2008 Edition

Background

The French Territory of the Afars and the Issas became Djibouti in 1977. Hassan Gouled APTIDON installed an authoritarian one-party state and proceeded to serve as president until 1999. Unrest among the Afars minority during the 1990s led to a civil war that ended in 2001 following the conclusion of a peace accord between Afar rebels and the Issa-dominated government. In 1999, Djibouti's first multi-party presidential elections resulted in the election of Ismail Omar GUELLEH; he was re-elected to a second and final term in 2005. Djibouti occupies a strategic geographic location at the mouth of the Red Sea and serves as an important transshipment location for goods entering and leaving the east African highlands. The present leadership favors close ties to France, which maintains a significant military presence in the country, but also has strong ties with the US. Djibouti hosts the only US military base in sub-Saharan Africa and is a front-line state in the global war on terrorism.

Area

total: 23,000 sq km land: 22,980 sq km water: 20 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Massachusetts

Climate

desert; torrid, dry

Coastline

314 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Lac Assal -155 m highest point: Moussa Ali 2,028 m

Environment - current issues

inadequate supplies of potable water; limited arable land; desertification; endangered species

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.02 cu km/yr (84%/0%/16%) per capita: 25 cu m/yr (2000)

Geographic coordinates

11 30 N, 43 00 E

Geography - note

strategic location near world's busiest shipping lanes and close to Arabian oilfields; terminus of rail traffic into Ethiopia; mostly wasteland; Lac Assal (Lake Assal) is the lowest point in Africa

Irrigated land

10 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

total: 516 km border countries: Eritrea 109 km, Ethiopia 349 km, Somalia 58 km

Land use

arable land: 0.04% permanent crops: 0% other: 99.96% (2005)

Location

Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, between Eritrea and Somalia

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards

earthquakes; droughts; occasional cyclonic disturbances from the Indian Ocean bring heavy rains and flash floods

Natural resources

geothermal areas, gold, clay, granite, limestone, marble, salt, diatomite, gypsum, pumice, petroleum

Terrain

coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains

Total renewable water resources

0.3 cu km (1997)

Age structure

0-14 years: 43.3% (male 110,089/female 109,331) 15-64 years: 53.1% (male 139,164/female 129,614) 65 years and over: 3.6% (male 9,068/female 8,955) (2008 est.)

Birth rate

38.61 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate

19.16 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Education expenditures

8.4% of GDP (2006)

Ethnic groups

Somali 60%, Afar 35%, other 5% (includes French, Arab, Ethiopian, and Italian)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

2.9% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

690 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

9,100 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 99.13 deaths/1,000 live births male: 106.65 deaths/1,000 live births female: 91.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Languages

French (official), Arabic (official), Somali, Afar

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 43.31 years male: 41.89 years female: 44.77 years (2008 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 67.9% male: 78% female: 58.4% (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Median age

total: 18.2 years male: 18.6 years female: 17.7 years (2008 est.)

Nationality

noun: Djiboutian(s) adjective: Djiboutian

Net migration rate

NA (2008 est.)

Population

506,221 (July 2008 est.)

Population growth rate

1.945% (2008 est.)

Religions

Muslim 94%, Christian 6%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 4 years male: 5 years female: 4 years (2006)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.14 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Administrative divisions

6 districts (cercles, singular - cercle); Ali Sabieh, Arta, Dikhil, Djibouti, Obock, Tadjourah

Capital

name: Djibouti geographic coordinates: 11 35 N, 43 09 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

multiparty constitution approved by referendum 4 September 1992

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Djibouti conventional short form: Djibouti local long form: Republique de Djibouti/Jumhuriyat Jibuti local short form: Djibouti/Jibuti former: French Territory of the Afars and Issas, French Somaliland

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador James C. SWAN embassy: Plateau du Serpent, Boulevard Marechal Joffre, Djibouti mailing address: B. P. 185, Djibouti telephone: [253] 35 39 95

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Roble OLHAYE Oudine chancery: Suite 515, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 331-0270

Executive branch

chief of state: President Ismail Omar GUELLEH (since 8 May 1999) head of government: Prime Minister Mohamed Dileita DILEITA (since 4 March 2001) cabinet: Council of Ministers responsible to the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 8 April 2005 (next to be held by April 2011); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Ismail Omar GUELLEH reelected president; percent of vote - Ismail Omar GUELLEH 100%

FAX

[1] (202) 331-0302

[253] 35 39 40

Flag description

two equal horizontal bands of light blue (top) and light green with a white isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bearing a red five-pointed star in the center

Government type

republic

Independence

27 June 1977 (from France)

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme

Legal system

based on French civil law system, traditional practices, and Islamic law; accepts ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Legislative branch

unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (65 seats; members elected by popular vote for five-year terms) elections: last held 8 February 2008 (next to be held 2013) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats - UMP (coalition of parties associated with President Ismail Omar GUELLAH) 65

National holiday

Independence Day, 27 June (1977)

Political parties and leaders

Democratic National Party or PND [ADEN Robleh Awaleh]; Democratic Renewal Party or PRD [Abdillahi HAMARITEH]; Djibouti Development Party or PDD [Mohamed Daoud CHEHEM]; Front pour la Restauration de l'Unite Democratique or FRUD [Ali Mohamed DAOUD]; People's Progress Assembly or RPP [Ismail Omar GUELLEH] (governing party); Peoples Social Democratic Party or PPSD [Moumin Bahdon FARAH]; Republican Alliance for Democracy or ARD; Union for a Presidential Majority or UMP (a coalition of parties including RPP, FRUD, PND, and PPSD); Union for Democracy and Justice or UDJ

Political pressure groups and leaders

Union for Presidential Majority UMP (coalition includes RPP, FRUD, PPSD and PND); Union for Democratic Changeover or UAD (opposition coalition includes ARD, MRDD, and UDJ)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

fruits, vegetables; goats, sheep, camels, animal hides

Budget

revenues: $135 million expenditures: $182 million (1999 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

NA

Currency (code)

Djiboutian franc (DJF)

Currency code

DJF

Current account balance

-$212 million (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$428 million (2006)

Economic aid - recipient

$78.6 million (2005)

Economy - overview

The economy is based on service activities connected with the country's strategic location and status as a free trade zone in the Horn of Africa. Two-thirds of Djibouti's inhabitants live in the capital city; the remainder are mostly nomadic herders. Scanty rainfall limits crop production to fruits and vegetables, and most food must be imported. Djibouti provides services as both a transit port for the region and an international transshipment and refueling center. Imports and exports from landlocked neighbor Ethiopia represent 85% of port activity at Djibouti's container terminal. Djibouti has few natural resources and little industry. The nation is, therefore, heavily dependent on foreign assistance to help support its balance of payments and to finance development projects. An unemployment rate of nearly 60% continues to be a major problem. While inflation is not a concern, due to the fixed tie of the Djiboutian franc to the US dollar, the artificially high value of the Djiboutian franc adversely affects Djibouti's balance of payments. Per capita consumption dropped an estimated 35% between 1999 and 2006 because of recession, civil war, and a high population growth rate (including immigrants and refugees). Faced with a multitude of economic difficulties, the government has fallen in arrears on long-term external debt and has been struggling to meet the stipulations of foreign aid donors.

Electricity - consumption

232.5 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

250 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Exchange rates

Djiboutian francs (DJF) per US dollar - 177.71 (2007), 174.75 (2006), 177.72 (2005), 177.72 (2004), 177.72 (2003)

Exports

$340 million f.o.b. (2006)

Exports - commodities

reexports, hides and skins, coffee (in transit)

Exports - partners

Somalia 66.4%, Ethiopia 21.5%, Yemen 3.4% (2007)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 3.2% industry: 14.9% services: 81.9% (2006)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$2,300 (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

5.2% (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$841 million (2007 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.738 billion (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$1.555 billion f.o.b. (2006)

Imports - commodities

foods, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum products

Imports - partners

Saudi Arabia 21%, India 18.1%, China 9.4%, Ethiopia 4.7%, Malaysia 4.6%, Japan 4.2% (2007)

Industrial production growth rate

3% (1996 est.)

Industries

construction, agricultural processing

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5% (2007 est.)

Labor force

282,000 (2000)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

12,170 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports

19.18 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports

11,810 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

42% (2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$224.7 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$380 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$284.1 million (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

59% in urban areas, 83% in rural areas (2007 est.)

Internet country code

.dj

Internet hosts

161 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2000)

Internet users

11,000 (2006)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2001)

Radios

52,000 (1997)

Telephone system

general assessment: telephone facilities in the city of Djibouti are adequate, as are the microwave radio relay connections to outlying areas of the country domestic: microwave radio relay network; mobile cellular coverage is primarily limited to the area in and around Djibouti city international: country code - 253; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3 optical telecommunications submarine cable with links to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 (1 Intelsat - Indian Ocean and 1 Arabsat); Medarabtel regional microwave radio relay telephone network (2007)

Telephones - main lines in use

10,800 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular

45,000 (2007)

Television broadcast stations

1 (2001)

Televisions

28,000 (1997)

Airports

13 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 3 (2007)

Ports and terminals

Djibouti

Railways

total: 100 km (Djibouti segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway) narrow gauge: 100 km 1.000-m gauge note: railway under joint control of Djibouti and Ethiopia but remains largely inoperable (2006)

Roadways

total: 3,065 km paved: 1,226 km unpaved: 1,839 km (2000)

Transportation - note

the International Maritime Bureau reports offshore waters in the Gulf of Aden are high risk for piracy; numerous vessels, including commercial shipping and pleasure craft, have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; crew, passengers, and cargo are held for ransom

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 111,274 females age 16-49: 105,168 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 54,460 females age 16-49: 51,684 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 5,618 female: 5,609 (2008 est.)

Military branches

Djibouti National Army (includes Navy and Air Force)

Military expenditures

3.8% of GDP (2006)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; 16-25 years of age for voluntary military training; no conscription (2008)

Disputes - international

Djibouti maintains economic ties and border accords with "Somaliland" leadership while maintaining some political ties to various factions in Somalia; Kuwait is chief investor in the 2008 restoration and upgrade of the Ethiopian-Djibouti rail link

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 8,642 (Somalia) (2007) This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008