Introduction :: DJIBOUTI
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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 Afar minority during the 1990s led to a civil war that ended in 2001 with a peace accord between Afar rebels and the Somali Issa-dominated government. In 1999, Djibouti's first multiparty presidential election resulted in the election of Ismail Omar GUELLEH as president; he was reelected to a second term in 2005 and extended his tenure in office via a constitutional amendment, which allowed him to serve a third term in 2011 and begin a fourth term in 2016. Djibouti occupies a strategic geographic location at the intersection of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden and serves as an important shipping portal for goods entering and leaving the east African highlands and transshipments between Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The government holds longstanding ties to France, which maintains a significant military presence in the country, and has strong ties with the US. Djibouti hosts several thousand members of US armed services at US-run Camp Lemonnier.
Geography :: DJIBOUTI
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Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, between Eritrea and Somalia
11 30 N, 43 00 E
Africa
total: 23,200 sq km
land: 23,180 sq km
water: 20 sq km
country comparison to the world: 151
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Area comparison map:
Africa
::DJIBOUTI
Area Comparison
slightly smaller than New Jersey
total: 528 km
border countries (3): Eritrea 125 km, Ethiopia 342 km, Somalia 61 km
314 km
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
desert; torrid, dry
coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains
mean elevation: 430 m
elevation extremes: lowest point: Lac Assal -155 m
highest point: Moussa Ali 2,028 m
potential geothermal power, gold, clay, granite, limestone, marble, salt, diatomite, gypsum, pumice, petroleum
agricultural land: 73.4%
arable land 0.1%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 73.3%
forest: 0.2%
other: 26.4% (2011 est.)
10 sq km (2012)
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
inadequate supplies of potable water; limited arable land; desertification; endangered species
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
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
People and Society :: DJIBOUTI
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846,687 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
noun: Djiboutian(s)
adjective: Djiboutian
Somali 60%, Afar 35%, other 5% (includes French, Arab, Ethiopian, and Italian)
French (official), Arabic (official), Somali, Afar
Muslim 94%, Christian 6%
Djibouti is a poor, predominantly urban country, characterized by high rates of illiteracy, unemployment, and childhood malnutrition. More than 75% of the population lives in cities and towns (predominantly in the capital, Djibouti). The rural population subsists primarily on nomadic herding. Prone to droughts and floods, the country has few natural resources and must import more than 80% of its food from neighboring countries or Europe. Health care, particularly outside the capital, is limited by poor infrastructure, shortages of equipment and supplies, and a lack of qualified personnel. More than a third of health care recipients are migrants because the services are still better than those available in their neighboring home countries. The nearly universal practice of female genital cutting reflects Djibouti’s lack of gender equality and is a major contributor to obstetrical complications and its high rates of maternal and infant mortality. A 1995 law prohibiting the practice has never been enforced.
Because of its political stability and its strategic location at the confluence of East Africa and the Gulf States along the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, Djibouti is a key transit point for migrants and asylum seekers heading for the Gulf States and beyond. Each year some hundred thousand people, mainly Ethiopians and some Somalis, journey through Djibouti, usually to the port of Obock, to attempt a dangerous sea crossing to Yemen. However, with the escalation of the ongoing Yemen conflict, Yemenis began fleeing to Djibouti in March 2015, with more than 35,000 arriving by April 2016. Most Yemenis remain unregistered and head for Djibouti City rather than seeking asylum at one of Djibouti’s three spartan refugee camps. Djibouti has been hosting refugees and asylum seekers, predominantly Somalis and lesser numbers of Ethiopians and Eritreans, at camps for 20 years, despite lacking potable water, food shortages, and unemployment.
0-14 years: 31.71% (male 134,604/female 133,840)
15-24 years: 21.54% (male 85,805/female 96,587)
25-54 years: 38.37% (male 134,945/female 189,930)
55-64 years: 4.7% (male 18,257/female 21,538)
65 years and over: 3.68% (male 13,992/female 17,189) (2016 est.)
population pyramid:
Africa
::DJIBOUTI
Population Pyramid
A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.
For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.
total dependency ratio: 58.5%
youth dependency ratio: 51.9%
elderly dependency ratio: 6.6%
potential support ratio: 15.1% (2015 est.)
total: 23.5 years
male: 21.8 years
female: 24.9 years (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
2.18% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
23.6 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
7.6 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
5.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
urban population: 77.3% of total population (2015)
rate of urbanization: 1.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
DJIBOUTI (capital) 529,000 (2015)
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 0.89 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.71 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.85 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 0.84 male(s)/female (2016 est.)
229 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
total: 47.2 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 54.1 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 40.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
total population: 63.2 years
male: 60.7 years
female: 65.8 years (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
2.35 children born/woman (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
19% (2012)
10.6% of GDP (2014)
country comparison to the world: 44
0.23 physicians/1,000 population (2006)
1.4 beds/1,000 population (2012)
improved:
urban: 97.4% of population
rural: 64.7% of population
total: 90% of population
unimproved:
urban: 2.6% of population
rural: 35.3% of population
total: 10% of population (2015 est.)
improved:
urban: 59.8% of population
rural: 5.1% of population
total: 47.4% of population
unimproved:
urban: 40.2% of population
rural: 94.9% of population
total: 52.6% of population (2015 est.)
1.55% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
9,400 (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
600 (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: dengue fever (2016)
8.5% (2014)
country comparison to the world: 134
29.8% (2012)
country comparison to the world: 14
4.5% of GDP (2010)
country comparison to the world: 11
total: 6 years
male: 7 years
female: 6 years (2011)
total number: 13,176
percentage: 8% (2006 est.)
Government :: DJIBOUTI
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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
etymology: the country name derives from the capital city of Djibouti
semi-presidential republic
name: Djibouti
geographic coordinates: 11 35 N, 43 09 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
6 districts (cercles, singular - cercle); Ali Sabieh, Arta, Dikhil, Djibouti, Obock, Tadjourah
27 June 1977 (from France)
Independence Day, 27 June (1977)
approved by referendum 4 September 1992; amended 2006, 2008, 2010 (2016)
mixed legal system based primarily on the French civil code (as it existed in 1997), Islamic religious law (in matters of family law and successions), and customary law
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: the mother must be a citizen of Djibouti
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
18 years of age; universal
chief of state: President Ismail Omar GUELLEH (since 8 May 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Abdoulkader Kamil MOHAMED (since 1 April 2013)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term; (constitution amended in 2010 to allow a third term); election last held on 8 April 2016 (next to be held by 2021); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Ismail Omar GUELLEH reelected president for a fourth term; percent of vote - Ismail Omar GUELLEH (RPP) 87%, Omar Elmi KHAIREH (represented the USN) 7.3%, other 5.6%
description: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale, formerly the Chamber of Deputies (65 seats; 52 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 13 directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)
elections: last held on 22 February 2013 (next to be held in 2018)
election results: percent of vote by party - UMP 61.5%, USN 35.6%, CDU 3.0%; seats by party - UMP 43, USN 21, CDU 1
highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of NA magistrates); Constitutional Council (consists of 6 magistrates)
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court magistrates appointed by the president with the advice of the Superior Council of the Magistracy or CSM, a 10-member body consisting of 4 judges, 3 members (non parliamentarians and judges) appointed by the president, and 3 appointed by the National Assembly president or speaker; magistrates appointed for life with retirement at age 65; Constitutional Council magistrate appointments - 2 by the president of the republic, 2 by the president of the National Assembly, and 2 by the CSM; magistrates appointed for 8-year, non-renewable terms
subordinate courts: High Court of Appeal; 5 Courts of First Instance; customary courts; State Court (replaced sharia courts in 2003)
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]
Movement for Development and Liberty or MODEL [Sheikh Guirreh MEIDAL]
People's Rally for Progress 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 (a coalition of parties including RPP, FRUD, PND, and PPSD)
Union for Democracy and Justice or UDJ [Ismail GUEDI Hared]
Union for National Salvation or USN (an umbrella coalition comprising PRD, PDD, MODEL, ARD, and UDJ) [Ahmed Youssouf HOUMER]
ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, CAEU (candidates), COMESA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, 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
chief of mission: Ambassador Siad DOUALEH (since 28 January 2016)
chancery: 1156 15th Street NW, Suite 515, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 331-0270
FAX: [1] (202) 331-0302
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas P. KELLY (since 13 October 2014)
embassy: Lot 350-B, Haramouss
mailing address: B.P. 185, Djibouti
telephone: [253] 21 45 30 00
FAX: [253] 21 45 31 29
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
red star; national colors: light blue, green, white, red
name: "Jabuuti" (Djibouti)
lyrics/music: Aden ELMI/Abdi ROBLEH
note: adopted 1977
Economy :: DJIBOUTI
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Djibouti's economy is based on service activities connected with the country's strategic location as a deepwater port on the Red Sea. Three-fourths of Djibouti's inhabitants live in the capital city; the remainder are mostly nomadic herders. Scant rainfall and less than 4% arable land limits crop production to small quantities of 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, exports, and re-exports represent 70% of port activity at Djibouti's container terminal. Reexports consist primarily of coffee from landlocked neighbor Ethiopia. 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 official unemployment rate of nearly 50% - with youth unemployment near 80% - continues to be a major problem. Inflation declined to 3% in 2014 due to low international food prices and a decline in electricity tariffs.
Djibouti’s reliance on diesel-generated electricity and imported food and water leave average consumers vulnerable to global price shocks, though in mid-2015 Djibouti passed new legislation to liberalize the energy sector. The government has emphasized infrastructure development for transportation and energy and Djibouti – with the help of foreign partners – has begun to increase and modernize its port capacity.
$3.345 billion (2016 est.)
$3.141 billion (2015 est.)
$2.949 billion (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2016 dollars
country comparison to the world: 183
$1.894 billion (2015 est.)
6.5% (2016 est.)
6.5% (2015 est.)
6% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
$3,400 (2016 est.)
$3,300 (2015 est.)
$3,100 (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2016 dollars
country comparison to the world: 186
10.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
28.9% of GDP (2015 est.)
18.5% of GDP (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
household consumption: 60.5%
government consumption: 32%
investment in fixed capital: 42.2%
investment in inventories: 0.4%
exports of goods and services: 34.8%
imports of goods and services: -69.9% (2016 est.)
agriculture: 2.9%
industry: 20.8%
services: 76.3% (2016 est.)
fruits, vegetables; goats, sheep, camels, animal hides
construction, agricultural processing, shipping
4.7% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
294,600 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 163
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
60% (2014 est.)
59% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
23%
note: percent of population below $1.25 per day at purchasing power parity (2015 est.)
lowest 10%: 2.4%
highest 10%: 30.9% (2002)
40.9 (2002)
country comparison to the world: 56
revenues: $685.7 million
expenditures: $885.9 million (2016 est.)
36.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
-10.6% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
38.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
calendar year
3% (2016 est.)
2.7% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
11.7% (31 December 2016 est.)
11.62% (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
$1.207 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$1.182 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
$1.71 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$1.572 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
$652 million (31 December 2016 est.)
$597.6 million (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
-$325 million (2016 est.)
-$530 million (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
$146.1 million (2016 est.)
$141.9 million (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
reexports, hides and skins, coffee (in transit), scrap metal
Somalia 79.8%, US 5.4%, Yemen 4.6%, UAE 4% (2015)
$992 million (2016 est.)
$1.038 billion (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
foods, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum products, clothing
China 42.1%, Saudi Arabia 14.3%, Indonesia 5.9%, India 4.4% (2015)
$1.339 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$1.09 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
$1.767 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$1.368 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
Djiboutian francs (DJF) per US dollar -
177.7 (2016 est.)
177.72 (2015 est.)
177.72 (2014 est.)
177.72 (2013 est.)
177.72 (2012 est.)
Energy :: DJIBOUTI
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400 million kWh (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
400 million kWh (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
0 kWh (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
0 kWh (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
100,000 kW (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
98.9% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
1.1% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
0 bbl (1 January 2016 es)
country comparison to the world: 194
0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
6,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
402.7 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
6,509 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
0 cu m (1 January 2014 es)
country comparison to the world: 189
1.8 million Mt (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
Communications :: DJIBOUTI
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total subscriptions: 23,000
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (July 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
total: 312,000
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 38 (July 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
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
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 regi (2015)
state-owned Radiodiffusion-Television de Djibouti 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)
.dj
total: 99,000
percent of population: 11.9% (July 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Transportation :: DJIBOUTI
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number of registered air carriers: 2
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 4 (2015)
J2 (2016)
13 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 152
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
total: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 2 (2013)
total: 100 km (Djibouti segment of the 781 km Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway)
narrow gauge: 100 km 1.000-m gauge
note: railway is under joint control of Djibouti and Ethiopia but is largely inoperable (2008)
country comparison to the world: 128
total: 3,065 km
paved: 1,379 km
unpaved: 1,686 km (2000)
country comparison to the world: 165
major seaport(s): Djibouti
while attacks continued to decrease, with only 4 in 2014, the International Maritime Bureau reports offshore waters in the Gulf of Aden remain a high risk for piracy; the presence of several naval task forces in the Gulf of Aden and additional anti-piracy measures on the part of ship operators, including the use of on-board armed security teams, contributed to the drop in incidents
Military and Security :: DJIBOUTI
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Djibouti Armed Forces (Forces Armees Djiboutiennes, FAD): Djibouti National Army (includes Navy, Djiboutian Air Force (Force Aerienne Djiboutienne, FAD), National Gendarmerie (GN)) (2013)
18 years of age for voluntary military service; 16-25 years of age for voluntary military training; no conscription (2012)
Transnational Issues :: DJIBOUTI
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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 (country of origin): 12,363 (Somalia) (2015); 19,636 (Yemen) (2016)
current situation: Djibouti is a transit, source, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; economic migrants from East Africa en route to Yemen and other Middle East locations are vulnerable to exploitation in Djibouti; some women and girls may be forced into domestic servitude or prostitution after reaching Djibouti City, the Ethiopia-Djibouti trucking corridor, or Obock – the main crossing point into Yemen; Djiboutian and foreign children may be forced to beg, to work as domestic servants, or to commit theft and other petty crimes
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List – Djibouti does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; in 2014, Djibouti was granted a waiver from an otherwise required downgrade to Tier 3 because its government has a written plan that, if implemented would constitute making significant efforts to bring itself into compliance with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; one forced labor trafficker was convicted in 2014 but received a suspended sentence inadequate to deter trafficking; authorities did not investigate or prosecute any other forced labor crimes, any sex trafficking offenses, or any officials complicit in human trafficking, and remained limited in their ability to recognize or protect trafficking victims; official round-ups, detentions, and deportations of non-Djiboutian residents, including children without screening for trafficking victims remained routine; the government did not provide care to victims but supported local NGOs operating centers that assisted victims (2015)
