Djibouti

source : World Fact Book 2008 (October 2008)

SEE UPDATED INFORMATION HERE

   Introduction    Djibouti
Background:
Definition Field Listing 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.
   Geography    Djibouti
Location:
Definition Field Listing Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, between Eritrea and Somalia
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing 11 30 N, 43 00 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing Africa
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order total: 23,000 sq km
land: 22,980 sq km
water: 20 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing total: 516 km
border countries: Eritrea 109 km, Ethiopia 349 km, Somalia 58 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing 314 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
Definition Field Listing desert; torrid, dry
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing lowest point: Lac Assal -155 m
highest point: Moussa Ali 2,028 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing geothermal areas, gold, clay, granite, limestone, marble, salt, diatomite, gypsum, pumice, petroleum
Land use:
Definition Field Listing arable land: 0.04%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 99.96% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing 10 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
Definition Field Listing 0.3 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Definition Field Listing total: 0.02 cu km/yr (84%/0%/16%)
per capita: 25 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing earthquakes; droughts; occasional cyclonic disturbances from the Indian Ocean bring heavy rains and flash floods
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing inadequate supplies of potable water; limited arable land; desertification; endangered species
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing 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:
Definition Field Listing 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:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 506,221 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing 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.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing total: 18.2 years
male: 18.6 years
female: 17.7 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing 1.945% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 38.61 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 19.16 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order NA (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing 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.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 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.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order total population: 43.31 years
male: 41.89 years
female: 44.77 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 5.14 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 2.9% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 9,100 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 690 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
Definition Field Listing 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)
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing noun: Djiboutian(s)
adjective: Djiboutian
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing Somali 60%, Afar 35%, other 5% (includes French, Arab, Ethiopian, and Italian)
Religions:
Definition Field Listing Muslim 94%, Christian 6%
Languages:
Definition Field Listing French (official), Arabic (official), Somali, Afar
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing 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):
Definition Field Listing total: 4 years
male: 5 years
female: 4 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 8.4% of GDP (2006)
   Government    Djibouti
Country name:
Definition Field Listing 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:
Definition Field Listing republic
Capital:
Definition Field Listing 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:
Definition Field Listing 6 districts (cercles, singular - cercle); Ali Sabieh, Arta, Dikhil, Djibouti, Obock, Tadjourah
Independence:
Definition Field Listing 27 June 1977 (from France)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing Independence Day, 27 June (1977)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing multiparty constitution approved by referendum 4 September 1992
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing based on French civil law system, traditional practices, and Islamic law; accepts ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing 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%
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing 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
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing 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:
Definition Field Listing 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)
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing 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, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing 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:
Definition Field Listing chief of mission: Ambassador W. Stuart SYMINGTON
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:
Definition Field Listing 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
   Economy    Djibouti
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing 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.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $1.738 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing $841 million (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 5.2% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $2,300 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing agriculture: 3.2%
industry: 14.9%
services: 81.9% (2006)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 282,000 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 59% in urban areas, 83% in rural areas (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing 42% (2007 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 5% (2007 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing revenues: $135 million
expenditures: $182 million (1999 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing fruits, vegetables; goats, sheep, camels, animal hides
Industries:
Definition Field Listing construction, agricultural processing
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 3% (1996 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 306 million kWh (2006)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 226.9 million kWh (2006)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing 0 kWh (2006)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing 0 kWh (2006)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 0 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 5,066 bbl/day (2007)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 19.13 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 11,860 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 0 cu m (2005)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Current account balance:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order -$212 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $340 million f.o.b. (2006)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing reexports, hides and skins, coffee (in transit)
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing Somalia 66.2%, Ethiopia 21.4%, Yemen 3.4% (2007)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $1.555 billion f.o.b. (2006)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing foods, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum products
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing Saudi Arabia 20.7%, India 17.8%, China 9.3%, Ethiopia 4.6%, Malaysia 4.5%, Japan 4.2% (2007)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing $78.6 million (2005)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $428 million (2006)
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing Djiboutian franc (DJF)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing Djiboutian francs per US dollar - 177.71 (2007), 174.75 (2006), 177.72 (2005), 177.72 (2004), 177.72 (2003)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing calendar year
   Communications    Djibouti
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 10,800 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 45,000 (2007)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing 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)
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing 1 (2001)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing .dj
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 168 (2007)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 11,000 (2006)
   Transportation    Djibouti
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 13 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing 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:
Definition Field Listing total: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 3 (2007)
Railways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 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:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order total: 3,065 km
paved: 1,226 km
unpaved: 1,839 km (2000)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing Djibouti
Transportation - note:
Definition Field Listing 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:
Definition Field Listing Djibouti National Army (includes Navy and Air Force)
Military service age and obligation:
Definition Field Listing 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:
Definition Field Listing males age 16-49: 111,274
females age 16-49: 105,168 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing males age 16-49: 54,460
females age 16-49: 51,684 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Definition Field Listing male: 5,618
female: 5,609 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 3.8% of GDP (2006)
   Transnational Issues    Djibouti
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing 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:
Definition Field Listing refugees (country of origin): 8,642 (Somalia) (2007)



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Source : CIA's World Fact Book 2008

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