Departments of Ivory Coast

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Departments of Ivory Coast. Colours indicate regions and autonomous districts Map of Cote d'Ivoire Regions and Departments with Names (FR).svg
Departments of Ivory Coast. Colours indicate regions and autonomous districts

Departments of Ivory Coast (French : départements de Côte d'Ivoire) are currently the third-level administrative subdivision of the country. Each of the 31 second-level regions of Ivory Coast is divided into two or more departments. (The autonomous districts are containing departments, but have a specific status.) Each department is divided into two or more sub-prefectures. Since 2020, there are 109 departments of Ivory Coast.

Contents

Departments were first created in 1959. [1] [2] During their existence, they have been first-, second-, and third-level administrative subdivisions.

Current departments

Map of Cote d'Ivoire Departments with Department Census Codes.svg

There are currently 111 departments of Ivory Coast. The departments are as follows:

  1. Abengourou
  2. Abidjan
  3. Aboisso
  4. Adzopé
  5. Agboville
  6. Agnibilékrou
  7. Bangolo
  8. Béoumi
  9. Biankouma
  10. Bondoukou
  11. Bongouanou
  12. Bouaflé
  13. Bouaké
  14. Bouna
  15. Boundiali
  16. Dabakala
  17. Daloa
  18. Danané
  19. Daoukro
  20. Dimbokro
  21. Divo
  22. Duékoué
  23. Ferkessédougou
  24. Gagnoa
  25. Grand-Lahou
  26. Guiglo
  27. Issia
  28. Katiola
  29. Korhogo
  30. Lakota
  31. Man
  32. Mankono
  33. M’Bahiakro
  34. Odienné
  35. Oumé
  36. Sakassou
  37. San-Pedro
  38. Sassandra
  39. Séguéla
  40. Sinfra
  41. Soubré
  42. Tabou
  43. Transua
  44. Tengréla
  45. Tiassalé
  46. Touba
  47. Toumodi
  48. Vavoua
  49. Yamoussoukro
  50. Zuénoula
  51. Adiaké
  52. Alépé
  53. Bocanda
  54. Dabou
  55. Grand-Bassam
  56. Jacqueville
  57. Tiébissou
  58. Toulépleu
  59. Bloléquin
  60. Akoupé
  61. Didiévi
  62. Kouibly
  63. Nassian
  64. Prikro
  65. Sikensi
  66. Zouan-Hounien
  67. Madinani
  68. Minignan
  69. Kounahiri
  70. Koun-Fao
  71. Arrah
  72. Attiégouakro
  73. Bettié
  74. Botro
  75. Dikodougou
  76. Doropo
  77. Fresco
  78. Guéyo
  79. Guitry
  80. Kani
  81. Kaniasso
  82. Koro
  83. Kouto
  84. M’Batto
  85. Niakaramadougou
  86. Ouangolodougou
  87. Ouaninou
  88. Samatiguila
  89. Sandégué
  90. Sinématiali
  91. Téhini
  92. Tiapoum
  93. Tanda
  94. Yakassé-Attobrou
  95. Zoukougbeu
  96. Buyo
  97. Dianra
  98. Djékanou
  99. Facobly
  100. Gbéléban
  101. Kong
  102. Kouassi-Kouassikro
  103. M’Bengué
  104. Méagui
  105. Séguélon
  106. Sipilou
  107. Taabo
  108. Taï
  109. Ouellé
  110. Bonon
  111. Gohitafla

History

1961–69

Departments of Ivory Coast in 1961-63. Departments of Cote d'Ivoire (1961-1963) with names (EN).svg
Departments of Ivory Coast in 1961–63.
Departments of Ivory Coast in 1963-69. Departments of Cote d'Ivoire (1963-1969) with names (EN).svg
Departments of Ivory Coast in 1963–69.

Departments were established in 1961 and were the original first-level administrative subdivision of independent Ivory Coast. [3] Initially, there were just four departments: Centre, Nord, Sud-Est, and Sud-Ouest. In 1963, two more departments were created: Est was created by dividing Sud-Est, and Centre-Ouest) was created by dividing Sud-Ouest. As a result of the divisions, Sud-Est was renamed Sud and Sud-Ouest was renamed Ouest.

1969: 24 new departments

In 1969, the six departments were abolished and in their place 24 new departments were created. The following table illustrates how the old departments were divided into the new departments:

The 24 new departments that were created in 1969 (in background the 6 former departments). These boundaries were consistent until departments began to be divided in 1974. Departments of Cote d'Ivoire (1969-1974) with former departments in background.svg
The 24 new departments that were created in 1969 (in background the 6 former departments). These boundaries were consistent until departments began to be divided in 1974.
Old department New departments (number corresponds to position on map)
Centre Bouaflé (8), Bouaké (9), Dimbokro (13), Katiola (18)
Centre-Ouest Daloa (11), Gagnoa (16), Sassandra [4] (22)
Est Abengourou (1), Bondoukou (7)
Nord Boundiali (10), Ferkessédougou (15), Korhogo (19), Odienné (21), Séguéla (23), Touba (24)
Ouest Biankouma (6), Danané (12), Guiglo (17), Man (20)
Sud Abidjan (2), Aboisso (3), Adzopé (4), Agboville (5), Divo (14), Sassandra [4] (22)

Due to a lack of government resources, the 1969 changes were not fully implemented until 1974.

Subsequent divisions and relegation to second-level

From 1974 onward, new departments were occasionally created through division of pre-existing departments. New departments were created in 1974 (2), 1980 (8), 1988 (15), and 1995 (1). In 1997, when there were 50 departments, regions were created, which supplanted departments as the first-level administrative subdivision. As a result, the 50 departments became second-level divisions.

More departments were created in 1998 (8), 2005 (12), 2008 (11), and 2009 (9). By the time of the late-2011 reorganisation of the subdivisions of Ivory Coast, there were 90 departments in 19 regions.

2011 subdivision reorganisation

In the 2011 reorganisation of the subdivisions of Ivory Coast, five new departments were created, bringing the total to 95. More significantly, however, districts were created as a new first-level division. As a result, regions became second-level subdivisions and the 95 departments became third-level subdivisions.

Post-2011 changes

Since the 2011 reorganisation, 14 more departments have been created, bringing the total number to 109. Twelve departments were created in 2012, one in 2013, and one was created in 2020.

Names and governance

Departments are named after the city or town that serves as the seat of the department. In most cases, this is the most populous settlement in the department.

Each department is headed by a prefect, who is appointed by the council of ministers (cabinet) of the national government. [5] For departments that house regional capitals, the prefect of the department is the same individual as the prefect of the region, though the two offices of prefect remain distinct. [6]

Each department is divided into two or more sub-prefectures, which serve as fourth-level administrative subdivisions. There are currently 510 sub-prefectures in the country.

Current departments by district and region

Below are the departments divided by district and region with the establishment year of the departments in parentheses.

Abidjan Autonomous District

Bas-Sassandra District

Comoé District

Denguélé District

Gôh-Djiboua District

Lacs District

Lagunes District

Montagnes District

Sassandra-Marahoué District

Savanes District

Vallée du Bandama District

Woroba District

Yamoussoukro Autonomous District

Zanzan District

Defunct departments

There are six departments of Ivory Coast that have been eliminated.

Maps of departments through time

MapYears effectiveFirst-level subdivisionsSecond-level subdivisionsThird-level subdivisionsChanges
Departments of Cote d'Ivoire (1961-1963) with names (EN).svg 196119634 departmentsFour departments created as first-level subdivisions.
1963 (February)5 departmentsOne department added (Sud-Ouest and Sud-Est split into Ouest, Sud, and Est).
Map of Cote d'Ivoire Departments (1963-1969).svg 196319696 departmentsOne department added (Ouest split into Ouest and Centre-Ouest).
Map of Cote d'Ivoire Departments (1969-1974).svg 1969197424 departmentsAll previous departments abolished. 24 new departments established as first-level subdivisions.
Map of Cote d'Ivoire Departments (1974-1975).svg 1974197525 departmentsOne department added (Bouna).
Map of Cote d'Ivoire Departments (1975-1979).svg 1975197926 departmentsOne department added (Dabakala).
Map of Cote d'Ivoire Departments (1980-1987).svg 1980198734 departments8 departments added.
Map of Cote d'Ivoire Departments (1985-1987).svg 1988199149 departments15 departments added.
Map of Cote d'Ivoire Departments (1987-1991).svg 1991199510 regions49 departmentsRegions established.
Map of Cote d'Ivoire Departments (1995-1996).svg 1995199610 regions50 departmentsOne department added (Agnibilékrou).
Map of Cote d'Ivoire Departments (1996-1997).svg 1996199712 regions55 departments2 regions and 5 departments added.
Map of Cote d'Ivoire Departments (1997-2000).svg 1997200016 regions59 departments2 regions and 4 departments added.
Map of Cote d'Ivoire Departments (2000-2005).svg 1997200019 regions59 departments3 regions added.
Map of Cote d'Ivoire Departments (2005-2006).svg 2005200619 regions70 departments11 departments added.
Map of Cote d'Ivoire Departments (2006-2008).svg 2006200819 regions72 departments2 departments added.
Map of Cote d'Ivoire Departments (2008-2009).svg 2008200919 regions89 departments17 departments added.
Map of Cote d'Ivoire Departments (2009-2010).svg 2009201019 regions94 departments5 departments added.
Map of Cote d'Ivoire Departments (2010-2011).svg 2010201119 regions95 departments1 department added.
Map of Cote d'Ivoire Departments (2011-2012).svg 2011201212 districts30 regions95 departmentsDistricts created as new 1st level division. New division of regions.
Map of Cote d'Ivoire Departments (2012-2013).svg 2012201312 districts31 regions107 departments1 region and 12 departments added.
Map of Cote d'Ivoire Departments (2013-2014).svg 2013201412 districts31 regions108 departments1 department added.
Map of Cote d'Ivoire Departments (2014-2020).svg 2014202031 regions and 2 autonomous districts108 departmentsDistricts removed.
Departments of Cote d'Ivoire (2020-).svg 202031 regions and 2 autonomous districts109 departmentsOne department added.

Notes

  1. Sato (2003).
  2. Tice (1974).
  3. At independence in 1960, Ivory Coast was informally divided into 19 traditional cercles, but the cercles were not official administrative subdivisions.
  4. 1 2 Sassandra Department was created from territory taken partly from Centre-Ouest Department and partly from Sud Department.
  5. Loi n° 2014-451 du 05 août 2014 portant orientation de l'organisation générale de l'Administration Territoriale.
  6. Ordonnance n° 2011-262 du 28 septembre 2011 portant orientation de l'organisation générale de l'administration territoriale de l'Etat Archived 2021-09-17 at the Wayback Machine .
  7. The boundaries of Abidjan Department and Abidjan Autonomous District are the same.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regions of Ivory Coast</span>

The regions of Ivory Coast are the second-level subdivisions of Ivory Coast. There are 31 regions, and each region is subdivided into two or more departments, the third-level division in Ivory Coast. Two to four regions are combined to make up an autonomous district, the first-level subdivision. The autonomous districts of Abidjan and Yamoussoukro are not divided into regions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sud-Bandama</span>

Sud-Bandama Region is a defunct region of Ivory Coast. From 1997 to 2011, it was a first-level subdivision region. The region's capital was Divo and its area was 10,677 km². Since 2011, the area formerly encompassed by the region is divided between Bas-Sassandra and Gôh-Djiboua Districts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gagnoa Department</span> Department in Gôh-Djiboua, Ivory Coast

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zuénoula Department</span> Department in Sassandra-Marahoué, Ivory Coast

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Communes of Ivory Coast</span> Fifth-level administrative unit of Ivory Coast

The communes of Ivory Coast are a fifth-level administrative unit of administration in Ivory Coast. The sub-prefectures of Ivory Coast contain villages, and in select instances more than one village is combined into a commune. There are currently 197 communes in the 510 sub-prefectures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abidjan Department</span> Department in Abidjan, Ivory Coast

Abidjan Department is a department of Ivory Coast. It is the sole department in Abidjan Autonomous District: the territory of the department and the district are the same.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adzopé Department</span> Department in Lagunes, Ivory Coast

Adzopé Department is a department of La Mé Region in Lagunes District, Ivory Coast. In 2021, its population was 283,727 and its seat is the settlement of Adzopé. The sub-prefectures of the department are Adzopé, Agou, Annépé, Assikoi, Bécédi-Brignan, and Yakassé-Mé.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bouaflé Department</span> Department in Sassandra-Marahoué, Ivory Coast

Bouaflé Department is a department of Marahoué Region in Sassandra-Marahoué District, Ivory Coast. In 2021, its population was 300,305 and its seat is the settlement of Bouaflé. The sub-prefectures of the department are Bégbessou, Bouaflé, N'Douffoukankro, Pakouabo, and Tibéita.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daloa Department</span> Department in Sassandra-Marahoué, Ivory Coast

Daloa Department is a department of Haut-Sassandra Region in Sassandra-Marahoué District, Ivory Coast. In 2021, its population was 705,378 and its seat is the settlement of Daloa. The sub-prefectures of the department are Bédiala, Daloa, Gadouan, Gboguhé, Gonaté, and Zaïbo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sassandra Department</span> Department in Bas-Sassandra, Ivory Coast

Sassandra Department is a department of Gbôklé Region in Bas-Sassandra District, Ivory Coast. In 2021, its population was 353,228 and its seat is the settlement of Sassandra. The sub-prefectures of the department are Dakpadou, Grihiri, Lobakuya, Médon, Sago, and Sassandra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Odienné Department</span> Department in Denguélé, Ivory Coast

Odienné Department is a department of Kabadougou Region in Denguélé District, Ivory Coast. In 2021, its population was 156,730 and its seat is the settlement of Odienné. The sub-prefectures of the department are Bako, Bougousso, Dioulatièdougou, Odienné, and Tiémé.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Korhogo Department</span> Department in Savanes, Ivory Coast

Korhogo Department is a department of Poro Region in Savanes District, Ivory Coast. In 2021, its population was 748,393 and its seat is the settlement of Korhogo. The sub-prefectures of the department are Dassoungboho, Kanoroba, Karakoro, Kiémou, Kombolokoura, Komborodougou, Koni, Korhogo, Lataha, Nafoun, Napiéolédougou, N'Ganon, Niofoin, Sirasso, Sohouo, and Tioroniaradougou.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dimbokro Department</span> Department in Lacs, Ivory Coast

Dimbokro Department is a department of N'Zi Region in Lacs District, Ivory Coast. In 2021, its population was 102,192 and its seat is the settlement of Dimbokro. The sub-prefectures of the department are Abigui, Diangokro, Dimbokro, and Nofou.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Divo Department</span> Department in Gôh-Djiboua, Ivory Coast

Divo Department is a department of Lôh-Djiboua Region in Gôh-Djiboua District, Ivory Coast. In 2021, its population was 571,688 and its seat is the settlement of Divo. The sub-prefectures of the department are Chiépo, Didoko, Divo, Hiré, Nébo, Ogoudou, and Zégo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fresco Department</span> Department in Bas-Sassandra, Ivory Coast

Fresco Department is a department of Gbôklé Region in Bas-Sassandra District, Ivory Coast. In 2021, its population was 107,752 and its seat is the settlement of Fresco. The sub-prefectures of the department are Dahiri, Fresco and Gbagbam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soubré Department</span> Department in Bas-Sassandra, Ivory Coast

Soubré Department is a department of Nawa Region in Bas-Sassandra District, Ivory Coast. In 2021, its population was 587,441 and its seat is the settlement of Soubré. The sub-prefectures of the department are Grand-Zattry, Liliyo, Okrouyo, and Soubré.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Districts of Ivory Coast</span>

The districts of Ivory Coast are the first-level administrative subdivisions of the country. The districts were created in 2011 in an effort to further decentralise the state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sud Department (Ivory Coast)</span>

Sud Department was one of the original four departments of Ivory Coast. It was established in 1961, along with Centre Department, Nord Department, and Sud-Ouest Department. During Sud Department's existence, departments were the first-level administrative subdivisions of Ivory Coast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ouest Department (Ivory Coast)</span>

Ouest Department was one of the original four departments of Ivory Coast. It was established in 1961, along with Centre Department, Nord Department, and Sud-Est Department. During Ouest Department's existence, departments were the first-level administrative subdivisions of Ivory Coast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Centre-Ouest Department</span>

Centre-Ouest Department was a department of Ivory Coast between 1963 and 1969. It was established in 1963 as a split-off from Sud-Ouest Department. During Centre-Ouest Department's existence, departments were the first-level administrative subdivisions of Ivory Coast.

References