2016 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 Afar minority during the 1990s led to a civil war that ended in 2001 with a peace accord between Afar rebels and the Somali Issa-dominated government. In 1999, Djibouti's first multiparty presidential election resulted in the election of Ismail Omar GUELLEH as president; he was reelected to a second term in 2005 and extended his tenure in office via a constitutional amendment, which allowed him to begin a third term in 2011. Djibouti occupies a strategic geographic location at the intersection of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden and serves as an important shipping portal for goods entering and leaving the east African highlands and transshipments between Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The government holds longstanding ties to France, which maintains a significant military presence in the country, and has strong ties with the US. Djibouti hosts several thousand members of US armed services at US-run Camp Lemonnier.

Area

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

land

23,180 sq km

total

23,200 sq km

water

20 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than New Jersey

Climate

desert; torrid, dry

Coastline

314 km

Elevation

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

elevation extremes

lowest point: Lac Assal -155 m

highest point

Moussa Ali 2,028 m

mean elevation

430 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

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 and the saltiest lake in the world

Irrigated land

10 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

528 km Eritrea 125 km, Ethiopia 342 km, Somalia 61 km

border countries (3)

Eritrea 125 km, Ethiopia 342 km, Somalia 61 km

total

528 km

Land use

73.4% arable land 0.1%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 73.3% 0.2% 26.4% (2011 est.)

agricultural land

73.4%

forest

0.2%

other

26.4% (2011 est.)

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

volcanism

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

Age structure

31.71% (male 134,604/female 133,840) 21.54% (male 85,805/female 96,587) 38.37% (male 134,945/female 189,930) 4.7% (male 18,257/female 21,538) 3.68% (male 13,992/female 17,189) (2016 est.)

0-14 years

31.71% (male 134,604/female 133,840)

15-24 years

21.54% (male 85,805/female 96,587)

25-54 years

38.37% (male 134,945/female 189,930)

55-64 years

4.7% (male 18,257/female 21,538)

65 years and over

3.68% (male 13,992/female 17,189) (2016 est.)

Birth rate

23.6 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)

Child labor - children ages 5-14

13,176 8% (2006 est.)

percentage

8% (2006 est.)

total number

13,176

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

29.8% (2012)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

19% (2012)

Death rate

7.6 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)

Demographic profile

Djibouti is a poor, predominantly urban country, characterized by high rates of illiteracy, unemployment, and childhood malnutrition. More than 75% of the population lives in cities and towns (predominantly in the capital, Djibouti). The rural population subsists primarily on nomadic herding. Prone to droughts and floods, the country has few natural resources and must import more than 80% of its food from neighboring countries or Europe. Health care, particularly outside the capital, is limited by poor infrastructure, shortages of equipment and supplies, and a lack of qualified personnel. More than a third of health care recipients are migrants because the services are still better than those available in their neighboring home countries. The nearly universal practice of female genital cutting reflects Djibouti’s lack of gender equality and is a major contributor to obstetrical complications and its high rates of maternal and infant mortality. A 1995 law prohibiting the practice has never been enforced. Because of its political stability and its strategic location at the confluence of East Africa and the Gulf States along the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, Djibouti is a key transit point for migrants and asylum seekers heading for the Gulf States and beyond. Each year some hundred thousand people, mainly Ethiopians and some Somalis, journey through Djibouti, usually to the port of Obock, to attempt a dangerous sea crossing to Yemen. However, with the escalation of the ongoing Yemen conflict, Yemenis began fleeing to Djibouti in March 2015, with more than 35,000 arriving by April 2016. Most Yemenis remain unregistered and head for Djibouti City rather than seeking asylum at one of Djibouti’s three spartan refugee camps. Djibouti has been hosting refugees and asylum seekers, predominantly Somalis and lesser numbers of Ethiopians and Eritreans, at camps for 20 years, despite lacking potable water, food shortages, and unemployment.

Dependency ratios

58.5% 51.9% 6.6% 15.1% (2015 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

6.6%

potential support ratio

15.1% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

58.5%

youth dependency ratio

51.9%

Drinking water source

urban: 97.4% of population rural: 64.7% of population total: 90% of population urban: 2.6% of population rural: 35.3% of population total: 10% of population (2015 est.)

rural

35.3% of population

total

10% of population (2015 est.)

urban

2.6% of population

Education expenditures

4.5% of GDP (2010)

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

10.6% of GDP (2014)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.55% (2015 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

600 (2015 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

9,400 (2015 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.4 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

47.2 deaths/1,000 live births 54.1 deaths/1,000 live births 40.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)

female

40.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)

male

54.1 deaths/1,000 live births

total

47.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

63.2 years 60.7 years 65.8 years (2016 est.)

female

65.8 years (2016 est.)

male

60.7 years

total population

63.2 years

Major infectious diseases

high bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever dengue fever (2016)

degree of risk

high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne disease

dengue fever (2016)

Major urban areas - population

DJIBOUTI (capital) 529,000 (2015)

Maternal mortality rate

229 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median age

23.5 years 21.8 years 24.9 years (2016 est.)

female

24.9 years (2016 est.)

male

21.8 years

total

23.5 years

Nationality

Djiboutian(s) Djiboutian

adjective

Djiboutian

noun

Djiboutian(s)

Net migration rate

5.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

8.5% (2014)

Physicians density

0.23 physicians/1,000 population (2006)

Population

846,687 (July 2016 est.)

Population growth rate

2.18% (2016 est.)

Religions

Muslim 94%, Christian 6%

Sanitation facility access

urban: 59.8% of population rural: 5.1% of population total: 47.4% of population urban: 40.2% of population rural: 94.9% of population total: 52.6% of population (2015 est.)

rural

94.9% of population

total

52.6% of population (2015 est.)

urban

40.2% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

6 years 7 years 6 years (2011)

female

6 years (2011)

male

7 years

total

6 years

Sex ratio

1.03 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 0.89 male(s)/female 0.71 male(s)/female 0.85 male(s)/female 0.82 male(s)/female 0.84 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

0-14 years

1.01 male(s)/female

15-24 years

0.89 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.71 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.85 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.82 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.84 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.35 children born/woman (2016 est.)

Urbanization

77.3% of total population (2015) 1.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

1.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

77.3% of total population (2015)

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)

Citizenship

no the mother must be a citizen of Djibouti no 10 years

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

the mother must be a citizen of Djibouti

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

10 years

Constitution

approved by referendum 4 September 1992; amended 2006, 2008, 2010 (2016)

Country name

Republic of Djibouti Djibouti Republique de Djibouti/Jumhuriyat Jibuti Djibouti/Jibuti French Territory of the Afars and Issas, French Somaliland the country name derives from the capital city of Djibouti

conventional long form

Republic of Djibouti

conventional short form

Djibouti

etymology

the country name derives from the capital city of 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 Thomas P. KELLY (since 13 October 2014) Lot 350-B, Haramouss B.P. 185, Djibouti [253] 21 45 30 00 [253] 21 45 31 29

chief of mission

Ambassador Thomas P. KELLY (since 13 October 2014)

embassy

Lot 350-B, Haramouss

FAX

[253] 21 45 31 29

mailing address

B.P. 185, Djibouti

telephone

[253] 21 45 30 00

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Siad DOUALEH (since 28 January 2016) 1156 15th Street NW, Suite 515, Washington, DC 20005 [1] (202) 331-0270 [1] (202) 331-0302

chancery

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

chief of mission

Ambassador Siad DOUALEH (since 28 January 2016)

FAX

[1] (202) 331-0302

telephone

[1] (202) 331-0270

Executive branch

President Ismail Omar GUELLEH (since 8 May 1999) Prime Minister Abdoulkader Kamil MOHAMED (since 1 April 2013) Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term; (constitution amended in 2010 to allow a third term); election last held on 8 April 2016 (next to be held by 2021); prime minister appointed by the president Ismail Omar GUELLEH reelected president for a fourth term; percent of vote - Ismail Omar GUELLEH (RPP) 87%, Omar Elmi KHAIREH (represented the USN) 7.3%, other 5.6%

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister

chief of state

President Ismail Omar GUELLEH (since 8 May 1999)

election results

Ismail Omar GUELLEH reelected president for a fourth term; percent of vote - Ismail Omar GUELLEH (RPP) 87%, Omar Elmi KHAIREH (represented the USN) 7.3%, other 5.6%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term; (constitution amended in 2010 to allow a third term); election last held on 8 April 2016 (next to be held by 2021); prime minister appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Abdoulkader Kamil MOHAMED (since 1 April 2013)

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

semi-presidential 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, CAEU (candidates), COMESA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of NA magistrates); Constitutional Council (consists of 6 magistrates) Supreme Court magistrates appointed by the president with the advice of the Superior Council of the Magistracy or CSM, a 10-member body consisting of 4 judges, 3 members (non parliamentarians and judges) appointed by the president, and 3 appointed by the National Assembly president or speaker; magistrates appointed for life with retirement at age 65; Constitutional Council magistrate appointments - 2 by the president of the republic, 2 by the president of the National Assembly, and 2 by the CSM; magistrates appointed for 8-year, non-renewable terms High Court of Appeal; 5 Courts of First Instance; customary courts; State Court (replaced sharia courts in 2003)

highest court(s)

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of NA magistrates); Constitutional Council (consists of 6 magistrates)

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court magistrates appointed by the president with the advice of the Superior Council of the Magistracy or CSM, a 10-member body consisting of 4 judges, 3 members (non parliamentarians and judges) appointed by the president, and 3 appointed by the National Assembly president or speaker; magistrates appointed for life with retirement at age 65; Constitutional Council magistrate appointments - 2 by the president of the republic, 2 by the president of the National Assembly, and 2 by the CSM; magistrates appointed for 8-year, non-renewable terms

subordinate courts

High Court of Appeal; 5 Courts of First Instance; customary courts; State Court (replaced sharia courts in 2003)

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale, formerly the Chamber of Deputies (65 seats; 52 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 13 directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms) last held on 22 February 2013 (next to be held in 2018) percent of vote by party - UMP 61.5%, USN 35.6%, CDU 3.0%; seats by party - UMP 43, USN 21, CDU 1

description

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale, formerly the Chamber of Deputies (65 seats; 52 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 13 directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - UMP 61.5%, USN 35.6%, CDU 3.0%; seats by party - UMP 43, USN 21, CDU 1

elections

last held on 22 February 2013 (next to be held in 2018)

National anthem

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

lyrics/music

Aden ELMI/Abdi ROBLEH

name

"Jabuuti" (Djibouti)

note

adopted 1977

National holiday

Independence Day, 27 June (1977)

National symbol(s)

red star; national colors: light blue, green, white, red

red star; national colors

light blue, green, white, red

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] Movement for Development and Liberty or MODEL [Sheikh Guirreh MEIDAL] People's Rally for Progress 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 (a coalition of parties including RPP, FRUD, PND, and PPSD) Union for Democracy and Justice or UDJ [Ismail GUEDI Hared] Union for National Salvation or USN (an umbrella coalition comprising PRD, PDD, MODEL, ARD, and UDJ) [Ahmed Youssouf HOUMER]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

$615.5 million $860 million (2015 est.)

expenditures

$860 million (2015 est.)

revenues

$615.5 million

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-14.2% of GDP (2015 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

11.62% (31 December 2015 est.) 12.69% (31 December 2014 est.)

Current account balance

-$504 million (2015 est.) -$407 million (2014 est.)

Debt - external

$1.09 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $957.5 million (31 December 2014 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

40.9 (2002)

Economy - overview

Djibouti's economy is based on service activities connected with the country's strategic location as a deepwater port on the Red Sea. Three-fourths of Djibouti's inhabitants live in the capital city; the remainder are mostly nomadic herders. Scant rainfall and less than 4% arable land limits crop production to small quantities of 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, exports, and re-exports represent 70% of port activity at Djibouti's container terminal. Reexports consist primarily of coffee from landlocked neighbor Ethiopia. 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 official unemployment rate of nearly 50% - with youth unemployment near 80% - continues to be a major problem. Inflation declined to 3% in 2014 due to low international food prices and a decline in electricity tariffs. Djibouti’s reliance on diesel-generated electricity and imported food and water leave average consumers vulnerable to global price shocks, though in mid-2015 Djibouti passed new legislation to liberalize the energy sector. The government has emphasized infrastructure development for transportation and energy and Djibouti – with the help of foreign partners – has begun to increase and modernize its port capacity.

Exchange rates

Djiboutian francs (DJF) per US dollar - 177.72 (2015 est.) 177.72 (2014 est.) 177.72 (2013 est.) 177.72 (2012 est.) 177.72 (2011 est.)

Exports

$141.9 million (2015 est.) $127 million (2014 est.)

Exports - commodities

reexports, hides and skins, coffee (in transit), scrap metal

Exports - partners

Somalia 79.8%, US 5.4%, Yemen 4.6%, UAE 4% (2015)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

58.4% 33.7% 42% 0.4% 34.6% -69.1% (2015 est.)

exports of goods and services

34.6%

government consumption

33.7%

household consumption

58.4%

imports of goods and services

-69.1% (2015 est.)

investment in fixed capital

42%

investment in inventories

0.4%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

3.1% 21.2% 75.7% (2015 est.)

agriculture

3.1%

industry

21.2%

services

75.7% (2015 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$3,200 (2015 est.) $3,100 (2014 est.) $3,000 (2013 est.) data are in 2015 US dollars

note

data are in 2015 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

6.5% (2015 est.) 6% (2014 est.) 5% (2013 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.727 billion (2015 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$3.094 billion (2015 est.) $2.905 billion (2014 est.) $2.741 billion (2013 est.) data are in 2015 US dollars

note

data are in 2015 US dollars

Gross national saving

41.9% of GDP (2015 est.) 33.9% of GDP (2014 est.) 33.6% of GDP (2013 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

2.4% 30.9% (2002)

highest 10%

30.9% (2002)

lowest 10%

2.4%

Imports

$1.038 billion (2015 est.) $930.6 million (2014 est.)

Imports - commodities

foods, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum products, clothing

Imports - partners

China 42.1%, Saudi Arabia 14.3%, Indonesia 5.9%, India 4.4% (2015)

Industrial production growth rate

4.5% (2015 est.)

Industries

construction, agricultural processing, shipping

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.7% (2015 est.) 2.9% (2014 est.)

Labor force

294,600 (2012)

Labor force - by occupation

NA% NA% NA%

agriculture

NA%

industry

NA%

services

NA%

Population below poverty line

23% percent of population below $1.25 per day at purchasing power parity (2015 est.)

note

percent of population below $1.25 per day at purchasing power parity (2015 est.)

Public debt

38.6% of GDP (2012 est.)

Stock of broad money

$1.43 billion (31 December 2014 est.) $1.24 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$1.368 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $935.6 million (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$597.6 million (31 December 2015 est.) $527.9 million (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$1.182 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $963.4 million (31 December 2014 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

35.6% of GDP (2015 est.)

Unemployment rate

60% (2014 est.) 59% (2007 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

1.8 million Mt (2013 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2016 es)

Electricity - consumption

400 million kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

98.9% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

1.1% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

100,000 kW (2014 est.)

Electricity - production

400 million kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity access

400,000 50% 61% 14% (2013)

electrification - rural areas

14% (2013)

electrification - total population

50%

electrification - urban areas

61%

population without electricity

400,000

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 es)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

6,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

402.7 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

6,509 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Broadcast media

state-owned Radiodiffusion-Television de Djibouti 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 users

99,000 11.9% (July 2015 est.)

percent of population

11.9% (July 2015 est.)

total

99,000

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 and EASSy fiber-optic submarine cable systems providing links to Asia, the Middle East, Europe and North America; satellite earth stations - 2 (1 Intelsat - Indian Ocean and 1 Arabsat); Medarabtel regional microwave radio relay telephone network (2015)

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 and EASSy fiber-optic submarine cable systems providing links to Asia, the Middle East, Europe and North America; satellite earth stations - 2 (1 Intelsat - Indian Ocean and 1 Arabsat); Medarabtel regional microwave radio relay telephone network (2015)

Telephones - fixed lines

23,000 3 (July 2015 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

3 (July 2015 est.)

total subscriptions

23,000

Telephones - mobile cellular

312,000 38 (July 2015 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

38 (July 2015 est.)

total

312,000

Airports

13 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1 (2013)

2,438 to 3,047 m

1

over 3,047 m

1

total

3

Airports - with unpaved runways

2 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

7

total

10

under 914 m

2 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

J2 (2016)

National air transport system

4 (2015)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

4 (2015)

number of registered air carriers

2

Ports and terminals

Djibouti

major seaport(s)

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 (2008)

narrow gauge

100 km 1.000-m gauge

note

railway is under joint control of Djibouti and Ethiopia but is largely inoperable (2008)

total

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

Roadways

3,065 km 1,379 km 1,686 km (2000)

paved

1,379 km

total

3,065 km

unpaved

1,686 km (2000)

Transportation - note

while attacks continued to decrease, with only 4 in 2014, the International Maritime Bureau reports offshore waters in the Gulf of Aden remain a high risk for piracy; the presence of several naval task forces in the Gulf of Aden and additional anti-piracy measures on the part of ship operators, including the use of on-board armed security teams, contributed to the drop in incidents

Military branches

Djibouti Armed Forces (Forces Armees Djiboutiennes, FAD): Djibouti National Army (includes Navy, Djiboutian Air Force (Force Aerienne Djiboutienne, FAD), National Gendarmerie (GN)) (2013)

Djibouti Armed Forces (Forces Armees Djiboutiennes, FAD)

Djibouti National Army (includes Navy, Djiboutian Air Force (Force Aerienne Djiboutienne, FAD), National Gendarmerie (GN)) (2013)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; 16-25 years of age for voluntary military training; no conscription (2012)

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 moved across the border on Ras Doumera peninsula and occupied Doumera Island with undefined sovereignty in the Red Sea

Refugees and internally displaced persons

12,363 (Somalia) (2015); 19,636 (Yemen) (2016)

refugees (country of origin)

12,363 (Somalia) (2015); 19,636 (Yemen) (2016)

Trafficking in persons

Djibouti is a transit, source, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; economic migrants from East Africa en route to Yemen and other Middle East locations are vulnerable to exploitation in Djibouti; some women and girls may be forced into domestic servitude or prostitution after reaching Djibouti City, the Ethiopia-Djibouti trucking corridor, or Obock – the main crossing point into Yemen; Djiboutian and foreign children may be forced to beg, to work as domestic servants, or to commit theft and other petty crimes Tier 2 Watch List – Djibouti does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; in 2014, Djibouti was granted a waiver from an otherwise required downgrade to Tier 3 because its government has a written plan that, if implemented would constitute making significant efforts to bring itself into compliance with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; one forced labor trafficker was convicted in 2014 but received a suspended sentence inadequate to deter trafficking; authorities did not investigate or prosecute any other forced labor crimes, any sex trafficking offenses, or any officials complicit in human trafficking, and remained limited in their ability to recognize or protect trafficking victims; official round-ups, detentions, and deportations of non-Djiboutian residents, including children without screening for trafficking victims remained routine; the government did not provide care to victims but supported local NGOs operating centers that assisted victims (2015)

current situation

Djibouti is a transit, source, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; economic migrants from East Africa en route to Yemen and other Middle East locations are vulnerable to exploitation in Djibouti; some women and girls may be forced into domestic servitude or prostitution after reaching Djibouti City, the Ethiopia-Djibouti trucking corridor, or Obock – the main crossing point into Yemen; Djiboutian and foreign children may be forced to beg, to work as domestic servants, or to commit theft and other petty crimes

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List – Djibouti does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; in 2014, Djibouti was granted a waiver from an otherwise required downgrade to Tier 3 because its government has a written plan that, if implemented would constitute making significant efforts to bring itself into compliance with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; one forced labor trafficker was convicted in 2014 but received a suspended sentence inadequate to deter trafficking; authorities did not investigate or prosecute any other forced labor crimes, any sex trafficking offenses, or any officials complicit in human trafficking, and remained limited in their ability to recognize or protect trafficking victims; official round-ups, detentions, and deportations of non-Djiboutian residents, including children without screening for trafficking victims remained routine; the government did not provide care to victims but supported local NGOs operating centers that assisted victims (2015)