The natural resources of Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire) include cocoa, coffee, oil, gold, diamonds and extensive forests. The country produces about 37,327 barrels of oil a day and retains 24,980.5 km² of forest area, according to the World Bank, and it stands out as one of the world’s largest cocoa producers. Which of Ivory Coast’s natural resources are the most valuable?
Ivory Coast is a country in West Africa with an area of 322,462 km² and a population of approximately 31.9 million people (2024). The nation is rich in natural resources, including agriculture, fisheries, forestry and mining.
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The land is fertile and well suited to growing cocoa, coffee, cotton, bananas and pineapples, which makes Ivory Coast one of the world’s leading cocoa producers. The nation also has significant reserves of oil, natural gas and minerals such as iron, gold and diamonds.
Ivory Coast’s biodiversity is impressive, with a variety of unique plant and animal species in the country’s protected areas. Ivory Coast’s natural resources are an important source of income for the country and its people.
Which natural resources sustain Ivory Coast’s economy? How rich in natural resources is the country? Which minerals does it have, and how does it rank globally? How much water does it have, and how is it used to produce energy?
Natural resources
Natural resources are materials or energy sources provided by or found on Earth that are useful to humans. Every product we manufacture is made up of natural resources.
- Renewable resources: these can be restored by natural processes faster than the rate at which they are consumed. Examples include solar radiation, wind, hydroelectric power, water when used properly, and plant and animal life.
- Non-renewable resources: once extracted, these are depleted and cannot regenerate. Examples include hydrocarbons, metals and minerals.
Examples of Ivory Coast’s main natural resources
Ivory Coast: water, forests and protection
Key indicators of the country’s natural heritage, with their reference year.
| Renewable freshwater per capita | 2,528 m³ per year2022 |
|---|---|
| Forest cover | 7.9% of land area2023 |
| Annual change in forest area | −1,129 km² per year (2018–2023) |
| Protected land area | 22.9% of land area2025 |
| Marine protected areas | 0.2% of its waters2025 |
| Threatened species | 308 mammals, birds, fish and plants2022 |
| Resource | Reserves / production | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Oil | 37,327 barrels/day (2024); ranked 63rd | Worldometer 2024 |
| Oil reserves | 100,000,000 barrels; ranked 72nd | Worldometer 2024 |
| Forest area | 24,980.5 km² (2023) | World Bank 2023 |
| Environmental performance (EPI) | 42.9; ranked 104th | EPI 2024 |
| Birds | 723 species; 38th in the world | Mongabay |
Oil and mineral resources in Ivory Coast
According to Worldometer (2024), Ivory Coast produces about 37,327 barrels of oil per day, which places it around 63rd in the world. The country also has oil reserves of about 100,000,000 barrels, which puts it at around 72nd in the world.
Other mineral resources in Ivory Coast include diamonds and gold. There are also deposits of iron, bauxite and manganese, but they have not been extensively developed.
Despite these figures, Ivory Coast is not known as a major oil-producing region; instead, it stands out for its natural resources in other areas, such as cocoa and coffee production.
Forest resources of Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast has a significant forest area, a valuable resource for the country. According to the World Bank (2023), its forest area is 24,980.5 km².
Its forest region is the country’s main source of timber and other natural resources.
Environmental performance and protection of Ivory Coast’s natural resources
Ivory Coast has an Environmental Performance Index (EPI 2024) score of 42.9 and ranks 104th in the index. Protected areas also cover 22.9% of its land area and 0.2% of its waters; together, terrestrial and marine protected areas make up 14.9% of its total territorial area (World Bank, 2025), which demonstrates its commitment to conserving natural resources. More: Environmental Performance Index (EPI 2024).
Natural parks of Ivory Coast: the hidden wealth of natural resources
Biodiversity: animal and plant resources of Ivory Coast
Birds of Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast has a great diversity of birds, with a total of 723 species, which places it 38th in the world. Despite this richness, 25 threatened bird species are recorded in the country.
Among the most notable species is the violet turaco, a species found across West Africa, from Senegal to Nigeria.
Fish and amphibians of Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast has 85 amphibian species and 675 fish species. Globally, it ranks 41st for number of amphibian species and 85th for number of fish species.
However, it is important to note that 59 fish species are threatened in the country. The most notable species include the amphibian Hyperolius nitidulus and the fish Sarotherodon melanotheron, both widespread in West Africa rather than endemic to the country.
Organizations that protect or study Ivory Coast’s natural resources
- Rainforest Trust – Protects biodiversity and tropical forests in Ivory Coast.
- WWF – Works to conserve the wildlife and plant life of Ivory Coast.
- Greenpeace – Campaigns against deforestation and pollution in Ivory Coast.
- Conservation International – Protects ecosystems and biodiversity in Ivory Coast.
- The Nature Conservancy – Works to conserve natural resources in Ivory Coast.
- United Nations Environment Programme – Promotes the sustainable management of natural resources in Ivory Coast.
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations – Works on the sustainable management of natural resources and agriculture in Ivory Coast.
In 2024, Ivory Coast produced 45% of the world’s cocoa, more than any other country, and the crop accounts for about 40% of its export earnings (Cocoa production in Ivory Coast, Wikipedia, 2024).
Cocoa, cashews and rubber: the export pantry
With about 1.9 million tonnes of cocoa, Ivory Coast is the world’s leading producer, and its two other cash crops also carry weight: about 945,000 tonnes of cashew nuts in 2024, the largest harvest in the world, ahead of India (FAOSTAT; Agriculture in Ivory Coast, Wikipedia) and natural rubber output that jumped to 1.55 million tonnes in 2022, making it the world’s third-largest producer, ahead of Vietnam (Economy of Ivory Coast, Wikipedia). The cost is environmental: more than 80% of the country’s forests disappeared between 1960 and 2010, and cocoa is the main driver of that deforestation (Cocoa production in Ivory Coast, Wikipedia).
Gold and manganese: mining on the rise
Mining is growing fast. Gold production hit a record 51 tonnes in 2023, 6% more than the 48 tonnes of 2022, with 56 tonnes projected for 2024 (Mining industry of Ivory Coast, Wikipedia). Mining permits and projects have tripled since 2012, from 9 to 28 (Mining industry of Ivory Coast, Wikipedia). In manganese, the country was the world’s 9th-largest producer in 2019 (Economy of Ivory Coast, Wikipedia).
Offshore oil and gas: the Baleine effect
Ivory Coast produced just 25,000 barrels of oil a day in 2021, but the discovery of the offshore Baleine field, operated by Eni, changed the scale. In December 2024 its facilities entered their second phase, producing 70 million cubic feet of gas and 60,000 barrels of oil a day (Economy of Ivory Coast, Wikipedia).
Sources used
- Lists of countries by mineral production – Wikipedia
- Economic data by country – The Global Economy
- Forest area (km²) – World Bank
- Forest area (% of land area) – World Bank
- Oil reserves – The Global Economy
- Water and agriculture statistics – FAO
- Precipitation (mm) – World Bank
- Environmental Performance Index – Environmental Performance Index
- Bird species – Mongabay
- Amphibian species by country – Mongabay
- Plant species – Mongabay
- Reptile species by country – Mongabay
- Endemic bird species by country – Our World in Data
According to the World Bank, Ivory Coast is the world’s top producer of cocoa and cashew.
Last updated: September 26, 2026
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