17 March 1861 (Kingdom of Italy proclaimed; Italy was not finally unified until 1870)
Religions
Muslim 94%, Christian 6%
Roman Catholic 90% (approximately; about one-third practicing), other 10% (includes mature Protestant and Jewish communities and a growing Muslim immigrant community)
Languages
French (official), Arabic (official), Somali, Afar
Italian (official), German (parts of Trentino-Alto Adige region are predominantly German speaking), French (small French-speaking minority in Valle d'Aosta region), Slovene (Slovene-speaking minority in the Trieste-Gorizia area)
Exports
reexports, hides and skins, coffee (in transit)
engineering products, textiles and clothing, production machinery, motor vehicles, transport equipment, chemicals; food, beverages and tobacco; minerals, and nonferrous metals
External Debt
$812,500,000 $
$2,684,000,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
Djiboutian francs (DJF) per US dollar - 177.71 (2007), 174.75 (2006), 177.72 (2005), 177.72 (2004), 177.72 (2003)
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6689 (2008 est.), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
3.800%
1.800%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
0
28
Location
Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, between Eritrea and Somalia
Southern Europe, a peninsula extending into the central Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia
Area
23,200 km sq
301,340 km sq
Coastline
314 km
7,600 km
Climate
desert; torrid, dry
predominantly Mediterranean; Alpine in far north; hot, dry in south
