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Djibouti
Africa
Strategically located at the Red Sea entrance, Djibouti is a hub for international shipping and hosts military bases from several countries.
1,200,000
Population
23,200
Area (km²)
Djibouti City
Capital
25
Historical Events
Historical Timeline
Cities
25 Events
September 01, 2025 - Projected GDP growth of 6.6% supports continued recovery, though migrant tragedies and human rights concerns persist.
June 27, 2025 - Celebrations mark the 48th anniversary of independence, with events emphasizing economic resilience and regional diplomacy.
June 05, 2025 - Traffickers offload migrants from a boat off the coast, leading to eight deaths and 22 missing.
May 28, 2025 - A U.S.-Djibouti Trade and Investment Mission takes place, aiming to connect American firms with East Africa's 400-million-consumer market via Djibouti's ports.
April 28, 2025 - The Djibouti Forum is hailed as a success, securing commitments for infrastructure and trade investments.
April 06, 2025 - The Djibouti Forum convenes, attracting global investors and leaders to discuss economic opportunities in the Horn of Africa.
April 01, 2025 - Abdoulkader Houssein Omar, former ambassador to Kuwait and Jordan, is appointed as the new foreign minister.
March 17, 2025 - U.S. and French forces conduct a joint three-day parachuting exercise, enhancing military interoperability.
March 14, 2025 - The World Bank approves a $31 million project to bolster socio-economic development in underserved regions.
March 07, 2025 - Four migrant boats sink off the coast, killing two people and leaving 186 missing.
February 15, 2025 - Foreign Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf is elected Chairperson of the African Union Commission.
January 28, 2025 - French Foreign Legion units from the 1st Foreign Engineer Regiment (1er REG) and 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC) continue their deployment in Djibouti for regional security missions.
December 31, 2024 - Economic growth reaches 6.2%, with a fiscal surplus of 0.2% of GDP achieved through restrained spending and improved revenues.
October 01, 2024 - Two migrant boats sink off Khôr ʽAngar, killing at least 45 people and leaving 61 missing.
September 01, 2024 - A UN delegation visits to assess progress on reducing female genital mutilation (FGM), noting a decline in prevalence among girls aged 14 and younger from 43% in 2012 to 31% in 2019.
April 23, 2024 - Another migrant boat capsizes off the coast, resulting in 21 deaths.
April 09, 2024 - A migrant boat sinks off the coast, killing 38 people and leaving six missing; 22 survivors are rescued.
April 01, 2024 - British MP Tim Loughton is detained and deported after arriving for a visit, reportedly due to his criticism of China, which hosts a major military base in Djibouti.
December 31, 2023 - The economy rebounds strongly with GDP growth of 6.7%, driven by port activity and regional trade recovery, though fiscal challenges persist with a 3.3% GDP deficit.
July 01, 2023 - Police arrest several leaders of the opposition Rally for Democratic Action and Ecological Development (RADDE), including secretary general Mahdi Moussa Darar, over a satirical YouTube video depicting them in police and army uniforms.
June 27, 2023 - Nationwide celebrations mark the 46th anniversary of independence from France, highlighting the country's strategic role in the Horn of Africa.
May 01, 2023 - Djiboutian authorities arrest Ethiopian journalist Gobeze Sisay, a government critic, and extradite him to Ethiopia.
April 01, 2023 - A crackdown on irregular migrants leads to the arrest of approximately 3,000 people in Djibouti City; officials urge registration to regularize status.
March 01, 2023 - Authorities arrest and deport Alexis Deswaef, vice president of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), during a fact-finding mission on human rights defenders' conditions; a colleague is denied entry at the airport.
February 24, 2023 - Parliamentary elections result in a victory for the ruling Union for a Presidential Majority (UMP), which secures 58 of 65 seats; most opposition parties boycott, citing unfair conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions About Djibouti
100 Questions
Djibouti is in the Horn of Africa, bordered by Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, and the Red Sea/Gulf of Aden.
The capital is Djibouti City.
Around 1.2 million people as of 2025 estimates.
French and Arabic are official languages; Somali and Afar are widely spoken.
Hot desert climate with very high temperatures and little rainfall.
The Djiboutian franc (DJF).
Light blue and green horizontal stripes with a white triangle and a red star.
Djibouti City, Ali Sabieh, Tadjoura, Obock, and Dikhil.
On June 27, 1977, from France.
Hassan Gouled Aptidon.
Ismaïl Omar Guelleh (as of 2025).
A unitary presidential republic.
Somali (mainly Issa clan) and Afar, with small Arab and French communities.
Islam (over 95% Sunni Muslim).
Around $4 billion in 2025 estimates.
About $3,500.
Around 70%.
About 67 years.
Around 3 children per woman.
Around 60%.
Re-exports through its ports, livestock, and salt.
Food, fuel, machinery, and manufactured goods.
Salt, geothermal energy potential, and arable land is limited.
It sits at the mouth of the Red Sea, controlling access to the Suez Canal.
U.S., France, China, Japan, Italy, and others.
A major U.S. military base in Djibouti City.
One of the saltiest lakes in the world and the lowest point in Africa (-155 m).
A unique salt lake with limestone chimneys, shared with Ethiopia.
Mount Mousa Ali (2,028 m).
East Africa Time (EAT), UTC +3.
Rice, pasta, sorghum, camel meat, goat, and fish.
A national dish of rice and spiced meat.
A spongy pancake eaten with stews.
Tea, coffee, and fruit juices.
Football, athletics, and handball.
Yes, mostly in athletics.
Djibouti’s only Olympic medalist (bronze in marathon, 1988).
Somali and Afar folk, Arabic music, and modern pop.
Drums, ouds, and lyres.
Somali dhaanto and Afar cultural dances.
Men wear macawis (sarongs), women wear dirac and shash (headscarves).
Active in families, trade, and markets but underrepresented politically.
Around 60%.
Around 80%.
High, around 30%, especially among youth.
Less than 10%, due to arid land.
Moderate, linked to import prices.
University of Djibouti and technical institutes.
Limited, with reliance on foreign aid and private clinics.
Malaria, TB, HIV/AIDS, and waterborne diseases.
High but improving.
Among the highest globally but declining.
“Djibouti.”
“Unité, Égalité, Paix” (“Unity, Equality, Peace”).
The gazelle.
The Djibouti francolin.
Bougainvillea (widely associated).
Port facilities, foreign bases, and being a trade hub.
A major shipping hub connecting Africa, Europe, and Asia.
A railway linking Ethiopia to Djibouti’s port, vital for trade.
Somali, Afar, Arab, and French.
Around 75%, higher than adults.
Around $3,500 annually.
Declining slowly.
Over 75%, one of Africa’s most urbanized countries.
Nomadic pastoralists raising camels, goats, and sheep.
Imported fuel, with growing geothermal and solar projects.
Very high in geothermal and solar.
High unemployment and dependence on port services.
Democratic reforms and balancing clan politics.
Maintains its largest African base at Camp Lemonnier.
Historic ties, military presence, and economic influence.
Built its first overseas military base and invests in infrastructure.
Maintains a base for anti-piracy operations.
Djibouti supports AU peacekeeping in Somalia.
It hosts the headquarters of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development.
Around 20% difference.
Moderate, but affected by global markets.
High around Djibouti City, low in deserts.
Gazelles, baboons, hyenas, and reptiles.
Whale sharks, dolphins, and coral reefs.
Day Forest National Park.
A forested mountain range in northern Djibouti.
Volcanic plateaus, salt flats, and rocky deserts.
A large desert plain in Djibouti.
Still central for Afar and Somali communities.
Weaving, pottery, and jewelry.
It shapes laws, education, and daily life.
Strong in clan identity and oral traditions.
Improving maternal and child health.
Expanding access, especially for girls.
Much lower than among youth.
Lower than in rural areas.
Around 5–6 years.
Communities in France, Gulf states, and Ethiopia.
They provide significant support for families.
A key shipping and logistics hub on one of the world’s busiest sea lanes.
Hosts international naval forces against Somali piracy.
Dependent on port growth, renewable energy, and stability.
Its strategic location, hosting of global powers, and role as a trade hub make it uniquely important.