Anchor sector
Ports & terminal operations
Container, bulk, livestock and oil terminals serving Ethiopia and regional transhipment.
Country Profile — Arab-America International Expo 2027
Profile content in preparationRepublic of Djibouti
The gateway to the Horn of Africa.
A small country with outsized strategic weight: the maritime gateway for landlocked Ethiopia, a hub on the Bab al-Mandab shipping lane, and host to multiple international military bases.
Country at a glance
- GDP
- ≈ $4.4 billion (nominal)
- Population
- ≈ 1.1 million
- Currency
- Djiboutian Franc (DJF), pegged to USD
- Capital
- Djibouti City
- Economic growth
- ≈ 6.0% real GDP growth
Statistics year: 2024 (latest full-year data)
Overview
Logistics as a national economy
Djibouti handles the overwhelming majority of Ethiopia's foreign trade, giving a country of about a million people responsibility for the supply lines of a nation of over 120 million.
It sits at the Bab al-Mandab strait, where Red Sea traffic between Suez and the Indian Ocean funnels through — one of the most strategically important maritime corridors in the world.
The Djibouti franc has been pegged to the US dollar since 1949, and the country hosts American, French, Japanese and other international military facilities, giving it unusual stability and dollar liquidity for its size.
- Capital
- Djibouti City
- Population
- ≈ 1.1 million (2024)
- Language
- Arabic and French; English in shipping
- Currency
- Djiboutian Franc (DJF), pegged to the US dollar since 1949
- Strategic position
- Bab al-Mandab strait and Gulf of Aden
- Key infrastructure
- Doraleh container terminal, DIFTZ free zone, Addis rail link
- Hinterland
- Serves Ethiopia's 120M+ population
- Time zone
- GMT +3
Economy
Ports, transit and services
Djibouti's economy is built almost entirely on transport, logistics, telecoms and the services that support international maritime and military traffic.
$0.4B
GDP (nominal, 2024)
Small economy, large throughput
0%
Share of Ethiopian trade handled
The country's principal maritime gateway
0 ha
Free trade zone area
DIFTZ, one of Africa's largest planned zones
0%
GDP growth (2024)
Driven by transit and logistics
Ports & terminalsDoraleh and multipurpose terminals
Logistics & transitEthiopian corridor traffic
Free zone & re-exportDIFTZ industrial and trading zone
Telecoms & data cablesA landing point for major subsea cables
Banking & servicesDollar-linked regional finance
Renewable energyGeothermal, wind and solar potential
Priority sectors
Where Djiboutian partners are looking
Sectors where the government and port authorities seek international operators and equipment.
Industry
Free zone manufacturing
The Djibouti International Free Trade Zone offers assembly, packaging and re-export platforms for the Horn of Africa.
Growth
Cold chain & food logistics
Refrigerated storage and handling for food imports serving Ethiopia and the wider region.
Digital
Digital infrastructure
A landing point for multiple subsea cables, with data centre and connectivity opportunities.
Clean energy
Renewable energy
Geothermal potential in the Rift Valley plus wind and solar projects aiming at full renewable supply.
Utilities
Water & desalination
Desalination and distribution to serve a fast-growing, water-scarce urban population.
Vision Djibouti 2035
A regional logistics and commercial hub
Vision 2035 sets out to make Djibouti the trade, logistics and digital hub of the Horn of Africa, with modern infrastructure and a large services economy.
- 2017
Addis–Djibouti railway
An electrified standard-gauge line connects the port to the Ethiopian capital.
- 2018
DIFTZ opens
The first phase of a planned 4,800-hectare free trade zone begins operating.
- 2023
Renewable expansion
Wind and solar projects added toward a fully renewable power target.
- 2035
Vision target
A diversified logistics, digital and services economy serving the Horn of Africa.
Major development projects
Major national development projects
Infrastructure programmes with international operators and financiers.
Doraleh Multipurpose Port
Deep-water container and bulk handling capacity serving the Ethiopian corridor.
Djibouti International Free Trade Zone
A large planned industrial and trading zone for manufacturing and regional re-export.
Ghoubet geothermal
Rift Valley geothermal development aiming at low-cost baseload renewable power.
Damerjog industrial park
An energy and heavy-industry zone including LPG and ship-repair facilities.
US – Djibouti trade
A transit economy with dollar-linked trade
Most goods passing through Djibouti are destined for Ethiopia, but the country itself imports food, fuel, equipment and consumer goods, and its US dollar peg simplifies American trade.
Top exports to the world
Re-exports & transit servicesThe core of export earnings
Live animals
Salt & minerals
Top imports
Food & agricultural products
Fuel & refined products
Machinery & port equipment
Vehicles & construction materials
Leading products to the United States
- Re-exported goods
- Salt and minerals
- Hides and skins
Leading products from the United States
- Food commodities
- Port and construction machinery
- Vehicles
- Telecom and IT equipment
- The Djibouti franc has been pegged to the US dollar since 1949
- A US military presence gives long-standing familiarity with American standards and suppliers
- Access to a hinterland market of well over 100 million consumers
Bilateral goods trade — 2024
Trade with the United States
Verified full-year bilateral merchandise trade between Djibouti and the United States, reported from Djibouti's perspective.
Latest verified data available
Total U.S. goods trade
$220.0M
2024
Exports to the United States
$20.0M
2024
Imports from the United States
$200.0M
2024
Trade balance
$180.0M
Deficit for Djibouti
2024
Exports vs. imports — 2024
Djibouti exports to the United States$20.0M
Djibouti imports from the United States$200.0M
Exports to the US Imports from the US
Djibouti runs a goods deficit with the United States, importing port, logistics and transport equipment that serve its role as the primary maritime gateway for the Horn of Africa.
Scope of these figures
Latest verified data available. These figures represent merchandise trade only and do not include services.
Data source
- U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Division — country trade data (full year 2024)
- UN Comtrade Database
Statistical year: 2024
Leading exports to the United States
- Re-exported goods
- Hides and skins
- Salt and mineral products
Leading imports from the United States
- Machinery and port equipment
- Vehicles
- Aircraft parts
- Food and agricultural products
Culture & tourism
Rift Valley landscapes and Red Sea diving
Salt lakes, volcanic terrain and whale sharks in the Gulf of Tadjoura.
Central Djibouti
Lake Assal
The lowest point in Africa and one of the saltiest bodies of water on earth.
Southwest
Lake Abbe
Limestone chimneys and steam vents in an otherworldly Rift Valley landscape.
Coast
Gulf of Tadjoura
Seasonal whale shark aggregations and coral reef diving.
Goda Mountains
Day Forest National Park
A relict juniper forest high above the coastal desert.
Why invest
Why international companies choose Djibouti
Strategic location, dollar stability and infrastructure built for transit.
01
Gateway position
The maritime access point for one of Africa's largest and fastest-growing inland markets.
02
Currency stability
A 75-year US dollar peg removes exchange risk for American businesses.
03
Free zone terms
Full foreign ownership, tax exemptions and streamlined customs in the DIFTZ.
04
Political stability
A stable government hosting multiple international partners and military facilities.
At the Expo
Djibouti at AAIX 2027
The Djibouti pavilion presents the Horn of Africa's logistics gateway to American exporters and investors.
- Free zone and distribution base briefings
- Port equipment and logistics supplier meetings
- Geothermal and renewable energy project introductions
- Regional distribution partnership matchmaking
Business opportunities
Opportunities for Arab and American companies
How companies from different markets can engage with Djibouti through the Expo.
For American companies
Use the free zone as a Horn of Africa distribution base, or supply port, energy and digital infrastructure equipment.
For Arab companies
Terminal concessions, logistics ventures and food transit operations serving the Red Sea corridor.
For international investors
Geothermal power, data centres and industrial park development with development-finance backing.
Represent Djibouti at Arab-America International Expo 2027
Present your country's economy, industries, products, investment opportunities, tourism destinations and culture to the American and North American markets.
Reserve space in the Djiboutian pavilion, or register as an American company to build a Horn of Africa distribution strategy.
Sources & data
- Institut National de la Statistique de Djibouti
- Djibouti Ports & Free Zones Authority
- Banque Centrale de Djibouti
- World Bank World Development Indicators
- IMF World Economic Outlook
- U.S. Census Bureau / USTR trade statistics
- UN Comtrade
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Last updated: August 2026