Abidjan Department upon its creation in 1969. It kept these boundaries until 1988, but other departments began to be divided in 1974.Abidjan Department from 1988 until 1998. (Other subdivision boundaries changed beginning in 1995.)
In 1997, regions were introduced as new first-level subdivisions of Ivory Coast; as a result, all departments were converted into second-level subdivisions. Abidjan Department was included as part of Lagunes Region. Abidjan Department was divided again in 1998 in order to create Alépé, Dabou, and Jacqueville Departments.
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, Abidjan Department became part of Abidjan Autonomous District, one of two districts in the country with no regions. Abidjan Department and the Abidjan Autonomous District share the same territory.[3]