Country Profile: Djibouti

Last reviewed: 14 June 2007

Country information

Map of Djibouti

Area: 23,200 sq km
Population: 496 374 (2007 estimate)
Capital city: Djibouti
People: Somalis (Issa) 60%, Afar 35%, French, Arab, Ethiopian and Italian 5%
Language(s): French, (official), Arabic (official), Somali, Afar
Religion(s): Muslim 94%, Christian 6%
Currency: Djiboutian Franc
Major political parties: Union for a Presidential Majority (UMP) consisting of the old Rassemblement Populaire pour le Progres (RPP) and Front pour la Restauration de la Democratie (FRUD). Union for a Democratic Alternative (UAD) consisting of 3 opposition parties
Government: UMP
Head of State: President Ismail Omar Guelleh
Prime Minister/Premier: Dilleita Mohamed Dilleita
Foreign Minister: Mahamoud Ali Youssouf
Membership of international groupings/organisations: United Nations (UN), African Union (AU), League of Arab States (LAS), Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).