Ivory Coast population pyramid 2026
33,494,346 people in 2026 (projected). Ivory Coast’s young pyramid carries a male surplus in middle age, a trace of the immigrant plantation workforce that made it West Africa’s great migration magnet.
- 2026 population
- 33.5Mrank 50 of 237
- Median age
- 18.5 yearsoldest rank 214
- Fertility rate
- 4.10births per woman · above replacement
- Structure
- Youthful2.7% age 65+
Ivory Coast population pyramid
2026 · Share of total by five-year age group and sex
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The UN series provides historical estimates through 2023. Figures from 2024 onward—including 2026—are medium-scenario projections, not counts or predictions guaranteed to occur.
Ivory Coast age distribution in 2026
Children under 15 account for 40.0% of the population, while 2.7% are aged 65 or older. The remaining 57.3% are in the conventional working-age range of 15–64. On these shares, the site classifies Ivory Coast’s age structure as youthful; the guide to expansive population pyramids explains what that shape implies.
The total age dependency ratio is 74.7: about 75 people under 15 or 65+ for every 100 people aged 15–64 (69.9 children and 4.7 older people). This is an age-balance indicator, not a literal count of economic dependants per worker.
What shapes Ivory Coast’s population pyramid
A migration magnet, then a reversal
For most of the second half of the twentieth century Ivory Coast drew workers from its neighbours, above all Burkina Faso and Mali, to its cocoa and coffee plantations and to Abidjan. The UN estimates a net gain of about 2.6 million migrants between 1950 and 1999, and the Ivory Coast 1950 pyramid grew within a generation into the lopsided 1975 profile, where men outnumbered women by more than a fifth at ages 30–49. That imbalance is the clearest signature of labour migration in the chart.
The flow turned after 2000. Political crisis and armed conflict from 2002, and the violence after the 2010 election, coincided with large departures, and the UN records a net loss of nearly two million people between 2000 and 2023. Small net inflows resume in the medium scenario. In 2026 the male surplus survives among people in their late forties and fifties, at about 118 men per 100 women at ages 50–54, while at ages 30–39 women slightly outnumber men. The chart shows that reversal but cannot on its own say how much of it reflects who left during the crisis years and how much reflects estimation.
Births far ahead of deaths
Fertility stayed between about 7.6 and 7.9 children per woman from 1950 to 1980 and has fallen only to about 4.1. Around a million babies are born each year against roughly 250,000 deaths, so every band under 30 is wider than the one above it, the classic expansive pyramid shared with Cameroon, Togo and Nigeria. Mortality remains a strong force at the top: life expectancy barely moved between 1990 and 2010, from about 53 to 55 years, a stall that coincided with a severe HIV epidemic and the conflict years, and infant mortality is still about 49 per 1,000 births.
Under the UN medium scenario the population rises from about 33 million in 2026 to 56 million by 2050 and passes 100 million before 2100, still growing at the end of the century. The Ivory Coast 2100 pyramid has a nearly straight-sided base, the result of fertility approaching replacement level, with a median age of about 30.
What to notice across the years
Distinctive cohorts and turning points
No five-year band under age 80 is more than 10% larger or smaller than both of its neighbours, so Ivory Coast’s 2026 pyramid has a comparatively smooth profile without sharp bulges or notches.
In the UN medium scenario births outnumber deaths in every year through 2100. Children under 15 outnumber people aged 65 and older in every pyramid year through 2100.
Births, deaths, and migration
A pyramid changes in only three ways: births add to the base, deaths remove people at every age, and migration adds or removes people mainly in young adulthood. In 2026, Ivory Coast is projected to record 1,028,953 births (about one birth every 31 seconds) and 251,629 deaths, a natural increase of 777,324. Net migration adds +6,535 people, ranking #89 in the net migration rate ranking.
Between 2000 and 2023 the UN estimates 21,926,048 births, 5,864,794 deaths, and cumulative net migration of −1,971,853. Over that period the balance of births and deaths moved the total more than migration did. See how migration shapes a pyramid and birth rate versus fertility rate. The medium scenario assumes net migration of +357,462 between 2026 and 2050.
Annual values 1950–2100; dashed lines after 2023 are the UN medium projection. The trend table below lists the values by decade.
Life expectancy and mortality
- Life expectancy, women
- 64.7 years33.6 in 1950
- Life expectancy, men
- 60.5 years28.4 in 1950
- Further years at 65
- 13.2 yearsboth sexes
- Infant mortality
- 49.3per 1,000 births · 206 in 1950
- Under-five mortality
- 64.5per 1,000 births
- Mother’s mean age at birth
- 29.0 yearssex ratio at birth 103.0
Women in Ivory Coast are projected to live 4.2 years longer than men, which is why the female side of the pyramid widens relative to the other at older ages (see the life expectancy gap ranking). Infant mortality has fallen from 206 to 49.3 deaths per 1,000 live births since 1950, ranking #15 of 237 in the infant mortality ranking (highest first). A mean age at childbearing of 29.0 years sets the spacing between generations, and so how far apart echo cohorts sit in the pyramid.
Median age, fertility rate, and global ranks for Ivory Coast
The median age of 18.5 years splits the population into two equal halves. A total fertility rate of 4.10 births per woman is above the replacement level of roughly 2.1, and life expectancy at birth is 62.4 years.
These ranks compare all 237 countries and areas in this dataset using the same 2026 UN medium projection. Ranks use the stored source precision, so displayed rounding can make adjacent values look identical; small differences should not be overinterpreted.
| Indicator | 2026 value | Global rank | Ranking direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 33,494,346 | #50 | Largest first |
| Median age | 18.5 years | #214 | Oldest first |
| Fertility rate | 4.10 | #19 | Highest first |
| Annual growth | +2.3% | #24 | Fastest first |
| Life expectancy | 62.4 years | #224 | Highest first |
| Population aged 65+ | 2.7% | #221 | Highest share first |
Largest age groups in Ivory Coast
The five largest cohorts identify where the 2026 population is concentrated. They can reflect past birth patterns, survival, and migration; the chart alone does not establish which cause dominates.
| Rank | Age group | Population | Share of total | Male / female |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0–4 | 4,734,358 | 14.1% | 2.4M / 2.3M |
| 2 | 5–9 | 4,484,989 | 13.4% | 2.3M / 2.2M |
| 3 | 10–14 | 4,193,744 | 12.5% | 2.1M / 2.1M |
| 4 | 15–19 | 3,678,701 | 11.0% | 1.9M / 1.8M |
| 5 | 20–24 | 3,030,341 | 9.0% | 1.6M / 1.5M |
Sex ratio and the balance by age
In the 2026 projection, Ivory Coast has 17,012,558 males and 16,481,787 females. That is 103.2 males per 100 females, ranking #34 when the dataset is ordered from the highest male-to-female ratio to the lowest.
Males account for 50.8% of the population and females for 49.2%. There are 530,771 more males than females overall. Among people aged 65 and older, the ratio is 97.5 males per 100 females.
The overall balance can conceal large differences by age; how sex ratios change with age explains the usual pattern. The ratio reflects the male/female categories in the UN source and is not a measure of gender identity. Compare all profiles in the sex-ratio ranking.
At birth, 103.0 boys are projected to be born for every 100 girls in 2026, slightly below the typical value of about 105 (compare the sex ratio at birth ranking). The ratio at birth sets the balance at the base of the pyramid; how it changes with age then depends on survival and migration.
How Ivory Coast has changed since 1950
The population has increased from 2,735,180 in 1950 to 33,494,346 in 2026, a change of 1125%. Over the same span, median age moved from 16.8 to 18.5 years.
The under-15 share changed from 43.9% to 40.0%, while the share aged 65 and older changed from 2.2% to 2.7%. These shifts show why total population growth and age-structure change need to be read separately. See the Ivory Coast population pyramid in 1950 for the full starting shape.
How the population could change by 2050
Under the UN medium scenario, Ivory Coast’s population is projected to grow by about 66%, reaching 55,746,985 in 2050. The median age changes from 18.5 to 22.6 years.
The 65+ share is projected to rise by 2.0 percentage points to 4.7%. At the same time, the under-15 share is projected at 33.7%. The Ivory Coast population pyramid for 2050 shows the projected shape in detail. How UN projections work explains the assumptions behind these figures.
The population is still rising at the end of the UN medium projection in 2100, when it reaches 104,042,819. The page therefore does not assign a peak year beyond the available horizon.
Population trend: 1950–2100
Mid-year population for every year. Estimates through 2023; dashed line shows the UN medium projection.
| Year | Population | Median age | Fertility | Life exp. | Births | Deaths | Net migration | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 2,735,180 | 16.8 | 7.61 | 30.8 | 148,458 | 91,656 | +16,532 | +2.7% |
| 1960 | 3,673,666 | 17.5 | 7.69 | 37.2 | 200,760 | 101,078 | +31,307 | +3.6% |
| 1970 | 5,411,567 | 16.6 | 7.94 | 44.0 | 285,091 | 115,020 | +58,883 | +4.2% |
| 1980 | 8,220,714 | 15.4 | 7.59 | 51.4 | 405,079 | 124,446 | +47,031 | +4.0% |
| 1990 | 12,189,778 | 15.0 | 6.72 | 52.8 | 566,672 | 164,037 | +79,979 | +4.0% |
| 2000 | 17,699,004 | 15.7 | 5.77 | 51.4 | 783,669 | 238,540 | −63,843 | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 22,488,065 | 16.7 | 5.29 | 55.3 | 920,563 | 244,024 | −182,689 | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 28,915,449 | 17.9 | 4.46 | 60.1 | 973,041 | 245,569 | −12,390 | +2.5% |
| 2023 | 31,165,654 | 18.1 | 4.28 | 61.9 | 997,001 | 238,741 | +6,002 | +2.5% |
| 2024* | 31,934,230 | 18.2 | 4.23 | 62.1 | 1,007,981 | 242,931 | +7,838 | +2.4% |
| 2026* | 33,494,346 | 18.5 | 4.10 | 62.4 | 1,028,953 | 251,629 | +6,535 | +2.3% |
| 2030* | 36,699,009 | 19.3 | 3.88 | 63.1 | 1,088,188 | 271,871 | +4,289 | +2.2% |
| 2040* | 45,743,924 | 21.3 | 3.43 | 64.6 | 1,292,227 | 337,185 | +15,056 | +2.1% |
| 2050* | 55,746,985 | 22.6 | 3.07 | 65.9 | 1,406,947 | 413,098 | +17,378 | +1.8% |
| 2060* | 65,861,370 | 24.1 | 2.80 | 67.2 | 1,498,333 | 497,839 | +4,053 | +1.5% |
| 2070* | 76,166,277 | 25.8 | 2.60 | 68.4 | 1,606,879 | 591,293 | +12,637 | +1.4% |
| 2080* | 86,179,854 | 27.5 | 2.42 | 69.6 | 1,654,054 | 695,768 | +17,511 | +1.1% |
| 2090* | 95,557,108 | 29.0 | 2.29 | 70.7 | 1,690,098 | 826,042 | +52,730 | +1.0% |
| 2100* | 104,042,819 | 30.5 | 2.17 | 71.8 | 1,717,669 | 952,000 | +18,552 | +0.8% |
* 2024 onward is the UN medium projection. Fertility is births per woman; life expectancy is years at birth; births, deaths, and net migration are counts for that calendar year.
Download every year, 1950–2100 (CSV)
2026 population by age and sex
The table provides the counts behind the chart. Age groups are five-year bands, with everyone aged 100 or older combined.
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–4 | 2,385,271 | 2,349,087 | 4,734,358 | 14.1% |
| 5–9 | 2,254,369 | 2,230,620 | 4,484,989 | 13.4% |
| 10–14 | 2,123,631 | 2,070,113 | 4,193,744 | 12.5% |
| 15–19 | 1,885,541 | 1,793,160 | 3,678,701 | 11.0% |
| 20–24 | 1,567,548 | 1,462,793 | 3,030,341 | 9.0% |
| 25–29 | 1,273,189 | 1,181,532 | 2,454,721 | 7.3% |
| 30–34 | 1,065,831 | 1,100,218 | 2,166,049 | 6.5% |
| 35–39 | 1,012,714 | 1,069,136 | 2,081,850 | 6.2% |
| 40–44 | 923,918 | 926,578 | 1,850,496 | 5.5% |
| 45–49 | 772,753 | 700,025 | 1,472,778 | 4.4% |
| 50–54 | 588,151 | 497,920 | 1,086,071 | 3.2% |
| 55–59 | 417,615 | 364,490 | 782,105 | 2.3% |
| 60–64 | 295,613 | 278,217 | 573,830 | 1.7% |
| 65–69 | 201,720 | 195,575 | 397,295 | 1.2% |
| 70–74 | 126,206 | 123,669 | 249,875 | 0.7% |
| 75–79 | 69,552 | 74,349 | 143,901 | 0.4% |
| 80–84 | 32,715 | 40,889 | 73,604 | 0.2% |
| 85–89 | 12,206 | 17,328 | 29,534 | 0.1% |
| 90–94 | 3,252 | 4,975 | 8,227 | 0.0% |
| 95–99 | 664 | 978 | 1,642 | 0.0% |
| 100+ | 101 | 136 | 237 | 0.0% |
Countries with the most similar age structure
These profiles have the 2026 age distributions closest to Ivory Coast’s, measured by the total difference in the share of the population in each five-year band. Similar shapes can arise from very different histories, so the match is a starting point for comparison, not an explanation.
- Cameroon98% overlap · median age 18.2
- Republic of the Congo98% overlap · median age 18.7
- Togo98% overlap · median age 19.2
- Nigeria98% overlap · median age 18.3
- Benin97% overlap · median age 18.2
- Zambia97% overlap · median age 18.2
To calculate school-age, working-age, or older groups with other boundaries, use the age-group calculator for Ivory Coast.
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APA
World Population Pyramid. (2026, October 19). Ivory Coast Population Pyramid 2026. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/ivory-coast/
MLA
“Ivory Coast Population Pyramid 2026.” World Population Pyramid, 19 Oct. 2026, worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/ivory-coast/.
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World Population Pyramid. “Ivory Coast Population Pyramid 2026.” Last modified October 19, 2026. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/ivory-coast/.
Underlying data: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024.
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Ivory Coast in 2026?
Under the UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium scenario, Ivory Coast's population in 2026 is projected at 33,494,346.
What is the median age in Ivory Coast?
The projected median age in Ivory Coast in 2026 is 18.5 years: half the population is younger and half is older.
What is the fertility rate in Ivory Coast?
The projected total fertility rate in 2026 is 4.10 births per woman, above the replacement level of about 2.1 in low-mortality populations.
Is Ivory Coast's population projected to grow?
Between 2026 and 2050, the UN medium scenario indicates the population will grow by about 66%, from 33.5M to 55.7M.
What share of Ivory Coast is aged 65 or older?
In 2026, 2.7% of the projected population is aged 65 or older. By 2050, the medium scenario places the share at 4.7%.
How many babies are born in Ivory Coast each year?
The UN medium scenario projects 1,028,953 births and 251,629 deaths in 2026, about one birth every 31 seconds. Births exceed deaths by 777,324.
What is life expectancy in Ivory Coast for men and women?
Life expectancy at birth in 2026 is projected at 64.7 years for women and 60.5 years for men, a gap of 4.2 years in favour of women.
Does Ivory Coast have more immigrants or emigrants?
Ivory Coast is projected to gain about 6,535 more people through migration than it loses in 2026. Between 2000 and 2023 the UN estimates cumulative net migration of −1,971,853.
What is the sex ratio in Ivory Coast?
The projected 2026 population sex ratio is 103.2 males per 100 females. This all-age ratio is different from the sex ratio at birth and can vary substantially by age.
Sources and notes
- United Nations, DESA, Population Division: World Population Prospects 2024, medium scenario.
- Population values are mid-year figures. Source values published in thousands are converted to people; displayed figures may imply more precision than is appropriate for planning.
- Historical values through 2023 are estimates. Values from 2024 onward are projections.
- Calculations follow the site methodology.