Djibouti is this rich?

[GemState]

The 2025 IMF numbers for Djibouti are insane. A nominal per capita of $4.3k is around the same as Philippines/Morocco, and in the upper tier for SSA. Botswana that every African raves about is $7k.

Another thing is thst this isn't mineral/oil money too but logistics/port growth, so it should really just keep going up. There's no boom bust cycle.

Obviously there's going to be a lot of corruption, but still, these are genuinely impressive numbers.

 

[GemState]

The goal for Somalia should be a Djiboutix20, very doable imo

 

[zeilaprime]

As a Djiboutian, I don't believe in any statistics from Djibouti. The whole country lives mostly in poverty and slums, but somehow the gdp is growing by 6+% every year. Most of the money is held by the corrupt elite and the presidents family.

 

[Thegoodshepherd]

Djibouti is a statistical blackhole. I would not believe these self reported figures. We don't even know Djibouti's fertility rate. It basically does not survey its population, at all. Very strange country.

 

[Hotchick12]

why do they employ mostly ethiopians in every service sector

 

[balanbalis]

Probably because of a large financial gap bringing the numbers up

 

[DR OSMAN]

Djibouti GDP is a hoe driven economy renting out bases to the west in exchange for djbooty action for soldiers away from home lol or else it does isbaaro on Ethiopian economy.

What the f*ck does Djibouti produce that is worth $4000.

By the way, GDP isn't income by the way, it's what each citizen is capable of producing based on that nations total products, goods, and service for each year.

Income is a whole different measure and the purchasing power of a westerner is no different to a third worker as the bulk majority live and die achieving basics of life like everywhere else. Somalis as usual r backwards thinking gdp means richness nope it means they just work harder and longer and produce more products, goods, services across their population.

 

[Sigmundd]

Even Somalia is doing better than Djibouti. I dont believe it and even so the corrupt elite that's been in office for over 20 years is withholding the country from progressing. Seriously even Mogadishu looks way better than Djibouti capital city.

 

[Afrax]

Djibouti’s economic growth has largely come from serving as a middleman between Ethiopia and the rest of the world. While its development under President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh (IOG) is commendable given its lack of resources and a skilled diaspora, this growth model has reached its limits. Unlike Singapore, which leveraged both its location and human capital, Djibouti lacks access to external expertise and must now rely on its own population for future progress.

To move forward, the country needs to shift from authoritarian rule to a more sustainable, two-party governance system. Greater investment in housing, energy, and especially education is crucial, as the people are Djibouti's most important asset. The government should also focus on attracting foreign expertise and investment. One practical step would be to develop local industries by processing 10–20% of Ethiopian raw materials domestically, which could significantly boost the economy and create thousands of jobs with minimal effort.

Original text:

Djibouti is heavily reliant on a single customer its growth has been derived from being a middleman between the world and Ethiopia. I'm not trying to discredit IOG's work, the overall development is impressive considering the challenges the Djibouti faces. This is a country with no significant natural resources and no large, well-educated, or wealthy diaspora to draw expertise from. By contrast, Singapore’s rise was shaped by its strategic location and easy access to human capital at critical conjecture. It benefited greatly from the Chinese diaspora in Malaysia, Hong Kong, and from some of the mainland’s brightest minds. Djibouti does not enjoy that advantage.

What it does have is an ideal location, one of the largest natural harbors in the region, and a resource-rich, landlocked neighbor. These advantages have already been fully leveraged. However, further growth cannot be attained from being a middleman.

President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh (IOG) should begin transitioning from authoritarian rule to a sustainable system of governance. A two-party system with decision-making authority concentrated in major towns(Tadjourah and Djibouti) would be a more balanced and enduring model. Unfortunately, his administration has done little to increase education spending over the past five years, which is a serious shortcoming. The people remain Djibouti’s most valuable asset for future development.

The administration should now focus its investments on housing, energy, and education. It should also work to attract foreign expertise and direct investments. Open factories that process Ethiopian goods before they are shipped overseas. Redirecting just 10 to 20 percent of Ethiopian raw materials to local factories for processing could add significant value to the economy and create thousands of jobs with minimal effort.

 

[Arkan]

Djibouti’s economic growth has largely come from serving as a middleman between Ethiopia and the rest of the world. While its development under President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh (IOG) is commendable given its lack of resources and a skilled diaspora, this growth model has reached its limits. Unlike Singapore, which leveraged both its location and human capital, Djibouti lacks access to external expertise and must now rely on its own population for future progress.

To move forward, the country needs to shift from authoritarian rule to a more sustainable, two-party governance system. Greater investment in housing, energy, and especially education is crucial, as the people are Djibouti's most important asset. The government should also focus on attracting foreign expertise and investment. One practical step would be to develop local industries by processing 10–20% of Ethiopian raw materials domestically, which could significantly boost the economy and create thousands of jobs with minimal effort.

Original text:

Apparently, IOG won’t be running again in the 2026 elections and this will be his final term.

 

[Afrax]

Apparently, IOG won’t be running again in the 2026 elections and this will be his final term.

People have been saying that for over a decade. I just hope they have planned the transition phase thoroughly.

 

[Midas]

Djibouti gdp per capita is obviously not really true. Just look at the hdi score which is lower than even countries with a 3k gdp per capita

 

[Maintainnnin]

GDP is simply a measurement of all *goods and services* produced within an economy. It does not directly measure people’s incomes, although it often correlates with them. This misunderstanding is why we have smooth brain takes on here where people claim Somalia's GDP is $5,000 and it's also why people are shocked at Djibouti's GDP per capita.

To better illustrate this, let’s compare the 2024 nominal GDP per capita of Europe’s richest major economy, Germany, with that of America’s poorest state, Mississippi:

Nominal GDP Per Capita of Germany: $55,521
Nominal GDP Per Capita of Mississippi: $53,872

This is the basis by which American's call Europeans, Europoors. The lay person based on those numbers would assume the average Mississippian is about as rich as the average German, but in reality it's not even close.

Average Individual Income of Germany: $52,000
Average annual hours worked Germany: 1,343 hours

Average Individual Income of Mississippi: $30,181
Average annual hours worked Mississippi: 1,820 hours

The average Mississippian works 30% more hours a year and takes home $20,000 less than the average German. This comparison gets even worse if you continue to compare other statistics such as Human Development Index, and life expectancy. It's clear to everybody that Mississippi is a straight up backwater shithole compared to Germany, but by only looking at GDP per capita, the disparity seems almost non-existent.

Now, lets move on to Djibouti’s GDP per capita. Most of it comes from its port and military bases. That’s almost exclusively where the government gets its revenue from and it’s what inflates its GDP relative to its tiny population. The average Djiboutian is not wealthier than the typical Somali. Monthly incomes there range from around $200 to $600 for most people, which is in line with what’s normal in Somalia. That’s why, when you compare Djibouti’s life expectancy, it’s closer to Ethiopia and Eritrea than to “poorer” North African countries like Egypt and Morocco, where life expectancy is 70 and 74 years respectively.

 

[Farah717]

Thats the amount they receive in aid by the world bank lol.

 

[Riftvalley]

Djibouti GDP is a hoe driven economy renting out bases to the west in exchange for djbooty action for soldiers away from home lol or else it does isbaaro on Ethiopian economy.

What the f*ck does Djibouti produce that is worth $4000.

By the way, GDP isn't income by the way, it's what each citizen is capable of producing based on that nations total products, goods, and service for each year.

Income is a whole different measure and the purchasing power of a westerner is no different to a third worker as the bulk majority live and die achieving basics of life like everywhere else. Somalis as usual r backwards thinking gdp means richness nope it means they just work harder and longer and produce more products, goods, services across their population.

 

[Hilmaam]

djibouti is way better and safer than somalia. Djibouti goverment isnt hidden in a bunker. they dont have sucide bombing,S they dont have constant clan ware fare and ano qabil killings. they have small population and at least have safety.

With regards to per capita being so high not so hard when you population so little. They make 1 billion off ethiopia alone in port business, they make alot of money off military bases, they have ship repair businesses,. they also have alot of service industry due to people visiting back home and all the foreigners in country. They need hotel food etc.. all these needs lead to contruction industry import business, tele communication and other sectors. i dont see anything mind blowing growth rate not that impressive either

 

[TheLand]

djibouti is way better and safer than somalia. Djibouti goverment isnt hidden in a bunker. they dont have sucide bombing,S they dont have constant clan ware fare and ano qabil killings. they have small population and at least have safety.

With regards to per capita being so high not so hard when you population so little. They make 1 billion off ethiopia alone in port business, they make alot of money off military bases, they have ship repair businesses,. they also have alot of service industry due to people visiting back home and all the foreigners in country. They need hotel food etc.. all these needs lead to contruction industry import business, tele communication and other sectors. i dont see anything mind blowing growth rate not that impressive either



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Yea but this doesn’t tell you how it’s distributed and that is way more important than anything else. It could be the difference between peace and anarchy.

 

[Hilmaam]

Yea but this doesn’t tell you how it’s distributed and that is way more important than anything else. It could be the difference between peace and anarchy.

Yes both things can be true. 4500 per capita and average person making way less than that. They have very little natural resources but making good use of what they have stratling Red Sea. ’even pastoralist life style hard there due to heat and desert conditions . Even then the govt trying a lot more than rest of Somalia if you look at investments they doing it’s not close

 

[Midas]

Yes both things can be true. 4500 per capita and average person making way less than that. They have very little natural resources but making good use of what they have stratling Red Sea. ’even pastoralist life style hard there due to heat and desert conditions . Even then the govt trying a lot more than rest of Somalia if you look at investments they doing it’s not close

What kind of cope is this ? The fact that the avg living standard of a Djiboutian isnt much higher than that of a person living in somalia even though the gdp per capita is 4-5 times thag of Somalia is mind boggling and this is with 90% of the pouplation basically living in 1 city.

 

[Hilmaam]

What kind of cope is this ? The fact that the avg living standard of a Djiboutian isnt much higher than that of a person living in somalia even though the gdp per capita is 4-5 times thag of Somalia is mind boggling and this is with 90% of the pouplation basically living in 1 city.

ur a conspiracy theorist everything is fake and cope