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DJIBOUTI: Djibouti (pronounced jee-BOO-tee)
is part of the Horn of Africa region.
The Djiboutian population density is estimated 25.8 per sq km.
Djibouti's population is 250,000 (1995).
Population: 447,439 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43% (male 96,222; female 96,023)
15-64 years: 54% (male 128,506; female 114,767)
65 years and over: 3% (male 6,155; female 5,766) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.51% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 41.23 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 14.41 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -11.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.12 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.07 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 100.24 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Total population: 51.54 years
Male: 49.48 years
Female: 53.67 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.87 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Ethnic groups: Somali 60%, Afar 35%, French, Arab, Ethiopian, and Italian 5%
Literacy:
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 46.2%
Male: 60.3%
Female: 32.7% (1995 est.)
Administrative divisions: 5 districts (cercles, singular-cercle);
'Ali Sabih, Dikhil, Djibouti, Obock, Tadjoura
Independence: 27 June 1977 (from France)
Economy:
Economy-overview: Two-thirds of the inhabitants live in the capital city, the remainder being mostly nomadic herders. Scanty rainfall limits crop production to 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. 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 40% to 50% continues to be a major problem. Per capita consumption dropped an estimated 35% over the last seven years because of recession, civil war, and a high population growth rate (including immigrants and refugees). Also, renewed fighting between Ethiopia and Eritrea has disturbed normal external channels of commerce. Faced with a multitude of economic difficulties, the government has fallen in arrears on long-term external debt and has been struggling to meet the stipulations of foreign aid donors.
Agriculture: 3%
Industry: 20%
Services: 77% (1996 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 40%-50% (1996 est.)
Debt-external: $276 million (1996 est.)
Economic aid-recipient: $106.3 million (1995)
Railways:
Total: 97 km (Djibouti segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railroad) narrow gauge: 97 km 1.000-m gauge note: in April 1998, Djibouti and Ethiopia announced plans to revitalize the century-old railroad that links their capitals
Highways:
total: 2,890 km
Paved: 364 km
Unpaved: 2,526 km (1996 est.)
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Land boundaries:
Total: 508 km
Border countries: Eritrea 113 km, Ethiopia 337 km, Somalia 58 km
Lowest point: Lac Assal -155 m
Highest point: Moussa Ali 2,028 m
Coastline: 314 km
Languages: French (official), Arabic (official), Somali, Afar
It also includes Greek 1,600, other Arabic, people from India, Pakistan, Ethiopia.
The AFAR ("DANAKIL", AFARAF) would number 300,000 in Djibouti where they would constitute 55.23% of the population; they would be 450,000 in Ethiopia, 300,000 in Eritrea, 1,000,000 in all countries.
"Danakil" is considered an offensive term by them.
They are largely illiterate and they live in the desert, mountains; they are pastoralists Muslims.
The Djiboutians from ARABIC descent, TA'IZZI-ADENI (DJIBOUTI ARABIC) would be 52,000 in Djibouti, 11% of the population; 10,000 in Kenya; 18,000 in Eritrea; 6,760,000 in Yemen, and 6,840,000 in all countries.
The FRENCH would count 15,440 in Djibouti, 2.84% of the population; 72,000,000 in all countries.
The SOMALI would reach 181,420 in Djibouti, 33.4% of the population; 2,050,000 in Ethiopia; 312,339 in Kenya; 5,400,000 in Somalia; 290,000 in Yemen; 100,000 in UAE; 8,335,000 in all countries. They are Pastoralists and Muslims.
They speak various dialects and they are separated in three major nomadic clans: the Issa, the Gadaboursi, and the Issaq.
Religions: The main religion is Islam, with Roman Catholic, Protestant and Greek Orthodox minorities.
Muslim 94%, Christian 6%
The country telephone code is 253, in case you might need it!
The outgoing international code is 00.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:
A passport, visa and evidence of yellow fever vaccination are required. Travelers may obtain the latest information on entry requirements from the Embassy of the Republic of Djibouti, 1156 15th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005, telephone (202) 331-0202 or at the Djibouti Mission to the United Nations, 866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 4011, New York, N.Y. 10017, telephone (212) 753-3163. Overseas, inquiries may be made at the nearest Djiboutian embassy or consulate.
AREAS OF INSTABILITY:
The potential for armed rebel activities exists in all remote regions of the country, particularly the areas bordering Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia.
MEDICAL FACILITIES:
Medical facilities are limited and medicines are often unavailable. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services.
Useful information on medical emergencies abroad, including overseas insurance programs, is provided in the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs brochure, Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad, available via its home page at
http://travel.state.gov.djibouti.html and autofax service at (202) 647-3000.
Information on vaccinations and other health precautions may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hotline for international travelers at tel.: 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747); fax: 1-888-CDC-FAXX (1-888-232-3299), or by visiting the CDC Internet home page at http://www.cdc.gov
INFORMATION ON CRIME:
Petty crime occurs occasionally in the capital and elsewhere in the country.
The pamphlets A Safe Trip Abroad and Tips for Travelers to Sub-Saharan Africa provide useful information on safeguarding valuables and personal security while traveling abroad and on travel in the region in general. Both are available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402, via the Internet at http://www.access.gpo .gov, or via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page at http://travel.state.gov.
TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS:
In April 1998, two landmines exploded on dirt roads in Ali Sabieh District, causing fatalities. Travelers should check with local authorities before using unpaved roads. Due to narrow, poorly maintained, poorly lit streets, drivers and pedestrians in Djibouti City should exercise extreme caution to avoid accidents.
Excessive speed, unpredictable local driving habits, pedestrians and livestock in the roadway, and the lack of basic safety equipment on many vehicles are daily hazards. Major roads outside the capital are paved, but lack guardrails in some areas, and railroad crossings are not clearly marked.
CHILDREN'S ISSUES:
For information on international adoption of children, international parental child abduction, and international child support enforcement issues, please refer to our Internet site at
http://travel.state.gov/children's_issues.html or telephone (202) 736-7000.
REGISTRATION/EMBASSY LOCATION:
U.S. citizens are encouraged to register at the U.S. Embassy and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Djibouti. The U.S. Embassy is located at Plateau du Serpent, Boulevard Marechal Joffre, Djibouti City. The mailing address is Ambassade Americaine, B.P. 185, Djibouti, Republique de Djibouti. The telephone number is (253) 35-39-95. Normal working hours are Sunday through Thursday, 7:00 A.M. to 3:30 P.M. The after-hours number is (253) 35-13-43, and the fax number is (253) 35-39-40.
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