Djibouti

Djibouti 

Geography                 Economy                 Defense Forces
 

People                    Transportation          Government



Communications            History      	          Travel

GEOGRAPHY

Location

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

Area

Land Boundaries

Total 508 km, Eritrea 113 km, Ethiopia 337 km, Somalia 58 km

Coastline

314 km

Maritime Claims

International Disputes

None

Climate

Desert; torrid, dry

Terrain

Coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains
lowest point: Asal -155 m
highest point: Mousa Alli 2,028 m

Natural Resources

Land Use

Irrigated Land

NA

Environment

Note: Strategic location near world's busiest shipping lanes and close to Arabian oilfields; terminus of rail traffic into Ethiopia; a vast wasteland

PEOPLE

Population

427,642 (July 1996 est.)
421,320 (July 1995 est.)

Age Structure

0-14 Years

43% (male 91,687; female 91,242) (July 1996 est.)
43% (male 90,631; female 90,070) (July 1995 est.)

15-64 Years

55% (male 123,699; female 110,530) (July 1996 est.)
55% (male 121,715; female 108,824) (July 1995 est.)

65 Years and Over

2% (male 5,389; female 5,095) (July 1996 est.)
2% (male 5,180; female 4,900) (July 1995 est.)

Population Growth Rate

1.5% (1996 est.)
1.48% (1995 est.)

Birth Rate

42.5 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
42.79 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death Rate

15.26 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
15.51 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Net Migration Rate

-12.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
-12.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.12 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.07 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

106.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
108.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Total Fertility Rate

6.08 children born/woman (1996 est.)
6.15 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality

Ethnic Divisions

Religions

Languages

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

Literacy

Age 15 and over that can read and write (1995 est.)

GOVERNMENT

Names

Digraph

DJ

Type

Republic

Capital

Djibouti

Administrative Divisions

5 districts (cercles, singular - cercle); 'Ali Sabih, Dikhil, Djibouti, Obock, Tadjoura

Independence

27 June 1977 (from France)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 27 June (1977)

Constitution

Multiparty constitution approved in referendum 4 September 1992

Legal System

Based on French civil law system, traditional practices, and Islamic law

Suffrage

Universal adult at age NA

Executive Branch

Legislative Branch

Unicameral

Chamber of Deputies (Chambre Des Deputes)

Elections last held 18 December 1992; results - RPP (the ruling party) dominated; seats - (65 total) RPP 65

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Political Parties and Leaders

Other Political or Pressure Groups

Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy (FRUD) and affiliates; Movement for Unity and Democracy (MUD)

Member of

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNAMIR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIH, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTrO

National Anthem

Flag

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

Overview

The economy is based on service activities connected with the country's strategic location and status as a free trade zone in northeast Africa. Two-thirds of the inhabitants live in the capital city, the remainder being 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. It has few natural resources and little industry. The nation is, therefore, heavily dependent on foreign assistance (an important supplement to GDP) to help support its balance of payments and to finance development projects. An unemployment rate of over 30% continues to be a major problem. Per capita consumption dropped an estimated 35% over the last six years because of recession, civil war, and a high population growth rate (including immigrants and refugees).

National Product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $500 million (1994 est.)

National Product Real Growth Rate

-3% (1994 est.)

National Product Per Capita

$1,200 (1994 est.)

Inflation Rate (consumer Prices)

6% (1993 est.)

Labor force

282,000

by occupation

agriculture 75%, industry 11%, services 14% (1991 est.)

Unemployment Rate

Over 30% (1994 est.)

Budget

Exports

$184 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)

Commodities:

Partners:

Imports

$384 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)

Commodities:

Partners:

External Debt

$227 million (1993 est.)

Industrial Production

Growth rate 3% (1991 est.); accounts for 21% of GDP

Electricity

Industries

Agriculture

Mostly fruit and vegetables; herding of goats, sheep, and camels

Economic Aid

Currency

1 Djiboutian franc (DF) = 100 centimes

Exchange Rates

Djiboutian francs (DF) per US$1 - 177.721 (fixed rate since 1973)

Fiscal Year

Calendar year

TRANSPORTATION

Railroads

Highways

Ports

Djibouti

Merchant Marine

Airports

COMMUNICATIONS

Telephone System

7,200 telephones (1986 est.): telephone facilities in the city of Djibouti are adequate as are the microwave radio relay connections to outlying areas of the country

Radio

Television

DEFENSE FORCES

Branches

Djibouti National Army (includes Navy and Air Force), National Security Force (Force Nationale de Securite), National Police Force

Manpower Availability

Males age 15-49 102,528; males fit for military service 60,076 (1996 est.)

Defense Expenditures

Exchange rate conversion - $26 million (1989)

History
World Atlas

Last modified: 20 december 1997