Travel Alert Status
					    
				Level 3: Reconsider Travel			
			
			
			
						
									
Time Difference
					    
				UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)			
			
			
			
						
									
Travel Climate
					    
				In the south, the tropical climate keeps temperatures between 24°C (75°F) and 32°C (90°F).  The southern region features two rainy seasons, May to July and September to December.  Humidity averages 85%.  Over half the average annual precipitation (208 cm or 82 inches in Abidjan) falls in May, June, and July.  Even then, however, the sun often shines.  Temperatures vary in the north from 24°C to over 37°C (100°F).  The northern region's one rainy season, May-October, averages 130 cm (51 inches) annual rainfall with 71% average humidity.			
			
			
			
						
									
Travel Currency
					    
				604.4			
			
			
			
						
									
Languages
					    
				French (official), 60 native dialects with Dioula the most widely spoken			
			
			
			
						
									
Ethnic Groups
					    
				Akan 42.1%, Voltaiques or Gur 17.6%, Northern Mandes 16.5%, Krous 11%, Southern Mandes 10%, other 2.8% (includes 130,000 Lebanese and 14,000 French) (1998)			
			
			
			
						
									
National Holiday
					    
				Independence Day, 7 August (1960)			
			
			
			
						
									
Geographic Coordinates
					    
				8 00 N, 5 00 W			
			
			
			
						
									
Location
					    
				Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Ghana and Liberia			
			
			
			
						
									
Airports
					    
				7