Djibouti

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Map of Djibouti and surrounding region, showing national boundaries, major cities including Djibouti (the capital), Tadjoura, Dikhil, and Ali Sabieh, as well as neighboring countries Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Yemen across the Gulf of Aden. An inset locator map highlights Djibouti's position in the Horn of Africa.

Place Mahamoud-Harbi

Map highlighting Djibouti in the Horn of Africa, bordered by Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia, and located at the junction of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Neighboring countries in northeast Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, including Egypt, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Oman, are also shown. The capital city, Djibouti, is marked with a star.

Map showing Djibouti and its physical features, including Mount Mousa, Lake Abe, and the Gulf of Tadjoura. Djibouti is bordered by Eritrea to the north, Ethiopia to the west and south, and Somalia to the southeast, with the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden to the east. An inset locator map highlights Djibouti's position in the Horn of Africa.

A line of camels led by a person walks along the edge of Lake Assal in Djibouti, with salt blocks and layered mountains in the background.

Djibouti: Ethnic composition

Djibouti: Religious affiliation

Worshippers bow in prayer inside a mosque lit from within, next to a busy street market in Djibouti Town, Djibouti, at dusk.

At a Glance

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Djibouti summary

Djibouti: Media

country, Africa

Images

Djibouti

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Map of Djibouti and surrounding region, showing national boundaries, major cities including Djibouti (the capital), Tadjoura, Dikhil, and Ali Sabieh, as well as neighboring countries Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Yemen across the Gulf of Aden. An inset locator map highlights Djibouti's position in the Horn of Africa.

Djibouti

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Place Mahamoud-Harbi

Place Mahamoud-Harbi

Place Mahamoud-Harbi and the Great Mosque in Djibouti city, Djibouti.

A. Picou/De Wys Inc.

Map highlighting Djibouti in the Horn of Africa, bordered by Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia, and located at the junction of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Neighboring countries in northeast Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, including Egypt, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Oman, are also shown. The capital city, Djibouti, is marked with a star.

Djibouti

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Map showing Djibouti and its physical features, including Mount Mousa, Lake Abe, and the Gulf of Tadjoura. Djibouti is bordered by Eritrea to the north, Ethiopia to the west and south, and Somalia to the southeast, with the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden to the east. An inset locator map highlights Djibouti's position in the Horn of Africa.

Djibouti

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

A line of camels led by a person walks along the edge of Lake Assal in Djibouti, with salt blocks and layered mountains in the background.

Lake Assal, Djibouti

Camel caravan at Lake Assal, Djibouti.

© Anil_Mukundan—iStock/Getty Images

Worshippers bow in prayer inside a mosque lit from within, next to a busy street market in Djibouti Town, Djibouti, at dusk.

worshippers at a Djibouti mosque

Worshippers attending an evening service at the mosque near the main fruit and vegetable...

Sean Gallup/Getty Images

quarrying salt

quarrying salt

Men quarrying salt at Lake Assal, Djibouti.

Victor Englebert

Djibouti–Addis Ababa railway

Djibouti–Addis Ababa railway

Workers constructing an electrified railway between Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and the...

© Xinhua/Alamy

Historical map of eastern Africa around 1914, showing the region divided among British, German, French, and Italian colonial powers. Different territories are color-coded by colonial ruler, with key locations such as British East Africa (Kenya and Uganda), German East Africa (including present-day Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi), Italian Somaliland, and French Somaliland labeled. Major lakes, rivers, and cities are also marked.

Imperial partitions of eastern Africa, 1881–1925

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh wearing a dark pinstripe suit, white shirt, and red tie, looking forward at an event.

Ismail Omar Guelleh

Djibouti's president, Ismail Omar Guelleh, attends the opening ceremony of the 24th...

Eric Gaillard—AFP/Getty Images

Djibouti

Djibouti

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Audio

National anthem of Djibouti

The instrumental version of the national anthem of Djibouti.

Interactives

Djibouti: Ethnic composition

Djibouti: Ethnic composition

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Djibouti: Religious affiliation

Djibouti: Religious affiliation

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Djibouti: Urban-rural

Djibouti: Urban-rural

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Djibouti: Age breakdown

Djibouti: Age breakdown

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Djibouti: Major import sources

Djibouti: Major import sources

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Djibouti: Major export destinations

Djibouti: Major export destinations

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Colonization of Africa: Maps, Timeline, Decolonization, & Independence

Colonization of Africa: Maps, Timeline, Decolonization, & Independence

Learn about the colonization of Africa, the process of decolonization that led to...

© Encyclopaedia Britannica

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