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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

maintains restrictions on the licensing and operation of 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 [time series]

.dj

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

195 (2010) country comparison to the world: 196

Internet users [time series]

25,900 (2009) country comparison to the world: 184

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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 (2009)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

16,800 (2009) country comparison to the world: 197

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

128,800 (2009) country comparison to the world: 179

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

NA% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 78 11.56% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

-$352 million (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 105 -$212 million (2007 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$428 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 165

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

260.4 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 170

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

280 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 169

Exchange rates [time series]

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

Exports [time series]

$100 million (2009); $340 million country comparison to the world: 192

Exports - commodities [time series]

reexports, hides and skins, coffee (in transit)

Exports - partners [time series]

Somalia 76.68%, France 4.89%, UAE 4.22% (2009)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$1.139 billion (2010 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]

$2.099 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 183 $2.003 billion (2009 est.) $1.908 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 3.2% industry: 14.9% services: 81.9% (2006)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]

$2,800 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 170 $2,800 (2009 est.) $2,700 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

4.8% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 63 5% (2009 est.) 5.8% (2008 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$644 million (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 183 $1.555 billion (2006)

Imports - commodities [time series]

foods, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum products

Imports - partners [time series]

Saudi Arabia 16.26%, India 16.03%, China 14.26%, US 9.57%, Malaysia 6.63%, Japan 4.74% (2009)

Industries [time series]

construction, agricultural processing

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

6% (2009 est.) 5% country comparison to the world: 161

Labor force [time series]

351,700 (2007) country comparison to the world: 159

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 191

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 66

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 90

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 179

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 187

Oil - consumption [time series]

12,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 144

Oil - exports [time series]

19 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 137

Oil - imports [time series]

8,476 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 142

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 182

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 187

Population below poverty line [time series]

42% (2007 est.)

Stock of broad money [time series]

$940.8 million (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 165 $800.8 million (31 December 2008 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$339 million (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 168 $269.9 million (31 December 2008)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$577.8 million (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 156 $462.7 million (31 December 2008)

Unemployment rate [time series]

59% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 194 note: data are for urban areas, 83% in rural areas

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 23,200 sq km country comparison to the world: 150 land: 23,180 sq km water: 20 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly smaller than Massachusetts

Climate [time series]

desert; torrid, dry

Coastline [time series]

314 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

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

Environment - current issues [time series]

inadequate supplies of potable water; limited arable land; desertification; endangered species

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

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

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

11 30 N, 43 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

10 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

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

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

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

Natural hazards [time series]

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, 978 ft) last erupted in 1978; Manda-Inakir, located along the Ethiopian border, is also historically active

Natural resources [time series]

potential geothermal power, gold, clay, granite, limestone, marble, salt, diatomite, gypsum, pumice, petroleum

Terrain [time series]

coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains

Total renewable water resources [time series]

0.3 cu km (1997)

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

name: Djibouti geographic coordinates: 11 35 N, 43 09 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution [time series]

approved by referendum 4 September 1992; note - constitution allows for multiparties

Country name [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

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 [time series]

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 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%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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 [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

27 June 1977 (from France)

International organization participation [time series]

ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, 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

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme

Legal system [time series]

based on French civil law system, traditional practices, and Islamic law; accepts ICJ compulsory jurisdiction with reservations

Legislative branch [time series]

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(s) (National anthem) [time series]

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

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 27 June (1977)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

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 parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

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)

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 165,000 females age 16-49: 213,894 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 110,441 females age 16-49: 147,939 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 8,260 female: 8,503 (2010 est.)

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Djibouti National Army (includes Navy and Air Force)

Military expenditures [time series]

3.8% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 30

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for voluntary military service; 16-25 years of age for voluntary military training; no conscription (2008)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 36.3% (male 131,878/female 131,449) 15-64 years: 60.4% (male 194,503/female 243,495) 65 years and over: 3.2% (male 10,462/female 12,835) (2010 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

25.58 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 61

Death rate [time series]

8.37 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 92

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

8.7% of GDP (2007) country comparison to the world: 8

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

3.1% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 22

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

1,100 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 71

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

16,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 83

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 56.65 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 39 male: 64.55 deaths/1,000 live births female: 48.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 60.73 years country comparison to the world: 186 male: 58.31 years female: 63.22 years (2010 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Major infectious diseases [time series]

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)

Median age [time series]

total: 21.4 years male: 19.8 years female: 22.8 years (2010 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Djiboutian(s) adjective: Djiboutian

Net migration rate [time series]

4.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population country comparison to the world: 20

Population [time series]

740,528 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 162

Population growth rate [time series]

2.181% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 40

Religions [time series]

Muslim 94%, Christian 6%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 5 years male: 5 years female: 4 years (2007)

Sex ratio [time series]

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.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.79 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 75

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 87% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 2.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

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 [time series]

refugees (country of origin): 8,642 (Somalia) (2007)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

13 (2010) country comparison to the world: 151

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

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 [time series]

total: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 2 (2010)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Djibouti

Railways [time series]

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 [time series]

total: 3,065 km country comparison to the world: 164 paved: 1,226 km unpaved: 1,839 km (2000)

Transportation - note [time series]

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