Abstract Background The association between HIV infection and invasive cervical cancer that has been reported may reflect differential prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection or uncontrolled confounding. We conducted a case-control study in a West African population to assess the relationship between HIV infection and invasive cervical cancer, taking into account HPV infection and other potential risk factors for cervical cancer. Methods Women with invasive cervical cancer (cases) or normal cervical cytology (controls) were recruited in a hospital-based case-control study in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated in logistic regression analyses controlling for important cofactors. Results HIV infection was noted in 22/132 (16.7%) cases and 10/120 (8.3%) controls (p = 0.048). High-risk HPV infection was detected in cervical tumor samples from 89.4% of case-participants and in cervical cytology samples in 31.1% of control-participants. In logistic regression analysis, HIV infection was associated with cervical cancer in women with HPV (OR 3.4; 95% CI 1.1-10.8). Among women aged ≤ 40 years, risk factors for cervical cancer were high-risk HPV infection (OR 49.3; 95% CI 8.2-295.7); parity > 2 (OR 7.0; 95% CI 1.9-25.7) and HIV infection (OR 4.5; 95% CI 1.5-13.6). Among women aged > 40 years, high-risk HPV infection (OR 23.5; 95% CI 9.1-60.6) and parity > 2 (OR 5.5; 95% CI 2.3-13.4), but association with HIV infection was not statistically significant. Conclusions These data support the hypothesis that HIV infection is a cofactor for cervical cancer in women with HPV infection, and, as in all populations, the need for promoting cervical screening in populations with high prevalence of HIV infection.