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The districts of
Ivory Coast Ivory Coast, also known as Côte d'Ivoire, officially the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, is a country on the southern coast of West Africa. Its capital is Yamoussoukro, in the centre of the country, while its largest city and economic centre is ...
(french: districts de Côte d’Ivoire) are the first-level administrative subdivisions of the country. The districts were created in 2011 in an effort to further decentralise the state,"Décentralisation : Le gouvernement créé 12 districts et 30 régions"
abidjan.net, 29 September 2011.
Décret n° 2011-263 du 28 septembre 2011 portant organisation du territoire national en Districts et en Régions
but in practice most of them have not yet begun to function as governmental entities. There are 14 districts, including two autonomous districts around the cities of
Yamoussoukro Yamoussoukro (; , locally ) is the ''de jure'' capital of Ivory Coast and an autonomous district. As of the 2014 census, Yamoussoukro is the fifth most populous city in Ivory Coast with a population of 212,670. Located north-west of Abidjan, th ...
and
Abidjan Abidjan ( , ; N'Ko script, N’ko: ߊߓߌߖߊ߲߬) is the economic capital of the Ivory Coast. As of the Demographics of Ivory Coast, 2021 census, Abidjan's population was 6.3 million, which is 21.5 percent of overall population of the country, ...
. The remaining 12 districts are further subdivided into 31
regions In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as zones, lands or territories, are areas that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and the interaction of humanity and t ...
, which are further subdivided into 108 third-level subdivisions, the departments (french: départements). Departments are subdivided into 510 sub-prefectures (french: sous-préfectures). The lowest level of administrative organisation, which exist in limited numbers, is the
commune A commune is an alternative term for an intentional community. Commune or comună or comune or other derivations may also refer to: Administrative-territorial entities * Commune (administrative division), a municipality or township ** Communes of ...
. Although they are not divided into regions, the autonomous districts do contain departments, sub-prefectures, and communes.


Governance and purpose

Each district is meant to be headed by a governor, who is appointed by the council of ministers (cabinet) of the national government.Ordonnance n° 2011-262 du 28 septembre 2011 portant orientation de l'organisation générale de l'administration territoriale de l'Etat
.
However, apart from governors for the two autonomous districts, no district governor has yet been nominated; the inaction has largely been in response to apprehensions by the
regional In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as zones, lands or territories, are areas that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and the interaction of humanity and t ...
prefects that district governors will usurp their authority and responsibilities."Les chefs de San Pedro demandent l’érection de leur cité en district autonome"
8 March 2015.
Districts have been given four primary responsibilities: #to administer major development projects in the district; #to balance the application of state investments and programmes throughout the district in order to minimise regional disparities; #to promote the economic and cultural potentials of large groups; and #to combat regionalism. Precise distinctions in the jurisdiction of districts as compared to regions has yet to be established. Because of the lack of district governors, the governments of the non-autonomous districts have not yet begun to function.


List of districts

The following is the list of districts, district capitals and each district's
regions In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as zones, lands or territories, are areas that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and the interaction of humanity and t ...


2011 administrative subdivision changes

Prior to September 2011, Ivory Coast's first-level administrative subdivisions were 19
regions In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as zones, lands or territories, are areas that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and the interaction of humanity and t ...
. In 2011, the regions were reorganized into the 14 districts (12 regular districts and 2 autonomous districts). The following is a summary of how the districts were constructed from the former regions: * The largest city,
Abidjan Abidjan ( , ; N'Ko script, N’ko: ߊߓߌߖߊ߲߬) is the economic capital of the Ivory Coast. As of the Demographics of Ivory Coast, 2021 census, Abidjan's population was 6.3 million, which is 21.5 percent of overall population of the country, ...
, and the political capital,
Yamoussoukro Yamoussoukro (; , locally ) is the ''de jure'' capital of Ivory Coast and an autonomous district. As of the 2014 census, Yamoussoukro is the fifth most populous city in Ivory Coast with a population of 212,670. Located north-west of Abidjan, th ...
, and their surrounding areas were split to form autonomous districts. Abidjan was formerly part of Lagunes Region and Yamoussoukro was formerly part of Lacs Region. * Of the 19 regions, the northern regions of Denguélé, Savanes, Vallée du Bandama, and Zanzan were re-designated as districts with no change in territory. * The old Agnéby region and what remained of Lagunes Region were merged to form the new Lagunes District. * The old Bafing and Worodougou Regions were merged to form the new
Woroba District Woroba District (french: District du Woroba) is one of 14 administrative districts of Ivory Coast. It is in the northeast part of the country. Its capital is Séguéla. Creation Woroba District was created in a 2011 administrative reorganisation ...
. * The Department of Fresco was transferred from the former
Sud-Bandama Region 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 ...
to the
Bas-Sassandra Region Bas-Sassandra Region is a defunct region of Ivory Coast. From 1997 to 2011, it was a first-level subdivision region. The region's capital was San-Pédro and its area was 26,440 km2. Since 2011, the area formerly encompassed by the region is ...
to form the new Bas-Sassandra District, while the remainder of Sud-Bandama Region merged with
Fromager Region Fromager Region is a defunct region of Ivory Coast. From 2000 to 2011, it was a first-level subdivision region. The region's capital was Gagnoa and its area was 6,903 km2. Since 2011, the area formerly encompassed by the region is the second ...
to form the new
Gôh-Djiboua District Gôh-Djiboua District (french: District du Gôh-Djiboua) is one of fourteen administrative districts of Ivory Coast. The district is located in the southwest corner of the country. The capital of the district is Gagnoa. Creation Gôh-Djiboua Di ...
. * The old Dix-Huit Montagnes and Moyen-Cavally Regions merged to form the new
Montagnes District Montagnes District (french: District des Montagnes) is one of fourteen administrative districts of Ivory Coast. The district is located in the western part of the country, bordering Liberia and Guinea to the west, Woroba District to the north, S ...
. * The old
Haut-Sassandra Haut-Sassandra Region is one of the 31 regions of Ivory Coast and is one of two regions in Sassandra-Marahoué District. The region's seat is Daloa. The region's area is 15,190 km², and its population in the 2021 census was 1,739,697, making ...
and Marahoué Regions merged to form the new
Sassandra-Marahoué District Sassandra-Marahoué District (french: District du Sassandra-Marahoué) is one of fourteen administrative districts of Ivory Coast. The district is located in the central part of the country. The capital of the district is Daloa. Creation Sassan ...
. * The old
N'Zi-Comoé Region N'Zi-Comoé Region is a defunct region of Ivory Coast. From 1997 to 2011, it was a first-level subdivision region. The region's capital was Dimbokro and its area was 19,242 km². Since 2011, the area formerly encompassed by the region is par ...
and what remained of Lacs Region were merged to form the new
Lacs District Lacs District (french: District des Lacs) is one of fourteen Districts of Ivory Coast, administrative districts of Ivory Coast. The district is located in the central part of the country. The capital of the district is Dimbokro. Creation Lacs D ...
. * The old Moyen-Comoé and Sud-Comoé Regions were merged to form the new Comoé District.


See also

* ISO 3166-2:CI Districts of the Ivory Coast


References


Carte du nouveau découpage administratif de la Côte-d'Ivoire (novembre 2011)
{{Articles on first-level administrative divisions of African countries Subdivisions of Ivory Coast Ivory Coast 1 Ivory Coast 1 Districts, Ivory Coast Ivory Coast geography-related lists States and territories established in 2011 2011 establishments in Ivory Coast