What is the capital of Djibouti?
Djibouti City lies on the Gulf of Tadjoura, on the coast of the Horn of Africa near the southern entrance to the Red Sea.
Djibouti is the capital and seat of government of Djibouti, a role it has held since 1977. Djibouti itself has an estimated population of 1,184,076 (2025).
Djibouti is also the largest city in Djibouti, which is the usual arrangement, though it is far from universal: see the countries where capital and largest city differ.
Djibouti at a glance
| City population | 776,966 (2024 census) |
|---|---|
| Country | 🇩🇯 Djibouti |
| Founded | 1888 |
| Capital since | 1977 |
| Largest city in Djibouti | Djibouti |
| Time zone | UTC+03:00 (EAT) |
| Currency | Djiboutian franc (DJF) |
About Djibouti
The French founded the city in 1888 on a previously uninhabited stretch of coast.
Djibouti has been the capital of Djibouti since 1977, when Djibouti became independent on 27 June 1977; the city had been the capital of French Somaliland since 1896.
Around three-quarters of Djibouti's entire population lives in the capital, one of the highest such shares of any country.
The city shares its name with the country, and its port is the economic lifeline of the region, handling much of neighbouring Ethiopia's trade.
City facts sourced from Wikipedia: Djibouti (city).
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Djibouti?
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Capitals of neighbouring countries
See the full profile of Djibouti on its country page, or browse every capital city.
Capital and country data from open datasets; city and metropolitan populations are hand-curated per city and cited where they are shown. Populations of countries come from the World Bank (SP.POP.TOTL). Full sources and vintage on the data page. Last updated . Report a correction.