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 and is a
front-line state in the global war on terrorism.
Geography ::Djibouti
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
50
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:
Current Weather
desert; torrid, dry
Terrain:
coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains
earthquakes; droughts; occasional cyclonic disturbances from the Indian Ocean bring heavy rains and flash floods
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 ::Djibouti
Population:
740,528 (July 2010 est.)
62
Age structure:
0-14 years: 35.7% (male 132,233/female 131,785)
15-64 years:
61.1% (male 200,282/female 251,965)
65 years and over:
3.3% (male 10,890/female 13,373) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 21.4 years
male:
19.8 years
female:
22.8 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.181% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Birth rate:
25.58 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
Death rate:
8.37 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
Net migration rate:
NA
Urbanization:
urban population: 87% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization:
2.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
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 (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 56.65 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 40
male:
64.55 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
48.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 60.73 years
84
male:
58.31 years
female:
63.22 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.79 children born/woman (2010 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
3.1% (2007 est.)
2
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
16,000 (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,100 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
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)
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: 4 years
male:
5 years
female:
4 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
8.4% of GDP (2006)
1
Government ::Djibouti
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)
approved by referendum 4 September 1992; note - constitution allows for multiparties
Legal system:
based on French civil law system, traditional practices, and Islamic law; accepts ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
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
elections:
president
elected by popular vote for a six-year term (eligible for a second
term); election last held on 8 April 2005 (next to be held by April
2011); prime minister appointed by the president
unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (65 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
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
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:
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)
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
Economy ::Djibouti
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):
$2.011 billion (2009 est.)
83
$1.89 billion (2008 est.)
$1.785 billion (2007 est.)
note:data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.102 billion (2009 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6.4% (2009 est.)
3
5.9% (2008 est.)
4% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,800 (2009 est.)
67
$2,700 (2008 est.)
$2,600 (2007 est.)
note:data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3.2%
industry:
14.9%
services:
81.9% (2006 est.)
Labor force:
351,700 (2007)
60
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: NA%
industry:
NA%
services:
NA%
Unemployment rate:
59% (2007 est.)
94
note:data are for urban areas, 83% in rural areas
Population below poverty line:
42% (2007 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
foods, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum products
Imports - partners:
Saudi Arabia 21.4%, India 16.8%, China 11.1%, US 6.3%, Malaysia 6.3% (2008)
Debt - external:
$428 million (2006)
61
Exchange rates:
Djiboutian francs (DJF) per US dollar - 177.71 (2007), 174.75 (2006), 177.72 (2005), 177.72 (2004), 177.72 (2003)
Communications ::Djibouti
Telephones - main lines in use:
10,800 (2008)
01
Telephones - mobile cellular:
44,100 (2005)
96
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
(2007)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2001)
Internet country code:
.dj
Internet hosts:
199 (2009)
88
Internet users:
13,000 (2008)
97
Transportation ::Djibouti
Airports:
13 (2009)
52
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 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m:
2
914 to 1,523 m:
5
under 914 m:
3 (2009)
Railways:
total: 100 km (Djibouti segment of the 781 km Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway)
27
narrow gauge:
100 km 1.000-m gauge
note:railway is under joint control of Djibouti and Ethiopia but is largely inoperable (2008)
Roadways:
total: 3,065 km
64
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
Military ::Djibouti
Military branches:
Djibouti National Army (includes Navy and Air Force)
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: 165,000
females age 16-49:
213,894 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 110,441
females age 16-49:
147,939 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 8,260
female:
8,503 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
3.8% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 31
Transnational Issues ::Djibouti
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)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Djibouti
is a source, transit, and destination country for women and children
trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and
domestic servitude; large numbers of voluntary economic migrants from
Ethiopia and Somalia pass illegally through Djibouti en route to Yemen
and other locations in the Middle East; Djibouti's large refugee
population - comprised of Somalis, Ethiopians, and Eritreans - remains
vulnerable to various forms of exploitation, including human trafficking
tier rating:
Djibouti
is placed on Tier 2 Watch List because it does not fully comply with
the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, but it is
making significant efforts to do so; the government made nascent efforts
to bring trafficking offenders and migrant smugglers to justice during
the reporting period, but the government showed only limited evidence of
progress in prosecuting specific human trafficking offenses and in
raising public awareness of the crime (2009)
