The Ivorian economy is largely market based and depends heavily on the agricultural sector. Almost 70 percent of the Ivorian people are engaged in some form of agricultural activity. The economy performed poorly in the 1980's and early 90's, and high population growth coupled with economic decline resulted in a steady fall in living standards. Gross national product per capita, now rising again, was about USD 727 in 1996. A majority of the population remains dependent on smallholder cash crop production.
Principal exports are cocoa, coffee, and tropical woods.