Communications
Broadband - fixed subscriptions [time series]
total: 25,053 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2.54 (2020 est.)
Broadcast media [time series]
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 [time series]
.dj
Internet users [time series]
total: 554,300 (2021 est.) percent of population: 55.68% (2019 est.)
Telecommunication systems [time series]
general assessment: Djibouti has a poor domestic infrastructure and a monopolized telecom system relying on microwave radio relay; rural areas connected via wireless local loop; mobile coverage limited to Djibouti city; despite challenges, foreign investment lends progress toward improvements; one of the best international fiber cables in the region, the Djibouti Internet Exchange, is a meeting point for cable systems passing between the Red Sea and Indian Ocean; national operator managed the Australia West Cable landing and signed an agreement for IP traffic through Paris and Marseille; international operator signed MoU for extension of cable from the Gulf to Djibouti (2020) domestic: 4 per 100 fixed-line and 41 per 100 mobile-cellular; Djibouti Telecom (DT) is the sole provider of telecommunications services and utilizes mostly a microwave radio relay network; fiber-optic cable is installed in the capital; rural areas connected via wireless local loop radio systems; mobile cellular coverage is primarily limited to the area in and around Djibouti city (2019) 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) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments
Telephones - fixed lines [time series]
total subscriptions: 38,866 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3.93 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
total subscriptions: 434,035 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 43.93 (2020 est.)
Economy
Agricultural products [time series]
vegetables, milk, beef, camel milk, lemons, limes, goat meat, mutton, beans, tomatoes
Budget [time series]
revenues: 717 million (2017 est.) expenditures: 899.2 million (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]
-9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Current account balance [time series]
-$280 million (2017 est.) -$178 million (2016 est.)
Debt - external [time series]
$1.954 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $1.519 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Economic overview [time series]
Djibouti's economy is based on service activities connected with the country's strategic location as a deepwater port on the Red Sea. Three-fourths of Djibouti's inhabitants live in the capital city; the remainder are mostly nomadic herders. Scant rainfall and less than 4% arable land limits crop production to small quantities of fruits and vegetables, and most food must be imported. Djibouti provides services as both a transit port for the region and an international transshipment and refueling center. Imports, exports, and reexports represent 70% of port activity at Djibouti's container terminal. Reexports consist primarily of coffee from landlocked neighbor Ethiopia. Djibouti has few natural resources and little industry. The nation is, therefore, heavily dependent on foreign assistance to support its balance of payments and to finance development projects. An official unemployment rate of nearly 40% - with youth unemployment near 80% - continues to be a major problem. Inflation was a modest 3% in 2014-2017, due to low international food prices and a decline in electricity tariffs. Djibouti’s reliance on diesel-generated electricity and imported food and water leave average consumers vulnerable to global price shocks, though in mid-2015 Djibouti passed new legislation to liberalize the energy sector. The government has emphasized infrastructure development for transportation and energy and Djibouti – with the help of foreign partners, particularly China – has begun to increase and modernize its port capacity. In 2017, Djibouti opened two of the largest projects in its history, the Doraleh Port and Djibouti-Addis Ababa Railway, funded by China as part of the "Belt and Road Initiative," which will increase the country’s ability to capitalize on its strategic location.
Exchange rates [time series]
Djiboutian francs (DJF) per US dollar - 177.7 (2017 est.) 177.72 (2016 est.) 177.72 (2015 est.) 177.72 (2014 est.) 177.72 (2013 est.)
Exports [time series]
$5.15 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $4.56 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)
Exports - commodities [time series]
various animals, chlorides, dried legumes, industrial fatty acids/oils, coffee, chickpeas (2019)
Exports - partners [time series]
Saudi Arabia 42%, India 15%, China 14%, Egypt 5%, South Korea 5% (2019)
Fiscal year [time series]
calendar year
GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]
$3.323 billion (2019 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use [time series]
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.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]
agriculture: 2.4% (2017 est.) industry: 17.3% (2017 est.) services: 80.2% (2017 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income [time series]
41.6 (2017 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: 2.4% highest 10%: 30.9% (2002)
Imports [time series]
$4.76 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $4.19 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)
Imports - commodities [time series]
refined petroleum, fertilizers, iron sheeting, cars, palm oil (2019)
Imports - partners [time series]
China 43%, United Arab Emirates 15%, India 7%, Turkey 5% (2019)
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
2.7% (2017 est.)
Industries [time series]
construction, agricultural processing, shipping
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
0.7% (2017 est.) 2.7% (2016 est.)
Labor force [time series]
294,600 (2012)
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
agriculture: NA industry: NA services: NA
Population below poverty line [time series]
21.1% (2017 est.)
Public debt [time series]
31.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 33.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) [time series]
$5.42 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.) $5.39 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.) $5 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate [time series]
6.7% (2017 est.) 6.5% (2016 est.) 6.5% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita [time series]
$5,500 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.) $5,500 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.) $5,200 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]
$547.7 million (31 December 2017 est.) $398.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues [time series]
35.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Unemployment rate [time series]
40% (2017 est.) 60% (2014 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]
total: 73% male: 72% female: 74.6% (2017)
Energy
Crude oil - exports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil - imports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]
0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
Electricity - consumption [time series]
377.1 million kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - exports [time series]
0 kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]
100% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - imports [time series]
0 kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]
130,300 kW (2016 est.)
Electricity - production [time series]
405.5 million kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity access [time series]
electrification - total population: 42% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 54% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 1% (2019)
Natural gas - consumption [time series]
0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - exports [time series]
0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - imports [time series]
0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - production [time series]
0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]
0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]
6,360 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]
403 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]
6,692 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Environment
Air pollutants [time series]
particulate matter emissions: 40.38 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.62 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.52 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate [time series]
desert; torrid, dry
Environment - current issues [time series]
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
International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]
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
Food insecurity [time series]
widespread lack of access: due to floods - about 194,000 people were estimated to be severely food insecure in the January‑August 2021 period, mainly due to livelihood losses caused by floods and landslides, and as a result of the socio‑economic impact of the pandemic on the livelihoods of vulnerable households; Cyclone Sagar struck the country on 19 and 20 May 2021, bringing torrential rains; the precipitation received, about 110 mm, was the equivalent of the average rainfall for an entire year and triggered heavy flooding, especially in the capital, Djibouti City and surrounding areas (2021)
Land use [time series]
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.)
Major infectious diseases [time series]
degree of risk: high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever
Major lakes (area sq km) [time series]
Salt water lake(s): Abhe Bad/Abhe Bid Hayk (shared with Ethiopia) - 780 sq km
Revenue from coal [time series]
coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from forest resources [time series]
forest revenues: 0.26% of GDP (2018 est.)
Total renewable water resources [time series]
300 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total water withdrawal [time series]
municipal: 16 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 3 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 78.2% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 1.56% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling [time series]
municipal solid waste generated annually: 114,997 tons (2002 est.)
Geography
total: 23,200 sq km land: 23,180 sq km water: 20 sq km
Area - comparative [time series]
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Climate [time series]
desert; torrid, dry
Coastline [time series]
314 km
Elevation [time series]
highest point: Moussa Ali 2,021 m lowest point: Lac Assal -155 m mean elevation: 430 m
Geographic coordinates [time series]
11 30 N, 43 00 E
Geography - note [time series]
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
Irrigated land [time series]
10 sq km (2012)
Land boundaries [time series]
total: 528 km border countries (3): Eritrea 125 km, Ethiopia 342 km, Somalia 61 km
Land use [time series]
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.)
Location [time series]
Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, between Eritrea and Somalia
Major lakes (area sq km) [time series]
Salt water lake(s): Abhe Bad/Abhe Bid Hayk (shared with Ethiopia) - 780 sq km
Map references [time series]
Africa
Maritime claims [time series]
territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Natural hazards [time series]
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
Natural resources [time series]
potential geothermal power, gold, clay, granite, limestone, marble, salt, diatomite, gypsum, pumice, petroleum
Population distribution [time series]
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
Terrain [time series]
coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
6 districts (cercles, singular - cercle); Ali Sabieh, Arta, Dikhil, Djibouti, Obock, Tadjourah
Capital [time series]
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
Citizenship [time series]
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
Constitution [time series]
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 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 by amended; amended 2006, 2008, 2010
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: Republic of Djibouti conventional short form: Djibouti local long form: Republique de Djibouti/Jumhuriyat Jibuti local short form: Djibouti/Jibuti former: French Somaliland, French Territory of the Afars and Issas etymology: the country name derives from the capital city of Djibouti
Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Jonathan Goodale PRATT (since 22 February 2021) 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/
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
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/
Executive branch [time series]
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: Ismail Omar GUELLEH reelected president for a fifth term; percent of vote - Ismail Omar GUELLEH (RPP) 97.4%, Zakaria Ismael FARAH (MDEND) 2.7%
Flag (Flag description) [time series]
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
Government type [time series]
presidential republic
Independence [time series]
27 June 1977 (from France)
International law organization participation [time series]
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
International organization participation [time series]
ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, 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
Judicial branch [time series]
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 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; 5 Courts of First Instance; customary courts; State Court (replaced sharia courts in 2003)
Legal system [time series]
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 [time series]
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 representation vote; members serve 5-year terms) elections: last held on 23 February 2018 (next to be held in February 2023) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 57, UDJ-PDD 7, CDU 1; composition - men 47, women 18, percent of women 26.7%
National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]
name: "Jabuuti" (Djibouti) lyrics/music: Aden ELMI/Abdi ROBLEH note: adopted 1977
National holiday [time series]
Independence Day, 27 June (1977)
National symbol(s) [time series]
red star; national colors: light blue, green, white, red
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
Center for United Democrats or CDU [Ahmed Mohamed YOUSSOUF, chairman] Democratic Renewal Party or PRD [Abdillahi HAMARITEH] Djibouti Development Party or PDD [Mohamed Daoud CHEHEM] Front for Restoration of Unity and Democracy (Front pour la Restauration de l'Unite Democratique) or FRUD [Ali Mohamed DAOUD] Movement for Democratic Renewal and Development [Daher Ahmed FARAH] Movement for Development and Liberty or MoDel [Ismail Ahmed WABERI] Movement for the Development and Balance of the Djiboutian Nation (Mouvement pour le D velopment et l' quilibre de la Nation Djiboutienne) or MDEND [Zakaria Ismael FARAH] National Democratic Party or PND [Aden Robleh AWALEH] People's Rally for Progress or RPP [Ismail Omar GUELLEH] (governing party) Peoples Social Democratic Party or PPSD [Hasna Moumin BAHDON] Republican Alliance for Democracy or ARD [Aden Mohamed ABDOU, interim president] Union for a Presidential Majority or UMP (coalition includes RPP, FRUD, PND, PPSD) Union for Democracy and Justice or UDJ [Ilya Ismail GUEDI Hared]
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal
Introduction
Background [time series]
The present-day boundaries of Djibouti were established during the Scramble for Africa, a period between 1881 1914 that was characterized by the invasion, occupation, division, and colonization of most of Africa by seven Western European nations. Treaties signed by the Afar sultans with the French 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 during this time, as the ethnic Somali perceived that the French unfairly favored the Afar and gave them disproportionate influence in local governance and in a series of referendums leading up to Djibouti s eventual independence in 1977. In 1958, the French held the referendum that provided residents of French Somaliland the option to either continue its association with France or to join neighboring Somalia as it established its independence. The 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 the 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 Somali. The 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 Somali 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 proceeded to serve 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 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 holds longstanding ties to France, which maintains a military presence in the country, as does the US, Japan, Italy, Germany, Spain, and China.
Military and Security
Maritime threats [time series]
the International Maritime Bureau s (IMB) Piracy Reporting Center (PRC) received zero incidents of piracy and armed robbery in 2020 for the Horn of Africa; while there were no recorded incidents, the IMB PRC warns that Somalia pirates continue to possess the capacity to carry out attacks in the Somali basin and wider Indian Ocean; in particular, the report warns that, "Masters and crew must remain vigilant and cautious when transiting these waters."; the presence of several naval task forces in the Gulf of Aden and additional anti-piracy measures on the part of ship operators, including the use of on-board armed security teams, contributed to the drop in incidents; the EU naval mission, Operation ATALANTA, continues its operations in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean through 2022; naval units from China, India, Japan, Pakistan, South Korea, the US, and other countries also operate in conjunction with EU forces; China has established a logistical base in Djibouti to support its deployed naval units in the Horn of Africa
Military - note [time series]
as of 2021, China, France, Italy, Japan, and the US maintained 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 have also maintained a presence to support multinational naval counter-piracy operations and maritime training efforts; in 2017, Djibouti and Saudi Arabia announced plans for the Saudis to build a military base there, although no start date was announced
Military and security forces [time series]
Djibouti Armed Forces (FAD): Army, Navy, Air Force; Djibouti Coast Guard; Ministry of Interior: National Gendarmerie, National Police (2021) 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 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 and security service personnel strengths [time series]
the Djibouti Armed Forces (FAD) have approximately 10,500 active troops (8,000 Army; 250 Naval; 250 Air; 2,000 Gendarmerie) (2020)
Military deployments [time series]
960 Somalia (AMISOM) (2021)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions [time series]
the FAD is armed largely with older French and Soviet-era weapons systems; since 2010, it has received limited amounts of mostly second-hand equipment from a variety of countries, including Canada, China, France, Italy, Saudi Arabia, and the US (2020)
Military expenditures [time series]
4.9% of GDP (2017 est.) 3.9% of GDP (2016 est.) 3.7% of GDP (2015 est.) 4% of GDP (2014 est.) 4.3% of GDP (2013 est.)
Military service age and obligation [time series]
18 years of age for voluntary military service; 16-25 years of age for voluntary military training; no conscription (2020)
People and Society
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 29.97% (male 138,701/female 137,588) 15-24 years: 20.32% (male 88,399/female 98,955) 25-54 years: 40.73% (male 156,016/female 219,406) 55-64 years: 5.01% (male 19,868/female 26,307) 65 years and over: 3.97% (male 16,245/female 20,319) (2020 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
22.43 births/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]
29.9% (2012)
Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]
19% (2012)
Current health expenditure (Current Health Expenditure) [time series]
2.3% (2018)
Death rate [time series]
7.17 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Demographic profile [time series]
Djibouti is a poor, predominantly urban country, characterized by high rates of illiteracy, unemployment, and childhood malnutrition. More than 75% 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 hundred thousand 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.
Dependency ratios [time series]
total dependency ratio: 50.6 youth dependency ratio: 43.6 elderly dependency ratio: 7.1 potential support ratio: 14.1 (2020 est.)
Drinking water source [time series]
improved: urban: 99.3% of population rural: 59.1% of population total: 90.3% of population unimproved: urban: 0.7% of population rural: 40.9% of population total: 9.7% of population (2017 est.)
Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]
3.6% of GDP (2018)
Ethnic groups [time series]
Somali 60%, Afar 35%, other 5% (mostly Yemeni Arab, also French, Ethiopian, and Italian)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]
0.8% (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
<500 (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
6,800 (2020 est.)
Hospital bed density [time series]
1.4 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Infant mortality rate [time series]
total: 47.78 deaths/1,000 live births male: 55.17 deaths/1,000 live births female: 40.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)
Languages [time series]
French (official), Arabic (official), Somali, Afar
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 65 years male: 62.4 years female: 67.67 years (2021 est.)
Major infectious diseases [time series]
degree of risk: high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever
Major urban areas - population [time series]
584,000 DJIBOUTI (capital) (2021)
Maternal mortality ratio [time series]
248 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Median age [time series]
total: 24.9 years male: 23 years female: 26.4 years (2020 est.)
Nationality [time series]
noun: Djiboutian(s) adjective: Djiboutian
Net migration rate [time series]
4.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]
13.5% (2016)
Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]
0.22 physicians/1,000 population (2014)
Population [time series]
938,413 (July 2021 est.)
Population distribution [time series]
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
Population growth rate [time series]
2.01% (2021 est.)
Religions [time series]
Sunni Muslim 94% (nearly all Djiboutians), other 6% (mainly foreign-born residents - Shia Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Baha'i, and atheist)
Sanitation facility access [time series]
improved: urban: 84% of population rural: 21.5% of population total: 70.1% of population unimproved: urban: 16% of population rural: 78.5% of population total: 29.9% of population (2017 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]
total: 7 years male: 7 years female: 7 years (2011)
Sex ratio [time series]
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.89 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.71 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.76 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 0.83 male(s)/female (2020 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
2.17 children born/woman (2021 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]
total: 73% male: 72% female: 74.6% (2017)
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 78.2% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 1.56% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s) [time series]
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
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
Djibouti maintains economic ties and border accords with "Somaliland" leadership while maintaining some political ties to various factions in Somalia; Kuwait is chief investor in the 2008 restoration and upgrade of the Ethiopian-Djibouti rail link; in 2008, Eritrean troops moved across the border on Ras Doumera peninsula and occupied Doumera Island with undefined sovereignty in the Red Sea
Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]
refugees (country of origin): 12,139 (Somalia), 5,666 (Yemen) (2020)
Transportation
Airports [time series]
total: 13 (2013)
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2017)
Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]
total: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 2 (2013)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]
J2
Merchant marine [time series]
total: 33 by type: bulk carrier 1, container ship 1, general cargo 2, oil tanker 8, other 21 (2021)
National air transport system [time series]
number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 4
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
major seaport(s): Djibouti
Railways [time series]
total: 97 km (Djibouti segment of the 756 km Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway) (2017) standard gauge: 97 km 1.435-m gauge (2017)
Roadways [time series]
total: 2,893 km (2013)