2011 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 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.

Area

23,200 sq km 23,180 sq km 20 sq km

total

23,200 sq km

water

20 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Massachusetts

Climate

desert; torrid, dry

Coastline

314 km

Elevation extremes

Lac Assal -155 m Moussa Ali 2,028 m

highest point

Moussa Ali 2,028 m

lowest point

Lac Assal -155 m

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international agreements

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands none of the selected 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)

0.02 cu km/yr (84%/0%/16%) 25 cu m/yr (2000)

per capita

25 cu m/yr (2000)

total

0.02 cu km/yr (84%/0%/16%)

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 (2008)

Land boundaries

516 km Eritrea 109 km, Ethiopia 349 km, Somalia 58 km

border countries

Eritrea 109 km, Ethiopia 349 km, Somalia 58 km

total

516 km

Land use

0.04% 0% 99.96% (2005)

arable land

0.04%

other

99.96% (2005)

permanent crops

0%

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

12 nm 24 nm 200 nm

contiguous zone

24 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

earthquakes; droughts; occasional cyclonic disturbances from the Indian Ocean bring heavy rains and flash floods Djibouti experiences limited volcanic activity; Ardoukoba (elev. 298 m) last erupted in 1978; Manda-Inakir, located along the Ethiopian border, is also historically active

volcanism

Djibouti experiences limited volcanic activity; Ardoukoba (elev. 298 m) last erupted in 1978; Manda-Inakir, located along the Ethiopian border, is also historically active

Natural resources

potential geothermal power, 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

35% (male 132,592/female 132,114) 61.7% (male 206,323/female 260,772) 3.3% (male 11,349/female 13,924) (2011 est.)

0-14 years

35% (male 132,592/female 132,114)

15-64 years

61.7% (male 206,323/female 260,772)

65 years and over

3.3% (male 11,349/female 13,924) (2011 est.)

Birth rate

25.27 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

29.6% (2006)

Death rate

8.23 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 98% of population rural: 52% of population total: 92% of population urban: 2% of population rural: 48% of population total: 8% of population (2008)

rural

48% of population

total

8% of population (2008)

urban

2% of population

Education expenditures

8.4% of GDP (2007)

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

6.4% of GDP (2009)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

2.5% (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

1,000 (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

14,000 (2009 est.)

Infant mortality rate

54.94 deaths/1,000 live births 62.63 deaths/1,000 live births 47.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

female

47.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

total

54.94 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

61.14 years 58.69 years 63.66 years (2011 est.)

female

63.66 years (2011 est.)

total population

61.14 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 67.9% 78% 58.4% (2003 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

58.4% (2003 est.)

male

78%

total population

67.9%

Major cities - population

DJIBOUTI (capital) 567,000 (2009)

Major infectious diseases

high bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever malaria 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 (2009)

degree of risk

high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever

vectorborne disease

malaria

Maternal mortality rate

300 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)

Median age

21.8 years 20.2 years 23.1 years (2011 est.)

female

23.1 years (2011 est.)

male

20.2 years

total

21.8 years

Nationality

Djiboutian(s) Djiboutian

adjective

Djiboutian

noun

Djiboutian(s)

Net migration rate

5.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Physicians density

0.229 physicians/1,000 population (2006)

Population

757,074 (July 2011 est.)

Population growth rate

2.237% (2011 est.)

Religions

Muslim 94%, Christian 6%

Sanitation facility access

urban: 63% of population rural: 10% of population total: 56% of population urban: 37% of population rural: 90% of population total: 44% of population (2008)

rural

90% of population

total

44% of population (2008)

urban

37% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

5 years 6 years 5 years (2009)

female

5 years (2009)

male

6 years

total

5 years

Sex ratio

1.03 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female 0.8 male(s)/female 0.81 male(s)/female 0.86 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

0.8 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.81 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.86 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

under 15 years

1 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

2.71 children born/woman (2011 est.)

Urbanization

76% of total population (2010) 1.8% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

1.8% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

76% of total population (2010)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

Djibouti 11 35 N, 43 09 E UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

geographic coordinates

11 35 N, 43 09 E

name

Djibouti

time difference

UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

approved by referendum 4 September 1992; note - constitution allows for multiparties

Country name

Republic of Djibouti Djibouti Republique de Djibouti/Jumhuriyat Jibuti Djibouti/Jibuti French Territory of the Afars and Issas, French Somaliland

conventional long form

Republic of Djibouti

conventional short form

Djibouti

former

French Territory of the Afars and Issas, French Somaliland

local long form

Republique de Djibouti/Jumhuriyat Jibuti

local short form

Djibouti/Jibuti

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador James C. SWAN Plateau du Serpent, Boulevard Marechal Joffre, Djibouti B. P. 185, Djibouti [253] 35 39 95 [253] 35 39 40

chief of mission

Ambassador James C. SWAN

embassy

Plateau du Serpent, Boulevard Marechal Joffre, Djibouti

FAX

[253] 35 39 40

mailing address

B. P. 185, Djibouti

telephone

[253] 35 39 95

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Roble OLHAYE Oudine Suite 515, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 [1] (202) 331-0270 [1] (202) 331-0302

chancery

Suite 515, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005

chief of mission

Ambassador Roble OLHAYE Oudine

FAX

[1] (202) 331-0302

telephone

[1] (202) 331-0270

Executive branch

President Ismail Omar GUELLEH (since 8 May 1999) Prime Minister Mohamed Dileita DILEITA (since 4 March 2001) Council of Ministers responsible to the president president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; president is eligible to hold office until age 75; election last held on 8 April 2011 (next to be held by 2016); prime minister appointed by the president Ismail Omar GUELLEH reelected president; percent of vote - Ismail Omar GUELLEH 80.6%, Mohamed Warsama RAGUEH 19.4%

cabinet

Council of Ministers responsible to the president

chief of state

President Ismail Omar GUELLEH (since 8 May 1999)

election results

Ismail Omar GUELLEH reelected president; percent of vote - Ismail Omar GUELLEH 80.6%, Mohamed Warsama RAGUEH 19.4%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; president is eligible to hold office until age 75; election last held on 8 April 2011 (next to be held by 2016); prime minister appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Mohamed Dileita DILEITA (since 4 March 2001)

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; blue stands for sea and sky and the Issa Somali people; green symbolizes earth and the Afar people; white represents peace; the red star recalls the struggle for independence and stands for unity

Government type

republic

Independence

27 June 1977 (from France)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Constitutional Court

Legal system

mixed legal system based primarily on the French civil code (as it existed in 1997) and Islamic religious law (in matters of family law and successions), and customary law

Legislative branch

unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (65 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); note - constitutional amendments in 2010 provided for the establishment of a senate last held on 8 February 2008 (next to be held in 2013) percent of vote by party - NA; seats - UMP (coalition of parties associated with President Ismail Omar GUELLAH) 65

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats - UMP (coalition of parties associated with President Ismail Omar GUELLAH) 65

elections

last held on 8 February 2008 (next to be held in 2013)

National anthem

"Jabuuti" (Djibouti) Aden ELMI/Abdi ROBLEH adopted 1977

lyrics/music

Aden ELMI/Abdi ROBLEH

name

"Jabuuti" (Djibouti)

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 [Ahmed YOUSSOUF]; Union for a Presidential Majority or UMP [Mohamed Dileita DILEITA] (a coalition of parties including RPP, FRUD, PND, and PPSD); Union for Democracy and Justice or UDJ

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

$497.4 million $506.4 million (2010 est.)

expenditures

$506.4 million (2010 est.)

revenues

$497.4 million

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-0.8% of GDP (2010 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

10.3% (31 December 2010 est.) 11.1% (31 December 2009 est.)

Current account balance

-$55.9 million (2010 est.) -$71.1 million (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$428 million (2006)

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 70% 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% in urban areas 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). Djibouti has experienced relatively minimal impact from the global economic downturn, but its reliance on diesel-generated electricity and imported food leave average consumers vulnerable to global price shocks.

Electricity - consumption

260.4 million kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

280 million kWh (2008 est.)

Exchange rates

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

Exports

$71.2 million (2010 est.) $77.4 million (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

reexports, hides and skins, coffee (in transit)

Exports - partners

Somalia 80.4%, Yemen 4.1%, Egypt 4.1%, UAE 4% (2010)

GDP - composition by sector

3.5% 16.5% 80% (2010 est.)

agriculture

3.5%

industry

16.5%

services

80% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$2,800 (2010 est.) $2,800 (2009 est.) $2,700 (2008 est.) data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

4.5% (2010 est.) 5% (2009 est.) 5.8% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.14 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$2.105 billion (2010 est.) $2.014 billion (2009 est.) $1.918 billion (2008 est.) data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

2.4% 30.9% (2002)

highest 10%

30.9% (2002)

lowest 10%

2.4%

Imports

$416.9 million (2010 est.) $450.7 million (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

foods, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum products

Imports - partners

China 18%, Saudi Arabia 17.7%, India 12.9%, Malaysia 7.5%, US 5%, Pakistan 4.7% (2010)

Industries

construction, agricultural processing

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4% (2010 est.) 1.7% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

40.7% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

351,700 (2007)

Labor force - by occupation

NA% NA% NA%

agriculture

NA%

industry

NA%

services

NA%

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)

Oil - consumption

12,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Oil - exports

19 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - imports

11,230 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)

Population below poverty line

42% (2007 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$230.6 million (31 December 2010 est.) $219.6 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$1.056 billion (31 December 2009 est.) $940.8 million (31 December 2008 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$406.4 million (31 December 2010 est.) $339 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$716.2 million (31 December 2009) $577.7 million (31 December 2008)

Taxes and other revenues

43.6% of GDP (2010 est.)

Unemployment rate

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

Broadcast media

maintains restrictions on the licensing and operation of broadcast media; state-owned Radiodiffusion-Television de Djibouti (RTD) operates the sole terrestrial TV station as well as the only 2 domestic radio networks; no private TV or radio stations; transmissions of several international broadcasters are available (2007)

Internet country code

.dj

Internet hosts

195 (2010)

Internet users

25,900 (2009)

Telephone system

telephone facilities in the city of Djibouti are adequate, as are the microwave radio relay connections to outlying areas of the country Djibouti Telecom is the sole provider of telecommunications services and utilizes mostly a microwave radio relay network; fiber-optic cable is installed in the capital; rural areas connected via wireless local loop radio systems; mobile cellular coverage is primarily limited to the area in and around Djibouti city 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 (2009)

domestic

Djibouti Telecom is the sole provider of telecommunications services and utilizes mostly a microwave radio relay network; fiber-optic cable is installed in the capital; rural areas connected via wireless local loop radio systems; mobile cellular coverage is primarily limited to the area in and around Djibouti city

general assessment

telephone facilities in the city of Djibouti are adequate, as are the microwave radio relay connections to outlying areas of the country

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 (2009)

Telephones - main lines in use

18,500 (2010)

Telephones - mobile cellular

165,600 (2010)

Airports

13 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2010)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1 (2010)

2,438 to 3,047 m

1

over 3,047 m

1

total

3

Airports - with unpaved runways

2 (2010)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

7

total

10

under 914 m

2 (2010)

Ports and terminals

Djibouti

Railways

100 km (Djibouti segment of the 781 km Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway) 100 km 1.000-m gauge railway is under joint control of Djibouti and Ethiopia but is largely inoperable (2010)

total

100 km (Djibouti segment of the 781 km Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway)

Roadways

3,065 km 1,226 km 1,839 km (2000)

total

3,065 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; the presence of several naval task forces in the Gulf of Aden and additional anti-piracy measures on the part of ship operators reduced the incidence of piracy in that body of water by more than half in 2010

Manpower available for military service

170,386 221,411 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

221,411 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

170,386

Manpower fit for military service

114,557 154,173 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

154,173 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

114,557

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

8,360 8,602 (2010 est.)

female

8,602 (2010 est.)

male

8,360

Military branches

Djibouti Armed Forces (Forces Armees Djiboutiennes, FAD): Djibouti National Army (includes Coastal Navy, Djiboutian Air Force (Force Aerienne Djiboutienne, FAD), National Gendarmerie (GN)) (2011)

Djibouti Armed Forces (Forces Armees Djiboutiennes, FAD)

Djibouti National Army (includes Coastal Navy, Djiboutian Air Force (Force Aerienne Djiboutienne, FAD), National Gendarmerie (GN)) (2011)

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; in 2008, Eritrean troops move across the border on Ras Doumera peninsula and occupy Doumera Island with undefined sovereignty in the Red Sea

Refugees and internally displaced persons

8,642 (Somalia) (2007)

refugees (country of origin)

8,642 (Somalia) (2007)