Introduction

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.
`

Geography

Location: |  |
`Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, between Eritrea and Somalia`
Geographic coordinates: |  |
`11 30 N, 43 00 E`
Map references: |  |
`Africa`
Area: |  |
`total: 23,200 sq km country comparison to the world: 150 land: 23,180 sq km water: 20 sq km`
Area - comparative: |  |
`slightly smaller than Massachusetts`
Land boundaries: |  |
`total: 516 km border countries: Eritrea 109 km, Ethiopia 349 km, Somalia 58 km`
Coastline: |  |
`314 km`
Maritime claims: |  |
`territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm`
Climate: |  |
`desert; torrid, dry`
Terrain: |  |
`coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains`
Elevation extremes: |  |
`lowest point: Lac Assal -155 m highest point: Moussa Ali 2,028 m`
Natural resources: |  |
`potential geothermal power, gold, clay, granite, limestone, marble, salt, diatomite, gypsum, pumice, petroleum`
Land use: |  |
`arable land: 0.04% permanent crops: 0% other: 99.96% (2005)`
Irrigated land: |  |
`10 sq km (2003)`
Total renewable water resources: |  |
`0.3 cu km (1997)`
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic / industrial / agricultural): |  |
`total: 0.02 cu km/yr (84%/0%/16%) per capita: 25 cu m/yr (2000)`
Natural hazards: |  |
`earthquakes; droughts; occasional cyclonic disturbances from the Indian Ocean bring heavy rains and flash floods 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`
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`
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`

People

Population: |  |
`757,074 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 162`
Age structure: |  |
`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.)`
Median age: |  |
`total: 21.8 years male: 20.2 years female: 23.1 years (2011 est.)`
Population growth rate: |  |
`2.237% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 37`
Birth rate: |  |
`25.27 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 59`
Death rate: |  |
`8.23 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 93`
Net migration rate: |  |
`5.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 16`
Urbanization: |  |
`urban population: 76% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 1.8% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)`
Major cities - population: |  |
`DJIBOUTI (capital) 567,000 (2009)`
Sex ratio: |  |
`at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.8 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2011 est.)`
Infant mortality rate: |  |
`total: 54.94 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 40 male: 62.63 deaths/1,000 live births female: 47.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)`
Life expectancy at birth: |  |
`total population: 61.14 years country comparison to the world: 183 male: 58.69 years female: 63.66 years (2011 est.)`
Total fertility rate: |  |
`2.71 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 74`
HIV / AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |  |
`2.5% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 25`
HIV / AIDS - people living with HIV / AIDS: |  |
`14,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 88`
HIV / AIDS - deaths: |  |
`1,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 70`
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 (2009)`
Drinking water source: |  |
`improved: urban: 98% of population rural: 52% of population total: 92% of population unimproved: urban: 2% of population rural: 48% of population total: 8% of population (2008)`
Sanitation facility access: |  |
`improved: urban: 63% of population rural: 10% of population total: 56% of population unimproved: urban: 37% of population rural: 90% of population total: 44% of population (2008)`
Nationality: |  |
`noun: Djiboutian(s) adjective: Djiboutian`
Ethnic groups: |  |
`Somali 60%, Afar 35%, other 5% (includes French, Arab, Ethiopian, and Italian)`
Religions: |  |
`Muslim 94%, Christian 6%`
Languages: |  |
`French (official), Arabic (official), Somali, Afar`
Literacy: |  |
`definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 67.9% male: 78% female: 58.4% (2003 est.)`
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): |  |
`total: 5 years male: 6 years female: 5 years (2009)`
Education expenditures: |  |
`8.4% of GDP (2007) country comparison to the world: 9`

Government

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`
Government type: |  |
`republic`
Capital: |  |
`name: Djibouti geographic coordinates: 11 35 N, 43 09 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)`
Administrative divisions: |  |
`6 districts (cercles, singular - cercle); Ali Sabieh, Arta, Dikhil, Djibouti, Obock, Tadjourah`
Independence: |  |
`27 June 1977 (from France)`
National holiday: |  |
`Independence Day, 27 June (1977)`
Constitution: |  |
`approved by referendum 4 September 1992; note - constitution allows for multiparties`
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`
International law organization participation: |  |
`accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction`
Suffrage: |  |
`18 years of age; universal`
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
(For more information visit theWorld Leaders website )
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
election results: Ismail Omar GUELLEH reelected president; percent of vote - Ismail Omar GUELLEH 80.6%, Mohamed Warsama RAGUEH 19.4%
`

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
elections: last held on 8 February 2008 (next to be held in 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats - UMP (coalition of parties associated with President Ismail Omar GUELLAH) 65
`

Judicial branch: |  |
`Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Constitutional Court`
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`
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`
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 FAX: [1] (202) 331-0302`
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 FAX: [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; 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`
National anthem: |  |
`name: "Jabuuti" (Djibouti) lyrics/music: Aden ELMI/Abdi ROBLEH note: adopted 1977`

Economy

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.
`

GDP (purchasing power parity): |  |
`$2.105 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 184 $2.014 billion (2009 est.) $1.918 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars`
GDP (official exchange rate): |  |
`$1.14 billion (2010 est.)`
GDP - real growth rate: |  |
`4.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 82 5% (2009 est.) 5.8% (2008 est.)`
GDP - per capita (PPP): |  |
`$2,800 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 172 $2,800 (2009 est.) $2,700 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars`
GDP - composition by sector: |  |
`agriculture: 3.2% industry: 14.9% services: 81.9% (2006 est.)`
Labor force: |  |
`351,700 (2007) country comparison to the world: 159`
Labor force - by occupation: |  |
`agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%`
Unemployment rate: |  |
`59% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 194 note: data are for urban areas, 83% in rural areas`
Population below poverty line: |  |
`42% (2007 est.)`
Household income or consumption by percentage share: |  |
`lowest 10%: 2.4% highest 10%: 30.9% (2002)`
Budget: |  |
`revenues: $135 million expenditures: $182 million (1999 est.)`
Inflation rate (consumer prices): |  |
`6% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 157 5% (2007 est.)`
Commercial bank prime lending rate: |  |
`NA% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 74 11.56% (31 December 2008 est.)`
Stock of narrow money: |  |
`$577.8 million (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 158 $462.7 million (31 December 2008)`
Stock of broad money: |  |
`$940.8 million (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 166 $800.8 million (31 December 2008 est.)`
Stock of domestic credit: |  |
`$339 million (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 169 $269.9 million (31 December 2008)`
Agriculture - products: |  |
`fruits, vegetables; goats, sheep, camels, animal hides`
Industries: |  |
`construction, agricultural processing`
Electricity - production: |  |
`280 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 170`
Electricity - consumption: |  |
`260.4 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 171`
Electricity - exports: |  |
`0 kWh (2008 est.)`
Electricity - imports: |  |
`0 kWh (2008 est.)`
Oil - production: |  |
`0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 166`
Oil - consumption: |  |
`12,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 143`
Oil - exports: |  |
`19.18 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 137`
Oil - imports: |  |
`8,476 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 143`
Oil - proved reserves: |  |
`0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 122`
Natural gas - production: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 118`
Natural gas - consumption: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 165`
Natural gas - exports: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 84`
Natural gas - imports: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 176`
Natural gas - proved reserves: |  |
`0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 127`
Current account balance: |  |
`$-352 million (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 105 $-212 million (2007 est.)`
Exports: |  |
`$100 million (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 194 $340 million (2006 est.)`
Exports - commodities: |  |
`reexports, hides and skins, coffee (in transit)`
Exports - partners: |  |
`Somalia 76.68%, France 4.89%, UAE 4.22% (2009)`
Imports: |  |
`$644 million (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 184 $1.555 billion (2006)`
Imports - commodities: |  |
`foods, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum products`
Imports - partners: |  |
`Saudi Arabia 16.26%, India 16.03%, China 14.26%, US 9.57%, Malaysia 6.63%, Japan 4.74% (2009)`
Debt - external: |  |
`$428 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 164`
Exchange rates: |  |
`Djiboutian francs (DJF) per US dollar - 177.71 (2007) 174.75 (2006) 177.72 (2005) 177.72 (2004) 177.72 (2003)`

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: |  |
`16,800 (2009) country comparison to the world: 198`
Telephones - mobile cellular: |  |
`128,800 (2009) country comparison to the world: 179`
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: 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
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)
`

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) country comparison to the world: 196`
Internet users: |  |
`25,900 (2009) country comparison to the world: 184`

Transportation

Airports: |  |
`13 (2010) country comparison to the world: 152`
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 (2010)`
Airports - with unpaved runways: |  |
`total: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 2 (2010)`
Railways: |  |
`total: 100 km (Djibouti segment of the 781 km Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway) country comparison to the world: 126 narrow gauge: 100 km 1.000-m gauge note: railway is under joint control of Djibouti and Ethiopia but is largely inoperable (2010)`
Roadways: |  |
`total: 3,065 km country comparison to the world: 164 paved: 1,226 km unpaved: 1,839 km (2000)`
Ports and terminals: |  |
`Djibouti`
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
`

Military

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)`
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)`
Manpower available for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 170,386 females age 16-49: 221,411 (2010 est.)`
Manpower fit for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 114,557 females age 16-49: 154,173 (2010 est.)`
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: |  |
`male: 8,360 female: 8,602 (2010 est.)`
Military expenditures: |  |
`3.8% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 28`

Transnational Issues

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: |  |
`refugees (country of origin): 8,642 (Somalia) (2007)`

PAGE LAST UPDATED ON MAY 26, 2011