2018 Edition

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.

Area

land

23,180 sq km

total

23,200 sq km

water

20 sq km

Area Comparative

slightly smaller than New Jersey

Climate

desert; torrid, dry

Coastline

314 km

Elevation

elevation extremes

-155 m lowest point: Lac Assal

mean elevation

430 m

note

2021 highest point: Moussa Ali

Environment Current Issues

inadequate supplies of potable water; water pollution; limited arable land; deforestation (forests threatened by agriculture and the use of wood for fuel); desertification; endangered species

Environment International Agreements

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

Geographic Coordinates

11 30 N, 43 00 E

Geography Note

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

Irrigated Land

10 sq km (2012)

Land Boundaries

border countries (3)

Eritrea 125 km, Ethiopia 342 km, Somalia 61 km

total

528 km

Land Use

arable land: 0.1% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 0% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 73.3% (2011 est.)

agricultural land

73.4% (2011 est.)

forest

0.2% (2011 est.)

other

26.4% (2011 est.)

Location

Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, between Eritrea and Somalia

Map References

Africa

Maritime Claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural Hazards

earthquakes; droughts; occasional cyclonic disturbances from the Indian Ocean bring heavy rains and flash floodsvolcanism: experiences limited volcanic activity; Ardoukoba (298 m) last erupted in 1978; Manda-Inakir, located along the Ethiopian border, is also historically active

Natural Resources

potential geothermal power, gold, clay, granite, limestone, marble, salt, diatomite, gypsum, pumice, petroleum

Population Distribution

most densely populated areas are in the east; the largest city is Djibouti, with a population over 600,000; no other city in the country has a total population over 50,000

Terrain

coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains

Age Structure

0-14 years

30.71% (male 136,191 /female 135,263)

15-24 years

21.01% (male 87,520 /female 98,239)

25-54 years

39.63% (male 145,427 /female 204,927)

55-64 years

4.82% (male 18,967 /female 23,639)

65 years and over

3.83% (male 15,136 /female 18,708) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

23.3 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Children Under The Age Of 5 Years Underweight

29.8% (2012)

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate

19% (2012)

Death Rate

7.5 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Demographic Profile

Djibouti is a poor, predominantly urban country, characterized by high rates of illiteracy, unemployment, and childhood malnutrition. More than 75% of the population lives in cities and towns (predominantly in the capital, Djibouti). The rural population subsists primarily on nomadic herding. Prone to droughts and floods, the country has few natural resources and must import more than 80% of its food from neighboring countries or Europe. Health care, particularly outside the capital, is limited by poor infrastructure, shortages of equipment and supplies, and a lack of qualified personnel. More than a third of health care recipients are migrants because the services are still better than those available in their neighboring home countries. The nearly universal practice of female genital cutting reflects Djibouti’s lack of gender equality and is a major contributor to obstetrical complications and its high rates of maternal and infant mortality. A 1995 law prohibiting the practice has never been enforced.Because of its political stability and its strategic location at the confluence of East Africa and the Gulf States along the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, Djibouti is a key transit point for migrants and asylum seekers heading for the Gulf States and beyond. Each year some hundred thousand people, mainly Ethiopians and some Somalis, journey through Djibouti, usually to the port of Obock, to attempt a dangerous sea crossing to Yemen. However, with the escalation of the ongoing Yemen conflict, Yemenis began fleeing to Djibouti in March 2015, with almost 20,000 arriving by August 2017. Most Yemenis remain unregistered and head for Djibouti City rather than seeking asylum at one of Djibouti’s three spartan refugee camps. Djibouti has been hosting refugees and asylum seekers, predominantly Somalis and lesser numbers of Ethiopians and Eritreans, at camps for 20 years, despite lacking potable water, food shortages, and unemployment.

Dependency Ratios

elderly dependency ratio

6.4 (2015 est.)

potential support ratio

15.6 (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

56.5 (2015 est.)

youth dependency ratio

50.1 (2015 est.)

Drinking Water Source

improved: urban: 97.4% of population

rural: 64.7% of population

total: 90% of population

unimproved: urban: 2.6% of population

rural: 35.3% of population

total: 10% of population (2015 est.)

Education Expenditures

4.5% of GDP (2010)

Ethnic Groups

Somali 60%, Afar 35%, other 5% (includes French, Arab, Ethiopian, and Italian)

Health Expenditures

10.6% of GDP (2014)

Hiv Aids Adult Prevalence Rate

1.3% (2017 est.)

Hiv Aids Deaths

<1000 (2017 est.)

Hiv Aids People Living With Hiv Aids

9,100 (2017 est.)

Hospital Bed Density

1.4 beds/1,000 population (2014)

Infant Mortality Rate

female

37.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

male

50.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

total

44.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

French (official), Arabic (official), Somali, Afar

Life Expectancy At Birth

female

66.6 years (2018 est.)

male

61.4 years (2018 est.)

total population

64 years (2018 est.)

Major Infectious Diseases

degree of risk

high (2016)

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever (2016)

vectorborne diseases

dengue fever (2016)

Major Urban Areas Population

562,000 DJIBOUTI (capital) (2018)

Maternal Mortality Rate

229 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median Age

female

25.7 years (2018 est.)

male

22.4 years

total

24.2 years

Nationality

adjective

Djiboutian

noun

Djiboutian(s)

Net Migration Rate

5.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

13.5% (2016)

Physicians Density

0.23 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

Population

884,017 (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

2.13% (2018 est.)

Religions

Muslim 94%, Christian 6%

Sanitation Facility Access

improved: urban: 59.8% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 5.1% of population (2015 est.)

total: 47.4% of population (2015 est.)

unimproved: urban: 40.2% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 94.9% of population (2015 est.)

total: 52.6% of population (2015 est.)

School Life Expectancy Primary To Tertiary Education

female

6 years (2011)

male

7 years (2011)

total

6 years (2011)

Sex Ratio

0-14 years

1.01 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

15-24 years

0.89 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

25-54 years

0.71 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

55-64 years

0.85 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

65 years and over

0.82 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

at birth

1.02 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

total population

0.84 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

2.27 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.67% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

77.8% of total population (2018)

Administrative Divisions

6 districts (cercles, singular - cercle); Ali Sabieh, Arta, Dikhil, Djibouti, Obock, Tadjourah

Capital

geographic coordinates

11 35 N, 43 09 E

name

Djibouti

time difference

UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

the mother must be a citizen of Djibouti

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

10 years

Constitution

amendments

proposed by the president of the republic or by the National Assembly; Assembly consideration of proposals requires assent by at least one-third of the membership; passage requires a simple majority vote by the Assembly and approval by simple majority vote in a referendum; the president can opt to bypass a referendum if adopted by at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly; constitutional articles on the sovereignty of Djibouti, its republican form of government, and its pluralist form of democracy cannot by amended; amended 2006, 2008, 2010 (2017)

history

approved by referendum 4 September 1992 (2017)

Country Name

conventional long form

Republic of Djibouti

conventional short form

Djibouti

etymology

the country name derives from the capital city of Djibouti

former

French Somaliland, French Territory of the Afars and Issas

local long form

Republique de Djibouti/Jumhuriyat Jibuti

local short form

Djibouti/Jibuti

Diplomatic Representation From The Us

chief of mission

Ambassador Larry Edward ANDRE, Jr. (since 20 November 2017)

embassy

Lot 350-B, Haramouss

FAX

[253] 21 45 31 29

mailing address

B.P. 185, Djibouti

telephone

[253] 21 45 30 00

Diplomatic Representation In The Us

chancery

1156 15th Street NW, Suite 515, Washington, DC 20005

chief of mission

Ambassador Mohamed Said DOUALEH (28 December 2016)

FAX

[1] (202) 331-0302

telephone

[1] (202) 331-0270

Executive Branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister

chief of state

President Ismail Omar GUELLEH (since 8 May 1999)

election results

Ismail Omar GUELLEH reelected president for a fourth term; percent of vote - Ismail Omar GUELLEH (RPP) 87%, Omar Elmi KHAIREH (CDU) 7.3%, other 5.6%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term; election last held on 8 April 2016 (next to be held by 2021); prime minister appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Abdoulkader Kamil MOHAMED (since 1 April 2013)

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

Government Type

semi-presidential republic

Independence

27 June 1977 (from France)

International Law Organization Participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International Organization Participation

ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, CAEU (candidates), COMESA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, 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

Judicial Branch

highest courts

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 or CSM, a 10-member body consisting of 4 judges, 3 members (non parliamentarians and judges) appointed by the president, and 3 appointed by the National Assembly president or speaker; magistrates appointed for life with retirement at age 65; Constitutional Council magistrate appointments - 2 by the president of the republic, 2 by the president of the National Assembly, and 2 by the CSM; magistrates appointed for 8-year, non-renewable terms

subordinate courts

High Court of Appeal; 5 Courts of First Instance; customary courts; State Court (replaced sharia courts in 2003)

Legal System

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

Legislative Branch

description

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale, formerly the Chamber of Deputies (65 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 57, UDJ-PDD 7, CDU 1; composition - men 58, women 7, percent of women 10.8%

elections

last held on 23 February 2018 (next to be held in February 2023)

National Anthem

lyrics/music

Aden ELMI/Abdi ROBLEH

name

"Jabuuti" (Djibouti)

note

adopted 1977

National Holiday

Independence Day, 27 June (1977)

National Symbol S

red star; national colors: light blue, green, white, red

Political Parties And Leaders

Center for United Democrats or CDU [Omar Elmi KHAIREH, chairman]Democratic Renewal Party or PRD [Abdillahi HAMARITEH]Djibouti Development Party or PDD [Mohamed Daoud CHEHEM]Front for Restoration of Unity and Democracy (Front pour la Restauration de l'Unite Democratique) or FRUD [Ali Mohamed DAOUD]Movement for Democratic Renewal and Development [Daher Ahmed FARAH]Movement for Development and Liberty or MoDel [Ismail Ahmed WABERI]National Democratic Party or PND [Aden Robleh AWALEH]People's Rally for Progress or RPP [Ismail Omar GUELLEH] (governing party)Peoples Social Democratic Party or PPSD [Hasna Moumin BAHDON]Republican Alliance for Democracy or ARDUnion for a Presidential Majority or UMP (coalition includes RPP, FRUD, PND, PPSD)Union for Democracy and Justice or UDJ [Ilya Ismail GUEDI Hared]Union for National Salvation or USN [Ahmed Youssouf HOUMED] (coalition includes ARD, MoDel, MRD, PDD, PND, UDJ)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture Products

fruits, vegetables; goats, sheep, camels, animal hides

Budget

expenditures

899.2 million (2017 est.)

revenues

717 million (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

-9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

11.3% (31 December 2017 est.)

11.45% (31 December 2016 est.)

Current Account Balance

-$280 million (2017 est.)

-$178 million (2016 est.)

Debt External

$1.954 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.519 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Distribution Of Family Income Gini Index

40.9 (2002)

Economy Overview

Djibouti's economy is based on service activities connected with the country's strategic location as a deepwater port on the Red Sea. Three-fourths of Djibouti's inhabitants live in the capital city; the remainder are mostly nomadic herders. Scant rainfall and less than 4% arable land 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 reexports represent 70% of port activity at Djibouti's container terminal. Reexports consist primarily of coffee from landlocked neighbor Ethiopia. Djibouti has few natural resources and little industry. The nation is, therefore, heavily dependent on foreign assistance to support its balance of payments and to finance development projects. An official unemployment rate of nearly 40% - with youth unemployment near 80% - continues to be a major problem. Inflation was a modest 3% in 2014-2017, due to low international food prices and a decline in electricity tariffs.Djibouti’s reliance on diesel-generated electricity and imported food and water leave average consumers vulnerable to global price shocks, though in mid-2015 Djibouti passed new legislation to liberalize the energy sector. The government has emphasized infrastructure development for transportation and energy and Djibouti – with the help of foreign partners, particularly China – has begun to increase and modernize its port capacity. In 2017, Djibouti opened two of the largest projects in its history, the Doraleh Port and Djibouti-Addis Ababa Railway, funded by China as part of the "Belt and Road Initiative," which will increase the country’s ability to capitalize on its strategic location.

Exchange Rates

Djiboutian francs (DJF) per US dollar -

177.7 (2017 est.)

177.72 (2016 est.)

177.72 (2015 est.)

177.72 (2014 est.)

177.72 (2013 est.)

Exports

$161.4 million (2017 est.)

$139.9 million (2016 est.)

Exports Commodities

reexports, hides and skins, scrap metal

Exports Partners

Ethiopia 38.8%, Somalia 17.1%, Qatar 9.1%, Brazil 8.9%, Yemen 4.9%, US 4.6% (2017)

Fiscal Year

calendar year

Gdp Composition By End Use

exports of goods and services

38.6% (2017 est.)

government consumption

29.2% (2017 est.)

household consumption

56.5% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-66.4% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

41.8% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

0.3% (2017 est.)

Gdp Composition By Sector Of Origin

agriculture

2.4% (2017 est.)

industry

17.3% (2017 est.)

services

80.2% (2017 est.)

Gdp Official Exchange Rate

$2.029 billion (2017 est.) (2017 est.)

Gdp Per Capita Ppp

$3,600 (2017 est.)

$3,400 (2016 est.)

$3,300 (2015 est.)

note

data are in 2017 dollars

Gdp Purchasing Power Parity

$3.64 billion (2017 est.)

$3.411 billion (2016 est.)

$3.203 billion (2015 est.)

note

data are in 2017 dollars

Gdp Real Growth Rate

6.7% (2017 est.)

6.5% (2016 est.)

6.5% (2015 est.)

Gross National Saving

22.3% of GDP (2017 est.)

38.1% of GDP (2016 est.)

19% of GDP (2015 est.)

Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share

highest 10%

30.9% (2002)

lowest 10%

30.9% (2002)

Imports

$726.4 million (2017 est.)

$705.2 million (2016 est.)

Imports Commodities

foods, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum products, clothing

Imports Partners

UAE 25%, France 15.2%, Saudi Arabia 11%, China 9.6%, Ethiopia 6.8%, Yemen 4.6% (2017)

Industrial Production Growth Rate

2.7% (2017 est.)

Industries

construction, agricultural processing, shipping

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

0.7% (2017 est.)

2.7% (2016 est.)

Labor Force

294,600 (2012)

Labor Force By Occupation

agriculture

NA

industry

NA

services

NA

Population Below Poverty Line

23% (2015 est.)

note

percent of population below $1.25 per day at purchasing power parity

Public Debt

31.8% of GDP (2017 est.)

33.7% of GDP (2016 est.)

Reserves Of Foreign Exchange And Gold

$547.7 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$398.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Broad Money

$1.475 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.361 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment At Home

$1.47 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.483 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Domestic Credit

$673.1 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$659.4 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Narrow Money

$1.475 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.361 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Taxes And Other Revenues

35.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

40% (2017 est.)

60% (2014 est.)

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

950,200 Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Production

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

electrification - rural areas

14% (2013)

electrification - total population

50% (2013)

electrification - urban areas

61% (2013)

population without electricity

400,000 (2013)

Electricity Consumption

377.1 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

130,300 kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

405.5 million kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

6,360 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

403 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

6,692 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

3 (2017 est.)

total

24,389 (2017 est.)

Broadcast Media

state-owned Radiodiffusion-Television de Djibouti 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)

Internet Country Code

.dj

Internet Users

percent of population

13.1% (July 2016 est.)

total

111,212 (July 2016 est.)

Telephone System

domestic

Djibouti Telecom  (DT) 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; 4 per 100 fixed-line, 43 per 100 moblie-cellular (2017)

general assessment

telephone facilities in the city of Djibouti are adequate, as are the microwave radio relay connections to outlying areas of the country; Djibouti is one of the few remaining countries in which the national telco, Djibouti Telecom (DT), has a monopoly on all telecom services, including fixed lines, mobile, internet and broadband; the lack of competition has meant that the market has not lived up to its potential (2017)

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); work starts on the PEACE submarine cable linking Djibouti with Pakistan; Djibouti Telecom joins six other regional telcos to build the DARE submarine cable system, is contracted to manage the Australia West Cable landing; Djibouti Internet Exchange (DjIX) joins the African IXP Association; Djibouti Telecom signs an agreement to peer IP traffic through France-IX's IXPs in Paris and Marseille; growth in the mobile and internet sectors accelerates with 3G launch (2017)

Telephones Fixed Lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

4 (2017 est.)

total subscriptions

36,582 (2017 est.)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

43 (2017 est.)

total subscriptions

373,052 (2017 est.)

Airports

13 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

1 (2017)

2,438 to 3,047 m

1 (2017)

over 3,047 m

1 (2017)

total

3 (2017)

Airports With Unpaved Runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

1 (2013)

914 to 1,523 m

7 (2013)

total

10 (2013)

under 914 m

2 (2013)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

J2 (2016)

Merchant Marine

by type

oil tanker 2, other 16 (2017)

total

18 (2017)

National Air Transport System

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

4 (2015)

number of registered air carriers

2 (2015)

Ports And Terminals

major seaport(s)

Djibouti

Railways

standard gauge

97 km 1.435-m gauge (2017)

total

97 km (Djibouti segment of the 756 km Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway) (2017)

Roadways

paved

1,379 km (2000)

total

3,065 km (2000)

unpaved

1,686 km (2000)

Maritime Threats

the International Maritime Bureau reports offshore waters in the Red Sea and 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; there were three incidents in the Gulf of Aden and one in the Red Sea in 2017; Operation Ocean Shield, the NATO/EUNAVFOR naval task force established in 2009 to combat Somali piracy, concluded its operations in December 2016 as a result of the drop in reported incidents over the last few years; the EU naval mission, Operation ATALANTA, continues its operations in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean through 2020; naval units from Japan, India, and China also operate in conjuction with EU forces; China has established a logistical base in Djibouti to support its deployed naval units in the Horn of Africa

Military Branches

Djibouti Armed Forces (Forces Armees Djiboutiennes, FAD): Djibouti National Army (includes Navy, Djiboutian Air Force (Force Aerienne Djiboutienne, FAD), National Gendarmerie (GN)) (2013)

Military Service Age And Obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; 16-25 years of age for voluntary military training; no conscription (2012)

Disputes International

Djibouti maintains economic ties and border accords with "Somaliland" leadership while maintaining some political ties to various factions in SomaliaKuwait is chief investor in the 2008 restoration and upgrade of the Ethiopian-Djibouti rail linkin 2008, Eritrean troops moved across the border on Ras Doumera peninsula and occupied Doumera Island with undefined sovereignty in the Red Sea

Refugees And Internally Displaced Persons

refugees (country of origin)

19,636 (Yemen) (2017), 12,139 (Somalia) (2018)

Trafficking In Persons

current situation

Djibouti is a transit, source, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; economic migrants from East Africa en route to Yemen and other Middle East locations are vulnerable to exploitation in Djibouti; some women and girls may be forced into domestic servitude or prostitution after reaching Djibouti City, the Ethiopia-Djibouti trucking corridor, or Obock – the main crossing point into Yemen; Djiboutian and foreign children may be forced to beg, to work as domestic servants, or to commit theft and other petty crimes

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List – Djibouti does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; in 2014, Djibouti was granted a waiver from an otherwise required downgrade to Tier 3 because its government has a written plan that, if implemented would constitute making significant efforts to bring itself into compliance with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; one forced labor trafficker was convicted in 2014 but received a suspended sentence inadequate to deter trafficking; authorities did not investigate or prosecute any other forced labor crimes, any sex trafficking offenses, or any officials complicit in human trafficking, and remained limited in their ability to recognize or protect trafficking victims; official round-ups, detentions, and deportations of non-Djiboutian residents, including children without screening for trafficking victims remained routine; the government did not provide care to victims but supported local NGOs operating centers that assisted victims (2015)

Terrorist Groups Foreign Based

al-Shabaab

aim(s): punish Djibouti for participating in the African Union Mission in Somalia; compel Djibouti to withdraw troops from Somaliaarea(s) of operation: maintains minimal operational presence (April 2018)