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Djibouti
Djibouti
Djibouti (Africa)
Introduction
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.
Geography
Location
Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, between Eritrea and Somalia
Geographic coordinates
11 30 N, 43 00 E
Map references
Africa
Area
total : 23,200 sq km
land: 23,180 sq km
water: 20 sq km
comparison ranking: total 150
Area - comparative
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Area comparison map:
Land boundaries
total: 528 km
border countries (3): Eritrea 125 km; Ethiopia 342 km; Somalia 61 km
Coastline
314 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate
desert; torrid, dry
Terrain
coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains
Elevation
highest point: Moussa Ali 2,021 m
lowest point: Lac Assal -155 m
mean elevation: 430 m
Djibouti, Photo: The World Factbook
Natural resources
potential geothermal power, gold, clay, granite, limestone, marble, salt, diatomite, gypsum, pumice, petroleum
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.)
Irrigated land
10 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km)
salt water lake(s): Abhe Bad/Abhe Bid Hayk (shared with Ethiopia) - 780 sq km
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
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
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
People and Society
Population
total: 994,974
male: 450,796
female: 544,178 (2024 est.)
comparison rankings: female 162; male 164; total 162
Nationality
noun: Djiboutian(s)
adjective: Djiboutian
Ethnic groups
Somali 60%, Afar 35%, other 5% (mostly Yemeni Arab, also French, Ethiopian, and Italian)
Languages
French (official), Arabic (official), Somali, Afar
Religions
Sunni Muslim 94% (nearly all Djiboutians), other 6% (mainly foreign-born residents - Shia Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Baha'i, and atheist)
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 it is neighboring Ethiopia's principal maritime outlet for imports and exports. Photo: The World Factboo
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), the vast landscape of salt flats is covered in clusters of massive, steam-blasting limestone chimneys. Other than Mount Dama Ali, a small dormant volcano, the landscape is almost completely level. Photo: The World Factbook
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.
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), the vast landscape of salt flats is covered in clusters of massive, steam-blasting limestone chimneys. Other than Mount Dama Ali, a small dormant volcano, the landscape is almost completely level. Photo: The World Factboo
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.
Age structure
0-14 years: 28.4% (male 141,829/female 140,696)
15-64 years: 67.4% (male 290,654/female 379,778)
65 years and over: 4.2% (2024 est.) (male 18,313/female 23,704)
2023 population pyramid:
2023 population pyramid
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 50.6
youth dependency ratio: 47.5
elderly dependency ratio: 6.9
potential support ratio: 14.4 (2021 est.)
Median age
total: 26.3 years (2024 est.)
male: 24.4 years
female: 27.9 years
comparison ranking: total 164
Population growth rate
1.89% (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 45
Birth rate
21.8 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 56
Death rate
7 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 120
Net migration rate
4.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 23
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
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
Major urban areas - population
600,000 DJIBOUTI (capital) (2023)
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: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.83 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
234 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: 39
Infant mortality rate
total: 45.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 52.1 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 38 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 25
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 65.9 years (2024 est.)
male: 63.4 years
female: 68.5 years
comparison ranking: total population 202
Total fertility rate
2.11 children born/woman (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 94
Gross reproduction rate
1.04 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
19% (2012)
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.)
Current health expenditure
2% of GDP (2020)
Physician density
0.22 physicians/1,000 population (2014)
Hospital bed density
1.4 beds/1,000 population (2017)
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.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
13.5% (2016)
comparison ranking: 131
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.)
comparison ranking: total 172
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
16.2% (2019)
comparison ranking: 31
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
50.6% (2023 est.)
Child marriage
women married by age 15: 1.4%
women married by age 18: 6.5% (2019 est.)
Education expenditures
3.6% of GDP (2018 est.)
comparison ranking: 136
Literacy
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 7 years
male: 7 years
female: 7 years (2011)
Environment
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
Djibouti's location adjacent to the Red Sea makes it an ideal base to explore the area's abundant sea life. The Gulf of Tadjoura and the Seven Brothers Islands off Djibouti are home to coral reefs and an array of marine creatures. Photo: The World Factbook
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
Climate
desert; torrid, dry
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.)
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
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)
Revenue from forest resources
0.26% of GDP (2018 est.)
comparison ranking: 85
Revenue from coal
0% of GDP (2018 est.)
comparison ranking: 62
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.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 114,997 tons (2002 est.)
Major lakes (area sq km)
salt water lake(s): Abhe Bad/Abhe Bid Hayk (shared with Ethiopia) - 780 sq km
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 20 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 3 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources
300 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Djibouti
conventional short form: Djibouti
local long form: République 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
Government type
presidential republic
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
Administrative divisions
6 districts (cercles, singular - cercle); Ali Sabieh, Arta, Dikhil, Djibouti, Obock, Tadjourah
Independence
27 June 1977 (from France)
National holiday
Independence Day, 27 June (1977)
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
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
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
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
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
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%
Legislative branch
legislature name: National Assembly (Assemblée nationale)
legislative structure: unicameral
number of seats: 65 (all directly elected)
electoral system: mixed system
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 2/24/2023
parties elected and seats per party: Union for the Presidential Majority (UMP) (58); Union for Democracy and Justice (UDJ) (7)
percentage of women in chamber: 26.2%
expected date of next election: February 2028
note: most opposition parties boycotted the 2023 polls, stating the elections were "not free, not transparent, and not democratic"
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)
Political parties
Front for Restoration of Unity and Democracy (Front pour la Restauration de l'Unite Democratique) or FRUD
National Democratic Party or PND
People's Rally for Progress or RPP
Peoples Social Democratic Party or PPSD
Union for Democracy and Justice or UDJ
Union for the Presidential Majority coalition or UMP
Union of Reform Partisans or UPR
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
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/
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Cynthia KIERSCHT (since 17 October 2024)
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/
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
National symbol(s)
red star; national colors: light blue, green, white, red
National anthem
name: "Jabuuti" (Djibouti)
lyrics/music: Aden ELMI/Abdi ROBLEH
note: adopted 1977
Economy
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
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$7.38 billion (2023 est.)
$6.918 billion (2022 est.)
$6.669 billion (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 172
Real GDP growth rate
6.68% (2023 est.)
3.73% (2022 est.)
4.52% (2021 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 21
Real GDP per capita
$6,400 (2023 est.)
$6,100 (2022 est.)
$5,900 (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 166
GDP (official exchange rate)
$4.099 billion (2023 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
1.5% (2023 est.)
5.18% (2022 est.)
1.18% (2021 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
comparison ranking: 31
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 1.8% (2023 est.)
industry: 15.3% (2023 est.)
services: 76.9% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
comparison rankings: services 20; industry 169; agriculture 163
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption: 60.6% (2023 est.)
government consumption: 14.5% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 29.4% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories: 0% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services: 169.1% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services: -173.6% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Agricultural products
vegetables, beans, milk, beef, camel milk, lemons/limes, goat meat, lamb/mutton, tomatoes, beef offal (2022)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
construction, agricultural processing, shipping
Industrial production growth rate
10% (2023 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 20
Labor force
261,000 (2023 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
comparison ranking: 171
Unemployment rate
26.26% (2023 est.)
26.37% (2022 est.)
27.55% (2021 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
comparison ranking: 206
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 76.5% (2023 est.)
male: 75.4% (2023 est.)
female: 78.1% (2023 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
comparison ranking: total 1
Population below poverty line
21.1% (2017 est.)
note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
41.6 (2017 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
comparison ranking: 35
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 1.9% (2017 est.)
highest 10%: 32.3% (2017 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Remittances
1.43% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.54% of GDP (2022 est.)
2.35% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Budget
revenues: $725 million (2019 est.)
expenditures: $754 million (2019 est.)
Public debt
31.8% of GDP (2017 est.)
comparison ranking: 164
Taxes and other revenues
35.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
comparison ranking: 15
Current account balance
$718.559 million (2023 est.)
$656.207 million (2022 est.)
-$225.106 million (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
comparison ranking: 60
Exports
$5.877 billion (2023 est.)
$5.674 billion (2022 est.)
$5.16 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 134
Exports - partners
Ethiopia 61%, China 17%, India 7%, Jordan 2%, Central African Republic 1% (2022)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports - commodities
palm oil, chlorides, seed oils, flax yarn, cattle (2022)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$5.269 billion (2023 est.)
$5.096 billion (2022 est.)
$5.483 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 149
Imports - partners
China 38%, UAE 20%, India 10%, Morocco 6%, Turkey 6% (2022)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, palm oil, fertilizers, cars, raw sugar (2022)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$502.034 million (2023 est.)
$589.437 million (2022 est.)
$588.418 million (2021 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
comparison ranking: 162
Debt - external
$2.672 billion (2023 est.)
note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
comparison ranking: 92
Exchange rates
Djiboutian francs (DJF) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
177.721 (2023 est.)
177.721 (2022 est.)
177.721 (2021 est.)
177.721 (2020 est.)
177.721 (2019 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population: 65% (2022 est.)
electrification - urban areas: 72.8%
electrification - rural areas: 36.6%
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 150,000 kW (2022 est.)
consumption: 516.233 million kWh (2022 est.)
imports: 512 million kWh (2022 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 128.74 million kWh (2022 est.)
comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 54; imports 90; consumption 174; installed generating capacity 179
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 99.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
solar: 0.9% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Coal
exports: 8 metric tons (2022 est.)
imports: 1,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
Petroleum
refined petroleum consumption: 4,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
660,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 660,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 183
Energy consumption per capita
9.559 million Btu/person (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: 152
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 28,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 167
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 519,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 46 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 174
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)
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)
Internet country code
.dj
Internet users
percent of population: 69% (2021 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total: 25,053 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: total 159
Transportation
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
Airports
10 (2024)
comparison ranking: 159
Heliports
6 (2024)
Railways
total: 97 km (2017) (Djibouti segment of the 756 km Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway)
standard gauge: 97 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge
comparison ranking: total 128
Roadways
total: 2,893 km (2013)
comparison ranking: total 165
Merchant marine
total: 40 (2023)
by type: bulk carrier 1, container ship 1, general cargo 4, oil tanker 13, other 21
comparison ranking: total 126
Ports
total ports: 2 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 0
small: 2
very small: 0
ports with oil terminals: 2
key ports: Djibouti, Doraleh
Military and Security
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
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.)
comparison ranking: 24
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 is a mix of mostly older or secondhand equipment from a wide variety of suppliers, including China, France, Italy, Russia/former Soviet Union, South Africa, Turkey, and the US (2024)
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)
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)
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)
Terrorism
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 the Terrorism reference guide
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin): 6,518 (Yemen) (mid-year 2022); 13,467 (Somalia) (2024)
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 remained on Tier 3; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-trafficking-in-persons-report/djibouti/
