Page last updated on January 28, 2014
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.
Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, between Eritrea and Somalia
total: 23,200 sq km
country comparison to the world: 151
land: 23,180 sq km
water: 20 sq km
slightly smaller than Massachusetts
total: 516 km
border countries: Eritrea 109 km, Ethiopia 349 km, Somalia 58 km
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains
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
arable land: 0.09%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 99.91% (2011)
total: 0.02 cu km/yr (84%/0%/16%)
per capita: 24.84 cu m/yr (2000)
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
noun: Djiboutian(s)
adjective: Djiboutian
Somali 60%, Afar 35%, other 5% (includes French, Arab, Ethiopian, and Italian)
French (official), Arabic (official), Somali, Afar
792,198 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
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.)
total dependency ratio: 60.5 %
youth dependency ratio: 54.1 %
elderly dependency ratio: 6.4 %
potential support ratio: 15.7 (2013)
total: 22.4 years
male: 20.8 years
female: 23.7 years (2013 est.)
2.26% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
24.5 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
7.96 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
6.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
urban population: 77.1% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 1.96% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
DJIBOUTI (capital) 496,000 (2011)
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.)
200 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 54
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.)
total population: 61.99 years
country comparison to the world: 187
male: 59.52 years
female: 64.52 years (2013 est.)
2.55 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
7.9% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 64
0.23 physicians/1,000 population (2006)
1.4 beds/1,000 population (2010)
2.5% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
14,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
1,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
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)
9.4% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 134
29.6% (2006)
country comparison to the world: 15
8.4% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 9
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 67.9%
male: 78%
female: 58.4% (2003 est.)
total: 6 years
male: 6 years
female: 5 years (2011)
total number: 13,176
percentage: 8 % (2006 est.)
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
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 (2010)
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
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 responsible to the president
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%
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
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
Democratic National Party or PND [ADEN Robleh Awaleh]
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
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
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
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
name: "Jabuuti" (Djibouti)
lyrics/music: Aden ELMI/Abdi ROBLEH
note: adopted 1977
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.
$2.354 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
$1.336 billion (2012 est.)
4.8% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
$2,600 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
17% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
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%
agriculture: 3.1%
industry: 16.9%
services: 80% (2012 est.)
fruits, vegetables; goats, sheep, camels, animal hides
construction, agricultural processing
4.2% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
351,700 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 162
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
59% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
note: data are for urban areas, 83% in rural areas
lowest 10%: 2.4%
highest 10%: 30.9% (2002)
revenues: $465.9 million
expenditures: $503 million (2012 est.)
34.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
-2.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
7.9% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
12% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
$758.9 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
$1.158 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
$483.4 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
$-216.2 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
$87.9 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
reexports, hides and skins, coffee (in transit)
Somalia 80.1%, UAE 4.4%, Yemen 4.1% (2012)
$574.2 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
foods, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum products
China 24.4%, Saudi Arabia 16.4%, India 10.6%, Indonesia 7.3% (2012)
$773.9 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
$510.6 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
Djiboutian francs (DJF) per US dollar -
325 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
302.3 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
130,000 kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 122
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
12,460 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
19.18 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
8,089 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
0 cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 130
1.15 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
18,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 191
209,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 181
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)
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)
215 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 200
25,900 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 185
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:
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)
total: 3,065 km
country comparison to the world: 165
paved: 1,226 km
unpaved: 1,839 km (2000)
major seaport(s): Djibouti
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
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)
males age 16-49: 170,386
females age 16-49: 221,411 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 114,557
females age 16-49: 154,173 (2010 est.)
male: 8,360
female: 8,602 (2010 est.)
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): 18,725 (Somalia) (2013)
