Safest cities in Djibouti
1 city with 100k+ population · data updated 2026-09-04
Areas the UK FCDO advises against visiting
- Djibouti-Eritrea border
In full or in part — the official advisory lists exact boundaries and exceptions.
What official travel advice warns about
Terrorism
- Terrorism in DjiboutiTerrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Djibouti.
Crime
- Protecting your belongingsThere is a risk of petty crime. Take precautions such as:
Laws and cultural differences
- RamadanRamadan is a holy month for Muslims. The dates vary by year and country. During this time, do not:
- MoneyCredit and debit cards are not widely accepted. If credit cards are accepted, you often need a Visa card. ATMs are normally available in Djibouti City, but they may not accept Mastercard. Make sure that you carry enough cash.
- Alcohol lawsDrinking alcohol is allowed, but you can get a 2-year prison sentence for drunken behaviour.
- Using camerasPhotographing infrastructure, such as ports, public buildings, airports, military facilities, and bridges, is prohibited. Your equipment could be confiscated, and you could be arrested. When taking photos near prohibited places, take care and seek local advice if you are unsure.
- LGBT+ travellersSame-sex sexual behaviour is not illegal but is not common in Djiboutian public life. Same-sex couples showing affection in public could attract the attention of the authorities under laws around “good morals”.
Transport risks
- Road travelIf you are planning to drive in Djibouti, see information on driving abroad.
- Driving standardsDriving standards are generally poor. Many drivers use the legal narcotic khat, which contributes to speeding and unsafe driving. Roads are often narrow and poorly lit and maintained.
- Air travelThe UK Air Safety List (ASL) lists all known airlines in Djibouti that do not meet international safety standards and are banned from operating commercial air services to, from, and within the UK. Check the UK Air Safety List when considering which airlines to fly with. The list is maintained by the Department for Transport, based on advice from…
- Sea travelThere is a significant risk of piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean. Pirates continue to attack fishing dhows around the Horn of Africa. International naval counter-piracy forces advise all sailing yachts to avoid the designated high-risk area where there is risk of hijacking. See piracy and armed robbery at sea.
Extreme weather and natural disasters
- FloodingIntense rainfall is rare but can cause flash floods, particularly around Djibouti City. Flash floods can cause:
- Earthquakes and volcanic eruptionsEarthquakes and volcanic eruptions are a risk in Djibouti. The US Federal Emergency Management Agency website has advice about what to do before, during and after an earthquake.
Headings and opening lines from the UK FCDO “Safety and security” travel advice for Djibouti, updated 2026-07-27 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Read the full advice on gov.uk →
Country figures
- Homicide rate
- no data
- Income inequality
- Gini 41.62017
- Human development
- HDI 0.5132023
- Income
- $8,660/yrGNI per capita PPP
- Road deaths
- 23.5 /100kWHO, 2019
- Political stability
- 56/100WGI, 2024 · higher = more stable
- Rule of law
- 40/100WGI, 2024
- Corruption perceptions
- 31/100Transparency Intl, 2025 · higher = cleaner
- Natural-hazard risk
- 5.2/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Women, Peace & Security
- 0.56GIWPS, 2025 · 0-1, higher = better
- Air quality
- 40.3 µg/m³PM2.5, 2023 · WHO guideline is 5
- Safe drinking water
- no dataof population · WHO/UNICEF JMP
- Healthcare capacity
- 0.2 doctors /1k1.4 hospital beds per 1,000
- Malaria
- 45 /1k at riskWHO, 2024 · endemic countries only
Natural hazards
- Drought
- 7.8/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Earthquake
- 5.2/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Tsunami
- 5.0/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Hazard types scoring under 1 out of 10 are not listed.
Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Djibouti (as of 2025).
How Djibouti compares
| Measure | Djibouti | World median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | no data | 2.4 /100k | — |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 41.6 | 35.2 | +6.4 — better for World median |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.513 | 0.763 | −0.250 — better for World median |
| Road deaths | 23.5 /100k | 15.4 /100k | +8.1 /100k — better for World median |
| Rule of law | 40/100 | 52/100 | −12/100 — better for World median |
| Corruption perceptions | 31/100 | 39/100 | −8/100 — better for World median |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 40.3 µg/m³ | 19.7 µg/m³ | +20.6 µg/m³ — better for World median |
| Natural-hazard risk | 5.2/10 | 3.8/10 | +1.4/10 — better for World median |
| Measure | Djibouti | Africa median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | no data | 4.5 /100k | — |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 41.6 | 38.3 | +3.4 — better for Africa median |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.513 | 0.563 | −0.050 — better for Africa median |
| Road deaths | 23.5 /100k | 28.2 /100k | −4.7 /100k — better for Djibouti |
| Rule of law | 40/100 | 42/100 | −2/100 — better for Africa median |
| Corruption perceptions | 31/100 | 30/100 | +1/100 — better for Djibouti |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 40.3 µg/m³ | 27.3 µg/m³ | +13.0 µg/m³ — better for Africa median |
| Natural-hazard risk | 5.2/10 | 5.3/10 | −0.1/10 — better for Djibouti |
Medians, not means, so one extreme country cannot drag the reference value. Each row compares only the countries that have a published figure for that measure, and differences are plain arithmetic between stored values.
All 1 cities, safest first
- Djibouti71.9 · #3167 worldwide