Page last updated on January 28, 2014

Introduction:
Background:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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 elections 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 begin a third term in 2011. 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 United States. Djibouti hosts several thousand members of US armed services at US-run Camp Lemonnier.
Geography:
Location:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, between Eritrea and Somalia
Geographic coordinates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
11 30 N, 43 00 E
Map references:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Africa
Area:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 23,200 sq km
country comparison to the world: 151
land: 23,180 sq km
water: 20 sq km
Area - comparative:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Land boundaries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 516 km
border countries: Eritrea 109 km, Ethiopia 349 km, Somalia 58 km
Coastline:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
314 km
Maritime claims:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
desert; torrid, dry
Terrain:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains
Elevation extremes:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest point: Lac Assal -155 m
highest point: Moussa Ali 2,028 m
Natural resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
potential geothermal power, gold, clay, granite, limestone, marble, salt, diatomite, gypsum, pumice, petroleum
Land use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
arable land: 0.09%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 99.91% (2011)
Irrigated land:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
10.12 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.3 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 0.02 cu km/yr (84%/0%/16%)
per capita: 24.84 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Environment - current issues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
inadequate supplies of potable water; limited arable land; desertification; endangered species
Environment - international agreements:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Geography - note:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Nationality:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
noun: Djiboutian(s)
adjective: Djiboutian
Ethnic groups:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Somali 60%, Afar 35%, other 5% (includes French, Arab, Ethiopian, and Italian)
Languages:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
French (official), Arabic (official), Somali, Afar
Religions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Muslim 94%, Christian 6%
Population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
792,198 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
Age structure:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0-14 years: 33.6% (male 133,401/female 132,836)
15-24 years: 22% (male 82,174/female 92,321)
25-54 years: 36.3% (male 119,588/female 167,711)
55-64 years: 4.6% (male 17,416/female 19,269)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 12,352/female 15,130) (2013 est.)
population pyramid: "> Dependency ratios:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total dependency ratio: 60.5 %
youth dependency ratio: 54.1 %
elderly dependency ratio: 6.4 %
potential support ratio: 15.7 (2013)
Median age:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 22.4 years
male: 20.8 years
female: 23.7 years (2013 est.)
Population growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.26% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
Birth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
24.5 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Death rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
7.96 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Net migration rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
Urbanization:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
urban population: 77.1% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 1.96% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
DJIBOUTI (capital) 496,000 (2011)
Sex ratio:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 0.89 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.72 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
200 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 54
Infant mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 51.77 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 40
male: 59.2 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 44.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total population: 61.99 years
country comparison to the world: 187
male: 59.52 years
female: 64.52 years (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.55 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
17.8% (2006)
Health expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
7.9% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 64
Physicians density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.23 physicians/1,000 population (2006)
Hospital bed density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.4 beds/1,000 population (2010)
Drinking water source:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
Sanitation facility access:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.5% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
14,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
Major infectious diseases:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: dengue fever
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 (2013)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
9.4% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 134
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
29.6% (2006)
country comparison to the world: 15
Education expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
8.4% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 9
Literacy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 67.9%
male: 78%
female: 58.4% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 6 years
male: 6 years
female: 5 years (2011)
Child labor - children ages 5-14:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total number: 13,176
percentage: 8 % (2006 est.)
Government:
Country name:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Government type:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
republic
Capital:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
name: Djibouti
geographic coordinates: 11 35 N, 43 09 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6 districts (cercles, singular - cercle); Ali Sabieh, Arta, Dikhil, Djibouti, Obock, Tadjourah
Independence:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
27 June 1977 (from France)
National holiday:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Independence Day, 27 June (1977)
Constitution:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
approved by referendum 4 September 1992; amended 2006, 2008, 2010 (2010)
Legal system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
International law organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Suffrage:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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 responsible to the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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 2011 (next to be held by 2016); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Ismail Omar GUELLEH reelected president for a third term; percent of vote - Ismail Omar GUELLEH 80.6%, Mohamed Warsama RAGUEH 19.4%
Legislative branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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 22 February 2013 (next to be held in 2018)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats - UMP (coalition of parties associated with President Ismail Omar GUELLEH) 49, USN 16
Judicial branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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; magistrates appointed for life with retirement at age 65; Constitutional magistrates - 2 appointed by the president, 2 by the president of the National Assembly, and 2 by High Council of the Judiciary; magistrates appointed for 8-year, non-renewable terms
subordinate courts: High Court of Appeal; 5 Courts of First Instance; customary courts
Political parties and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Democratic National Party or PND [ADEN Robleh Awaleh]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA
International organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, CAEU (candidates), COMESA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, 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
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of mission: Ambassador Roble OLHAYE Oudine (since 22 March 1988)
chancery: Suite 515, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 331-0270
FAX: [1] (202) 331-0302
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of mission: Ambassador Geeta PASI (since 29 August 2011)
embassy: Lot 350-B, Haramouss, Djibouti
mailing address: B. P. 185, Djibouti
telephone: [253] 21 45 30 00
FAX: [253] 21 45 30 20
Flag description:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
National anthem:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
name: "Jabuuti" (Djibouti)
lyrics/music: Aden ELMI/Abdi ROBLEH
note: adopted 1977
Economy:
Economy - overview:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Djibouti's 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. Three-fourths of Djibouti's inhabitants live in the capital city; the remainder are mostly nomadic herders. Scant rainfall 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 - primarily of coffee 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% 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. Djibouti holds foreign reserves amounting to less than six months of import coverage. 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. Djibouti in 2012 began construction of a third port to secure its position as a critical transshipment hub in the Horn of Africa and the principal conduit for Ethiopia's trade. Djibouti also received funding in late 2012 for a desalination plant to begin address the severe freshwater shortage affecting Djibouti City, and particularly its poorest residents.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$2.354 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$1.336 billion (2012 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.8% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$2,600 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
Gross national saving:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
17% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
GDP - composition, by end use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
household consumption: 59.2%
government consumption: 24.7%
investment in fixed capital: 33%
investment in inventories: -2.1%
exports of goods and services: 38.3%
imports of goods and services: -53.1%
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 3.1%
industry: 16.9%
services: 80% (2012 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
fruits, vegetables; goats, sheep, camels, animal hides
Industries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
construction, agricultural processing
Industrial production growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.2% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Labor force:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
351,700 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 162
Labor force - by occupation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Unemployment rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
59% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
note: data are for urban areas, 83% in rural areas
Population below poverty line:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
42% (2007 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest 10%: 2.4%
highest 10%: 30.9% (2002)
Budget:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
revenues: $465.9 million
expenditures: $503 million (2012 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
34.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
-2.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Fiscal year:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
7.9% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
12% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Stock of narrow money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$758.9 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
Stock of broad money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$1.158 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
Stock of domestic credit:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$483.4 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Current account balance:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$-216.2 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$87.9 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
Exports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
reexports, hides and skins, coffee (in transit)
Exports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Somalia 80.1%, UAE 4.4%, Yemen 4.1% (2012)
Imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$574.2 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
Imports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
foods, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum products
Imports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
China 24.4%, Saudi Arabia 16.4%, India 10.6%, Indonesia 7.3% (2012)
Debt - external:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$773.9 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$510.6 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
Exchange rates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Djiboutian francs (DJF) per US dollar -
Energy:
Electricity - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
325 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
Electricity - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
302.3 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
Electricity - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
Electricity - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
130,000 kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
Crude oil - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
Crude oil - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
Crude oil - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Crude oil - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 122
Refined petroleum products - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
12,460 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Refined petroleum products - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
19.18 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Refined petroleum products - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
8,089 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Natural gas - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Natural gas - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Natural gas - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Natural gas - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 130
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.15 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
Communications:
Telephones - main lines in use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 191
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
209,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 181
Telephone system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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 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 regional microwave radio relay telephone network (2009)
Broadcast media:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
.dj
Internet hosts:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
215 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 200
Internet users:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
25,900 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 185
Transportation:
Airports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
13 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 152
Airports - with paved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m:
Railways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 3,065 km
country comparison to the world: 165
paved: 1,226 km
unpaved: 1,839 km (2000)
Ports and terminals:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
major seaport(s): Djibouti
Transportation - note:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
while attacks decreased significantly in 2012, 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:
Military branches:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Djibouti Armed Forces (Forces Armees Djiboutiennes, FAD): Djibouti National Army (includes Navy, Djiboutian Air Force (Force Aerienne Djiboutienne, FAD), National Gendarmerie (GN)) (2013)
Military service age and obligation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18 years of age for voluntary military service; 16-25 years of age for voluntary military training; no conscription (2012)
Manpower available for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 170,386
females age 16-49: 221,411 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 114,557
females age 16-49: 154,173 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
male: 8,360
female: 8,602 (2010 est.)
Transnational Issues:
Disputes - international:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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 and internally displaced persons:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
refugees (country of origin): 18,725 (Somalia) (2013)