Background:The French Territory of the Afars and the Issas became Djibouti in 1977. A peace accord in 1994 ended a three-year uprising by Afars rebels.
Location:Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, between Eritrea and Somalia
Geographic coordinates:11 30 N, 43 00 E
Area: 23,000 sq km
Population:466,900(July 2004 est.)
Ethnic groups:Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava
Languages:French (official), Arabic (official), Somali, Afar
Economy:The economy is based on service activities connected with the country's strategic location and status as a free trade zone in northeast Africa. 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. 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. Another factor limiting growth is the negative impact on port activity now that Ethiopia has more trade route options.
Conventional long form:Republic of Djibouti
Government type: Republic
Capital: Djibouti
Administrative divisions:5 districts (cercles, singular - cercle); 'Ali Sabih, Dikhil, Djibouti, Obock, Tadjoura
Independence:27 June 1977 (from France)
Legal system:Based on French civil law system, traditional practices, and Islamic law
Religion:Muslim 94%, Christian 6%
Natural resources: geothermal areas
