Djibouti - DJ - DJI - DJI - Africa

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/

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)

11 30 N, 43 00 E

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.)

slightly smaller than New Jersey

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

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.

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

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

21.1% (2017 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

lowest 10%: 1.9% (2017 est.)

highest 10%: 32.3% (2017 est.)

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

raw sugar, seed oils, cars, palm oil, rice (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Ethiopia 77%, UAE 5%, China 3%, Singapore 2%, France 2% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

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

vegetables, beans, milk, beef, camel milk, lemons/limes, goat meat, lamb/mutton, tomatoes, beef offal (2023)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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

Ministry of Interior: National Police (Police Nationale) (2025)

note 1: the National Gendarmerie is a security force with military status under the FAD and the Ministry of Defense, but also has responsibilities to the Ministry of Interior; the Gendarmerie's duties include providing security outside of Djibouti City and protecting critical infrastructure within the city, such as the international airport

note 2: 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

revenues: $725 million (2019 est.)

expenditures: $754 million (2019 est.)

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 name is said to derive from the Afar word gabouri, meaning "plate," in reference to a palm-fiber plate used for ceremonial purposes

refined petroleum, palm oil, fertilizers, cars, seed oils (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

desert; torrid, dry

314 km

history: approved by referendum 4 September 1992

amendment process: 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

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.)

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%

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

27 June 1977 (from France)

construction, agricultural processing, shipping

highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Suprême (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)

total: 528 km

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

agricultural land: 73.5% (2022 est.)

arable land: 0.1% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 73.3% (2022 est.)

forest: 0.3% (2022 est.)

other: 26.2% (2022 est.)

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

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"

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

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

Independence Day, 27 June (1977)

noun: Djiboutian(s)

adjective: Djiboutian

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

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

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

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

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

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

18 years of age; universal

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)

coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains

presidential republic

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

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

Africa

10 sq km (2012)

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/

percent of population: 65% (2022 est.)

.dj

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

$4.099 billion (2023 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

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/

300 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

total: 7 years

male: 7 years

female: 7 years (2011)

urban population: 78.6% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 1.56% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

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)

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.)

name: "Jabuuti" (Djibouti)

lyrics/music: Aden ELMI/Abdi ROBLEH

note: adopted 1977

600,000 DJIBOUTI (capital) (2023)

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

0.21 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

1.4 beds/1,000 population (2017)

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

19% (2012)

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

total dependency ratio: 48.4 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio: 42.1 (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio: 6.3 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio: 16 (2024 est.)

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

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

electrification - total population: 65% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas: 72.8%

electrification - rural areas: 36.6%

J2

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.)

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

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

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

China 32%, India 12%, UAE 10%, Turkey 6%, Morocco 5% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Djibouti's military forces are largely focused on border, coastal, and internal security duties, such as counterterrorism; as recently as February 2025, Djiboutian forces have conducted operations near its border with Ethiopia against members of the Armed Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy (FRUD A), which Djibouti considers a terrorist group
 
China, France, Italy, Japan, and the US maintain bases in Djibouti for regional military missions, including counterterrorism, counter-piracy, crisis response, and security assistance; other countries, such as Germany and Spain, also maintain a smaller presence; the EU and NATO also maintain a presence to support multinational naval counter-piracy operations and maritime training efforts (2025)

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.)

total population: NA

male: NA

female: NA

highest point: Moussa Ali 2,021 m

lowest point: Lac Assal -155 m

mean elevation: 430 m

2.9% of GDP (2021)

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

the FAD's inventory is a mix of mostly older or secondhand equipment from a wide variety of suppliers, including China, France, Italy, Japan, Russia/former Soviet Union, South Africa, Turkey, and the US (2024)

approximately 1,500 Somalia (AUSSOM) (2025)

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

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)

municipal: 20 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.)

agricultural: 3 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

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

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.)

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

exports: 8 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports: 19,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

fossil fuels: 65.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar: 0.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind: 34.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

1.04 (2024 est.)

50.6% (2023 est.)

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

women married by age 15: 1.4%

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

total ports: 2 (2024)

large: 0

medium: 0

small: 2

very small: 0

ports with oil terminals: 2

key ports: Djibouti, Doraleh

261,000 (2023 est.)

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

total: 76.5% (2023 est.)

male: 75.4% (2023 est.)

female: 78.1% (2023 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

4.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

total: 26.3 years (2024 est.)

male: 24.4 years

female: 27.9 years

$2.672 billion (2023 est.)

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

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

$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

31.8% of GDP (2017 est.)

2.11 children born/woman (2024 est.)

26.26% (2023 est.)
26.37% (2022 est.)
27.55% (2021 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

total: 994,974 (2024 est.)

male: 450,796

female: 544,178

685,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke: 45,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 640,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total : 23,200 sq km

land: 23,180 sq km

water: 20 sq km

35.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

$7.38 billion (2023 est.)
$6.918 billion (2022 est.)
$6.669 billion (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

10 (2025)

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

total subscriptions: 574,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 46 (2022 est.)

41.6 (2017 est.)

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

1.5% (2023 est.)
5.18% (2022 est.)
1.18% (2021 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

$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

$6,400 (2023 est.)
$6,100 (2022 est.)
$5,900 (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

total: 17,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2023 est.)

13.5% (2016)

10.428 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

7 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

21.8 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

installed generating capacity: 210,000 kW (2023 est.)

consumption: 584.997 million kWh (2023 est.)

imports: 512 million kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 128.74 million kWh (2023 est.)

total: 40 (2023)

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

16.2% (2019)

$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

$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

6 (2025)

total subscriptions: 29,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2023 est.)

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.)

total population: 65.9 years (2024 est.)

male: 63.4 years

female: 68.5 years

6.68% (2023 est.)
3.73% (2022 est.)
4.52% (2021 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

10% (2023 est.)

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

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

0.26% of GDP (2018 est.)

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

3.6% of GDP (2018 est.)

1.89% (2024 est.)