Djibouti

republicIndependence 27 June 1977 (from France

Djibouti as the 1992 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 71 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalDjibouti

Area22,000 km2

Populationas each edition published it

390,906 people July 1992 · 337,386 in 1990

Population growth% a year

Not in this edition 2.7% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 18.3 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

Not in this edition 48.78 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

6.3 children per woman 1992 · 6.4 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

115 deaths per 1,000 live births 1992 · 119 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

Not in this edition $1,030 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

Not in this edition 1.2% in 1993

Geography

13 fields

Total area

22,000km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than Massachusetts

Coastline

314km

Contiguous zone: 24 nmExclusive economic zone: 200 nmTerritorial sea: 12 nm

Land boundaries

517km

Ethiopia 459 km, Somalia 58 km

Disputes

possible claim by Somalia based on unification of ethnic Somalis

Terrain

coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains

Land use

arable land 0%;
permanent crops 0%;
meadows and pastures 9%;
forest and woodland NEGL%;
other 91%

Note

strategic location near world's busiest shipping lanes and close to Arabian oilfields; terminus of rail traffic into Ethiopia

People

14 fields

Population

390,906

(July 1992), growth rate 2.7% (1992)

Per 1,000 population(1992)

Birth

43Death

16Net migration

Literacy

48%

(male 63%, female 34%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990)

Nationality

noun - Djiboutian(s); adjective - Djiboutian

Ethnic divisions

Somali 60%, Afar 35%, French, Arab, Ethiopian, and Italian 5%

Languages

French and Arabic (both official); Somali and Afar widely used

Labor force

NA, but a small number of semiskilled laborers at the port and 3,000 railway workers; 52% of population of working age (1983)

Organized labor

3,000 railway workers, General Union of Djiboutian Workers (UGTD), government affiliated; some smaller unions

Government

Republic

19 fields

Administrative divisions

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

Independence

27 June 1977 (from France; formerly French Territory of the Afars and Issas)

Constitution

partial constitution ratified January 1981 by the National Assembly

Legal system

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

Executive branch

president, prime minister, Council of Ministers

Leaders

Chief of State:: President Hassan GOULED Aptidon (since 24 June 1977)
Head of Government:: Prime Minister BARKAT Gourad Hamadou (since 30 September 1978)

Political parties and leaders

only party - People's Progress Assembly (RPP), Hassan GOULED Aptidon

Elections

National Assembly:: last held 24 April 1987 (next scheduled for May 1992 but post- poned);
results - RPP is the only party;
seats - (65 total) RPP 65
President:: last held 24 April 1987 (next to be held April 1993); results - President Hassan GOULED Aptidon was reelected without opposition

Other political or pressure groups

Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy and affiliates

Member of

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNESCO, UNCTAD, UPU, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation

Ambassador Roble OLHAYE;
Chancery at Suite 515, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005;
telephone (202) 331-0270

US:: Ambassador Charles R. BAQUET III;
Embassy at Villa Plateau du Serpent, Boulevard Marechal Joffre, Djibouti (mailing address is B. P. 185, Djibouti);
telephone [253] 35-39-95;
FAX [253] 35-39-40

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

16 fields

Inflation, consumer prices

3.7%

(1989)

Unemployment rate

30%

over · (1989)

External debt

$355million

(December 1990)

Budget

Revenues

$131 millionExpenditures

$154 million

expenditures, including capital expenditures of $25 million (1990 est.)

The economy is based on service activities connected with the country's strategic location and status as a free trade zone in northeast Africa. 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 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 five years because of recession and a high population growth rate (including immigrants and refugees).

GDP

exchange rate conversion - $340 million, $1,000 per capita; real growth rate -1.0% (1989 est.)

Exports

$190 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)

commodities:: hides and skins, coffee (in transit)
partners:: Middle East 50%, Africa 43%, Western Europe 7%

Imports

$311 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)

commodities:: foods, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum products
partners:: EC 36%, Africa 21%, Asia 12%, US 2%

Industrial production

growth rate 0.1% (1989); manufacturing accounts for 4% of GDP

Electricity

115,000 kW capacity; 200 million kWh produced, 580 kWh per capita (1991)

Industries

limited to a few small-scale enterprises, such as dairy products and mineral-water bottling

Agriculture

accounts for only 5% of GDP;
scanty rainfall limits crop production to mostly fruit and vegetables;
half of population pastoral nomads herding goats, sheep, and camels;
imports bulk of food needs

Economic aid

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY78-89), $39 million;
Western (non-US) countries, including ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.1 billion;
OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $149 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $35 million

Currency

Djiboutian franc (plural - francs); 1 Djiboutian franc (DF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates

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

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

6 fields

Airports, 13 total, 11 usable

permanent-surface runways

2runways | over 3,659 m

nonerunways 2,440-3,659 m

2runways 1,220-2,439 m

Railroads

the Ethiopian-Djibouti railroad extends for 97 km through Djibouti

Highways

2,900 km total; 280 km paved; 2,620 km improved or unimproved earth (1982)

Ports

Djibouti

Civil air

1 major transport aircraft

Telecommunications

fair system of urban facilities in Djibouti and radio relay stations at outlying places;
broadcast stations - 2 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV;
1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station and 1 ARABSAT;
1 submarine cable to Saudi Arabia

Defense Forces

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

3 fields

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