savannas, semi-arid Sudanian climate, long dry season, subsistence farming (yam, millet, cotton), Senufo and Koulango traditions.
• West (Tonkpi): Mountainous relief (Man, Mount Nimba), mountain climate, forests, coffee-cocoa, ethnic diversity.

Major Cities and Their Roles

Abidjan

• Population: Over 5 million inhabitants.
• Dynamism: Largest city, economic capital, major autonomous port, financial and industrial center.
• Special Features: Ébrié Lagoon, diverse neighborhoods (Plateau, Cocody, Treichville), vibrant cultural life, museums, universities, modern architecture.
• Points of Interest: Banco National Park, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Grand-Bassam beaches.

Yamoussoukro

• Population: Approximately 350,000 inhabitants.
• Role: Political and administrative capital, seat of institutions, birthplace of President Félix Houphouët-Boigny.
• Special Features: Large central plateau, planned urbanism, low density.
• Points of Interest: Basilica of Our Lady of Peace (world’s largest basilica), Houphouët-Boigny Foundation.

Bouaké

• Population: Nearly 800,000 inhabitants.
• Role: Second urban center, commercial crossroads of the center, textile industry, center of Baoulé culture.
• Special Features: Located on the plateau, savanna climate, lively market, crafts.
• Points of Interest: Yam festivals, central market, craft sites.

San-Pédro

• Population: Over 300,000 inhabitants.
• Role: Country’s second port, cocoa export, timber industry, beach tourism.
• Special Features: Renowned beaches, very humid climate, absence of “bar” allowing swimming.
• Points of Interest: Monogaga and San-Pédro beaches, Taï National Park (UNESCO World Heritage).

List of Major Tourist or Cultural Points of Interest

• Basilica of Our Lady of Peace (Yamoussoukro)
• Banco National Park (Abidjan)
• Grand-Bassam and San-Pédro beaches
• Taï National Park (southwest)
• Central Market of Bouaké
• Mount Nimba and Man region (hiking, waterfalls)
• Traditional festivals (yam in Bouaké, masks in Man)

Population and Economic Activity

Total population: Over 29 million inhabitants, high density in the south and major cities.

Main activities: Agriculture (cocoa, coffee, cotton, palm oil), fishing, industry, commerce, tourism.

Regional importance: The south (Abidjan, San-Pédro) dominates economically through the port and industries, the center (Bouaké, Yamoussoukro) plays an administrative and commercial role, the north (Korhogo, Boundiali) remains agricultural and cultural.

Visual Summary of Major Regions

Geographical Zone	Relief	Climate	Major Cities	Dominant Activity
South	Plains, lagoons	Humid equatorial	Abidjan, San-Pédro	Port, industry
Center	Plateaus	Tropical savanna	Yamoussoukro, Bouaké	Administration, commerce
North	Savannas	Dry tropical/Sudanian	Korhogo, Boundiali	Agriculture
West	Mountains	Mountain climate	Man	Coffee-cocoa, tourism

Key Information on Geographical Diversity

Côte d’Ivoire: mosaic of beaches, mountains, forests, savannas.

Cities and regions are distinguished by their economic role and heritage.

Cultural wealth, ethnic diversity and attractive landscapes promote tourist and economic development.

Côte d’Ivoire’s Neighboring Countries

Bordering Country	Approximate Border Length	Brief Description
Liberia	715 to 716 km	Western border, crossing forested and mountainous areas, naturally demarcated by watercourses and massifs like Mount Nimba.
Guinea	610 to 732 km	Northwestern border, characterized by mountainous zones, notably Mount Nimba, and dense forests.
Mali	532 to 598 km	Northern border, crossing a savanna and plateau zone, with important cross-border passages for trade and migration.
Burkina Faso	584 to 603 km	Northeastern border, savanna and open forest region, with high population mobility, including refugees.
Ghana	668 to 725 km	Eastern border, marked by the presence of the Comoé River and Comoé National Park, zone of intense economic and cultural exchanges.

Notable Geographical Features of Borders

• Mountains: The west (borders with Liberia and Guinea) is dominated by the highest Ivorian massifs, including Mount Tonkpi and especially Mount Nimba (1,753 m), the highest point on the border with Guinea.
• Rivers and streams: Several borders follow natural watercourses, notably the Cavally River to the west (Liberia), the Comoé River to the east (Ghana), and many small tributaries serving as natural boundaries.
• Protected areas: Comoé National Park, in the east near Ghana, is one of West Africa’s largest protected areas, while the Mount Nimba forest, shared with Guinea and Liberia, is classified as a biosphere reserve.

Economic and Cultural Importance of Relations with Neighboring Countries

Commercial Exchanges

• Road and rail corridors to Burkina Faso and Mali are essential for exporting Ivorian products and importing goods from the Sahel.
• The port of Abidjan plays a central role for regional trade, serving both Burkina Faso and Mali.
• With Ghana, trade is marked by agricultural exchanges (cocoa, cashew) and cooperation around the maritime border.

Migrations

• Strong cross-border mobility, notably of Malian and Burkinabe workers and traders.
• Hosting of refugees, mainly from Burkina Faso (fleeing violence) and Liberia (past conflicts).

Cultural Partnerships

• Mix of cross-border populations and ethnic groups (e.g., Senufo, Malinke, Lobi).
• Cultural and linguistic cooperation, notably between French-speaking countries (Guinea, Burkina, Mali) and growing exchanges with English-speaking countries (Ghana, Liberia).

Historical Context of Borders

Current borders result from European colonization, mainly French, with boundaries stemming from Franco-British colonial agreements (Ghana, Liberia) and Franco-French agreements (Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso).

Several borders remained imprecise or unmarked for a long time, notably those with Burkina Faso and Mali, where demarcation is still ongoing or subject to dispute.

Regional conflicts (civil war in Liberia, instability in Burkina Faso and Mali) have sometimes caused population movements and border tensions.

Regional Cooperation and Côte d’Ivoire’s Role

• ECOWAS: Founding member of the Economic Community of West African States, Côte d’Ivoire plays a central role in regional integration, facilitating free movement of people and goods.
• WAEMU: In the West African Economic and Monetary Union, it shares the same currency (CFA franc) with Burkina Faso, Mali and Guinea-Bissau, strengthening economic ties.
• Security initiatives: Increased cooperation with Burkina Faso and Mali to combat insecurity and terrorism in the northern border zone.
• Infrastructure projects: Development of cross-border transport and energy infrastructure to promote exchanges and integration.

Summary of Main Cooperation Points and Border Issues

• Dynamic economic relations with Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana.
• Strong mobility and cultural solidarity with all neighbors.
• Growing security challenges, notably in the north.
• Regional integration via ECOWAS and WAEMU, amplifying interdependence with neighboring countries.