The Republic of Djibouti is located in northeast Africa, bounded by the Gulf of Aden, the Somali Democratic Republic, and Ethiopia. The land is bare, dry, and desolate, marked by sharp cliffs, deep ravines, burning sands, and thorny shrubs. The climate is torrid, and rainfall is sparse and erratic.
Humidity is high all year, and the area is prone to earthquakes.
Reliable statistical data regarding the relative size of tribal populations are not currently available. Life expectancy- 50 years. All are Cushitic-speaking peoples, and nearly all are Muslim. Among the 15,000 foreigners residing in Djibouti, French and Arabs are by far the most numerous. However, the small foreign community also includes Greeks, Indians, and Italians.