Updated
Overview
Somalia has 17 times the population of Djibouti: 19.65 million people against 1.18 million (2025).
Somalia's economy is 2.8 times the size of Djibouti's, at $13.00B versus $4.62B.
Per person, Djibouti is the wealthier of the two: $3,906 against $661 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Somalia | Djibouti | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $13.00B | $4.62B | 2025 | $12.11B / $4.09B |
| GDP per capita | $661 | Higher: $3,906 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 3.0% | Higher: 6.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.7% | Lower: -0.3% | 2025 | 6.8% / 2.1% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 18.9% | 26.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | — | 46 | — / 2025 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 19.65 million | 1.18 million | 2025 | 20.32 million / 1.01 million |
| Population growth | 3.3% | 1.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 15.6 yrs | 24.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 5.91 | 2.58 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 59.0 yrs | Higher: 66.2 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 55% | 73% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 28% | Higher: 65% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 637,657 km² | 23,200 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 30.8/km² | 51.0/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 1.32 Mt | Lower: 0.56 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 0.1 t | 0.5 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $201.85M | $36.27M | 2024 / 2008 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.6% | 2.6% | 2024 / 2008 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 14,000 | 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
Djibouti is growing much faster: 6.5% annual GDP growth versus 3.0%.
Somalia runs the hotter price environment: 3.7% inflation versus -0.3%.
People and society
Somalia is the far younger society: median age 15.6 versus 24.9 years.
Life expectancy is 7.2 years longer in Djibouti (66.2 vs 59.0).
Djibouti is considerably more urbanized: 73% of people live in cities, against 55%.
Internet adoption is higher in Djibouti (65% vs 28% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Somalia is 27 times the size of Djibouti: 637,657 km² versus 23,200 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Military
Somalia spends 5.6 times as much on defence as Djibouti: $201.85M versus $36.27M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Djibouti carries the heavier military burden: 2.6% of GDP versus 1.6%.
Somalia fields the larger armed forces: 14,000 personnel against 13,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Somalia bigger than Djibouti?
- Somalia is larger by land area. Somalia covers 637,657 km² while Djibouti covers 23,200 km², so Somalia is 27 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Somalia or Djibouti?
- Somalia has the larger population: 19.65 million versus 1.18 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Somalia richer than Djibouti?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Djibouti is richer: $3,906 against $661. Total GDP tells a different story: $13.00B for Somalia versus $4.62B for Djibouti.
- Who spends more on their military, Somalia or Djibouti?
- Somalia spends more: $201.85M versus $36.27M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).