Djibouti
Africa Β· Capital: Djibouti
How it is run: Djibouti is a member of the United Nations, so it gets one vote in the General Assembly. Use the research links below to find out exactly who makes the laws there.
Djibouti is home to 1.2 million people in Eastern Africa, where people speak Arabic, French.
Numbers that tell a story π’
π₯ People
1.2 million people
That is about 146 people out of every million on Earth (counted in 2025).
πΊοΈ Land
23,200 kmΒ²
About the size of a small US state such as Vermont or New Hampshire.
ποΈ How crowded
About 51 people per square kilometre β a comfortable mix of cities and open land.
π Size in its region
50th most people in Africa
48th largest by land in Africa.
π£οΈ Official languages
Arabic, French
More than one language is used for official business.
π° Money
Djiboutian franc (Fr)
Life here today π©Ί
These come from World Bank open data β the same numbers governments use when they argue about budgets.
β€οΈ How long people live
66.2 years on average
Doctors, clean water and food supply all change this number over time.
πΌ Money made per person each year
about US$3,906
A lower-income country: money for schools, clinics and roads has to stretch a very long way.
π’ Living in cities
73% of people
Mostly a city country β think buses, trains and apartment blocks.
π Kids under 15
28.8% of the population
A fairly balanced mix of young and old.
Everyday details π§
π Phone code
+253
Dial this before the number to call from another country.
π Websites end in
.dj
π§ People here are called
Djibouti
π·οΈ Name at home
Ψ¬ΩΨ¨ΩΨͺΩ Β· Djibouti
Also written: Jabuuti, Gabuuti, Republic of Djibouti.
π Coast or inland
Has a coastline
ποΈ UN voting group
African Group
Countries in the same group often plan votes together.
Neighbours & borders π€
Djibouti touches 3 neighbours by land. Neighbours share rivers, roads and usually a lot of trade.
Say its name around the world π£οΈ
Countries have different names in different languages. Try these with a penpal.
Spanish
Djibouti
French
Djibouti
Arabic
Ψ¬ΩΨ¨ΩΨͺΩ
Chinese
εεΈζ
Japanese
γΈγγ
Russian
ΠΠΆΠΈΠ±ΡΡΠΈ
Portuguese
Djibouti
German
Dschibuti
Put it in perspective π
- Nigeria β the most populated country in Africa β has about 200.6Γ as many people as Djibouti.
- Djibouti covers roughly 221 times the area of Hong Kong Island.
- If everyone in Djibouti lined up shoulder to shoulder, the line would stretch about 592 km.
Fast facts π§
Fact of the day: Djibouti sits in Eastern Africa, in the northern and eastern half of the globe.
π·οΈ Official name
Republic of Djibouti
ποΈ Capital
Djibouti
π Region
Africa Β· Eastern Africa
π€ Country code
DJ
ποΈ UN status
UN member state
π© Independence
Independent country
More about Djibouti π
π§ Where on the map
11.5Β° N, 43.0Β° E
π Half of the world
Northern & Eastern hemisphere
π°οΈ Clock check
Roughly UTC+3 β when it is noon in London it is about 15:00 in Djibouti.
- π©π― is the flag of Djibouti. Its country code β the short name used on the internet and at the Olympics β is DJ.
- Djibouti lies in the tropics, between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, so the sun gets very high overhead.
- Djibouti is close to the line of 0Β° longitude, so its clocks are near the world's reference time (UTC).
- Djibouti is an independent country, meaning it makes its own laws.
- Djibouti sits in Eastern Africa, in the northern and eastern half of the globe.
Countries nearby π€
Talk about it π¬
- Djibouti has 2 official languages. How would your school day change if lessons were taught in more than one language?
- Djibouti can trade by sea. What should a country protect first: its ports, its fishing waters, or its beaches?
- If Djibouti spoke at the General Assembly tomorrow, what one problem should its delegate ask the world to help fix?
Quick quiz π§ͺ
Guess first, then tap to check your answer.
What is the capital of Djibouti?
Djibouti
Which money do people spend in Djibouti?
Djiboutian franc (Fr)
How many countries share a land border with Djibouti?
3 β Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia.
Roughly how many people live in Djibouti?
1.2 million people
Keep researching π
Everything here is a starting point. These trusted sites, databases and libraries will take you further β and they are the kind of sources a teacher will accept in a report.
Start here β kid-friendly encyclopedias π
Short articles written for students, with maps and photos you can use in a report.
Official data & government sources ποΈ
Primary sources. Cite these when your teacher asks for real data.
News & current policy π°
Use two different outlets before you decide what you think.
Your library card π«
Libraries give you books, databases and librarians β all free.
Library tip: Ask your school or public librarian for their online databases (like Gale in Context or EBSCO Explora). Your library card unlocks them for free at home, and they are already checked by adults for school use.