Djibouti is a very small country with just over 23,000 square kilometers of area, which ranks 150th in the world. It also has a rather low population estimated at 900,000 in 2015 with a density of just 37 people per square kilometer. The largest city and capital of Djibouti is Djibouti City, which has a population of 624,000, a large percentage of the total population. This is the only city in the country with a population over 50,000.

Djibouti Demographics

Djibouti is a multi-ethnic country. The Afar (35%) and Somali (60%) make up the two largest ethnic groups, both of which speak Afro-Asiatic languages. The Somali people are comprised mostly of the Issas, a sub-clan of the Dir. The remaining 5% of the population is made up of Arabs, Ethiopians and Europeans, most of whom are Italian and French.

Nearly 94% of the population of Djibouti adheres to Islam, which has been important in the area for over one thousand years.

Djibouti Population Growth

Djibouti's population is currently growing at a rate of 1.5% per year. The fertility rate is 2.6 children per woman, which is much lower than many neighboring countries. Djibouti is expected to continue its gradual population growth for the next decade.

Source: Abass Chirdon