rO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador ROBLE Olhaye Oudine
chancery: Suite 515, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 331-0270
FAX: [1] (202) 331-0302

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Martin L. CHESHES
embassy: Plateau du Serpent, Boulevard Marechal Joffre, Djibouti
mailing address: B. P. 185, Djibouti
telephone: [253] 35 39 95
FAX: [253] 35 39 40

Flag: two equal horizontal bands of light blue (top) and light
green with a white isosceles triangle based on the hoist side
bearing a red five-pointed star in the center

Economy
-------

Economic overview: 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.
The nation is, therefore, heavily dependent on foreign assistance
(an important supplement to GDP) to help support its balance of
payments and to finance development projects. An unemployment rate
of over 30% continues to be a major problem. Per capita consumption
dropped an estimated 35% over the last six years because of
recession, civil war, and a high population growth rate (including
immigrants and refugees).

GDP: purchasing power parity - $500 million (1994 est.)

GDP real growth rate: -3% (1994 est.)

GDP per capita: $1,200 (1994 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 21%
services: 76% (1993 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6% (1993 est.)

Labor force: 282,000
by occupation: agriculture 75%, industry 11%, services 14% (1991
est.)

Unemployment rate: over 30% (1994 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $164 million
expenditures: $201 million, including capital expenditures of $16
million (1993 est.)

Industries: limited to a few small-scale enterprises, such as
dairy products and mineral-water bottling

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity:
capacity: 90,000 kW
production: 170 million kWh
consumption per capita: 398 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: f