An interesting journey to the discovery of the largest cities of the Ivory Coast. A very promising country in West Africa. the Ivory Coast is a country that covers more than 333,462 square kilometers and is populated by about 27 million people. This african country has many seaside resorts in the south, while the north of the country is largely covered by tropical forests.
The ranking of the most populated cities in the Ivory Coast
1. Abidjan, the economic heart of the country
The main city of the Ivory Coast is Abidjan. One of the richest cities in Africa, it is also the largest city in the country. With more than 12,000 inhabitants per square kilometer, this city is one of the most densely populated on the continent.
What is incredible about Abidjan is that the city has almost 5 million inhabitants. That is more than 20% of the country’s population.
What to do in Abidjan?
In Abidjan, it all starts with a visit to St. Paul’s Cathedral. Inside this cathedral, you will find splendid stained glass windows showing African scenes. This religious building was built in the early 80s and Pope John Paul II visited it twice. The first time for the laying of the foundation stone and the second time to bless this singular Cathedral Saint-Paul of Abidjan.
After the visit to Saint Paul of Abidjan, you will perhaps go to lose yourself in this African megalopolis which is not other than one of the biggest cities in Africa.
And because Abidjan is located on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, it is essential to turn to the coast and its beaches. So why not go by boat on one of the lagoons to discover for example Boulay Island? A prestigious area where the most wealthy Ivorians have built their villas.
Always in the same spirit of seaside and idleness, there are the two villages Assine Mafia and Assouindé. Here you can enjoy an incredible atmosphere at the water’s edge on beautiful white sand beaches, lined with coconut trees. Two perfect places to catch your breath. And if you want to discover the country a little more, the Abokouamékro reserve, the Ehotilé islands national park, and the Mount Nimba reserve are exceptional places that will allow you to get close to the real soul of the country.
2. Bouaké, one of the largest cities in the Ivory Coast
Located in the Gbêkê region, Bouaké is a city in the center of the Ivory Coast. It is located 350 kilometers north of Abidjan. The city has a population of just under two million inhabitants when its agglomeration is taken into account.
Bouaké’s economic activity accounts for about 3% of the Ivory Coast’s GDP. This city is mainly dependent on agriculture. Yam, plantain, pineapple, millet, cassava, and sorghum are grown around the city.
3. San Pedro, a dynamic coastal city
For a long time neck and neck with Yamoussoukro, San Pedro now has more than 460,000 inhabitants. The origin of city’s name dates back to the Portuguese occupation in the late 15th century.
Located in the south of the country, the city of San Pedro has a hot and very humid climate. It should be noted that in this part of the world the average monthly temperatures vary throughout the year between 23 and 32 degrees.
Geographically, the city of San Pedro is bordered by the Gulf of Guinea to the south, the city of Sassandra to the west, and the city of Soubré to the north. To the west are the towns of Tabou, Grand-Béréby, and the border with Liberia.
4. Korhogo, the big city of the North
Located in the north of the country, the city of Korhogo has a population of almost 440,000.
Korhogo means “heritage” in the Senufo language. Indeed, this historical city in the north is the cultural capital of the Senufo people. It is a large Ivorian city located in the Savannah region and the Poro region, of which it is the capital. This is the reason why it is called the “city of Poro”.
The fourth most populous city in Ivory Coast is located on a road junction not far from the borders of Mali and Burkina Faso. But it is more than 560 kilometers from Abidjan and 328 kilometers from Yamoussoukro.
Things to see and to do in Korhogo
The most important thing to see in Korhogo is undoubtedly the Gbon Coulibaly Regional Museum. After visiting this cultural place, why not go to the Koko district? It is a place where you can find many craftsmen and especially sculptors who work with wood (cheese or teak).
5. Yamoussoukro, the capital of the Ivory Coast
The capital of the Ivory Coast is a kind of Brasilia in Africa. Yamoussoukro is in fact a large administrative city wanted by former president Felix Houphouet-Boigny affectionately called “the old man” by the population. By placing the capital in the center of the country, he wished to consecrate the unity of Côte d’Ivoire. This large city, in the lake region, is located 240 kilometers from Abidjan. With time, it is now a dynamic city with about 400,000 inhabitants.
What to do in Yamoussoukro?
One of the must-see buildings in Yamoussoukro is inevitably its basilica. A religious building built in three years and which is to date one of the largest basilicas in the world.
Another point of the passage is the big Mosque of Yamoussoukro. The Ivorian capital wants to be ecumenical while symbolizing the union of the people around the same territory. The Ivorian capital is therefore a meeting point between the north and the south. But it is also a place that unites two great religions: Islam and Christianity.
After these religious visits, the other unavoidable point of the city is the sacred caiman lake. Located within the presidential palace, it is one of the most incredible things to see in Yamoussoukro. Crocodiles are not endemic to this part of the country. They were given to Houphouet-Boigny by the presidents of Cameroon and Mali. But with time, it should be noted that crocodiles have reproduced and they now take an increasingly important place in the city. This is not without problems of security for the integrity of people. Moreover, it is very complicated to limit the number of crocodiles in the lake and in the surroundings because local wizards have declared them sacred animals.
6. Divo, one of the largest cities in the Ivory Coast
The population of the city of Divo is also estimated at 400,000 inhabitants. Divo is a rural town located about 100 km from Yamoussoukro and is neck and neck with Yamoussoukro in terms of population.
Around Divo are the towns of Lakota, Tiasalé, Fresco or Grand-Lahou, and Oumé.
7. Daloa
This city in the center-west of Côte d’Ivoire is not necessarily the most publicized, but due to its number of inhabitants, it is one of the largest cities in the country. Located 141 kilometers from the political capital Yamoussoukro and 383 kilometers from Abidjan, Daloa has a population of nearly 300,000.
Daloa is therefore the sixth largest city in the country and is located in a forested area in the center of the country. It is surrounded by the towns of Bouaflé to the east, Issia to the south, Vavoua to the north, and Zoukougbeu to the west. The city is located at an altitude of 200 meters and the highest point is 355 meters. The area of the city is about 39 square kilometers.
The town’s name comes from the name of a famous buffalo hunter.
8. Anyama, the suburb of Abidjan
This city is located in the lagoon region, about ten kilometers from the country’s largest city. It, therefore, benefits from growth in the wake of the city of Abidjan. The population of the city is estimated at a little over 200,000 inhabitants.
The city of Anyama has been twinned with the city of Pontault-Combault in Seine et Marne (France) since 1998.
9. Man, the city with 18 mountains
This city in the west of Côte d’Ivoire is located in a basin surrounded by a mountain range. This is where the nickname of the city of eighteen mountains comes from. The name of the city comes from the first name of the daughter of a former Ivorian chief. Towards the end of the 19th century, he ordered the sacrifice of his daughter Manle who was buried alive in the forest. In his memory, the city took the name of Man.
The population of the city of Man must be around 220 000 inhabitants today. The city is located in the Tonkpi region, a mountainous area. The city’s activity is mainly agricultural and coffee and cocoa are grown here, which are exported.
What to do in and around Man?
The main tourist attractions around the city of Man are to visit the natural waterfall of Man. Below the waterfall, there is a beautiful natural swimming pool. It is possible to swim there.
For those who are open to hiking and adventure, it is possible to go to Mount Tonkoui or to the dent de Man. Two peaks culminate at an altitude of a little over 1,000 meters. For the less adventurous, it is possible to go to the top of Mount Tonkoui by 4×4.
On the way back down, why not take a detour through the sacred forest of Gbêpleu to meet the monkeys?
10. Abengourou
“I don’t like palaver” is the origin of the name of this Ivorian city. Abengourou is a big city in the east of the country, located a few miles from nearby Ghana. This city is located about three hours by car from the capital.
There are about 160,000 inhabitants in Abengourou, an Ivorian city located in the Ingénié-Djuablin region.
What to do in Abengourou?
The fish farm of Tchegbkro, located near Abengourou, is a “fish farm”. It is possible to visit this place, but above all, the owners have had a good idea to set up a small restaurant where you can taste fish.
Another highlight of the city is the National Center for Agricultural Research. A scientific center that serves as a place for research on the cultivation of coffee and cocoa. The CNRA offers some guided tours. This allows a better understanding of how the farms work and their problems.
The Charles Bieth Museum is a unique place that allows you to see paintings by great African artists. But this place also hosts a school of painting. Another museum to visit is the Royal Museum of Abengourou. In the past, there was a king and he ruled the ethnic group of Agnis Indenians. Today, the museum allows us to witness a distant era by tracing the history of a people while evoking the influence of Egyptian civilization.