Djibouti: immigration

How many refugees are in Djibouti?

Djibouti hosted 24,899 refugees under the mandate of the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) in 2025, up from 23,987 in 2024, according to the World Bank, which uses UNHCR data. UNHCR publishes more detailed figures on its operational data portal.

International migrants of all kinds made up 10.8% of the population in 2024, according to the World Bank, using UN estimates. Figures are counts at the end of each year.

Official sources: World Bank: Refugees by country of asylum, Djibouti · UNHCR: Djibouti

What is the population of Djibouti?

Djibouti's population was about 1,184,076 in 2025, up from 1,168,722 in 2024, according to the World Bank, which uses UN estimates. Net migration was an estimated -581 in 2025, according to the World Bank.

Official counts come from the national census run by INSTAD. UN estimates project the population between censuses and are revised when new census results are published. INSTAD's own figures could not be read on its website on 15 October 2026.

Official sources: World Bank: Population, Djibouti · World Bank: Net migration, Djibouti

Where do refugees in Djibouti come from?

Of the 24,899 refugees in Djibouti in 2025, 13,853 were from Somalia, 5,877 from Ethiopia, 3,932 from Yemen and 1,187 from Eritrea, according to the UNHCR population statistics API. A further 10,141 people were asylum seekers, 9,438 of them from Ethiopia.

Asylum seekers are people whose claims have not yet been decided, so they are counted separately from recognised refugees. Figures are end-of-year. UNHCR's Djibouti data portal has camp-level updates.

Official sources: UNHCR population statistics API: Djibouti, 2025 · UNHCR: Djibouti operational data portal

How many foreign-born people live in Djibouti?

10.8%: that is the share of people born abroad in Djibouti for 2024, according to the UN Population Division. It was 11.0% in 2015. It is 12th highest of 22 in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, where the median is 11.5%. World rank, highest first: 58th of 193.

What is net migration in Djibouti?

The latest figure from the UN Population Division, for 2025, is -581. Since 2005 it has ranged from -3,779 (2005) to 2,770 (2009). Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan median: -376; Djibouti is 12th highest of 22. World rank, highest first: 86th of 193.

How many refugees does Djibouti host?

The latest figure from UNHCR, for 2025, is 24,899. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. Across Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan the middle value was 15,377, and Djibouti placed 10th highest of 22. World rank, highest first: 79th of 169.

How many refugees come from Djibouti?

In 2025, the number of refugees from the country living abroad in Djibouti was 2,223, according to UNHCR. The peak was 2,607 in 2021 and the low 479 in 2006. Across Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan the middle value was 7,322, and Djibouti placed 16th highest of 22. World rank, highest first: 91st of 189.

How much money do migrants send home to Djibouti?

The World Bank puts personal remittances received in Djibouti at 1.3% of GDP in 2024. No year since 2005 has been lower. Across Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan the middle value was 0.7% of GDP, and Djibouti placed 6th highest of 14. Of 156 countries with 2024 data, 93rd highest.