Djibouti
republicIndependence 27 June 1977 (from France)
Djibouti as the 1994 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 119 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Geography
Eastern Africa, at the entrance to the Red Sea between Eritrea and | Somalia
24 fieldstotal area
22,000 sq km
land area
21,980 sq km
comparative area
slightly larger than Massachusetts
contiguous zone
24 nm
exclusive economic zone
200 nm
territorial sea
12 nm
arable land
0%
permanent crops
0%
meadows and pastures
9%
forest and woodland
0%
other
91%
current issues
desertification
natural hazards
prone to earthquakes, droughts
international agreements
party to - Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change
Note
- strategic location near world's busiest shipping lanes and close to Arabian oilfields;
- terminus of rail traffic into Ethiopia;
- a vast wasteland
People
22 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1994 est.)
total population
49.23 years
male
47.42 years
female
51.1 years (1994 est.)
noun
Djiboutian(s)
adjective
Djiboutian
total population
48%
male
63%
female
34%
by occupation
a small number of semiskilled laborers at the port and 3,000 railway workers
note
52% of population of working age (1983)
Government
Republic
32 fieldsLegislature, 65 seatsone dot, one seat
conventional long form
Republic of Djibouti
conventional short form
Djibouti
former
French Territory of the Afars and Issas French Somaliland
Administrative divisions
5 districts (cercles, singular - cercle); 'Ali Sabih, Dikhil, Djibouti, Obock, Tadjoura
chief of state
- President HASSAN GOULED Aptidon (since 24 June 1977);
- election last held 7 May 1993 (next to be held NA 1999);
- results - President Hassan GOULED Aptidon was reelected
head of government
Prime Minister BARKAT Gourad Hamadou (since 30 September 1978)
cabinet
Council of Ministers; responsible to the president
Chamber of Deputies (Chambre des Deputes)
- elections last held 18 December 1992;
- results - RPP is the only party;
- seats - (65 total) RPP 65
ruling party
People's Progress Assembly (RPP), Hassan GOULED Aptidon
other parties
Democratic Renewal Party (PRD), Mohamed Jama ELABE; Democratic National Party (PND), ADEN Robleh Awaleh
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, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNESCO, UNCTAD, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO
chief of mission
Ambassador Roble OLHAYE
chancery
Suite 515, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
chief of mission
Ambassador Martin CHESES
embassy
Plateau du Serpent, Boulevard Marechal Joffre, Djibouti
mailing address
B. P. 185, Djibouti
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
The economy is based on service activities connected with the | country's strategic location and status as a free trade zone in | northeast Africa.
25 fieldsOverview
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 (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 five years because of recession, civil war, and a high population growth rate (including immigrants and refugees).
revenues
$170 million
expenditures
$203 million, including capital expenditures of $70 million (1991 est.)
commodities
hides and skins, coffee (in transit)
partners
Africa 47%, Middle East 40%, Western Europe 12%
commodities
foods, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum products
partners
Western Europe 48%, Asia 25%, Africa 8%
capacity
115,000 kW
production
200 million kWh
consumption per capita
580 kWh (1991)
Industries
limited to a few small-scale enterprises, such as dairy products and mineral-water bottling
Agriculture
- accounts for only 2% 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
recipient
- 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
Communications
13 fieldstotal
2,900 km
paved
280 km
unpaved
improved, unimproved earth 2,620 km (1982)
total
13
usable
11
with permanent-surface runways
2
with runways over 3,659 m
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m
2
with runways 1,220-2,439 m
4
Telecommunications
- telephone facilities in the city of Djibouti are adequate as are the microwave radio relay connections to outlying areas of the country;
- international connections via submarine cable to Saudi Arabia and by satellite to other countries;
- one ground station each for Indian Ocean INTELSAT and ARABSAT;
- broadcast stations - 2 AM, 2 FM, 1 TV
Defense Forces
Djibouti National Army (including Navy and Air Force), National | Security Force (Force Nationale de Securite), National Police Force
3 fieldsBranches
Djibouti National Army (including Navy and Air Force), National Security Force (Force Nationale de Securite), National Police Force
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Djibouti.” The World Factbook 1994. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/djibouti/1994.