Eritrea vs. Djibouti
Introduction
| Eritrea | Djibouti | |
|---|---|---|
| Background | After independence from Italian colonial control in 1941 and 10 years of British administrative control, the UN established Eritrea as an autonomous region within the Ethiopian federation in 1952. Ethiopia's full annexation of Eritrea as a province 10 years later sparked a violent 30-year struggle for independence that ended in 1991 with Eritrean rebels defeating government forces. Eritreans overwhelmingly approved independence in a 1993 referendum. ISAIAS Afwerki has been Eritrea's only president since independence; his rule, particularly since 2001, has been highly autocratic and repressive. His government has created a highly militarized society by pursuing an unpopular program of mandatory conscription into national service - divided between military and civilian service - of indefinite length. A two-and-a-half-year border war with Ethiopia that erupted in 1998 ended under UN auspices in December 2000. A subsequent 2007 Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission (EEBC) demarcation was rejected by Ethiopia. More than a decade of a tense "no peace, no war" stalemate ended in 2018 after the newly elected Ethiopian prime minister accepted the EEBC's 2007 ruling, and the two countries signed declarations of peace and friendship. Following the July 2018 peace agreement with Ethiopia, Eritrean leaders engaged in intensive diplomacy around the Horn of Africa, bolstering regional peace, security, and cooperation, as well as brokering rapprochements between governments and opposition groups. In November 2018, the UN Security Council lifted an arms embargo that had been imposed on Eritrea since 2009, after the UN Somalia-Eritrea Monitoring Group reported they had not found evidence of Eritrean support in recent years for Al-Shabaab. The country's rapprochement with Ethiopia has led to a steady resumption of economic ties, with increased air transport, trade, tourism, and port activities, but the economy remains agriculture-dependent, and Eritrea is still one of Africa's poorest nations. Despite the country's improved relations with its neighbors, ISAIAS has not let up on repression and conscription and militarization continue. | The region of present-day Djibouti was the site of the medieval Ifat and Adal Sultanates. In the late 19th century, treaties signed by the ruling Somali and Afar sultans with the French allowed the latter to establish the colony of French Somaliland. The designation continued in use until 1967, when the name was changed to the French Territory of the Afars and the Issas. Upon independence in 1977, the country was named after its capital city of Djibouti. Hassan Gouled APTIDON installed an authoritarian one-party state and proceeded to serve as president until 1999. Unrest among the Afar minority during the 1990s led to a civil war that ended in 2001 with a peace accord between Afar rebels and the Somali Issa-dominated government. In 1999, Djibouti's first multiparty presidential election resulted in the election of Ismail Omar GUELLEH as president; he was reelected to a second term in 2005 and extended his tenure in office via a constitutional amendment, which allowed him to serve a third term in 2011 and begin a fourth term in 2016. Djibouti occupies a strategic geographic location at the intersection of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Its ports handle 95% of Ethiopia's trade. Djibouti's ports also service transshipments between Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The government holds longstanding ties to France, which maintains a military presence in the country, as does the US, Japan, Italy, Germany, Spain, and China. |
Geography
| Eritrea | Djibouti | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Djibouti and Sudan | Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, between Eritrea and Somalia |
| Geographic coordinates | 15 00 N, 39 00 E | 11 30 N, 43 00 E |
| Map references | Africa | Africa |
| Area | total: 117,600 sq km land: 101,000 sq km water: 16,600 sq km | total: 23,200 sq km land: 23,180 sq km water: 20 sq km |
| Area - comparative | slightly smaller than Pennsylvania | slightly smaller than New Jersey |
| Land boundaries | total: 1,840 km border countries (3): Djibouti 125 km, Ethiopia 1033 km, Sudan 682 km | total: 528 km border countries (3): Eritrea 125 km, Ethiopia 342 km, Somalia 61 km |
| Coastline | 2,234 km (mainland on Red Sea 1,151 km, islands in Red Sea 1,083 km) | 314 km |
| Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm | territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
| Climate | hot, dry desert strip along Red Sea coast; cooler and wetter in the central highlands (up to 61 cm of rainfall annually, heaviest June to September); semiarid in western hills and lowlands | desert; torrid, dry |
| Terrain | dominated by extension of Ethiopian north-south trending highlands, descending on the east to a coastal desert plain, on the northwest to hilly terrain and on the southwest to flat-to-rolling plains | coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains |
| Elevation extremes | highest point: Soira 3,018 m lowest point: near Kulul within the Danakil Depression -75 m mean elevation: 853 m | highest point: Moussa Ali 2,021 m lowest point: Lac Assal -155 m mean elevation: 430 m |
| Natural resources | gold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, possibly oil and natural gas, fish | potential geothermal power, gold, clay, granite, limestone, marble, salt, diatomite, gypsum, pumice, petroleum |
| Land use | agricultural land: 75.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 6.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 68.3% (2018 est.) forest: 15.1% (2018 est.) other: 9.8% (2018 est.) | agricultural land: 73.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 0.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 73.3% (2018 est.) forest: 0.2% (2018 est.) other: 26.4% (2018 est.) |
| Irrigated land | 210 sq km (2012) | 10 sq km (2012) |
| Natural hazards | frequent droughts, rare earthquakes and volcanoes; locust swarms volcanism: Dubbi (1,625 m), which last erupted in 1861, was the country's only historically active volcano until Nabro (2,218 m) came to life on 12 June 2011 | earthquakes; droughts; occasional cyclonic disturbances from the Indian Ocean bring heavy rains and flash floods volcanism: experiences limited volcanic activity; Ardoukoba (298 m) last erupted in 1978; Manda-Inakir, located along the Ethiopian border, is also historically active |
| Environment - current issues | deforestation; desertification; soil erosion; overgrazing | inadequate supplies of potable water; water pollution; limited arable land; deforestation (forests threatened by agriculture and the use of wood for fuel); desertification; endangered species |
| Environment - international agreements | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Paris Agreement | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
| Geography - note | strategic geopolitical position along world's busiest shipping lanes; Eritrea retained the entire coastline of Ethiopia along the Red Sea upon de jure independence from Ethiopia on 24 May 1993 | strategic location near world's busiest shipping lanes and close to Arabian oilfields; terminus of rail traffic into Ethiopia; mostly wasteland; Lac Assal (Lake Assal) is the lowest point in Africa and the saltiest lake in the world |
| Total renewable water resources | 7.315 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) | 300 million cubic meters (2017 est.) |
| Population distribution | density is highest in the center of the country in and around the cities of Asmara (capital) and Keren; smaller settlements exist in the north and south as shown in this population distribution map | most densely populated areas are in the east; the largest city is Djibouti, with a population over 600,000; no other city in the country has a total population over 50,000 as shown in this population distribution map |
Demographics
| Eritrea | Djibouti | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,147,398 (July 2021 est.) | 938,413 (July 2021 est.) |
| Age structure | 0-14 years: 38.23% (male 1,169,456/female 1,155,460) 15-24 years: 20.56% (male 622,172/female 627,858) 25-54 years: 33.42% (male 997,693/female 1,034,550) 55-64 years: 3.8% (male 105,092/female 125,735) 65 years and over: 4% (male 99,231/female 143,949) (2020 est.) | 0-14 years: 29.97% (male 138,701/female 137,588) 15-24 years: 20.32% (male 88,399/female 98,955) 25-54 years: 40.73% (male 156,016/female 219,406) 55-64 years: 5.01% (male 19,868/female 26,307) 65 years and over: 3.97% (male 16,245/female 20,319) (2020 est.) |
| Median age | total: 20.3 years male: 19.7 years female: 20.8 years (2020 est.) | total: 24.9 years male: 23 years female: 26.4 years (2020 est.) |
| Population growth rate | 0.98% (2021 est.) | 2.01% (2021 est.) |
| Birth rate | 27.41 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 22.43 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Death rate | 6.79 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 7.17 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Net migration rate | -10.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 4.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Sex ratio | at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.84 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2020 est.) | at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.89 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.71 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.76 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 0.83 male(s)/female (2020 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate | total: 42.39 deaths/1,000 live births male: 49.3 deaths/1,000 live births female: 35.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.) | total: 47.78 deaths/1,000 live births male: 55.17 deaths/1,000 live births female: 40.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth | total population: 66.51 years male: 63.92 years female: 69.18 years (2021 est.) | total population: 65 years male: 62.4 years female: 67.67 years (2021 est.) |
| Total fertility rate | 3.65 children born/woman (2021 est.) | 2.17 children born/woman (2021 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate | 0.5% (2020 est.) | 0.8% (2020 est.) |
| Nationality | noun: Eritrean(s) adjective: Eritrean | noun: Djiboutian(s) adjective: Djiboutian |
| Ethnic groups | Tigrinya 55%, Tigre 30%, Saho 4%, Kunama 2%, Rashaida 2%, Bilen 2%, other (Afar, Beni Amir, Nera) 5% (2010 est.) note: data represent Eritrea's nine recognized ethnic groups | Somali 60%, Afar 35%, other 5% (mostly Yemeni Arab, also French, Ethiopian, and Italian) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS | 13,000 (2020 est.) | 6,800 (2020 est.) |
| Religions | Sunni Muslim, Coptic Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant | Sunni Muslim 94% (nearly all Djiboutians), Christian 6% (mainly foreign-born residents) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths | <500 (2020 est.) | <500 (2020 est.) |
| Languages | Tigrinya (official), Arabic (official), English (official), Tigre, Kunama, Afar, other Cushitic languages | French (official), Arabic (official), Somali, Afar |
| Major infectious diseases | degree of risk: high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever | degree of risk: high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever |
| School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) | total: 8 years male: 8 years female: 7 years (2015) | total: 7 years male: 7 years female: 7 years (2011) |
| Education expenditures | NA | 3.6% of GDP (2018) |
| Urbanization | urban population: 42% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 3.67% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) | urban population: 78.2% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 1.56% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) |
| Drinking water source | improved: urban: 73.2% of population rural: 53.3% of population total: 57.8% of population unimproved: urban: 26.8% of population rural: 46.7% of population total: 42.2% of population (2015 est.) | improved: urban: 99.3% of population rural: 59.1% of population total: 90.3% of population unimproved: urban: 0.7% of population rural: 40.9% of population total: 9.7% of population (2017 est.) |
| Sanitation facility access | improved: urban: 44.5% of population rural: 7.3% of population total: 15.7% of population unimproved: urban: 55.5% of population rural: 92.7% of population total: 84.3% of population (2017 est.) | improved: urban: 84% of population rural: 21.5% of population total: 70.1% of population unimproved: urban: 16% of population rural: 78.5% of population total: 29.9% of population (2017 est.) |
| Major cities - population | 998,000 ASMARA (capital) (2021) | 584,000 DJIBOUTI (capital) (2021) |
| Maternal mortality rate | 480 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) | 248 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) |
| Children under the age of 5 years underweight | 39.4% (2010) | 29.9% (2012) |
| Health expenditures | 4.1% (2018) | 2.3% (2018) |
| Physicians density | 0.06 physicians/1,000 population (2016) | 0.22 physicians/1,000 population (2014) |
| Hospital bed density | 0.7 beds/1,000 population (2011) | 1.4 beds/1,000 population (2017) |
| Obesity - adult prevalence rate | 5% (2016) | 13.5% (2016) |
| Demographic profile | Eritrea is a persistently poor country that has made progress in some socioeconomic categories but not in others. Education and human capital formation are national priorities for facilitating economic development and eradicating poverty. To this end, Eritrea has made great strides in improving adult literacy - doubling the literacy rate over the last 20 years - in large part because of its successful adult education programs. The overall literacy rate was estimated to be almost 74% in 2015; more work needs to be done to raise female literacy and school attendance among nomadic and rural communities. Subsistence farming fails to meet the needs of Eritrea's growing population because of repeated droughts, dwindling arable land, overgrazing, soil erosion, and a shortage of farmers due to conscription and displacement. The government's emphasis on spending on defense over agriculture and its lack of foreign exchange to import food also contribute to food insecurity. Eritrea has been a leading refugee source country since at least the 1960s, when its 30-year war for independence from Ethiopia began. Since gaining independence in 1993, Eritreans have continued migrating to Sudan, Ethiopia, Yemen, Egypt, or Israel because of a lack of basic human rights or political freedom, educational and job opportunities, or to seek asylum because of militarization. Eritrea's large diaspora has been a source of vital remittances, funding its war for independence and providing 30% of the country's GDP annually since it became independent. In the last few years, Eritreans have increasingly been trafficked and held hostage by Bedouins in the Sinai Desert, where they are victims of organ harvesting, rape, extortion, and torture. Some Eritrean trafficking victims are kidnapped after being smuggled to Sudan or Ethiopia, while others are kidnapped from within or around refugee camps or crossing Eritrea's borders. Eritreans composed approximately 90% of the conservatively estimated 25,000-30,000 victims of Sinai trafficking from 2009-2013, according to a 2013 consultancy firm report. | Djibouti is a poor, predominantly urban country, characterized by high rates of illiteracy, unemployment, and childhood malnutrition. More than 75% of the population lives in cities and towns (predominantly in the capital, Djibouti). The rural population subsists primarily on nomadic herding. Prone to droughts and floods, the country has few natural resources and must import more than 80% of its food from neighboring countries or Europe. Health care, particularly outside the capital, is limited by poor infrastructure, shortages of equipment and supplies, and a lack of qualified personnel. More than a third of health care recipients are migrants because the services are still better than those available in their neighboring home countries. The nearly universal practice of female genital cutting reflects Djibouti's lack of gender equality and is a major contributor to obstetrical complications and its high rates of maternal and infant mortality. A 1995 law prohibiting the practice has never been enforced. Because of its political stability and its strategic location at the confluence of East Africa and the Gulf States along the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, Djibouti is a key transit point for migrants and asylum seekers heading for the Gulf States and beyond. Each year some hundred thousand people, mainly Ethiopians and some Somalis, journey through Djibouti, usually to the port of Obock, to attempt a dangerous sea crossing to Yemen. However, with the escalation of the ongoing Yemen conflict, Yemenis began fleeing to Djibouti in March 2015, with almost 20,000 arriving by August 2017. Most Yemenis remain unregistered and head for Djibouti City rather than seeking asylum at one of Djibouti's three spartan refugee camps. Djibouti has been hosting refugees and asylum seekers, predominantly Somalis and lesser numbers of Ethiopians and Eritreans, at camps for 20 years, despite lacking potable water, food shortages, and unemployment. |
| Contraceptive prevalence rate | 8.4% (2010) | 19% (2012) |
| Dependency ratios | total dependency ratio: 83.9 youth dependency ratio: 75.6 elderly dependency ratio: 8.3 potential support ratio: 12.1 (2020 est.) | total dependency ratio: 50.6 youth dependency ratio: 43.6 elderly dependency ratio: 7.1 potential support ratio: 14.1 (2020 est.) |
Government
| Eritrea | Djibouti | |
|---|---|---|
| Country name | conventional long form: State of Eritrea conventional short form: Eritrea local long form: Hagere Ertra local short form: Ertra former: Eritrea Autonomous Region in Ethiopia etymology: the country name derives from the ancient Greek appellation "Erythra Thalassa" meaning Red Sea, which is the major water body bordering the country | conventional long form: Republic of Djibouti conventional short form: Djibouti local long form: Republique de Djibouti/Jumhuriyat Jibuti local short form: Djibouti/Jibuti former: French Somaliland, French Territory of the Afars and Issas etymology: the country name derives from the capital city of Djibouti |
| Government type | presidential republic | presidential republic |
| Capital | name: Asmara geographic coordinates: 15 20 N, 38 56 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name means "they [women] made them unite," which according to Tigrinya oral tradition refers to the women of the four clans in the Asmara area who persuaded their menfolk to unite and defeat their common enemy; the name has also been translated as "live in peace" | name: Djibouti geographic coordinates: 11 35 N, 43 09 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the origin of the name is disputed; multiple descriptions, possibilities, and theories have been proposed |
| Administrative divisions | 6 regions (zobatat, singular - zoba); Anseba, Debub (South), Debubawi K'eyih Bahri (Southern Red Sea), Gash Barka, Ma'akel (Central), Semenawi K'eyih Bahri (Northern Red Sea) | 6 districts (cercles, singular - cercle); Ali Sabieh, Arta, Dikhil, Djibouti, Obock, Tadjourah |
| Independence | 24 May 1993 (from Ethiopia) | 27 June 1977 (from France) |
| National holiday | Independence Day, 24 May (1991) | Independence Day, 27 June (1977) |
| Constitution | history: ratified by the Constituent Assembly 23 May 1997 (not fully implemented) amendments: proposed by the president of Eritrea or by assent of at least one half of the National Assembly membership; passage requires at least an initial three-quarters majority vote by the Assembly and, after one year, final passage by at least four-fifths majority vote by the Assembly | history: approved by referendum 4 September 1992 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or by the National Assembly; Assembly consideration of proposals requires assent at least one third of the membership; passage requires a simple majority vote by the Assembly and approval by simple majority vote in a referendum; the president can opt to bypass a referendum if adopted by at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly; constitutional articles on the sovereignty of Djibouti, its republican form of government, and its pluralist form of democracy cannot by amended; amended 2006, 2008, 2010 |
| Legal system | mixed legal system of civil, customary, and Islamic religious law | mixed legal system based primarily on the French civil code (as it existed in 1997), Islamic religious law (in matters of family law and successions), and customary law |
| Suffrage | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal |
| Executive branch | chief of state: President ISAIAS Afwerki (since 8 June 1993); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government and is head of the State Council and National Assembly head of government: President ISAIAS Afwerki (since 8 June 1993) cabinet: State Council appointed by the president elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); the only election was held on 8 June 1993, following independence from Ethiopia (next election postponed indefinitely) election results: ISAIAS Afwerki elected president by the transitional National Assembly; percent of National Assembly vote - ISAIAS Afwerki (PFDJ) 95%, other 5% | chief of state: President Ismail Omar GUELLEH (since 8 May 1999) head of government: Prime Minister Abdoulkader Kamil MOHAMED (since 1 April 2013) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term; election last held on 9 April 2021 (next to be held in April 2026); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Ismail Omar GUELLEH reelected president for a fifth term; percent of vote - Ismail Omar GUELLEH (RPP) 97.4%, Zakaria Ismael FARAH (MDEND) 2.7% |
| Legislative branch | description: unicameral National Assembly (Hagerawi Baito) (150 seats; 75 members indirectly elected by the ruling party and 75 directly elected by simple majority vote; members serve 5-year terms) elections: in May 1997, following the adoption of the new constitution, 75 members of the PFDJ Central Committee (the old Central Committee of the EPLF), 60 members of the 527-member Constituent Assembly, which had been established in 1997 to discuss and ratify the new constitution, and 15 representatives of Eritreans living abroad were formed into a Transitional National Assembly to serve as the country's legislative body until countrywide elections to form a National Assembly were held; although only 75 of 150 members of the Transitional National Assembly were elected, the constitution stipulates that once past the transition stage, all members of the National Assembly will be elected by secret ballot of all eligible voters; National Assembly elections scheduled for December 2001 were postponed indefinitely due to the war with Ethiopia, and as of late 2020, there was no sitting legislative body election results: NA | description: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale, formerly the Chamber of Deputies (65 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms) elections: last held on 23 February 2018 (next to be held in February 2023) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 57, UDJ-PDD 7, CDU 1; composition - men 47, women 18, percent of women 26.7% |
| Judicial branch | highest courts: High Court (consists of 20 judges and organized into civil, commercial, criminal, labor, administrative, and customary sections) judge selection and term of office: High Court judges appointed by the president subordinate courts: regional/zonal courts; community courts; special courts; sharia courts (for issues dealing with Muslim marriage, inheritance, and family); military courts | highest courts: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of NA magistrates); Constitutional Council (consists of 6 magistrates) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court magistrates appointed by the president with the advice of the Superior Council of the Magistracy CSM, a 10-member body consisting of 4 judges, 3 members (non parliamentarians and judges) appointed by the president, and 3 appointed by the National Assembly president or speaker; magistrates appointed for life with retirement at age 65; Constitutional Council magistrate appointments - 2 by the president of the republic, 2 by the president of the National Assembly, and 2 by the CSM; magistrates appointed for 8-year, non-renewable terms subordinate courts: High Court of Appeal; 5 Courts of First Instance; customary courts; State Court (replaced sharia courts in 2003) |
| Political parties and leaders | People's Front for Democracy and Justice or PFDJ [ISAIAS Afwerki] (the only party recognized by the government) | Center for United Democrats or CDU [Ahmed Mohamed YOUSSOUF, chairman] Democratic Renewal Party or PRD [Abdillahi HAMARITEH] Djibouti Development Party or PDD [Mohamed Daoud CHEHEM] Front for Restoration of Unity and Democracy (Front pour la Restauration de l'Unite Democratique) or FRUD [Ali Mohamed DAOUD] Movement for Democratic Renewal and Development [Daher Ahmed FARAH] Movement for Development and Liberty or MoDel [Ismail Ahmed WABERI] Movement for the Development and Balance of the Djiboutian Nation (Mouvement pour le Dévelopment et l'Équilibre de la Nation Djiboutienne) or MDEND [Zakaria Ismael FARAH] National Democratic Party or PND [Aden Robleh AWALEH] People's Rally for Progress or RPP [Ismail Omar GUELLEH] (governing party) Peoples Social Democratic Party or PPSD [Hasna Moumin BAHDON] Republican Alliance for Democracy or ARD [Aden Mohamed ABDOU, interim president] Union for a Presidential Majority or UMP (coalition includes RPP, FRUD, PND, PPSD) Union for Democracy and Justice or UDJ [Ilya Ismail GUEDI Hared] |
| International organization participation | ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (observer), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS (observer), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO | ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, CAEU (candidates), COMESA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires BERHANE Gebrehiwet Solomon (since 15 March 2011) chancery: 1708 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 319-1991 FAX: [1] (202) 319-1304 email address and website: embassyeritrea@embassyeritrea.org https://us.embassyeritrea.org/ | chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed Siad DOUALEH (28 January 2016) chancery: 1156 15th Street NW, Suite 515, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 331-0270 FAX: [1] (202) 331-0302 email address and website: info@djiboutiembassyus.org https://www.djiboutiembassyus.org/ |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Steven C. WALKER (since December 2019) embassy: 179 Alaa Street, Asmara mailing address: 7170 Asmara Place, Washington DC 20521-7170 telephone: [291] (1) 12-00-04 FAX: [291] (1) 12-75-84 email address and website: consularasmara@state.gov https://er.usembassy.gov/ | chief of mission: Ambassador Jonathan Goodale PRATT (since 22 February 2021) embassy: Lot 350-B Haramouss, B.P. 185 mailing address: 2150 Djibouti Place, Washington DC 20521-2150 telephone: [253] 21-45-30-00 FAX: [253] 21-45-31-29 email address and website: DjiboutiACS@state.gov https://dj.usembassy.gov/ |
| Flag description | red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) dividing the flag into two right triangles; the upper triangle is green, the lower one is blue; a gold wreath encircling a gold olive branch is centered on the hoist side of the red triangle; green stands for the country's agriculture economy, red signifies the blood shed in the fight for freedom, and blue symbolizes the bounty of the sea; the wreath-olive branch symbol is similar to that on the first flag of Eritrea from 1952; the shape of the red triangle broadly mimics the shape of the country note: one of several flags where a prominent component of the design reflects the shape of the country; other such flags are those of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, and Vanuatu | 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; blue stands for sea and sky and the Issa Somali people; green symbolizes earth and the Afar people; white represents peace; the red star recalls the struggle for independence and stands for unity |
| National anthem | name: "Ertra, Ertra, Ertra" (Eritrea, Eritrea, Eritrea) lyrics/music: SOLOMON Tsehaye Beraki/Isaac Abraham MEHAREZGI and ARON Tekle Tesfatsion note: adopted 1993; upon independence from Ethiopia | name: "Jabuuti" (Djibouti) lyrics/music: Aden ELMI/Abdi ROBLEH note: adopted 1977 |
| International law organization participation | has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt | accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction |
| National symbol(s) | camel; national colors: green, red, blue | red star; national colors: light blue, green, white, red |
| Citizenship | citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Eritrea dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 20 years | citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the mother must be a citizen of Djibouti dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years |
Economy
| Eritrea | Djibouti | |
|---|---|---|
| Economy - overview | Since formal independence from Ethiopia in 1993, Eritrea has faced many economic problems, including lack of financial resources and chronic drought. Eritrea has a command economy under the control of the sole political party, the People's Front for Democracy and Justice. Like the economies of many African nations, a large share of the population - nearly 80% in Eritrea - is engaged in subsistence agriculture, but the sector only produces a small share of the country's total output. Mining accounts for the lion's share of output. The government has strictly controlled the use of foreign currency by limiting access and availability; new regulations in 2013 aimed at relaxing currency controls have had little economic effect. Few large private enterprises exist in Eritrea and most operate in conjunction with government partners, including a number of large international mining ventures, which began production in 2013. In late 2015, the Government of Eritrea introduced a new currency, retaining the name nakfa, and restricted the amount of hard currency individuals could withdraw from banks per month. The changeover has resulted in exchange fluctuations and the scarcity of hard currency available in the market. While reliable statistics on Eritrea are difficult to obtain, erratic rainfall and the large percentage of the labor force tied up in military service continue to interfere with agricultural production and economic development. Eritrea's harvests generally cannot meet the food needs of the country without supplemental grain purchases. Copper, potash, and gold production are likely to continue to drive limited economic growth and government revenue over the next few years, but military spending will continue to compete with development and investment plans. | Djibouti's economy is based on service activities connected with the country's strategic location as a deepwater port on the Red Sea. Three-fourths of Djibouti's inhabitants live in the capital city; the remainder are mostly nomadic herders. Scant rainfall and less than 4% arable land limits crop production to small quantities of 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. Imports, exports, and reexports represent 70% of port activity at Djibouti's container terminal. Reexports consist primarily of coffee from landlocked neighbor Ethiopia. Djibouti has few natural resources and little industry. The nation is, therefore, heavily dependent on foreign assistance to support its balance of payments and to finance development projects. An official unemployment rate of nearly 40% - with youth unemployment near 80% - continues to be a major problem. Inflation was a modest 3% in 2014-2017, due to low international food prices and a decline in electricity tariffs. Djibouti's reliance on diesel-generated electricity and imported food and water leave average consumers vulnerable to global price shocks, though in mid-2015 Djibouti passed new legislation to liberalize the energy sector. The government has emphasized infrastructure development for transportation and energy and Djibouti - with the help of foreign partners, particularly China - has begun to increase and modernize its port capacity. In 2017, Djibouti opened two of the largest projects in its history, the Doraleh Port and Djibouti-Addis Ababa Railway, funded by China as part of the "Belt and Road Initiative," which will increase the country's ability to capitalize on its strategic location. |
| GDP (purchasing power parity) | $9.702 billion (2017 est.) $8.953 billion (2016 est.) $8.791 billion (2015 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars | $5.388 billion (2019 est.) $4.999 billion (2018 est.) $4.612 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars |
| GDP - real growth rate | 5% (2017 est.) 1.9% (2016 est.) 2.6% (2015 est.) | 6.7% (2017 est.) 6.5% (2016 est.) 6.5% (2015 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP) | $1,600 (2017 est.) $1,500 (2016 est.) $1,500 (2015 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars | $5,535 (2019 est.) $5,214 (2018 est.) $4,885 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector | agriculture: 11.7% (2017 est.) industry: 29.6% (2017 est.) services: 58.7% (2017 est.) | agriculture: 2.4% (2017 est.) industry: 17.3% (2017 est.) services: 80.2% (2017 est.) |
| Population below poverty line | 50% (2004 est.) | 21.1% (2017 est.) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share | lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA | lowest 10%: 2.4% highest 10%: 30.9% (2002) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 9% (2017 est.) 9% (2016 est.) | 0.7% (2017 est.) 2.7% (2016 est.) |
| Labor force | 2.71 million (2017 est.) | 294,600 (2012) |
| Labor force - by occupation | agriculture: 80% industry: 20% (2004 est.) | agriculture: NA industry: NA services: NA |
| Unemployment rate | 5.8% (2017 est.) 10% (2016 est.) | 40% (2017 est.) 60% (2014 est.) |
| Budget | revenues: 2.029 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 2.601 billion (2017 est.) | revenues: 717 million (2017 est.) expenditures: 899.2 million (2017 est.) |
| Industries | food processing, beverages, clothing and textiles, light manufacturing, salt, cement | construction, agricultural processing, shipping |
| Industrial production growth rate | 5.4% (2017 est.) | 2.7% (2017 est.) |
| Agriculture - products | sorghum, milk, vegetables, barley, cereals, pulses nes, roots/tubers nes, wheat, millet, beef | vegetables, milk, beef, camel milk, lemons, limes, goat meat, mutton, beans, tomatoes |
| Exports | $624.3 million (2017 est.) $485.4 million (2016 est.) | $139.9 million (2017 est.) |
| Exports - commodities | gold and other minerals, livestock, sorghum, textiles, food, small industry manufactures | various animals, chlorides, dried legumes, industrial fatty acids/oils, coffee, chickpeas (2019) |
| Exports - partners | China 62%, South Korea 28.3% (2017) | Saudi Arabia 42%, India 15%, China 14%, Egypt 5%, South Korea 5% (2019) |
| Imports | $1.127 billion (2017 est.) $1.048 billion (2016 est.) | $726.4 million (2017 est.) $705.2 million (2016 est.) |
| Imports - commodities | machinery, petroleum products, food, manufactured goods | refined petroleum, fertilizers, iron sheeting, cars, palm oil (2019) |
| Imports - partners | UAE 14.5%, China 13.2%, Saudi Arabia 13.2%, Italy 12.9%, Turkey 5.6%, South Africa 4.6% (2017) | China 43%, United Arab Emirates 15%, India 7%, Turkey 5% (2019) |
| Debt - external | $792.7 million (31 December 2017 est.) $875.6 million (31 December 2016 est.) | $1.954 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $1.519 billion (31 December 2016 est.) |
| Exchange rates | nakfa (ERN) per US dollar - 15.38 (2017 est.) 15.375 (2016 est.) 15.375 (2015 est.) 15.375 (2014 est.) 15.375 (2013 est.) | Djiboutian francs (DJF) per US dollar - 177.7 (2017 est.) 177.72 (2016 est.) 177.72 (2015 est.) 177.72 (2014 est.) 177.72 (2013 est.) |
| Fiscal year | calendar year | calendar year |
| Public debt | 131.2% of GDP (2017 est.) 132.8% of GDP (2016 est.) | 31.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 33.7% of GDP (2016 est.) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold | $236.7 million (31 December 2017 est.) $218.4 million (31 December 2016 est.) | $547.7 million (31 December 2017 est.) $398.5 million (31 December 2016 est.) |
| Current Account Balance | -$137 million (2017 est.) -$105 million (2016 est.) | -$280 million (2017 est.) -$178 million (2016 est.) |
| GDP (official exchange rate) | $5.813 billion (2017 est.) | $3.323 billion (2019 est.) |
| Ease of Doing Business Index scores | Overall score: 21.6 (2020) Starting a Business score: 52.9 (2020) Trading score: 0 (2020) Enforcement score: 55.9 (2020) | Overall score: 60.5 (2020) Starting a Business score: 84.3 (2020) Trading score: 59.4 (2020) Enforcement score: 48.4 (2020) |
| Taxes and other revenues | 34.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.) | 35.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.) |
| Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) | -9.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.) | -9% (of GDP) (2017 est.) |
| GDP - composition, by end use | household consumption: 80.9% (2017 est.) government consumption: 24.3% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 6.4% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0.1% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 10.9% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -22.5% (2017 est.) | household consumption: 56.5% (2017 est.) government consumption: 29.2% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 41.8% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0.3% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 38.6% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -66.4% (2017 est.) |
| Gross national saving | 5.5% of GDP (2017 est.) 6% of GDP (2016 est.) 6.8% of GDP (2015 est.) | 25.6% of GDP (2018 est.) 25.6% of GDP (2017 est.) 19% of GDP (2015 est.) |
Energy
| Eritrea | Djibouti | |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity - production | 415.9 million kWh (2016 est.) | 405.5 million kWh (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - consumption | 353.9 million kWh (2016 est.) | 377.1 million kWh (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - exports | 0 kWh (2016 est.) | 0 kWh (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - imports | 0 kWh (2016 est.) | 0 kWh (2016 est.) |
| Oil - production | 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) |
| Oil - imports | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Oil - exports | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Oil - proved reserves | 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.) | 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves | 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) | 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) |
| Natural gas - production | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - installed generating capacity | 160,700 kW (2016 est.) | 130,300 kW (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - from fossil fuels | 99% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) | 100% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - from hydroelectric plants | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - from nuclear fuels | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - from other renewable sources | 1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - production | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - consumption | 4,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) | 6,360 bbl/day (2016 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - exports | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 403 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - imports | 3,897 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 6,692 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Electricity access | electrification - total population: 47% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 95% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 13% (2019) | electrification - total population: 42% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 54% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 1% (2019) |
Telecommunications
| Eritrea | Djibouti | |
|---|---|---|
| Telephones - main lines in use | total subscriptions: 116,882 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1.94 (2019 est.) | total subscriptions: 37,107 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4.12 (2019 est.) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular | total subscriptions: 1,226,660 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 20.36 (2019 est.) | total subscriptions: 413,866 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 45.94 (2019 est.) |
| Internet country code | .er | .dj |
| Internet users | total: 78,215 percent of population: 1.31% (July 2018 est.) | total: 492,221 percent of population: 55.68% (July 2018 est.) |
| Telecommunication systems | general assessment: least developed telecommunications market in Africa, largely due to restrictions of state-owned telecom monopoly; most fixed-line telephones are in Asmara; cell phone use is limited by government control of SIM card issuance; low penetration of computer use and Internet; market ripe for competition and investment; direct phone service between Eritrea and Ethiopia restored in September 2018; government operator working on roll-out of 3G network (2020) (2020) domestic: fixed-line subscribership is less than 2 per 100 person and mobile-cellular 20 per 100 (2019) international: country code - 291 (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments | general assessment: Djibouti has a poor domestic infrastructure and a monopolized telecom system relying on microwave radio relay; rural areas connected via wireless local loop; mobile coverage limited to Djibouti city; despite challenges, foreign investment lends progress toward improvements; one of the best international fiber cables in the region, the Djibouti Internet Exchange, is a meeting point for cable systems passing between the Red Sea and Indian Ocean; national operator managed the Australia West Cable landing and signed an agreement for IP traffic through Paris and Marseille; international operator signed MoU for extension of cable from the Gulf to Djibouti (2021) (2020)domestic: 4 per 100 fixed-line and 41 per 100 mobile-cellular; Djibouti Telecom (DT) is the sole provider of telecommunications services and utilizes mostly a microwave radio relay network; fiber-optic cable is installed in the capital; rural areas connected via wireless local loop radio systems; mobile cellular coverage is primarily limited to the area in and around Djibouti city (2019) international: country code - 253; landing points for the SEA-ME-WE-3 & 5, EASSy, Aden-Djibouti, Africa-1, DARE-1, EIG, MENA, Bridge International, PEACE Cable, and SEACOM fiber-optic submarine cable systems providing links to Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Southeast Asia, Australia and Africa; satellite earth stations - 2 (1 Intelsat - Indian Ocean and 1 Arabsat) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments |
| Broadband - fixed subscriptions | total: 600 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2017 est.) | total: 24,416 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2.71 (2019 est.) |
| Broadcast media | government controls broadcast media with private ownership prohibited; 1 state-owned TV station; state-owned radio operates 2 networks; purchases of satellite dishes and subscriptions to international broadcast media are permitted (2019) | state-owned Radiodiffusion-Television de Djibouti operates the sole terrestrial TV station, as well as the only 2 domestic radio networks; no private TV or radio stations; transmissions of several international broadcasters are available (2019) |
Transportation
| Eritrea | Djibouti | |
|---|---|---|
| Railways | total: 306 km (2018) narrow gauge: 306 km 0.950-m gauge (2018) | total: 97 km (Djibouti segment of the 756 km Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway) (2017) standard gauge: 97 km 1.435-m gauge (2017) |
| Roadways | total: 16,000 km (2018) paved: 1,600 km (2000) unpaved: 14,400 km (2000) | total: 2,893 km (2013) |
| Ports and terminals | major seaport(s): Assab, Massawa | major seaport(s): Djibouti |
| Merchant marine | total: 9 by type: general cargo 4, oil tanker 1, other 4 (2020) | total: 18 by type: general cargo 1, other 17 (2020) |
| Airports | total: 13 (2020) | total: 13 (2013) |
| Airports - with paved runways | total: 4 (2019) over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 | total: 3 (2017) over 3,047 m: 1 (2017) 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2017) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2017) |
| Airports - with unpaved runways | total: 9 (2013) over 3,047 m: 1 (2013) 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2013) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 (2013) 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2013) | total: 10 (2013) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013) 914 to 1,523 m: 7 (2013) under 914 m: 2 (2013) |
| National air transport system | number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 1 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 102,729 (2018) | number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 4 |
| Civil aircraft registration country code prefix | E3 | J2 |
Military
| Eritrea | Djibouti | |
|---|---|---|
| Military branches | Eritrean Defense Forces: Eritrean Ground Forces, Eritrean Navy, Eritrean Air Force (includes Air Defense Force) (2021) | Djibouti Armed Forces (FAD): Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie; Djibouti Coast Guard (2021) |
| Military service age and obligation | 18-40 years of age for male and female voluntary and compulsory military service (18-27 for female conscription); 18-month conscript service obligation, which includes 6 months of military training and one-year of military or other national service (military service is most common); note - in practice, military service reportedly is often extended indefinitely (2020) | 18 years of age for voluntary military service; 16-25 years of age for voluntary military training; no conscription (2020) |
| Military expenditures - percent of GDP | 5.1% of GDP (2017 est.) 5.1% of GDP (2016 est.) 5.2% of GDP (2015 est.) 5.1% of GDP (2014 est.) 5% of GDP (2013 est.) | 4.9% of GDP (2017 est.) 3.9% of GDP (2016 est.) 3.7% of GDP (2015 est.) 4% of GDP (2014 est.) 4.3% of GDP (2013 est.) |
| Military and security service personnel strengths | limited available information; estimated 150,000-200,000 personnel, including about 2,000 in the naval and air forces (2021) | the Djibouti Armed Forces (FAD) have approximately 10,500 active troops (8,000 Army; 250 Naval; 250 Air; 2,000 Gendarmerie) (2020) |
| Military equipment inventories and acquisitions | the Eritrean Defense Forces inventory is comprised primarily of older Russian and Soviet-era systems; Eritrea was under a UN arms embargo from 2009 to 2018; from the 1990s to 2008, Russia was the leading supplier of arms to Eritrea, followed by Belarus; in 2019, Eritrea expressed interest in purchasing Russian arms, including missile boats, helicopters, and small arms; in January 2020, Russia announced it would provide two helicopters by the end of the year (2020) | the FAD is armed largely with older French and Soviet-era weapons systems; since 2010, it has received limited amounts of mostly second-hand equipment from a variety of countries, including Canada, China, France, Italy, Saudi Arabia, and the US (2020) |
Transnational Issues
| Eritrea | Djibouti | |
|---|---|---|
| Disputes - international | Eritrea and Ethiopia agreed to abide by 2002 Ethiopia-Eritrea Boundary Commission's (EEBC) delimitation decision, but neither party responded to the revised line detailed in the November 2006 EEBC Demarcation Statement; Sudan accuses Eritrea of supporting eastern Sudanese rebel groups; in 2008, Eritrean troops moved across the border on Ras Doumera peninsula and occupied Doumera Island with undefined sovereignty in the Red Sea | Djibouti maintains economic ties and border accords with "Somaliland" leadership while maintaining some political ties to various factions in Somalia; Kuwait is chief investor in the 2008 restoration and upgrade of the Ethiopian-Djibouti rail link; in 2008, Eritrean troops moved across the border on Ras Doumera peninsula and occupied Doumera Island with undefined sovereignty in the Red Sea |
| Trafficking in persons | current situation: human traffickers export domestic victims in Eritrea or abroad; National Service is mandatory at age 18 and may take a variety of forms, including military service and physical labor but also government office jobs and teaching; Eritreans who flee the country, usually with the aim of reaching Europe, seek the help of paid smugglers and are vulnerable to trafficking when they cross the border clandestinely into Sudan, Ethiopia, and to a lesser extent Djibouti; Eritreans are subject to forced labor and sex trafficking mainly in Sudan, Ethiopia, and Libya tier rating: Tier 3 - Eritrea does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government engaged in critical bilateral and multilateral partnerships to build its capacity for anti-trafficking initiatives; officials participated in a UN-sponsored regional anti-trafficking workshop and committed to produce a regional plan of action to combat trafficking; however, a government policy or pattern of forced labor existed; the government continued to subject its nationals to forced labor in its compulsory national service and citizen militia by forcing them to serve indefinitely or for arbitrary periods; authorities did not report any trafficking investigations, prosecutions, or convictions, including complicit government employees, nor did they report identifying victims and referring them to care; the government has no action plan to combat human trafficking (2020) | current situation: Djibouti is a transit, source, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; economic migrants from East Africa en route to Yemen and other Middle East locations are vulnerable to exploitation in Djibouti; some women and girls may be forced into domestic servitude or prostitution after reaching Djibouti City, the Ethiopia-Djibouti trucking corridor, or Obock - the main crossing point into Yemen; Djiboutian and foreign children may be forced to beg, to work as domestic servants, or to commit theft and other petty crimes tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Djibouti does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; in 2014, Djibouti was granted a waiver from an otherwise required downgrade to Tier 3 because its government has a written plan that, if implemented would constitute making significant efforts to bring itself into compliance with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; one forced labor trafficker was convicted in 2014 but received a suspended sentence inadequate to deter trafficking; authorities did not investigate or prosecute any other forced labor crimes, any sex trafficking offenses, or any officials complicit in human trafficking, and remained limited in their ability to recognize or protect trafficking victims; official round-ups, detentions, and deportations of non-Djiboutian residents, including children without screening for trafficking victims remained routine; the government did not provide care to victims but supported local NGOs operating centers that assisted victims (2015) |
Environment
| Eritrea | Djibouti | |
|---|---|---|
| Air pollutants | particulate matter emissions: 42.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.71 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 4.48 megatons (2020 est.) | particulate matter emissions: 40.38 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.62 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.52 megatons (2020 est.) |
| Total water withdrawal | municipal: 31 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 1 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 550 million cubic meters (2017 est.) | municipal: 16 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 3 million cubic meters (2017 est.) |
| Waste and recycling | municipal solid waste generated annually: 726,957 tons (2011 est.) | municipal solid waste generated annually: 114,997 tons (2002 est.) |
Source: CIA Factbook
