Djibouti

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.

land

23,180 sq km

total

23,200 sq km

water

20 sq km

slightly smaller than New Jersey

desert; torrid, dry

314 km

highest point

Moussa Ali 2,021 m

lowest point

Lac Assal -155 m

mean elevation

430 m

11 30 N, 43 00 E

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

10 sq km (2012)

border countries

Eritrea 125 km; Ethiopia 342 km; Somalia 61 km

total

528 km

agricultural land

73.4% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 73.3% (2018 est.)

forest

0.2% (2018 est.)

other

26.4% (2018 est.)

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

salt water lake(s)

Abhe Bad/Abhe Bid Hayk (shared with Ethiopia) - 780 sq km

Africa

contiguous zone

24 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

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 1978; Manda-Inakir, located along the Ethiopian border, is also historically active

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

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

coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains

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)

beer

0.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

0.14 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

0.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

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

women married by age 15

1.4%

women married by age 18

6.5% (2019 est.)

16.2% (2019)

19% (2012)

2% of GDP (2020)

50.6% (2023 est.)

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

Djibouti is a poor, predominantly urban country, characterized by high rates of illiteracy, unemployment, and childhood malnutrition. Approximately 70% of the population lives in cities and towns (predominantly in the capital, Djibouti). The rural population subsists primarily on nomadic herding. Prone to droughts and floods, the country has few natural resources and must import more than 80% of its food from neighboring countries or Europe. Health care, particularly outside the capital, is limited by poor infrastructure, shortages of equipment and supplies, and a lack of qualified personnel. More than a third of health care recipients are migrants because the services are still better than those available in their neighboring home countries. The nearly universal practice of female genital cutting reflects Djibouti’s lack of gender equality and is a major contributor to obstetrical complications and its high rates of maternal and infant mortality. A 1995 law prohibiting the practice has never been enforced. Because of its political stability and its strategic location at the confluence of East Africa and the Gulf States along the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, Djibouti is a key transit point for migrants and asylum seekers heading for the Gulf States and beyond. Each year some 100,000 people, mainly Ethiopians and some Somalis, journey through Djibouti, usually to the port of Obock, to attempt a dangerous sea crossing to Yemen. However, with the escalation of the ongoing Yemen conflict, Yemenis began fleeing to Djibouti in March 2015, with almost 20,000 arriving by August 2017. Most Yemenis remain unregistered and head for Djibouti City rather than seeking asylum at one of Djibouti’s three spartan refugee camps. Djibouti has been hosting refugees and asylum seekers, predominantly Somalis and lesser numbers of Ethiopians and Eritreans, at camps for 20 years, despite lacking potable water, food shortages, and unemployment.

elderly dependency ratio

6.9

potential support ratio

14.4 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

50.6

youth dependency ratio

47.5

improved: rural

rural: 59.3% of population

improved: total

total: 90.8% of population

improved: urban

urban: 99.7% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 40.7% of population

unimproved: total

total: 9.2% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0.3% of population

3.6% of GDP (2018 est.)

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

1.04 (2024 est.)

1.4 beds/1,000 population (2017)

female

38 deaths/1,000 live births

male

52.1 deaths/1,000 live births

total

45.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

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

female

68.5 years

male

63.4 years

total population

65.9 years (2024 est.)

female

NA

male

NA

total population

NA

600,000 DJIBOUTI (capital) (2023)

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

female

27.9 years

male

24.4 years

total

26.3 years (2024 est.)

adjective

Djiboutian

noun

Djiboutian(s)

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

13.5% (2016)

0.22 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

female

544,178 (2024 est.)

male

450,796

total

994,974

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

1.89% (2024 est.)

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

improved: rural

rural: 24.2% of population

improved: total

total: 73.8% of population

improved: urban

urban: 87.7% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 75.8% of population

unimproved: total

total: 26.2% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 12.3% of population

female

7 years (2011)

male

7 years

total

7 years

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

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.83 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

2.11 children born/woman (2024 est.)

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

78.6% of total population (2023)

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

etymology

the origin of the name is disputed; multiple descriptions, possibilities, and theories have been proposed

geographic coordinates

11 35 N, 43 09 E

name

Djibouti

time difference

UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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

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

history

approved by referendum 4 September 1992

conventional long form

Republic of Djibouti

conventional short form

Djibouti

etymology

the country name derives from the capital city of Djibouti

former

French Somaliland, French Territory of the Afars and Issas

local long form

République de Djibouti (French)/ Jumhuriyat Jibuti (Arabic)

local short form

Djibouti (French)/ Jibuti (Arabic)

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Christopher SNIPES (since October 2023)

email address and website

DjiboutiACS@state.govhttps://dj.usembassy.gov/

embassy

Lot 350-B Haramouss, B.P. 185

FAX

[253] 21-45-31-29

mailing address

2150 Djibouti Place, Washington DC  20521-2150

telephone

[253] 21-45-30-00

chancery

1156 15th Street NW, Suite 515, Washington, DC 20005

chief of mission

Ambassador Mohamed Siad DOUALEH (28 January 2016)

email address and website

info@djiboutiembassyus.orghttps://www.djiboutiembassyus.org/

FAX

[1] (202) 331-0302

telephone

[1] (202) 331-0270

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister

chief of state

President Ismail Omar GUELLEH (since 8 May 1999)

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%

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

head of government

Prime Minister Abdoulkader Kamil MOHAMED (since 1 April 2013)

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

presidential republic

27 June 1977 (from France)

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

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)

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

description

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

election results

percent of vote by party - UMP 93.6%, UDJ 6.3%; seats by party - UMP 58, UDJ 7; composition - men 48, women 17, percentage women 26.2%

elections

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

note

note: most opposition parties boycotted the 2023 polls, stating the elections were "not free, not transparent, and not democratic"

lyrics/music

Aden ELMI/Abdi ROBLEH

name

"Jabuuti" (Djibouti)

note

note: adopted 1977

Independence Day, 27 June (1977)

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

Front for Restoration of Unity and Democracy (Front pour la Restauration de l'Unite Democratique) or FRUDNational Democratic Party or PNDPeople's Rally for Progress or RPPPeoples Social Democratic Party or PPSDUnion for Democracy and Justice or UDJUnion for the Presidential Majority coalition or UMPUnion of Reform Partisans or UPR

18 years of age; universal

vegetables, beans, milk, beef, camel milk, lemons/limes, goat meat, lamb/mutton, tomatoes, beef offal (2022)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

expenditures

$754 million (2019 est.)

revenues

$725 million (2019 est.)

Current account balance 2020

$366.358 million (2020 est.)

Current account balance 2021

-$225.106 million (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

$656.207 million (2022 est.)

note

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

Debt - external 2022

$2.331 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

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

Currency

Djiboutian francs (DJF) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

177.721 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

177.721 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

177.721 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

177.721 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

177.721 (2023 est.)

Exports 2020

$3.695 billion (2020 est.)

Exports 2021

$5.16 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$5.674 billion (2022 est.)

note

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

palm oil, chlorides, seed oils, flax yarn, cattle (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Ethiopia 61%, China 17%, India 7%, Jordan 2%, Central African Republic 1% (2022)

note

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

exports of goods and services

169.1% (2023 est.)

government consumption

14.5% (2023 est.)

household consumption

60.6% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-173.6% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

29.4% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

agriculture

1.8% (2023 est.)

industry

15.3% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

services

76.9% (2023 est.)

$4.099 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017

41.6 (2017 est.)

note

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

highest 10%

32.3% (2017 est.)

lowest 10%

1.9% (2017 est.)

note

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

Imports 2020

$3.425 billion (2020 est.)

Imports 2021

$5.483 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$5.096 billion (2022 est.)

note

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

refined petroleum, palm oil, fertilizers, cars, raw sugar (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

China 38%, UAE 20%, India 10%, Morocco 6%, Turkey 6% (2022)

note

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

10% (2023 est.)

note

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

construction, agricultural processing, shipping

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

1.18% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

5.18% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

1.5% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

256,000 (2023 est.)

note

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

21.1% (2017 est.)

note

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt 2017

31.8% of GDP (2017 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$6.669 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$6.918 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$7.38 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2021

4.52% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

3.73% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

6.68% (2023 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$6,000 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$6,200 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$6,500 (2023 est.)

note

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

Remittances 2021

2.35% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

1.54% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

1.41% of GDP (2023 est.)

note

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$588.418 million (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$589.437 million (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$502.034 million (2023 est.)

35.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2021

27.55% (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

26.37% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

26.26% (2023 est.)

female

78.1% (2023 est.)

male

75.4% (2023 est.)

note

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

total

76.5% (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

660,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

total emissions

660,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

exports

8 metric tons (2022 est.)

imports

1,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

consumption

516.233 million kWh (2022 est.)

imports

512 million kWh (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity

150,000 kW (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

128.74 million kWh (2022 est.)

electrification - rural areas

36.6%

electrification - total population

65% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas

72.8%

fossil fuels

99.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

solar

0.9% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Total energy consumption per capita 2022

9.559 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

4,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

3 (2020 est.)

total

25,053 (2020 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)

.dj

percent of population

69% (2021 est.)

total

759,000 (2021 est.)

domestic

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

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)

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)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

2 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

28,000 (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

46 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

519,000 (2022 est.)

10 (2024)

J2

6 (2024)

by type

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

total

40 (2023)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

4

number of registered air carriers

2 (2020)

key ports

Djibouti, Doraleh

ports with oil terminals

2

small

2

total ports

2 (2024)

standard gauge

97 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge

total

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

total

2,893 km (2013)

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)

Djibouti Armed Forces (Forces Armées Djiboutiennes or FAD): Army, Navy, Air Force; Djibouti Coast GuardMinistry of Interior: National Police (2024)

note

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

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

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)

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 Expenditures 2015

2.5% of GDP (2015 est.)

Military Expenditures 2016

2.7% of GDP (2016 est.)

Military Expenditures 2017

3.3% of GDP (2017 est.)

Military Expenditures 2018

3.5% of GDP (2018 est.)

Military Expenditures 2019

3.5% of GDP (2019 est.)

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

refugees (country of origin)

6,518 (Yemen) (mid-year 2022); 13,467 (Somalia) (2024)

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/

al-Shabaab

note

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

carbon dioxide emissions

0.62 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

0.52 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

19.98 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

desert; torrid, dry

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

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)

agricultural land

73.4% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 73.3% (2018 est.)

forest

0.2% (2018 est.)

other

26.4% (2018 est.)

salt water lake(s)

Abhe Bad/Abhe Bid Hayk (shared with Ethiopia) - 780 sq km

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

0.26% of GDP (2018 est.)

300 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural

3 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial

0 cubic meters (2017 est.)

municipal

20 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

78.6% of total population (2023)

municipal solid waste generated annually

114,997 tons (2002 est.)