Population:
390,906 (July 1992), growth rate 2.7% (1992)
Birth rate:
43 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
16 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
0 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
115 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
47 years male, 50 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
6.3 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
noun - Djiboutian(s); adjective - Djiboutian
Ethnic divisions:
Somali 60%, Afar 35%, French, Arab, Ethiopian, and Italian 5%
Religions:
Muslim 94%, Christian 6%
Languages:
French and Arabic (both official); Somali and Afar widely used
Literacy:
48% (male 63%, female 34%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
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)
Organized labor:
3,000 railway workers, General Union of Djiboutian Workers (UGTD),
government affiliated; some smaller unions
:Djibouti Government
Long-form name:
Republic of Djibouti
Type:
republic
Capital:
Djibouti
Administrative divisions:
5 districts (cercles, singular - cercle); `Ali Sabih, Dikhil, Djibouti,
Obock, Tadjoura
Independence:
27 June 1977 (from France; formerly French Territory of the Afars and Issas)
Constitution:
partial constitution ratified January 1981 by the National Assembly
Legal system:
based on French civil law system, traditional practices, and Islamic law
National holiday:
Independence Day, 27 June (1977)
Executive branch:
president, prime minister, Council of Ministers
Legislative branch:
National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President Hassan GOULED Aptidon (since 24 June 1977)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister BARKAT Gourad Hamadou (since 30 September 1978)
Political parties and leaders:
only party - People's Progress Assembly (RPP), Hassan GOULED Aptidon
Suffrage:
universal adult at age NA
Elections:
National Assembly:
last held 24 April 1987 (next scheduled for May 1992 but post- poned);
results - RPP is the only party; seats - (65 total) RPP 65
President:
last held 24 April 1987 (next to be held April 1993); results - President
Hassan GOULED Aptidon was reelected without opposition
Other political or pressure groups:
Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy and affiliates
Member of:
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, UPU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation:
Ambassador Roble OLHAYE; Chancery at Suite 515, 1156 15th Street NW,
Washington, DC 20005; telephone (202) 331-0270
US:
Ambassador Charles R. BAQUET III; Embassy at Villa Plateau du Serpent,
Boulevard Marechal Joffre, Djibouti (mailing address is B. P. 185,
Djibouti); telephone [253] 35-39-95; FAX [253] 35-39-40
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
:Djibouti Economy
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).
GDP:
exchange rate conversion - $340 million, $1,000 per capita; real growth rate
-1.0% (1989 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.7% (1989)
Unemployment rate:
over 30% (1989)
Budget:
revenues $131 million; expenditures $154 million, including capital
expenditures of $25 million (1990 est.)
Exports:
$190 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
commodities:
hides and skins, coffee (in transit)
partners:
Middle East 50%, Africa 43%, Western Europe 7%
Imports:
$311 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
commodities:
foods, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum products
partners:
EC 36%, Africa 21%, Asia 12%, US 2%
External debt:
$355 million (December 1990)
Industrial production:
growth rate 0.1% (1989); manufacturing accounts for 4% of GDP
Electricity:
115,000 kW capacity; 200 million kWh produced, 580 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
limited to a few small-scale enterprises, such as dairy products and
mineral-water bottling
Agriculture:
accounts for only 5% 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
Economic aid:
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
Currency:
Djiboutian franc (plural - francs); 1 Djiboutian franc (DF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
Djiboutian francs (DF) per US$1 - 177.721 (fixed rate since 1973)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
:Djibouti Communications
Railroads:
the Ethiopian-Djibouti railroad extends for 97 km through Djibouti
Highways:
2,900 km total; 280 km paved; 2,620 km improved or unimproved earth (1982)
Ports:
Djibouti
Civil air:
1 major transport aircraft
Airports:
13 total, 11 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways
over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 5 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
fair system of urban facilities in Djibouti and radio relay stations at
outlying places; broadcast stations - 2 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV; 1 Indian Ocean
INTELSAT earth station and 1 ARABSAT; 1 submarine cable to Saudi Arabia
:Djibouti Defense Forces
Branches:
Djibouti National Army (including Navy and Air Force), National Security
Force (Force Nationale de Securite), National Police Force
Manpower availability:
males 15-49, 96,150; 56,077 fit for military service
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $29.9 million, NA% of GDP (1986)
:Dominica Geography