The main Religions in Ivory Coast are Islam and Christianity. According to recent estimates by CIA, Islam (mainly Sunni) is practiced by 38.6% of the population, Christianity by 32.6%, 16.7% of the population is Irreligious, while 11.9% of the population follows Animism i.e., Traditional African religion and other religions.
During Medieval times, the region that is now Ivory Coast was at the centre of several major African trade routes, linking the empires which then existed in Ghana and Mali. European traders had been present in the region since the 15th century, but it was not until the 19th that the French undertook a determined penetration of the region.
During Medieval times, the region that is now Ivory Coast was at the centre of several major African trade routes, linking the empires which then existed in Ghana and Mali. European traders had been present in the region since the 15th century, but it was not until the 19th that the French undertook a determined penetration of the region.