Djibouti Cont.

Life Expectancy, Hunger, Infant Mortality Rates, Health Issues, Housing

Many Djiboutians live in poor housing with inadequate water and sanitation. The infant mortality rate is high due to diarrhea and dehydration. Tuberculosis is a major health problem. Djibouti city has a hospital and several primary care clinics, and local dispensaries serve the rural areas.

Education
The educational system, although free, is burdened by the needs of Djibouti's young population. For many, formal education ends with early childhood training at local Qur'an schools. Primary schools are run by the state and by Roman Catholic clergy; advancement to the secondary level in the public system is limited by the size of state facilities. A small vocational training program is offered, but no postsecondary educational institutions exist. Less than one-fifth of the adult population is literate.