Updated
Overview
Ethiopia has 114 times the population of Djibouti: 135.47 million people against 1.18 million (2025).
Ethiopia's economy is 27 times the size of Djibouti's, at $126.36B versus $4.62B.
Per person, Djibouti is the wealthier of the two: $3,906 against $933 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Ethiopia | Djibouti | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $126.36B | $4.62B | 2025 | $126.77B / $4.09B |
| GDP per capita | $933 | Higher: $3,906 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 9.8% | 6.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 13.2% | Lower: -0.3% | 2025 | 21.0% / 2.1% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 3.3% | 26.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 37 | 46 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $96 | — | 2021 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 135.47 million | 1.18 million | 2025 | 121.37 million / 1.01 million |
| Population growth | 2.6% | 1.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 19.1 yrs | 24.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 3.81 | 2.58 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 67.6 yrs | 66.2 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 24% | 73% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 22% | Higher: 65% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,104,300 km² | 23,200 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 122.7/km² | 51.0/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 18 Mt | Lower: 0.56 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 0.1 t | 0.5 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $921.67M | $36.27M | 2024 / 2008 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.7% | 2.6% | 2024 / 2008 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 138,000 | 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
Ethiopia is growing much faster: 9.8% annual GDP growth versus 6.5%.
Ethiopia runs the hotter price environment: 13.2% inflation versus -0.3%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Ethiopia: a price level of 37 versus 46 on a US=100 scale.
People and society
Ethiopia is the younger society: median age 19.1 versus 24.9 years.
Life expectancy is 1.4 years longer in Ethiopia (67.6 vs 66.2).
Djibouti is considerably more urbanized: 73% of people live in cities, against 24%.
Internet adoption is higher in Djibouti (65% vs 22% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Ethiopia is 48 times the size of Djibouti: 1,104,300 km² versus 23,200 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Ethiopia is far more densely settled: 123 people per km² against 51.
Military
Ethiopia spends 25 times as much on defence as Djibouti: $921.67M versus $36.27M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Djibouti carries the heavier military burden: 2.6% of GDP versus 0.7%.
Ethiopia fields the larger armed forces: 138,000 personnel against 13,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Ethiopia bigger than Djibouti?
- Ethiopia is larger by land area. Ethiopia covers 1,104,300 km² while Djibouti covers 23,200 km², so Ethiopia is 48 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Ethiopia or Djibouti?
- Ethiopia has the larger population: 135.47 million versus 1.18 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Ethiopia richer than Djibouti?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Djibouti is richer: $3,906 against $933. Total GDP tells a different story: $126.36B for Ethiopia versus $4.62B for Djibouti.
- Who spends more on their military, Ethiopia or Djibouti?
- Ethiopia spends more: $921.67M versus $36.27M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).