Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Djibouti
conventional short form: Djibouti
former: French Territory of the Afars and Issas, French Somaliland

Capital:

Djibouti

Location:

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

Area:

total: 23,000 sq km
land: 22,980 sq km
water: 20 sq km

Population:

466,900 (July 2004 est.)

Languages:

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

Economy- Overview:

e 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.

Industries:

construction, agricultural processing

Exports - commodities:

reexports, hides and skins, coffee (in transit)

Imports - commodities:

foods, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum products

Exchange rates: