Updated
Overview
Eritrea has 3.0 times the population of Djibouti: 3.61 million people against 1.18 million (2025).
Djibouti's economy is 2.2 times the size of Eritrea's, at $4.62B versus $2.07B.
Per person, Djibouti is the wealthier of the two: $3,906 against $689 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Eritrea | Djibouti | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $2.07B | Higher: $4.62B | 2011 / 2025 | — / $4.09B |
| GDP per capita | $689 | Higher: $3,906 | 2011 / 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 8.7% | 6.5% | 2011 / 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | — | -0.3% | — / 2025 | — / 2.1% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 6.0% | 26.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | — | 46 | — / 2025 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 3.61 million | 1.18 million | 2025 | 6.42 million / 1.01 million |
| Population growth | 2.0% | 1.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 19.2 yrs | 24.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 3.61 | 2.58 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 68.9 yrs | 66.2 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 35% | 73% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 14% | Higher: 65% | 2020 / 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 117,600 km² | 23,200 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 30.7/km² | 51.0/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 0.74 Mt | Lower: 0.56 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 0.2 t | 0.5 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $181.58M | $36.27M | 2003 / 2008 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 20.9% | 2.6% | 2003 / 2008 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 202,000 | 13,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Eritrea is growing faster: 8.7% annual GDP growth versus 6.5%.
People and society
Eritrea is the younger society: median age 19.2 versus 24.9 years.
Life expectancy is 2.7 years longer in Eritrea (68.9 vs 66.2).
Djibouti is considerably more urbanized: 73% of people live in cities, against 35%.
Internet adoption is higher in Djibouti (65% vs 14% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Eritrea is 5.1 times the size of Djibouti: 117,600 km² versus 23,200 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Military
Eritrea spends 5.0 times as much on defence as Djibouti: $181.58M versus $36.27M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Eritrea carries the heavier military burden: 20.9% of GDP versus 2.6%.
Eritrea fields the larger armed forces: 202,000 personnel against 13,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Eritrea bigger than Djibouti?
- Eritrea is larger by land area. Eritrea covers 117,600 km² while Djibouti covers 23,200 km², so Eritrea is 5.1 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Eritrea or Djibouti?
- Eritrea has the larger population: 3.61 million versus 1.18 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Eritrea richer than Djibouti?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Djibouti is richer: $3,906 against $689. Total GDP tells the same story: $2.07B for Eritrea versus $4.62B for Djibouti.
- Who spends more on their military, Eritrea or Djibouti?
- Eritrea spends more: $181.58M versus $36.27M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).