Côte d'Ivoire's informal economy is a significant but understudied sector of its economy. An ethnographic study was conducted in urban and rural settings, including interviews with key informants and participant observation over a period of one year. The informal sector contributes approximately 40% to the country's GDP, highlighting its substantial economic importance. This study underscores the critical role of the informal economy in Côte d'Ivoire’s overall economic landscape. Policy makers should consider supporting and regulating the informal economy to enhance its contribution to formalizing the economy.