Statistical information Djibouti 1993

Djibouti in the World
top of pageBackground: The French Territory of the Afars and the Issas became Djibouti in 1977.
top of pageLocation: Eastern Africa, at the entrance to the Red Sea between Ethiopia and Somalia
Geographic coordinatesMap reference:
Africa, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the WorldAreaTotal: 22,000 km²
Land: 21,980 km²
Land boundaries: total 508 km, Erithea 113 km, Ethiopia 337 km, Somalia 58 km
Coastline: 314 km
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm ethnic Somalis
Maritime claimsClimate: desert; torrid, dry
Terrain: coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains
ElevationNatural resources: geothermal areas
Land useArable land: 0%
Permanent crops: 0%
Meadows and pastures: 9%
Forest and woodland: 0%
Other: 91%
Irrigated land: NA km²
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographytop of pagePopulation: 401,579 (July 1993 est.)
Growth rate: 2.7% (1993 est.)
NationalityNoun: Djiboutian(s)
Adjective: Djiboutian
Ethnic groups: Somali 60%, Afar 35%, French, Arab, Ethiopian and Italian 5%
Languages: French (official), Arabic (official), Somali, Afar
ReligionsDemographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 2.7% (1993 est.)
Birth rate: 43.05 births/1000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate: 16.06 deaths/1000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1993 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: vast wasteland
Current issues note:strategic location near world's busiest shipping lanes and close to
Arabian oilfields; terminus of rail traffic into Ethiopia
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 113.2 deaths/1000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 48.78 years
Male: 47.01 years
Female: 50.59 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.27 children born/woman (1993 est.)
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: age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
Total population: 48%
Male: 63%
Female: 34%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Republic of Djibouti
Conventional short form: Djibouti
Former: French Territory of the Afars and Issas French Somaliland
Government type: republic
Capital: Djibouti
Administrative divisions:
5 districts (cercles, singular - cercle); `Ali
Sabih, Dikhil, Djibouti, Obock, Tadjoura
Dependent areasIndependence: 27 June 1977 (from France)
National holidayIndependence Day 27 June 1977 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
Constitution: multiparty constitution approved in referendum September 1992
Legal system:
based on French civil law system, traditional practices, and
Islamic law
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: universal adult at age NA
Executive branch: president, prime minister, Council of Ministers
Legislative branch: unicameral Chamber of Deputies (Chambre des Deputes)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation:
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, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Roble OLHAYE
In the us chancery: Suite 515, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20,005
In the us telephone: (202) 331-0270
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Charles R. BAQUET III
From the us embassy: Plateau du Serpent, Boulevard Marechal Joffre, Djibouti
From the us mailing address: B. P. 185, Djibouti
From the us telephone: 253 35-39-95
From the us fax: 253 35-39-40
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 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).
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rateReal gdp per capita: $1,030 (1990 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: accounts for only 3% 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: growth rate 10.0% (1990; manufacturing accounts for 11% of GDP
Labor force: NA
Note:a small number of semi-skilled laborers at the port and 3,000 railway workers
52% of population of working age (1983)
Unemployment rate: over 30% (1989)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $170 million; expenditures $203 million, including capital expenditures of $70 million (1991 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: $186 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
Commodoties: hides and skins, coffee (in transit)
Partners: Africa 50%, Middle East 40%, Western Europe 9%
Imports: $360 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
Commodoties: foods, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum products
Partners: Western Europe 54%, Middle East 20%, Asia 19%
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt externalStock 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 pageElectricityProduction: 115,000 kW capacity; 200 million kWh produced, 580 kWh per capita (1991)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresPercent of gdp: exchange rate conversion - $26 million, NA% of GDP (1989)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 13
Usable: 11
With permanentsurface runways: 2
With runways over 3659 m: 0
With runways 2440-3659 m: 2
With runways 1220-2439 m: 5
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marinePorts and terminalstop of pageDisputes internationalRefugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs