Statistical information Djibouti 1990

Djibouti in the World
top of pageBackground: The French Territory of the Afars and the Issas became Djibouti in 1977.
top of pageLocationGeographic coordinatesMap referenceAreaLand boundaries: 517 km total; Ethiopia 459 km, Somalia 58 km
Coastline: 314 km
Maritime claimsContiguous zone: 24 nm
Extended economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: desert; torrid, dry
Terrain: coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains
ElevationNatural resources: geothermal areas
Land use: 0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 9% meadows and pastures; NEGL% forest and woodland; 91% other
Irrigated landMajor riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographyNote: strategic location near world's busiest shipping lanes and close to Arabian oilfields; terminus of rail traffic into Ethiopia
top of pagePopulation: 337,386 (July 1990), growth rate 2.6% (1990)
Nationality: noun--Djiboutian(s; adjective--Djiboutian
Ethnic groups: 60% Somali (Issa; 35% Afar, 5% French, Arab, Ethiopian, and Italian
Languages: French (official; Arabic, Somali, and Afar widely used
Religions: 94% Muslim, 6% Christian
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rateBirth rate: 43 births/1000 population (1990)
Death rate: 17 deaths/1000 population (1990)
Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1000 population (1990)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: vast wasteland
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 119 deaths/1000 live births (1990)
Life expectancy at birth: 46 years male, 49 years female (1990)
Total fertility rate: 6.4 children born/woman (1990)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: 20%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry name: conventional long form: Republic of Djibouti
Government type: republic
Capital: Djibouti
Administrative divisions: 5 districts (cercles, singular--cercle; Ali Sahih, Dikhil, Djibouti, Obock, Tadjoura
Dependent areasIndependence: 27 June 1977 (from France; formerly French Territory of the Afars and Issas)
National holiday: Independence Day, 27 June (1977)
Constitution: partial constitution ratified January 1981 by the Chamber of Deputies
Legal system: based on French civil law system, traditional practices, and Islamic law
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: universal adult at age NA
Executive branch: Chief of State--President Hassan GOULED Aptidon (since 24 June 1977; Head of Government--Prime Minister Barkat GOURAD Hamadou (since 30 September 1978)
Legislative branch: Army, Navy, Air Force; paramilitary National Security Force
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: ACP, AfDB, Arab League, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB--Islamic Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representationIn the us: Ambassador Roble OLHAYE; Chancery (temporary) at the Djiboutian Permanent Mission to the UN; 866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 4,011, New York, NY 10,017; telephone (212) 753-3,163; US--Ambassador Robert S. BARRETT IV; Embassy at Villa Plateau du Serpent Boulevard, Marechal Joffre, Djibouti (mailing address is B. P. 185, Djibouti; telephone p253o 35-38-49 or 35-39-95, 35-29-16, 35-29-17
Flag description
: 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
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: The economy is based on service activities connected with the country's strategic location and status as a free trade zone. 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 50% continues to be a major problem.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rateReal gdp per capitaGross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: accounts for 30% 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
Industries: limited to a few small-scale enterprises, such as dairy products and mineral-water bottling
Industrial production growth rate: - 1.6% (1986)
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)
Unemployment rate: over 50% (1987)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $117 million; expenditures $163 billion, including capital expenditures of $52 million (1987 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $128 million (f.o.b., 1986)
Commodities: hides and skins, coffee (in transit)
Partners: Middle East 50%, Africa 43%, Western Europe 7%
Imports: $198 million (f.o.b., 1986)
Commodities: foods, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum products
Partners: EC 36%, Africa 21%, Bahrain 14%, Asia 12%, US 2%
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $250 million (December 1988)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Djiboutian francs (DF) per US$1--177.721 (fixed rate since 1973)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 110,000 kW capacity; 190 million kWh produced, 580 kWh per capita (1989)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresPercent of gdp: $29.9 million, 23% of central government budget (1986)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 12 total, 9 usable; none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 4 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marinePorts and terminalstop of pageDisputes international: possible claim by Somalia based on unification of ethnic Somalis
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs