Djibouti

Djibouti

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: 151 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 (2008)

Total renewable water resources

0.3 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

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

Nationality

noun: Djiboutian(s)
adjective:Djiboutian

Ethnic groups

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

Languages

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

Religions

Muslim 94%, Christian 6%

Population

757,074 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163

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.)

Maternal mortality rate

300 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 45

Infant mortality rate

total: 54.94 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 41 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: 182 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

Health expenditures

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

Physicians density

0.229 physicians/1,000 population (2006)
country comparison to the world: 147

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)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

2.5% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

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

HIV/AIDS – deaths

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

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)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

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

Education expenditures

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

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)

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) andIslamic 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 the World 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: 83 5% (2009 est.)
5.8% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$2,800 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171 $2,800 (2009 est.)
$2,700 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 3.5%
industry:16.5%
services:80% (2010 est.)

Labor force

351,700 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 158

Labor force – by occupation

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

Unemployment rate

59% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193 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)

Investment (gross fixed)

40.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8

Budget

revenues: $497.4 million
expenditures:$506.4 million (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

43.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-0.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130 1.7% (2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

10.3% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95 11.1% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$716.2 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 154 $577.7 million (31 December 2008)

Stock of broad money

$1.056 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166 $940.8 million (31 December 2008 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$406.4 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170 $339 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Agriculture – products

fruits, vegetables

goats, sheep, camels, animal hides

Industries

construction, agricultural processing

Electricity – production

280 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170

Electricity – consumption

260.4 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173

Electricity – exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166

Oil – consumption

12,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148

Oil – exports

19 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132

Oil – imports

11,230 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140

Oil – proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123

Natural gas – production

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174

Natural gas – consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86

Natural gas – imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111

Natural gas – proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129

Current account balance

-$55.9 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71 -$71.1 million (2009 est.)

Exports

$71.2 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192 $77.4 million (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

reexports, hides and skins, coffee (in transit)

Exports – partners

Somalia 80.4%, Yemen 4.1%, Egypt 4.1%, UAE 4% (2010)

Imports

$416.9 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189 $450.7 million (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

foods, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum products

Imports – partners

China 18%, Saudi Arabia 17.7%, India 12.9%, Malaysia 7.5%, US 5%, Pakistan 4.7% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$230.6 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161 $219.6 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$428 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 167

Exchange rates

Djiboutian francs (DJF) per US dollar -
177.71 (2007)
174.75 (2006)
177.72 (2005)
177.72 (2004)
177.72 (2003)

Transportation

Airports

13 (2010)
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 (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: 165 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)