Economy overview: At the heart of the economy is the service sector associated with the strategic location of the country and its status as a free trade zone in Northeast Africa. Two-thirds of the population live in the capital, the rest are predominantly shepherds. Extremely low rainfall limits the yield of fruit and vegetable crops; basic foodstuffs have to be imported. Djibouti is both a regional transit port and an international transshipment and refueling hub. The country has poor natural resources and an underdeveloped industry, so maintaining Djibouti’s balance of payments and financing promising projects is largely dependent on foreign assistance. The main problem remains the unemployment rate, which ranges from 40 to 50%. Inflation, however, is not a problem, since the Djiboutian franc is firmly pegged to the US dollar. According to some estimates, per capita consumption has fallen by 35% over the past seven years due to a recession in business activity, civil war and rapid population growth, including due to immigrants and refugees. Faced with many economic difficulties, the government was unable to service its foreign debt and had to make significant efforts to meet the conditions of foreign economic aid donors. 2001 will see only very weak growth as port activity declines due to Ethiopia’s use of other transport routes. See businesscarriers.com to know more about Djibouti Economics and Business. GDP: at purchasing power parity – $574 million (2000 est.). Real GDP growth rate: 2% (2000 est.). GDP per capita: at purchasing power parity – $1,300 (2000 est.). The composition of GDP by sectors of the economy: agriculture: 3%; industry: 22%; services: 75% (1998 est.). Proportion of the population below the poverty line: no data available. Percentage distribution of household income or consumption: for the poorest 10% of households: n/a; by top 10% of households: no data. Inflation rate at consumer prices: 2% (2000 est.). Labor force: 282,000 people Employment structure: agriculture 75%, industry 11%, services 14% (1991 est.). Unemployment rate: 50% (2000 est.). Budget: revenues: $133 million; expenditures: $187 million including capital investment – NA (1999 est.). Economic sectors: limited mainly to small businesses, such as dairies and mineral water bottling and packaging plants. Growth in industrial production: 3% (1996 est.). Electricity generation: 180 million kWh (1999). Sources of electricity generation: fossil fuels: 100%; hydropower: 0%; nuclear fuel: 0%; others: 0% (1999). Electricity consumption: 167.4 million kWh (1999) Electricity export: 0 kWh (1999). Electricity import: 0 kWh (1999). Agricultural products: fruits, vegetables; goats, sheep, camels. Export: $260 million (free on board, 1999 est.) Export items: re-export, leather, coffee (transit traffic). Export partners: Somalia 53%, Yemen 23%, Ethiopia 5% (1998). Imports: $440 million (free on board, 1999 est.) Imports: food, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum products. Import partners: France 13%, Ethiopia 12%, Italy 9%, Saudi Arabia 6%, UK 6% (1998). External debt: $356 million (1999 est.) Economic aid recipient: $106.3 million (1995) Economic aid donor: Currency: Djiboutian franc. Currency code: DJF. Exchange rate: DJF/USD – 177.721 (fixed since 1973). Fiscal year: calendar year.
Telecommunications
Telecommunications Telephone lines: 8,000 (1997). Mobile Cell Phones: 203 (1997). Telephone system: telephone service in Djibouti City is satisfactory, as is the quality of microwave radio relay to other areas of the country; domestic: microwave radio relay network; international: submarine cable to Jeddah, Suez, Sicily, Marseille, Colombo and Singapore; satellite earth stations – 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; regional network of microwave radio relay communication Medarabtel. Broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 2, shortwave – 0 (1998). Radio receivers: 52,000 (1997). Television broadcast stations: 1 (and 5 low power repeaters) (1998). TVs: 28,000 (1997). Internet country code: dj Internet service providers: 1 (2000). Number of users: 1,000 (2000).
Transport
Transport Railways: total length: 100 km (section of the Addis Ababa – Djibouti railway); narrow gauge: 100 km (1,000 m gauge); note: by 2003, Djibouti and Ethiopia are planning to rebuild the century-old railroad connecting their capitals. Roads: total length: 2,890 km; coated: 364 km; unpaved: 2,526 km (1996 est.). Ports and harbors: Djibouti. Merchant fleet: total: 1 ship (displacement 1,000 tons and I more) with a total displacement of 1,369 gross register tons / 3,030 long tons of full load capacity; ships of different types: cargo ships – 1 (2000 est.). I Airports: 12 (2000 est.). Airports with paved runways: total: 2; over 3,047 m: 1; from 2438 to 3047 m: 1 (2000 est.). Airports with unpaved runways: total: 10; from 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2; from 914 to 1523 m:5; less than 914 m: 3 (2000 est.).
Armed Forces
Branches of the Armed Forces: National Army of Djibouti (includes Navy and Air Force). Total military manpower: male 15 to 49: 108,038 (2001 est.). Eligible for military service: males aged 15 to 49: 63,589 (2001 est.). Number of persons reaching military age each year: Military spending in dollar terms: $23 million (1997). Military spending as part of GDP: 4.5% (1997)
