Djibouti - DJ - DJI - DJI - Africa

Last updated: April 15, 2024
Djibouti flag
Djibouti locator map
Djibouti map

Djibouti Images

  • Stingrays are a group of sea rays, related to sharks. Stingrays are common in coastal tropical and subtropical marine waters, such as those near Djibouti. The stingray uses its paired pectoral fins for locomotion.

    Stingrays are a group of sea rays, related to sharks. Stingrays are common in coastal tropical and subtropical marine waters, such as those near Djibouti. The stingray uses its paired pectoral fins for locomotion.

  • The country of Djibouti is named after its capital and largest settlement. The city is located in the eastern part of the country on the Horn of Africa, approximately 21 km (13 m) northwest of the Somali border.

    The country of Djibouti is named after its capital and largest settlement. The city is located in the eastern part of the country on the Horn of Africa, approximately 21 km (13 m) northwest of the Somali border.

  • The Port of Djibouti is strategically located at the crossroads of one of the busiest shipping routes in the world, linking Europe, the Far East, the Horn of Africa, and the Persian Gulf. The port serves as a key refueling and transit center, and is the principal maritime outlet for imports to and exports from neighboring Ethiopia.

    The Port of Djibouti is strategically located at the crossroads of one of the busiest shipping routes in the world, linking Europe, the Far East, the Horn of Africa, and the Persian Gulf. The port serves as a key refueling and transit center, and is the principal maritime outlet for imports to and exports from neighboring Ethiopia.

  • A city street in Djibouti. Less than half of Djibouti’s road network is paved. Primary routes include northern and southern links to the capital. Some roads are calm enough to allow a safe crossing for goats.

    A city street in Djibouti. Less than half of Djibouti’s road network is paved. Primary routes include northern and southern links to the capital. Some roads are calm enough to allow a safe crossing for goats.

  • This near-vertical photograph shows Lac Assal (Lake Assal) in Djibouti, the third lowest surface in the world (excluding the ocean basins) and the lowest point in Africa at 155 m (510 ft) below sea level. Lake Assal sits in a rift valley, a depression where the earth's crust has split and adjacent areas have moved with respect to one another. The lake is located in the Danakil Desert near the western end of the Gulf of Aden. Because Lac Assal has no outlet, it is ten times saltier than the ocean and is the most saline body of water in the world. The evaporation rate of Lake Assal is very high because summer temperatures sometimes reach 52°C (125°F), and are accompanied by strong dry winds. The surrounding plain (visible on the image to the right of the lake), once the lake floor, is a glistening expanse of salt. The region surrounding the lake is mostly a stony desert with isolated plateaus and highlands. Lava flows from an ancient volcano are visible just to the left near the shore of the lake. Image courtesy of NASA.

    This near-vertical photograph shows Lac Assal (Lake Assal) in Djibouti, the third lowest surface in the world (excluding the ocean basins) and the lowest point in Africa at 155 m (510 ft) below sea level. Lake Assal sits in a rift valley, a depression where the earth's crust has split and adjacent areas have moved with respect to one another. The lake is located in the Danakil Desert near the western end of the Gulf of Aden. Because Lac Assal has no outlet, it is ten times saltier than the ocean and is the most saline body of water in the world. The evaporation rate of Lake Assal is very high because summer temperatures sometimes reach 52°C (125°F), and are accompanied by strong dry winds. The surrounding plain (visible on the image to the right of the lake), once the lake floor, is a glistening expanse of salt. The region surrounding the lake is mostly a stony desert with isolated plateaus and highlands. Lava flows from an ancient volcano are visible just to the left near the shore of the lake. Image courtesy of NASA.

  • Lake Assal is a crater lake at the top of the Great Rift Valley, some 120 km west of Djibouti city. A saline lake, it lies 155 m below sea level in the Afar Triangle. It is the lowest depression on the African continent and is one the world's largest salt reserves.

    Lake Assal is a crater lake at the top of the Great Rift Valley, some 120 km west of Djibouti city. A saline lake, it lies 155 m below sea level in the Afar Triangle. It is the lowest depression on the African continent and is one the world's largest salt reserves.

  • Lake Abbe, also known as Lake Abhe Bad, is a salt lake on the border of Ethiopia and Djibouti. Lake Abbe is the center of the Afar Depression and is largely inaccessible. Stretching for 10 km (6 mi) it comprises a vast landscape of salt flats, covered in clusters of massive, steam-blasting limestone chimneys. Other than Mount Dama Ali, a small dormant volcano, the landscape is almost completely level.

    Lake Abbe, also known as Lake Abhe Bad, is a salt lake on the border of Ethiopia and Djibouti. Lake Abbe is the center of the Afar Depression and is largely inaccessible. Stretching for 10 km (6 mi) it comprises a vast landscape of salt flats, covered in clusters of massive, steam-blasting limestone chimneys. Other than Mount Dama Ali, a small dormant volcano, the landscape is almost completely level.

  • Lake Abbe’s ethereal landscape of tall, steam-spewing limestone chimneys has been used in science fiction films to depict other worlds.

    Lake Abbe’s ethereal landscape of tall, steam-spewing limestone chimneys has been used in science fiction films to depict other worlds.

  • Camels have been used for transporting goods across deserts for thousands of years. Camels are the only desert animals that can carry heavy loads of goods and travel for a long period of time without food or water.

    Camels have been used for transporting goods across deserts for thousands of years. Camels are the only desert animals that can carry heavy loads of goods and travel for a long period of time without food or water.

  • Djibouti's location adjacent to the Red Sea makes it an ideal base for exploration of the area's abundant sea life. The Gulf of Tadjoura and Seven Brothers Islands off Djibouti are home to soft coral reefs and an array of marine creatures.

    Djibouti's location adjacent to the Red Sea makes it an ideal base for exploration of the area's abundant sea life. The Gulf of Tadjoura and Seven Brothers Islands off Djibouti are home to soft coral reefs and an array of marine creatures.

  • The whale shark is gigantic but harmless. The largest living shark, it grows slowly to lengths of 9 m and more and can live to be over 100 years old. Djibouti's coastal waters (Red Sea and Gulf of Aden) are some of the easiest places in the world to see whale sharks as the gentle giants feed on plankton near the water’s surface.

    The whale shark is gigantic but harmless. The largest living shark, it grows slowly to lengths of 9 m and more and can live to be over 100 years old. Djibouti's coastal waters (Red Sea and Gulf of Aden) are some of the easiest places in the world to see whale sharks as the gentle giants feed on plankton near the water’s surface.

  • Stingrays are a group of sea rays, related to sharks. Stingrays are common in coastal tropical and subtropical marine waters, such as those near Djibouti. The stingray uses its paired pectoral fins for locomotion.

    Stingrays are a group of sea rays, related to sharks. Stingrays are common in coastal tropical and subtropical marine waters, such as those near Djibouti. The stingray uses its paired pectoral fins for locomotion.

1 of 12

  • Djibouti City is the capital and largest city in Djibouti. Two thirds of the country's population lives in this seaport, which is situated on the Gulf of Tadjoura on the western side of the Gulf of Aden. The city is the cultural and industrial center of Djibouti and has the status of both a city and a state. Local features include beautiful sandy beaches along its eastern shore (top). The landscape around the city, along with Djibouti's coastal lowlands, is desert or semi-desert. Image courtesy of NASA.
  • The country of Djibouti is named after its capital and largest settlement. The city is located in the eastern part of the country on the Horn of Africa, approximately 21 km (13 m) northwest of the Somali border.
  • The Port of Djibouti is strategically located at the crossroads of one of the busiest shipping routes in the world, linking Europe, the Far East, the Horn of Africa, and the Persian Gulf. The port serves as a key refueling and transit center, and is the principal maritime outlet for imports to and exports from neighboring Ethiopia.
  • A city street in Djibouti. Less than half of Djibouti’s road network is paved. Primary routes include northern and southern links to the capital. Some roads are calm enough to allow a safe crossing for goats.
  • This near-vertical photograph shows Lac Assal (Lake Assal) in Djibouti, the third lowest surface in the world (excluding the ocean basins) and the lowest point in Africa at 155 m (510 ft) below sea level. Lake Assal sits in a rift valley, a depression where the earth's crust has split and adjacent areas have moved with respect to one another. The lake is located in the Danakil Desert near the western end of the Gulf of Aden. Because Lac Assal has no outlet, it is ten times saltier than the ocean and is the most saline body of water in the world. The evaporation rate of Lake Assal is very high because summer temperatures sometimes reach 52°C (125°F), and are accompanied by strong dry winds. The surrounding plain (visible on the image to the right of the lake), once the lake floor, is a glistening expanse of salt. The region surrounding the lake is mostly a stony desert with isolated plateaus and highlands. Lava flows from an ancient volcano are visible just to the left near the shore of the lake. Image courtesy of NASA.
  • Lake Assal is a crater lake at the top of the Great Rift Valley, some 120 km west of Djibouti city. A saline lake, it lies 155 m below sea level in the Afar Triangle. It is the lowest depression on the African continent and is one the world's largest salt reserves.
  • Lake Abbe, also known as Lake Abhe Bad, is a salt lake on the border of Ethiopia and Djibouti. Lake Abbe is the center of the Afar Depression and is largely inaccessible. Stretching for 10 km (6 mi) it comprises a vast landscape of salt flats, covered in clusters of massive, steam-blasting limestone chimneys. Other than Mount Dama Ali, a small dormant volcano, the landscape is almost completely level.
  • Lake Abbe’s ethereal landscape of tall, steam-spewing limestone chimneys has been used in science fiction films to depict other worlds.
  • Camels have been used for transporting goods across deserts for thousands of years. Camels are the only desert animals that can carry heavy loads of goods and travel for a long period of time without food or water.
  • Djibouti's location adjacent to the Red Sea makes it an ideal base for exploration of the area's abundant sea life. The Gulf of Tadjoura and Seven Brothers Islands off Djibouti are home to soft coral reefs and an array of marine creatures.
  • The whale shark is gigantic but harmless. The largest living shark, it grows slowly to lengths of 9 m and more and can live to be over 100 years old. Djibouti's coastal waters (Red Sea and Gulf of Aden) are some of the easiest places in the world to see whale sharks as the gentle giants feed on plankton near the water’s surface.
  • Stingrays are a group of sea rays, related to sharks. Stingrays are common in coastal tropical and subtropical marine waters, such as those near Djibouti. The stingray uses its paired pectoral fins for locomotion.

Special Notes

Djibouti Factbook Data

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Christopher SNIPES (since October 2023)

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/

Age structure

0-14 years: 28.65% (male 140,365/female 139,299)

15-64 years: 67.21% (male 284,488/female 371,529)

65 years and over: 4.15% (2023 est.) (male 17,757/female 22,705)
2023 population pyramid
This is the population pyramid for Djibouti. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.

For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page.

Geographic coordinates

11 30 N, 43 00 E

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.77 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female

total population: 0.83 male(s)/female (2023 est.)

Natural hazards

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

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than New Jersey
Area comparison map

slightly smaller than New Jersey

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; 16-25 years of age for voluntary military training; no conscription (2023)

Background

Present-day Djibouti was the site of the medieval Ifat and Adal Sultanates. In the late 19th century, the Afar sultans signed treaties with the French that allowed the latter to establish the colony of French Somaliland in 1862. The French signed additional treaties with the ethnic Somali in 1885.

Tension between the ethnic Afar and Somali populations increased over time, as the ethnic Somalis perceived that the French unfairly favored the Afar and gave them disproportionate influence in local governance. In 1958, the French held a referendum that provided residents of French Somaliland the option to either continue their association with France or to join neighboring Somalia as it established its independence. Ethnic Somali protested the vote, because French colonial leaders did not recognize many Somali as residents, which gave the Afar outsized influence in the decision to uphold ties with France. After a second referendum in 1967, the French changed the territory’s name to the French Territory of the Afars and the Issas, in part to underscore their relationship with the ethnic Afar and downplay the significance of the ethnic Somalis. A final referendum in 1977 established Djibouti as an independent nation and granted ethnic Somalis Djiboutian nationality, formally resetting the balance of power between the majority ethnic Somalis and minority ethnic Afar residents. Upon independence, the country was named after its capital city of Djibouti. Hassan Gouled APTIDON, an ethnic Somali leader, installed an authoritarian one-party state and served as president until 1999. Unrest between the Afar minority and Somali majority culminated in a civil war during the 1990s 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 his third and fourth terms, and to begin a fifth term in 2021.

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 has longstanding ties to France, which maintains a military presence in the country, as do the US, Japan, Italy, Germany, Spain, and China.

Environment - current issues

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, 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

Population below poverty line

21.1% (2017 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.9%

highest 10%: 32.3% (2017 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Exports - commodities

palm oil, chlorides, sheep and goats, kidney beans, industrial fatty acids/oils, coffee (2021)

Exports - partners

Saudi Arabia 42%, India 15%, China 14%, Egypt 5%, South Korea 5% (2019)

Administrative divisions

6 districts (cercles, singular - cercle); Ali Sabieh, Arta, Dikhil, Djibouti, Obock, Tadjourah

Agricultural products

vegetables, milk, beef, camel milk, lemons, limes, goat meat, mutton, beans, tomatoes

Military and security forces

Djibouti Armed Forces (Forces Armées Djiboutiennes or FAD): Army, Navy, Air Force; Djibouti Coast Guard

Ministry of Interior: National Police (2024)

note: the National Police is responsible for security within Djibouti City and has primary control over immigration and customs procedures for all land border-crossing points, while the National Gendarmerie, which reports to the Ministry of Defense, is responsible for all security outside of Djibouti City, as well as for protecting critical infrastructure within the city, such as the international airport

Budget

revenues: $725 million (2019 est.)

expenditures: $754 million (2019 est.)

Capital

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

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, fertilizers, iron sheeting, cars, palm oil (2019)

Climate

desert; torrid, dry

Coastline

314 km

Constitution

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 of 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 be amended; amended 2006, 2008, 2010

Exchange rates

Djiboutian francs (DJF) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
177.721 (2022 est.)
177.721 (2021 est.)
177.721 (2020 est.)
177.721 (2019 est.)
177.721 (2018 est.)

Executive branch

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:
2021: Ismail Omar GUELLEH reelected president for a fifth term; percent of vote - Ismail Omar GUELLEH (RPP) 97.4%, Zakaria Ismael FARAH (MDEND) 2.7%

2016: Ismail Omar GUELLEH reelected president for a fourth term; percent of vote - Ismail Omar GUELLEH (RPP) 87%, Omar Elmi KHAIREH (CDU) 7.3%, other 5.6%

Fiscal year

calendar year

Flag description

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

Independence

27 June 1977 (from France)

Industries

construction, agricultural processing, shipping

Judicial branch

highest court(s): 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; Courts of First Instance; customary courts; State Court (replaced sharia courts in 2003)

Land boundaries

total: 528 km

border countries (3): Eritrea 125 km; Ethiopia 342 km; Somalia 61 km

Land use

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.)

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

description: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblée Nationale, formerly the Chamber of Deputies (65 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote using the D'Hondt method; members serve 5-year terms)

elections: last held on 24 February 2023 (next to be held in February 2028)

election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 58, UDJ 7; composition - men 48, women 17, percent of women 26.2%

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, ATMIS, 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

National holiday

Independence Day, 27 June (1977)

Nationality

noun: Djiboutian(s)

adjective: Djiboutian

Natural resources

potential geothermal power, gold, clay, granite, limestone, marble, salt, diatomite, gypsum, pumice, petroleum

Geography - note

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

Economic overview

food import-dependent Horn of Africa economy driven by various national military bases and port-based trade; fairly resilient from COVID-19 disruptions; major re-exporter; increasing Ethiopian and Chinese trade relations; investing in infrastructure

Political parties and leaders

Front for Restoration of Unity and Democracy (Front pour la Restauration de l'Unite Democratique) or FRUD [Ali Mohamed DAOUD]
National Democratic Party or PND [Abdourahman Mohamed ALLALEH]
People's Rally for Progress or RPP [Ismail Omar GUELLEH] (governing party)
Peoples Social Democratic Party or PPSD [Hasna Moumin BAHDON]
Union for Democracy and Justice or UDJ [Ilya Ismail GUEDI Hared]
Union for the Presidential Majority coalition or UMP [collective leadership] (electoral coalition includes FRUD, PND, RPP, PPSD, and UPR)
Union of Reform Partisans or UPR [Ibrahim Daoud CHEHEM]

note: only parties with seats in the National Assembly included

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Djibouti

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telecommunication systems

general assessment: Djibouti remains one of the last bastions where the national telco has a monopoly on telecom services, including fixed lines, mobile, internet, and broadband with the exception of broad band fiber; despite the country benefiting from its location as a hub for international submarine cables, prices for telecom services remain relatively high, and out of reach for a number of customers, weighing on market advancement; the Djibouti government is aiming to sell a minority stake in the incumbent telco (retaining some control of decisions) while securing the financial backing and the management acumen of a foreign operator; this is part of a larger plan to modernize the country’s economy more generally; the state expects to conduct a sale of up to 40% of the company to an international investor (2023)

domestic: about 2 per 100 fixed-line teledensity and nearly 44 per 100 mobile-cellular (2021)

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)

Terrain

coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains

Government type

presidential republic

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Djibouti

conventional short form: Djibouti

local long form: Republique de Djibouti (French)/ Jumhuriyat Jibuti (Arabic)

local short form: Djibouti (French)/ Jibuti (Arabic)

former: French Somaliland, French Territory of the Afars and Issas

etymology: the country name derives from the capital city of Djibouti

Location

Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, between Eritrea and Somalia

Map references

Africa

Irrigated land

10 sq km (2012)

Diplomatic representation in the US

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/

Internet country code

.dj

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: high (2023)

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, and sexually transmitted diseases: hepatitis B (2024)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 6,518 (Yemen) (mid-year 2022); 13,467 (Somalia) (2024)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$3.515 billion (2022 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Trafficking in persons

tier rating: Tier 3 — Djibouti does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; therefore, Djibouti was downgraded to Tier 3; the government took some steps to address trafficking, including partnering with international organizations to establish a shelter and provide services to victims, and directing creation of a national coordinating body to combat trafficking; however, officials did not report investigating or prosecuting any cases and did not convict any traffickers for the sixth consecutive year; prosecutors dropped trafficking charges or reclassified cases as other crimes with lower penalties, and judges did not incorporate provisions from the 2016 anti-trafficking law; no victims were identified for the fourth consecutive year, and protection services remained limited; the government lacked coordinated anti-trafficking efforts and did not draft a new National Action Plan to replace the expired plan; some officials continued to deny the existence of sex and labor trafficking in Djibouti (2023)

trafficking profile: human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Djibouti, and to a lesser extent, traffickers exploit victims from Djibouti abroad; traffickers, including family members, exploit local and migrant children in forced begging; homeless Djiboutian and migrant women and children face exploitation in sex trafficking or forced labor; foreign workers—including Ethiopians, Filipinos, Indians, Pakistanis, and Yemenis—may be exploited in forced labor in domestic servitude, construction, and food service sectors; adults and children, primarily undocumented economic migrants from Ethiopia and Somalia, transit Djibouti en route to Yemen and other locations in the Middle East, particularly Saudi Arabia; some of these migrants are exploited in forced labor and sex trafficking at their intended destinations; migrants who transit Djibouti to return to their home countries are vulnerable to trafficking, particularly in agricultural labor and sex trafficking; Djibouti hosts approximately 35,000 refugees and asylumseekers, and many of them have endured and remain vulnerable to trafficking; Cuban medical professionals in Djibouti may have been forced to work by the Cuban government (2023)

Total renewable water resources

300 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 7 years

male: 7 years

female: 7 years (2011)

Urbanization

urban population: 78.6% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 1.56% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030

Broadcast media

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)

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 99.7% of population

rural: 59.3% of population

total: 90.8% of population

unimproved: urban: 0.3% of population

rural: 40.7% of population

total: 9.2% of population (2020 est.)

National anthem

name: "Jabuuti" (Djibouti)

lyrics/music: Aden ELMI/Abdi ROBLEH

note: adopted 1977
This is an audio of the National Anthem for Djibouti. The national anthem is generally a patriotic musical composition - usually in the form of a song or hymn of praise - that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions, or struggles of a nation or its people. National anthems can be officially recognized as a national song by a country's constitution or by an enacted law, or simply by tradition. Although most anthems contain lyrics, some do not.

Major urban areas - population

600,000 DJIBOUTI (capital) (2023)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Physicians density

0.22 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

Hospital bed density

1.4 beds/1,000 population (2017)

National symbol(s)

red star; national colors: light blue, green, white, red

Demographic profile

Djibouti is a poor, predominantly urban country, characterized by high rates of illiteracy, unemployment, and childhood malnutrition. Approximately 70% 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 100,000 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

19% (2012)

GDP - composition, by end use

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.)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 50.6

youth dependency ratio: 47.5

elderly dependency ratio: 6.9

potential support ratio: 14.4 (2021 est.)

Citizenship

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

Population distribution

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

Electricity access

population without electricity: (2020) less than 1 million

electrification - total population: 65.4% (2021)

electrification - urban areas: 73.4% (2019)

electrification - rural areas: 36.5% (2021)

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 4

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

J2

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 87.7% of population

rural: 24.2% of population

total: 73.8% of population

unimproved: urban: 12.3% of population

rural: 75.8% of population

total: 26.2% of population (2020 est.)

Ethnic groups

Somali 60%, Afar 35%, other 5% (mostly Yemeni Arab, also French, Ethiopian, and Italian)

Religions

Sunni Muslim 94% (nearly all Djiboutians), other 6% (mainly foreign-born residents - Shia Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Baha'i, and atheist)

Languages

French (official), Arabic (official), Somali, Afar

Imports - partners

China 43%, United Arab Emirates 15%, India 7%, Turkey 5% (2019)

Military - note

Djibouti's military forces are largely focused on border, coastal, and internal security duties, such as counterterrorism; China, France, Italy, Japan, and the US maintain bases in Djibouti for regional military missions, including counter-terrorism, counter-piracy, crisis response, and security assistance (note – France has multiple bases and hosts troop contingents from Germany and Spain); the EU and NATO also maintain a presence to support multinational naval counter-piracy operations and maritime training efforts (2023)

Disputes - international

Djibouti-Somalia: Djibouti maintains economic ties and border accords with "Somaliland" leadership while maintaining some political ties to various factions in Somalia

Djibouti-Eritrea: in 2008, Eritrean troops moved across the border on Ras Doumera peninsula and occupied Doumera Island with undefined sovereignty in the Red Sea, sparking a brief conflict; Qatar mediated and provided peacekeepers until 2017; Djibouti accused Eritrea of reoccupying the area in 2017 after Qatari troops were withdrawn; Djibouti and Eritrea agreed to normalize relations in 2018

Djibouti-Ethiopia: the Ethiopia-Djibouti relationship has been relatively harmonious, and there have been no major disputes along their shared border

Literacy

total population: NA

male: NA

female: NA

Elevation

highest point: Moussa Ali 2,021 m

lowest point: Lac Assal -155 m

mean elevation: 430 m

Current health expenditure

2% of GDP (2020)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 10,000 active-duty military personnel; approximately 2,000 Gendarmerie (2023)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the FAD's inventory includes mostly older French and Soviet-era weapons systems, although in recent years it has received limited amounts of more modern, but largely secondhand equipment from a variety of other countries, including China, the Netherlands, and the US (2023)

Military deployments

approximately 950 Somalia (ATMIS; note - ATMIS troop contingents are drawing down towards a final exit in December 2024); Djibouti has about 200 police deployed to the Central African Republic under MINUSCA (2024)

Terrorist group(s)

Terrorist group(s): al-Shabaab

note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T

Food insecurity

widespread lack of access: due to unfavorable weather and high food prices - about 250,000 people were estimated to have faced acute food insecurity between March and June 2023, mainly due to the lingering impact of a prolonged and severe drought between late 2020 and early 2023, and high food prices (2023)

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 20 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.)

agricultural: 3 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 114,997 tons (2002 est.)

Air pollutants

particulate matter emissions: 19.98 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 0.62 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 0.52 megatons (2020 est.)

Major lakes (area sq km)

salt water lake(s): Abhe Bad/Abhe Bid Hayk (shared with Ethiopia) - 780 sq km

Heliports

6 (2024)

Coal

production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)

consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)

exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)

imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)

proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 98.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

solar: 1.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Natural gas

production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 4,300 bbl/day (2019 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.05 (2023 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

50.6% (2023 est.)

Remittances

1.56% of GDP (2022 est.)
2.35% of GDP (2021 est.)
2.01% of GDP (2020 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Child marriage

women married by age 15: 1.4%

women married by age 18: 6.5% (2019 est.)

Labor force

250,000 (2022 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 79.9% (2021 est.)

male: 78.6%

female: 82.2%

Net migration rate

4.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Median age

total: 26 years (2023 est.)

male: 24.1 years

female: 27.6 years

Debt - external

$1.954 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$1.519 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

234 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$589.437 million (2022 est.)
$588.418 million (2021 est.)
$686.339 million (2020 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Refined petroleum products - imports

6,692 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Public debt

31.8% of GDP (2017 est.)
33.7% of GDP (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.13 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Military expenditures

3.5% of GDP (2019 est.)
3.5% of GDP (2018 est.)
3.3% of GDP (2017 est.)
2.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
2.5% of GDP (2015 est.)

Unemployment rate

26.67% (2022 est.)
27.96% (2021 est.)
27.85% (2020 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Population

976,143 (2023 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Internet users

total: 759,000 (2021 est.)

percent of population: 69% (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

610,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 610,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

Area

total: 23,200 sq km

land: 23,180 sq km

water: 20 sq km

Taxes and other revenues

35.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$5.592 billion (2022 est.)
$5.423 billion (2021 est.)
$5.188 billion (2020 est.)

note: data in 2017 dollars

Roadways

total: 2,893 km (2013)

Airports

10 (2024)

Infant mortality rate

total: 46 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)

male: 53.1 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 38.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 489,339 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 44 (2021 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

41.6 (2017 est.)

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.18% (2022 est.)
1.18% (2021 est.)
1.78% (2020 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Refined petroleum products - exports

403 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Current account balance

$656.207 million (2022 est.)
-$225.106 million (2021 est.)
$366.358 million (2020 est.)

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Real GDP per capita

$5,000 (2022 est.)
$4,900 (2021 est.)
$4,800 (2020 est.)

note: data in 2017 dollars

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 25,053 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2020 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

13.5% (2016)

Energy consumption per capita

8.869 million Btu/person (2019 est.)

Death rate

7.1 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Birth rate

22 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 130,000 kW (2020 est.)

consumption: -62.6 million kWh (2019 est.)

exports: 0 kWh (2019 est.)

imports: 0 kWh (2019 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 120 million kWh (2019 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 40 (2023)

by type: bulk carrier 1, container ship 1, general cargo 4, oil tanker 13, other 21

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

16.2% (2019)

Imports

$5.096 billion (2022 est.)
$5.483 billion (2021 est.)
$3.425 billion (2020 est.)

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports

$5.674 billion (2022 est.)
$5.16 billion (2021 est.)
$3.695 billion (2020 est.)

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 27,931 (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2021 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 0.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer: 0.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits: 0.14 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 65.6 years (2023 est.)

male: 63 years

female: 68.3 years

Real GDP growth rate

3.12% (2022 est.)
4.52% (2021 est.)
1.32% (2020 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Industrial production growth rate

-0.42% (2022 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Railways

total: 97 km (2017) (Djibouti segment of the 756 km Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway)

standard gauge: 97 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 2.4% (2017 est.)

industry: 17.3% (2017 est.)

services: 80.2% (2017 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

0.26% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from coal

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Education expenditures

3.6% of GDP (2018 est.)

Population growth rate

1.93% (2023 est.)
Sources: