Vavoua Department

Vavoua Department Département de Vavoua
Department
Location in Ivory Coast. Vavoua Department has retained the same boundaries since its creation in 1988. Location in Ivory Coast. Vavoua Department has retained the same boundaries since its creation in 1988.
Country	Ivory Coast
District	Sassandra-Marahoué
Region	Haut-Sassandra
1988	Established as a first-level subdivision via a division of Daloa Dept
1997	Converted to a second-level subdivision
2011	Converted to a third-level subdivision
Departmental seat	Vavoua
Government
• Prefect	N'Cho Pierre Nzaire M'Bassidjé
Area
• Total	6,320 km2 (2,440 sq mi)
Population  (2021 census)
• Total	477,154
• Density	75.5/km2 (196/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+0 (GMT)

Vavoua Department is a department of Haut-Sassandra Region in Sassandra-Marahoué District, Ivory Coast. In 2021, its population was 477,154 and its seat is the settlement of Vavoua. The sub-prefectures of the department are Bazra-Nattis, Dananon, Dania, Kétro-Bassam, Séitifla, and Vavoua.

Economy

Local industries include cocoa, cotton growing, and logging.

History

Vavoua Department was created in 1988 as a first-level subdivision via a split-off from Daloa Department.

In 1997, regions were introduced as new first-level subdivisions of Ivory Coast; as a result, all departments were converted into second-level subdivisions. Vavoua Department was included in Haut-Sassandra Region.

In 2011, districts were introduced as new first-level subdivisions of Ivory Coast. At the same time, regions were reorganised and became second-level subdivisions and all departments were converted into third-level subdivisions. At this time, Vavoua Department remained part of the retained Haut-Sassandra Region in the new Sassandra-Marahoué District.

Vavoua International School, a Christian missionary boarding school run by WEC International, was situated in the department, adjacent to the small village of Bouitafla, until the Second Ivorian Civil War forced its closing.