Djibouti is located on the North-eastern coast of the Horn of Africa. It has borders with Eritrea in the North, Ethiopia in the West and South, and Somalia in the South-east. Djibouti shares a direct access to the strategic strait of Bab el Mandab (Gate of Tears) which controls the Southern approach to the Red Sea with Ethiopia and Yemen. The mountains in the central region separate the coastal plains and the plateau. Due to its peculiar geographical location between the Ethiopian and Yemeni escarpments, the country gets little precipitation. Although it rains occasionally on the hills, some years see no rainfall at all. Summers are hot with sandy winds of the North-eastern Kham Sin (Khamasin). Due to limited rainfall the vegetation is minimal. Humidity is high throughout the year.

The economy of Djibouti is based on the services sector due to the country’s strategic location and status as a free trade zone in Africa. There is limited cultivated land, and the agricultural activities comprise mainly plantations of coffee, fruit and vegetable cultivation and animal husbandry. The fishing industry is still in the early stages of development. Industrial activity includes mineral water bottling and dairy products. Gas reserves are expected to make the country self-sufficient in gas and provide a surplus for export. Geothermal areas are the main natural resources in Djibouti and there is potential for using geothermal energy in the future.

GDP at Current Market Prices:	663.80 million US$ (2004)
Per Capita GDP:	870.95 US$ (2004)
Share of Sectors in GDP:	3.09% Agriculture, 20.0% Industry, 77.0% Services, (2003)
Total Exports:	305.57 million US$ (2003)
Total Imports:	- million US$ (2004)
Major Exports Items:	Hides, skins and coffee
Major Imports Items:	Foods, beverages, transportation equipment and chemicals
Major Trading Partners:	Somalia, Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia

Site Officiel de la République de Djibouti

Banque Centrale de Djibouti