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Djibouti
Djibouti
Population
1.2M
Rank #160Source: World Bank
Capital
Djibouti
Source: REST Countries
Region
Africa
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
Source: REST Countries
GDP (Nominal)
$4.15B
Rank #163Source: World Bank
Land Area
23.2K km²
Rank #147Source: REST Countries
Life Expectancy
65.987 yrs
Source: World Bank
Historical Trends
Population Trend (5-Year)
Source: World Bank
GDP Trend (5-Year, Nominal USD)
Source: World Bank
Geography
Area: 23,200 km²
Landlocked: No
Independent: Yes
Climate: desert; torrid, dry
Terrain: coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains
Elevation: mean elevation: 430 m lowest point: Lac Assal -155 m highest point: Moussa Ali 2,021 m
Natural Hazards: earthquakes; droughts; occasional cyclonic disturbances from the Indian Ocean bring heavy rains and flash floodsvolcanism: experiences limited volcanic activity; Ardoukoba (298 m) last erupted in...
Environmental 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
Land Use: agricultural land: 73.4% (2011 est.) forest: 0.2% (2011 est.) other: 26.4% (2011 est.)
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...
Natural Resources
potential geothermal powergoldclaygranitelimestonemarblesaltdiatomitegypsumpumice
People & Society
Fertility Rate
2.61
Population
1.2M
Ethnic Groups
Somali (60%)Afar (35%)other (5%)
Religions
Sunni Muslim (94%)Christian (6%)
Economy
GDP per Capita
$3,552.723
GDP per Capita PPP
7,810.279
(2024)
(2024)
GNI per Capita
3,640
(2024)
(2024)
Gini Index
41.6
(2017)
(2017)
Unemployment
26.007%
(2024)
(2024)
Inflation
2.077%
(2024)
(2024)
Public Debt
Not Available
Energy
Electricity Access
65.2%
(2023)
(2023)
Renewable Energy
26.9%
(2022)
(2022)
CO₂ Emissions
0.895 Mt
(2024)
(2024)
Energy Intensity
2.03 MJ/$
(2022)
(2022)
Renewable Electricity
35.354%
(2021)
(2021)
Environment
Forest Coverage
0.261% of land
(2023)
(2023)
Communications
Internet Users
65.025%
(2023)
(2023)
Mobile Penetration
48.451%
(2023)
(2023)
Broadband Subscribers
1.472%
(2023)
(2023)
Transportation
Air Transport Freight
Not Available
Container Port Traffic
635,000 TEU
(2022)
(2022)
Airports
N/A
Rail Lines
N/A
Roads Total
N/A
Military
Military Forces
Djibouti Armed Forces (FAD): Djibouti National Army (includes Navy, Djiboutian Air Force, National Gendarmerie); Djibouti Coast Guard
Personnel Strength
the Djibouti Armed Forces (FAD) have approximately 10,500 active troops (8,000 Army; 250 Naval; 250 Air; 2,000 Gendarmerie); 150 Coast Guard
Deployments
960 Somalia (AMISOM) (2020)
Equipment & Inventories
the FAD is armed mostly with older French and Soviet-era weapons systems; since 2010, it has received limited amounts of newer equipment, with China and the US as the largest suppliers (2019 est.)
Service Age & Obligation
18 years of age for voluntary military service; 16-25 years of age for voluntary military training; no conscription
Education
Pre-Primary Enrollment
11.616%
(2021)
(2021)
Primary Enrollment
Not Available
Secondary Enrollment
Not Available
Tertiary Enrollment
5.16%
(2011)
(2011)
Education Spending
3.751% of GDP
(2018)
(2018)
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
29.375:1
(2018)
(2018)
Health
Physicians per 1,000
0.211
(2022)
(2022)
Safe Water Access
79.662%
(2024)
(2024)
Safe Drinking Water
Not Available
Under-5 Mortality
50.4 per 1,000
(2023)
(2023)
Maternal Mortality (World Bank)
15.519 per 100,000
(2021)
(2021)
Hospital Beds per 1,000
66.729
(2021)
(2021)
UHC Coverage Index
47
(2023)
(2023)
Measles Immunization
77%
(2024)
(2024)
Social Indicators
Extreme Poverty Rate
25.4%
(2017)
(2017)
Food Insecurity
12.9%
(2023)
(2023)
Youth NEET Rate
73.042%
(2017)
(2017)
Governance
Women in Government
26.154%
(2024)
(2024)
Voice & Accountability
-1.27
(Weak)
(2023)
(Weak)
(2023)
Political Stability
-0.52
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Government Effectiveness
-0.73
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Regulatory Quality
-0.93
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Rule of Law
-1.13
(Weak)
(2023)
(Weak)
(2023)
Control of Corruption
-0.78
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Government
Government Type
presidential republic
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
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...
Legislative Branch
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...
Judicial Branch
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...
National Symbols
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...
National Symbols
red star; national colors: light blue, green, white, red
National Anthem
name: "Jabuuti" (Djibouti) lyrics/music: Aden ELMI/Abdi ROBLEH note: adopted 1977
Travel Information
Language(s): Arabic, French
Currency: DJF (Fr)
Timezone(s): UTC+03:00
Landlocked: No
Independent: Yes
Driving Side: Right
Calling Code: +253
Car Sign: DJI
Week Starts: Monday
Photos
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. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
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.
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. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
CIA World Factbook • 2020
Area comparison map
Area comparison map • CIA World Factbook • 2020
4 photos available
Data sources: World Bank, UN Data • Updated daily •Learn about our data