Djibouti

Introduction

Background
The French Territory of the Afars and the Issas became Djibouti in 1977. The government has longstanding ties to France, which maintains a military presence in the country, as do the US, Japan, Italy, Germany, Spain, and China.

Geography

Area
total : 23,200 sq km
land: 23,180 sq km
water: 20 sq km

Climate
desert; torrid, dry

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

People and Society

Population
total: 994,974 (2024 est.)

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

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

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

Population growth rate
1.89% (2024 est.)

Government

Government type
presidential republic

Capital
name: Djibouti

Executive branch
chief of state: President Ismail Omar GUELLEH (since 8 May 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Abdoulkader Kamil MOHAMED (since 1 April 2013)

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed Siad DOUALEH (28 January 2016)

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Cynthia KIERSCHT (since 17 October 2024)

Economy

Economic overview
food import-dependent Horn of Africa economy driven by various national military bases and port-based trade; fairly resilient from COVID-19 disruptions; major re-exporter; increasing Ethiopian and Chinese trade relations; investing in infrastructure

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$7.995 billion (2024 est.)
$7.546 billion (2023 est.)
$7.028 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$6,800 (2024 est.)
$6,500 (2023 est.)
$6,200 (2022 est.)

Exports
$5.25 billion (2024 est.)
$5.877 billion (2023 est.)
$5.674 billion (2022 est.)

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

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

Imports
$4.765 billion (2024 est.)
$5.269 billion (2023 est.)
$5.096 billion (2022 est.)

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

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

Human Development Index

The country's Human Development Index (HDI) is 0.513, ranking it 175th out of 193 countries tested. (more information)