Djibouti

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

215 (2012) country comparison to the world: 201

Internet users

25,900 (2009) country comparison to the world: 185

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 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

Telephones - main lines in use

18,400 (2011) country comparison to the world: 193

Telephones - mobile cellular

193,000 (2011) country comparison to the world: 181

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $485.6 million expenditures: $502 million (2012 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-1.2% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 62

Commercial bank prime lending rate

10% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 83 10.61% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

$4.2 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 57 $33 million (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$802.9 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 163 $802.5 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Economy - overview

Djibouti's 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. Three-fourths 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. Djibouti holds foreign reserves amounting to less than six months of import coverage. 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. Djibouti in 2012 began construction of a third port to secure its position as a critical transshipment hub in the Horn of Africa and the principal conduit for Ethiopia's trade. Djibouti also received funding in late 2012 for a desalination plant to begin address the severe freshwater shortage affecting Djibouti City, and particularly its poorest residents.

Exchange rates

Djiboutian francs (DJF) per US dollar - 177.7 (2012 est.) 177.72 (2011 est.) 177.72 (2010 est.)

Exports

$101.7 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 192 $96.8 million (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

reexports, hides and skins, coffee (in transit)

Exports - partners

Somalia 74.5%, Sudan 6.7%, Egypt 5.1% (2011)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.36 billion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$2.377 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 187 $2.267 billion (2011 est.) $2.17 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 3.1% industry: 16.9% services: 80% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$2,700 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 177 $2,700 (2011 est.) $2,600 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

4.8% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 65 4.5% (2011 est.) 3.5% (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.4% highest 10%: 30.9% (2002)

Imports

$465.1 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 190 $413.8 million (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

foods, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum products

Imports - partners

Saudi Arabia 17.6%, China 16.1%, India 15.4%, Indonesia 5.9%, Malaysia 5.1%, US 4.2%, Pakistan 4.1% (2011)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.3% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 120 4.4% (2011 est.)

Labor force

351,700 (2007) country comparison to the world: 160

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Population below poverty line

42% (2007 est.)

Stock of broad money

$1.158 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 164 $1.008 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$331.6 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 99 $331.6 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$498.1 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 173 $426.3 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$798.1 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 154 $692.6 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

35.7% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 67

Unemployment rate

59% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 195 note: data are for urban areas, 83% in rural areas

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

2.352 million Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 148

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 103

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 177

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 126

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 124

Electricity - consumption

325.5 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 170

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 187

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 13

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 168

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 77

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 125

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 179

Electricity - installed generating capacity

130,000 kW (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 167

Electricity - production

350 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 167

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 138

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 186

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 186

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 121

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 130

Refined petroleum products - consumption

12,460 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 150

Refined petroleum products - exports

19.18 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 123

Refined petroleum products - imports

7,987 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 136

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 140

Area

total: 23,200 sq km country comparison to the world: 151 land: 23,180 sq km water: 20 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Massachusetts

Climate

desert; torrid, dry

Coastline

314 km

Elevation extremes

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

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.02 cu km/yr (84%/0%/16%) per capita: 25 cu m/yr (2000)

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 (2003)

Land boundaries

total: 516 km border countries: Eritrea 109 km, Ethiopia 349 km, Somalia 58 km

Land use

arable land: 0.04% permanent crops: 0% other: 99.96% (2005)

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards

earthquakes; droughts; occasional cyclonic disturbances from the Indian Ocean bring heavy rains and flash floods 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

Total renewable water resources

0.3 cu km (1997)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

name: Djibouti geographic coordinates: 11 35 N, 43 09 E 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

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Geeta PASI embassy: Plateau du Serpent, Boulevard Marechal Joffre, Djibouti mailing address: B. P. 185, Djibouti telephone: [253] 35 39 95 FAX: [253] 35 39 40

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

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%

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, CAEU (candidates), COMESA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, 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; 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 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

National anthem

name: "Jabuuti" (Djibouti) lyrics/music: Aden ELMI/Abdi ROBLEH note: adopted 1977

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

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 and a third term in 2011. 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 has longstanding 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.

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 branches

Djibouti Armed Forces (Forces Armees Djiboutiennes, FAD): Djibouti National Army (includes Navy, Djiboutian Air Force (Force Aerienne Djiboutienne), National Gendarmerie (GN)) (2012)

Military expenditures

3.8% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 26

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)

Age structure

0-14 years: 34.3% (male 133,003/ female 132,488) 15-64 years: 62.3% (male 212,652/ female 269,900) 65 years and over: 3.4% (male 11,835/ female 14,511) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

24.91 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 60

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

29.6% (2006) country comparison to the world: 18

Death rate

8.08 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 96

Education expenditures

8.4% of GDP (2007) country comparison to the world: 9

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

2.5% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 26

HIV/AIDS - deaths

1,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 73

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

14,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 87

Health expenditures

6.4% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 95

Infant mortality rate

total: 53.31 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 40 male: 60.88 deaths/1,000 live births female: 45.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 61.57 years country comparison to the world: 185 male: 59.15 years female: 64.07 years (2012 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 67.9% male: 78% female: 58.4% (2003 est.)

Major cities - population

DJIBOUTI (capital) 567,000 (2009)

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)

Maternal mortality rate

200 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 53

Median age

total: 22.1 years male: 20.5 years female: 23.5 years (2012 est.)

Nationality

noun: Djiboutian(s) adjective: Djiboutian

Net migration rate

6.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 16

Physicians density

0.229 physicians/1,000 population (2006)

Population

774,389 (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 162

Population growth rate

2.285% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 38

Religions

Muslim 94%, Christian 6%

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 5 years male: 6 years female: 5 years (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.79 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.63 children born/woman (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 79

Urbanization

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

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

refugees (country of origin): 14,216 (Somalia) (2012)

Airports

13 (2012) country comparison to the world: 153

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 (2012)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 2 (2012)

Ports and terminals

Djibouti

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 (2008)

Roadways

total: 3,065 km country comparison to the world: 165 paved: 1,226 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