Djibouti
Country Guide

Explore Djibouti

Djibouti with its capital Djibouti is located in Africa (Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea). It covers some 23,201 square kilometers (slightly smaller than New Jersey) with a population of 865,267. French, Arabic, Somali and Afar are the languages spoken by people in Djibouti (consider regional differences). Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia are bordering countries.

Djibouti is in East Africa with the Gulf of Aden to the east. Djibouti's climate is very hot, humid and arid, especially in the summer. The summer heat is moderated, however, by a sustained breeze in the coastal city of Djibouti. From October to April, the temperature is cooler, with occasional rain. Casual wear is widely acceptable, but visitors are reminded that Djibouti is a Muslim country and certain codes of behavior should be observed. Shorts are generally not appropriate outside of hotels, beaches, or sport activities. Visitors should be aware of the risk of banditry if traveling outside the capital city. Be aware that the HIV/AIDS rate is currently over 3% or 1 in 33 adults. Protect yourself. Something you should definitely see is Lac Assal. 150m below seal level, Lake Assal is the third lowest point on Earth. Expect a rough ride: the roads outside the capital are destroyed by the truck traffic between Djibouti and Ethiopia. The road passes within sight of the Devil's Island, and some impressive views. Also scuba diving is a great activity to pursue while beeing there. Underwater off the coast lie several reefs teaming with all sorts of life.

Popular Destinations in Djibouti

Administrative regions of Djibouti

• Ali Sabieh Region
• Arta Region
• Dikhil Region
• Djibouti City
• Obock
• Tadjourah

About the country

The terrain is coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains. The average density of population is about 37 per km². The climate in Djibouti can be described as desert with torrid, dry. Possible natural disasters include droughts, earthquakes, experiences limited volcanic activity; Ardoukoba (298 m) last erupted in 1978; Manda-Inakir, located along the Ethiopian border, is also historically active and occasional cyclonic disturbances from the Indian Ocean bring heavy rains and flash floods.

To reach someone Djibouti dial +253 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 3G, 4G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".dj". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 220 V - 50 Hz (plugs: C, E). The sign for the locally used currency Franc is DJF.

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.

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 election 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 serve a third term in 2011 and begin a fourth term in 2016. 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 US. Djibouti hosts several thousand members of US armed services at US-run Camp Lemonnier.

Geography

Area
Total (World Rank: 151)	23,200	sq km
Land (World Rank: 149)	23,180	sq km
Water (World Rank: 148)	20	sq km
Forest (World Rank: 8)	73.30	%
Comparative	slightly smaller than New Jersey
Coastline
314
Landborder
528
Elevation
Lowest point (World Rank: 71)	-155	m
Highest point (World Rank: 125)	2,021	m
Agricultural land
Total (World Rank: 17)	73.40	%
Arable (World Rank: 214)	0.10	%
Permanent pastures (World Rank: 8)	73.30	%
Irrigated land (World Rank: 172)	10	sq km
Map reference
Africa
Environment
Issues	- desertification - endangered species - inadequate supplies of potable water - limited arable land
Agreement party	- Biodiversity - Climate Change - Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol - Desertification - Endangered Species - Hazardous Wastes - Law of the Sea - Ozone Layer Protection - Ship Pollution - Wetlands
Hazzards	- droughts - earthquakes - experiences limited volcanic activity; Ardoukoba (298 m) last erupted in 1978; Manda-Inakir, located along the Ethiopian border, is also historically active - occasional cyclonic disturbances from the Indian Ocean bring heavy rains and flash floods
Location
Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, between Eritrea and Somalia
Climate
desert; torrid, dry
Terrain
coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains

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People

Population
Total (World Rank: 161)	865,267
Deathrate (World Rank: 108)	0.75	%
Birthrate (World Rank: 63)	2.34	%
Growthrate (World Rank: 39)	2.16	%
Migration rate (World Rank: 19)	0.57	%
Fertility rate (World Rank: 88)	2.31	%
Median age
Male (World Rank: 175)	22.10
Female (World Rank: 155)	25.30
Age structure
0 14 male (World Rank: 159)	135,151
0 14 female (World Rank: 156)	134,312
15 24 male (World Rank: 158)	86,820
15 24 female (World Rank: 153)	97,656
25 54 male (World Rank: 164)	140,242
25 54 female (World Rank: 160)	197,484
55 64 male (World Rank: 169)	18,593
55 64 female (World Rank: 166)	22,515
65 x male (World Rank: 170)	14,559
65 x female (World Rank: 171)	17,935
Health
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 39)	4.58	%
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 188)	64	years
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 184)	66	years
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 192)	61	years
Physicians per 1000 (World Rank: 143)	0.23
Hospital bed per 1000 (World Rank: 129)	1.40
Sanitation access total (World Rank: 163)	47.40	%
Obesity adult (World Rank: 131)	13.50	%
Drinking water access (World Rank: 139)	90.00	%

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Energy

Electricity
Production (World Rank: 169)	405,000,000	kWh
Consumption (World Rank: 174)	376,700,000	kWh
Source fossil (World Rank: 8)	100.00	%
Refined products
Consumption (World Rank: 169)	6,000	bbl / day
Export (World Rank: 111)	403	bbl / day
Import (World Rank: 154)	6,509	bbl / day
Natural gas
Consumption (World Rank: 120)	30	m³
Carbon footprint
1800000

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Nation

Budget
Education (World Rank: 90)	5	% of GDP
Health (World Rank: 17)	11	% of GDP
Surplus (World Rank: 205)	-16	% of GDP
National symbol
red star
National colours
white
Adjective
Djiboutian
Noun
Djiboutian(s)
Background
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 election 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 serve a third term in 2011 and begin a fourth term in 2016. 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 US. Djibouti hosts several thousand members of US armed services at US-run Camp Lemonnier.
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; 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

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Economy

Gdp
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 183)	3,344,000,000	USD
Real growth rate (World Rank: 21)	6.50	%
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 184)	3,400	USD
Source agriculture (World Rank: 152)	2.90	%
Source industry (World Rank: 148)	20.80	%
Source service (World Rank: 37)	76.30	%
Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 162)	294,600
In poverty (World Rank: 84)	23.00	%
Products
Industries	- agricultural processing - construction - shipping
Agriculture	- animal hides - camels - fruits - goats - sheep - vegetables
Exports	- coffee (in transit) - hides - reexports - scrap metal - skins
Imports	- beverages - chemicals - clothing - foods - petroleum products - transport equipment

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Communication

Phone
Landline total (World Rank: 168)	24,925
Landline per 100 (World Rank: 171)	3.00
Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 206)	41.00
Assessment	0
Internet
Users (World Rank: 173)	111,212
Population (World Rank: 199)	13.10	%

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Transport

Air
Airports paved (World Rank: 168)	3.00
Airports unpaved (World Rank: 130)	10.00
Rail
Total length (World Rank: 128)	97.00
Road
Total length (World Rank: 165)	3,065
Paved length (World Rank: 136)	1,379
Unpaved length (World Rank: 120)	1,686

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