2021 Edition

Background

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.

Area

land

23,180 sq km

total

23,200 sq km

water

20 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than New Jersey

Climate

desert; torrid, dry

Coastline

314 km

Elevation

highest point

Moussa Ali 2,021 m

lowest point

Lac Assal -155 m

mean elevation

430 m

Geographic coordinates

11 30 N, 43 00 E

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

Irrigated land

10 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

border countries

Eritrea 125 km, Ethiopia 342 km, Somalia 61 km

total

528 km

Land use

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.)

Location

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

Major lakes (area sq km)

Salt water lake(s)

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

earthquakes; droughts; occasional cyclonic disturbances from the Indian Ocean bring heavy rains and flash floodsvolcanism: experiences limited volcanic activity; Ardoukoba (298 m) last erupted in 1978; Manda-Inakir, located along the Ethiopian border, is also historically active

Natural resources

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

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

Terrain

coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains

Age structure

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

22.43 births/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

29.9% (2012)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

19% (2012)

Current Health Expenditure

2.3% (2018)

Death rate

7.17 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Demographic profile

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

elderly dependency ratio

7.1

potential support ratio

14.1 (2020 est.)

total dependency ratio

50.6

youth dependency ratio

43.6

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 59.1% of population

improved: total

total: 90.3% of population

improved: urban

urban: 99.3% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 40.9% of population

unimproved: total

total: 9.7% of population (2017 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0.7% of population

Education expenditures

3.6% of GDP (2018)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.8% (2020 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

6,800 (2020 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.4 beds/1,000 population (2017)

Infant mortality rate

female

40.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)

male

55.17 deaths/1,000 live births

total

47.78 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

67.67 years (2021 est.)

male

62.4 years

total population

65 years

Major infectious diseases

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

584,000 DJIBOUTI (capital) (2021)

Maternal mortality ratio

248 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median age

female

26.4 years (2020 est.)

male

23 years

total

24.9 years

Nationality

adjective

Djiboutian

noun

Djiboutian(s)

Net migration rate

4.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

13.5% (2016)

Physicians density

0.22 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

Population

938,413 (July 2021 est.)

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

Population growth rate

2.01% (2021 est.)

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 21.5% of population

improved: total

total: 70.1% of population

improved: urban

urban: 84% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 78.5% of population

unimproved: total

total: 29.9% of population (2017 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 16% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

7 years (2011)

male

7 years

total

7 years

Sex ratio

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

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.83 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.17 children born/woman (2021 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

74.6% (2017)

male

72%

total

73%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

78.2% of total population (2021)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

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

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

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

history

approved by referendum 4 September 1992

Country name

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

Republique de Djibouti/Jumhuriyat Jibuti

local short form

Djibouti/Jibuti

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Jonathan Goodale PRATT (since 22 February 2021)

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

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

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister

chief of state

President Ismail Omar GUELLEH (since 8 May 1999)

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%

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)

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

Government type

presidential republic

Independence

27 June 1977 (from France)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

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

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

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

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)

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%

elections

last held on 23 February 2018 (next to be held in February 2023)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Aden ELMI/Abdi ROBLEH

name

"Jabuuti" (Djibouti)

note

note: adopted 1977

National holiday

Independence Day, 27 June (1977)

National symbol(s)

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

Political parties and leaders

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 Dévelopment et l'Équilibre 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

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

vegetables, milk, beef, camel milk, lemons, limes, goat meat, mutton, beans, tomatoes

Budget

expenditures

899.2 million (2017 est.)

revenues

717 million (2017 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2016

-$178 million (2016 est.)

Current account balance 2017

-$280 million (2017 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 31 December 2016

$1.519 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Debt - external 31 December 2017

$1.954 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

Economic overview

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

currency

Djiboutian francs (DJF) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2013

177.72 (2013 est.)

Exchange rates 2014

177.72 (2014 est.)

Exchange rates 2015

177.72 (2015 est.)

Exchange rates 2016

177.72 (2016 est.)

Exchange rates 2017

177.7 (2017 est.)

Exports

Exports 2018

$4.56 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)

Exports 2019

$5.15 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)

Exports - commodities

various animals, chlorides, dried legumes, industrial fatty acids/oils, coffee, chickpeas (2019)

Exports - partners

Saudi Arabia 42%, India 15%, China 14%, Egypt 5%, South Korea 5% (2019)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

38.6% (2017 est.)

government consumption

29.2% (2017 est.)

household consumption

56.5% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-66.4% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

41.8% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

0.3% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

2.4% (2017 est.)

industry

17.3% (2017 est.)

services

80.2% (2017 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$3.323 billion (2019 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017

41.6 (2017 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

30.9% (2002)

lowest 10%

2.4%

Imports

Imports 2018

$4.19 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)

Imports 2019

$4.76 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, fertilizers, iron sheeting, cars, palm oil (2019)

Imports - partners

China 43%, United Arab Emirates 15%, India 7%, Turkey 5% (2019)

Industrial production growth rate

2.7% (2017 est.)

Industries

construction, agricultural processing, shipping

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016

2.7% (2016 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017

0.7% (2017 est.)

Labor force

294,600 (2012)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

NA

industry

NA

services

NA

Population below poverty line

21.1% (2017 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2016

33.7% of GDP (2016 est.)

Public debt 2017

31.8% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2018

$5 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019

$5.39 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020

$5.42 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2015

6.5% (2015 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2016

6.5% (2016 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2017

6.7% (2017 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2018

$5,200 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2019

$5,500 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2020

$5,500 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2016

$398.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2017

$547.7 million (31 December 2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

35.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2014

60% (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate 2017

40% (2017 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

74.6% (2017)

male

72%

total

73%

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity - consumption

377.1 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

130,300 kW (2016 est.)

Electricity - production

405.5 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - rural areas

1% (2019)

electrification - total population

42% (2019)

electrification - urban areas

54% (2019)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

6,360 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

403 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

6,692 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

2.54 (2020 est.)

total

25,053 (2020)

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

55.68% (2019 est.)

total

554,300 (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

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)

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)

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

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

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

3.93 (2020 est.)

total subscriptions

38,866 (2020)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

43.93 (2020 est.)

total subscriptions

434,035 (2020)

Airports

total

13 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

1 (2017)

2,438 to 3,047 m

1

over 3,047 m

1

total

3

Airports - with unpaved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

7

total

10

under 914 m

2 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

J2

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 1, container ship 1, general cargo 2, oil tanker 8, other 21 (2021)

total

33

National air transport system

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

4

number of registered air carriers

2 (2020)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Djibouti

Railways

standard gauge

97 km 1.435-m gauge (2017)

total

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

Roadways

total

2,893 km (2013)

Maritime threats

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

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

Djibouti Armed Forces (FAD): Army, Navy, Air Force; Djibouti Coast Guard; Ministry of Interior: National Gendarmerie, National Police (2021)

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 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

the Djibouti Armed Forces (FAD) have approximately 10,500 active troops (8,000 Army; 250 Naval; 250 Air; 2,000 Gendarmerie) (2020)

Military deployments

960 Somalia (AMISOM) (2021)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

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

Military Expenditures 2013

4.3% of GDP (2013 est.)

Military Expenditures 2014

4% of GDP (2014 est.)

Military Expenditures 2015

3.7% of GDP (2015 est.)

Military Expenditures 2016

3.9% of GDP (2016 est.)

Military Expenditures 2017

4.9% of GDP (2017 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; 16-25 years of age for voluntary military training; no conscription (2020)

Disputes - international

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

refugees (country of origin)

12,139 (Somalia), 5,666 (Yemen) (2020)

Terrorist group(s)

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 Appendix-T

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

0.62 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

0.52 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

40.38 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

Climate

desert; torrid, dry

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

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

Food insecurity

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

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.)

Major infectious diseases

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)

Salt water lake(s)

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

Revenue from coal

coal revenues

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

forest revenues

0.26% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

300 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

3 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial

0 cubic meters (2017 est.)

municipal

16 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

78.2% of total population (2021)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

114,997 tons (2002 est.)