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Economy of Djibouti vs United Arab Emirates compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Djibouti has a GDP of $4.09B compared to $537B for the United Arab Emirates, ranking 165/197 and 29/197 by economy size, respectively.

Djibouti has $1.36B in government debt (31.2% of GDP), compared to $172B (32.8% of GDP) in the United Arab Emirates.

The chart below compares the two countries' GDP growth in both current (nominal) and constant dollars, accounting for inflation over time.

Djibouti
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
United Arab Emirates
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
Year GDP
Djibouti UAE
Current $ Constant $ Current $ Constant $
1970 - - $685,986,701 $14,070,592,924
1971 - - $939,893,600 $19,222,171,572
1972 - - $1,415,086,929 $26,734,126,559
1973 - - $4,231,243,616 $47,217,855,776
1974 - - $11,651,505,689 $54,063,519,993
1975 - - $14,720,728,249 $57,430,272,387
1976 - - $19,213,158,779 $66,921,691,096
1977 - - $24,871,775,165 $81,269,253,405
1978 - - $23,775,764,225 $79,977,394,655
1979 - - $31,225,659,621 $96,711,523,271
1980 - - $43,599,160,050 $119,801,181,765
1981 - - $49,333,424,135 $125,382,930,480
1982 - - $46,622,718,605 $116,958,054,939
1983 - - $42,803,323,345 $111,407,435,357
1984 - - $41,807,954,236 $115,882,617,757
1985 $340,989,528 - $40,603,650,232 $111,717,244,274
1986 - - $33,943,612,095 $95,006,426,309
1987 $373,371,738 - $36,384,908,744 $98,219,526,270
1988 $395,794,539 - $36,275,674,203 $95,647,247,530
1989 $409,220,087 - $41,464,995,914 $107,448,100,944
1990 $452,328,087 - $50,701,443,748 $127,141,173,341
1991 $462,421,999 - $51,552,165,622 $128,234,691,621
1992 $478,058,305 - $54,239,171,888 $132,524,071,346
1993 $466,048,469 - $55,625,170,253 $134,195,452,934
1994 $491,689,221 - $59,305,093,980 $143,449,770,720
1995 $497,723,961 - $65,743,666,576 $153,043,528,513
1996 $494,004,648 - $73,571,233,996 $161,917,610,698
1997 $502,675,542 - $78,839,008,445 $175,179,308,497
1998 $514,267,869 - $75,674,336,283 $175,690,822,167
1999 $536,080,148 - $84,445,473,111 $180,789,745,171
2000 $551,230,862 - $104,337,372,362 $200,410,321,466
2001 $572,417,441 - $103,311,640,572 $203,214,232,287
2002 $591,122,040 - $109,816,201,498 $208,159,362,863
2003 $622,044,666 - $124,346,358,067 $226,478,512,549
2004 $666,072,102 - $147,824,370,320 $248,144,435,950
2005 $708,633,195 - $180,617,467,965 $260,192,198,684
2006 $768,873,684 - $222,116,541,865 $285,788,137,283
2007 $847,918,929 - $257,916,133,424 $294,888,746,643
2008 $999,105,339 - $315,474,615,739 $304,301,112,625
2009 $1,049,110,685 - $253,547,358,747 $288,346,842,937
2010 $1,128,611,700 - $300,189,052,689 $292,968,610,444
2011 $1,239,144,502 - $360,832,739,551 $311,179,896,154
2012 $1,353,632,942 - $384,610,125,391 $316,857,313,566
2013 $2,044,440,443 $2,107,658,965 $400,218,529,748 $332,876,224,084
2014 $2,220,637,966 $2,259,262,606 $414,105,366,753 $346,742,821,790
2015 $2,424,391,785 $2,424,391,785 $370,275,469,571 $370,275,469,571
2016 $2,604,955,229 $2,597,091,694 $369,255,326,236 $390,868,305,597
2017 $2,762,581,334 $2,738,843,335 $390,516,804,030 $393,741,456,224
2018 $2,913,464,658 $2,869,605,010 $427,049,432,158 $398,914,879,875
2019 $3,088,851,450 $3,028,726,927 $417,989,721,743 $403,336,245,504
2020 $3,144,136,197 $3,065,135,713 $349,473,015,330 $383,342,656,333
2021 $3,392,796,953 $3,200,221,046 $415,178,792,757 $400,036,290,964
2022 $3,562,814,909 $3,365,561,652 $502,731,935,194 $430,077,804,445
2023 $3,917,150,481 $3,613,673,263 $514,130,432,648 $445,641,058,044
2024 $4,086,402,719 $3,828,825,225 $537,078,829,135 $462,404,360,915

Economic indicators

Djibouti UAE
Gross domestic product
$4.09B
2024
$537B
2024
GDP rank
165/197
2024
29/197
2024
GDP growth
4.32%
2023-2024
4.46%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$3,496
2024
$49,378
2024
GDP per capita rank
134/197
2024
24/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$7,776
2024
$77,959
2024
Government debt
$1.36B
2024
$172B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
31.2%
2025
32.8%
2025
Government debt per person
$1,163
2024
$15,857
2024
Government debt per person rank
138/185
2024
39/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,788
2025
$40,921
2025
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$1.05T
2024
Number of millionaires n/a
202,201
2024
Number of billionaires n/a
6
2025
Income share by richest 10%
32.3%
2017
20.5%
2018
Income share by poorest 10%
1.9%
2017
2.8%
2018
Government expenditure, % of GDP
21.6%
2025
24%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
1.5%
2024-2025
1.6%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate n/a
4.15%
2025
Unemployment rate
40%
2017
1.88%
2024
Population
1196428
11372700

GDP per capita in Djibouti vs United Arab Emirates

Djibouti's GDP per capita is $3,496, ranking 134/197, compared to $49,378 in the United Arab Emirates, ranking 24/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Djibouti ranks 143rd at $7,776, while the United Arab Emirates ranks 16th at $77,959.

Djibouti
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
United Arab Emirates
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Year Current $
Djibouti UAE
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
1970 - - $2,394 -
1971 - - $2,805 -
1972 - - $3,675 -
1973 - - $9,696 -
1974 - - $23,823 -
1975 - - $27,117 -
1976 - - $31,197 -
1977 - - $35,020 -
1978 - - $29,379 -
1979 - - $34,238 -
1980 - - $42,925 -
1981 - - $44,854 -
1982 - - $39,972 -
1983 - - $34,650 -
1984 - - $32,012 -
1985 $847 - $29,468 -
1986 $800 - $23,132 -
1987 $822 - $23,113 -
1988 $817 - $21,570 -
1989 $782 - $23,167 -
1990 $780 - $26,710 $86,949
1991 $733 - $25,691 $85,765
1992 $764 - $25,648 $86,019
1993 $759 - $25,033 $84,860
1994 $785 - $25,473 $88,427
1995 $786 - $27,003 $92,107
1996 $762 - $28,323 $93,009
1997 $748 - $27,983 $94,374
1998 $735 - $24,889 $88,693
1999 $740 - $25,856 $86,165
2000 $738 - $29,866 $91,318
2001 $742 - $27,745 $88,832
2002 $743 - $27,754 $86,960
2003 $765 - $29,660 $91,059
2004 $806 - $33,377 $96,982
2005 $844 - $38,719 $99,577
2006 $898 - $44,343 $104,995
2007 $970 - $45,855 $99,097
2008 $1,119 - $50,054 $93,017
2009 $1,151 - $37,803 $83,337
2010 $1,213 - $43,697 $83,671
2011 $1,306 - $50,789 $87,709
2012 $1,400 - $52,034 $87,340
2013 $2,076 $3,762 $52,024 $85,515
2014 $2,215 $3,978 $51,381 $85,248
2015 $2,376 $4,264 $43,535 $71,720
2016 $2,510 $4,432 $41,326 $67,702
2017 $2,619 $4,677 $42,341 $68,043
2018 $2,718 $5,083 $45,690 $75,071
2019 $2,837 $5,398 $44,251 $76,885
2020 $2,845 $5,527 $37,174 $65,353
2021 $3,026 $5,960 $43,360 $67,401
2022 $3,133 $6,621 $49,899 $73,778
2023 $3,398 $7,264 $49,041 $76,110
2024 $3,496 $7,776 $49,378 $77,959

Spending and national debt comparison

In 2024, Djibouti's government spending was $898M, accounting for 21.6% of its GDP, while the United Arab Emirates' spent $125B, or 24% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 31.2% in Djibouti and 32.8% in the United Arab Emirates, ranking 158/185 and 156/185, respectively.

Djibouti
Government spending

Government debt
United Arab Emirates
Government spending

Government debt
Year % of GDP
Djibouti UAE
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
1990 30.2% - - -
1991 27.7% - 36% 4.97%
1992 34.9% - 29.6% 5.31%
1993 35.3% - 31.5% 6.01%
1994 30.9% - 30.1% 5.58%
1995 27% 50.9% 26.1% 5.06%
1996 23.7% 53.1% 27.6% 3.48%
1997 25% 56% 22.6% 2.86%
1998 24% 55.2% 25.8% 4.18%
1999 23.5% 58.5% 24.3% 4.73%
2000 23.2% 58.1% 21.8% 3.12%
2001 21% 58.1% 25.2% 2.69%
2002 23.4% 63.7% 21.3% 3.43%
2003 25.8% 66.3% 20% 3.33%
2004 26.7% 65.3% 17.7% 4.08%
2005 26.2% 60.3% 15.7% 4.48%
2006 23.8% 58.3% 15.6% 5.05%
2007 26.6% 56.6% 17.7% 8.89%
2008 28.8% 59.3% 22% 8.95%
2009 31% 29.5% 35% 21.1%
2010 26.6% 27.9% 31.1% 18.8%
2011 25.3% 25.7% 30.3% 20.9%
2012 26.5% 25% 28.4% 20.7%
2013 26.8% 24.6% 29.6% 15.6%
2014 29% 26.9% 32.2% 13.8%
2015 42% 40.3% 27.2% 16.1%
2016 25.9% 45.9% 32.8% 19.3%
2017 23.9% 48% 28.1% 21.9%
2018 25.9% 47.5% 26.7% 21.3%
2019 24.9% 41.1% 28.4% 26.8%
2020 25.8% 42.1% 31.1% 41.3%
2021 23.1% 40.3% 26.4% 36.3%
2022 21% 38.3% 23.1% 32.1%
2023 21.5% 35.4% 23% 32.4%
2024 22% 33.3% 23.2% 32.1%
2025 21.6% 31.2% 24% 32.8%

Government deficit by year

In 2024, Djibouti's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was -$184M, equivalent to -4.51% of GDP. This compares to the United Arab Emirates' surplus of $25.9B, or 4.83% of GDP.

Over the past 34 years, Djibouti recorded a fiscal deficit in 32 of those years, while the United Arab Emirates ran a deficit in 8 years. On average, Djibouti posted an annual deficit equal to -3.23% of GDP, compared to surplus of +4.22% of GDP for the United Arab Emirates.

Deficit/surplus
Djibouti

United Arab Emirates
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Djibouti UAE
1990 -3.25% -
1991 -0.86% 3.89%
1992 -6.13% 3.34%
1993 -7.1% -2.89%
1994 -4.97% -1.78%
1995 -5.13% 3.58%
1996 -1.77% 0.92%
1997 -2.86% 6.71%
1998 -3.59% 1%
1999 -5.2% 1.31%
2000 -3.97% 10.7%
2001 -3.61% 1.21%
2002 -4.56% -1.24%
2003 -4.13% 2.35%
2004 -3.67% 6.4%
2005 -1.18% 16%
2006 0.26% 20.2%
2007 -1.88% 17.1%
2008 0.62% 17.6%
2009 -3.88% -6.13%
2010 -1.04% 0.53%
2011 -1.18% 5.17%
2012 -2.04% 8.77%
2013 -0.34% 8.18%
2014 -6.92% 1.79%
2015 -15.5% -6.56%
2016 -0.76% -3.05%
2017 -0.21% -0.16%
2018 -1.98% 3.77%
2019 -0.98% 2.59%
2020 -2.58% -2.47%
2021 -3.05% 4.03%
2022 -1.48% 9.97%
2023 -3.46% 5.91%
2024 -4.51% 4.83%
2025 -3.05% 2.89%

Inflation comparison by year

Over the past 30 years, Djibouti has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.56%, compared with 2.72% in the United Arab Emirates. In 2025, inflation was 1.5% in Djibouti and 1.6% in the United Arab Emirates.

Inflation
Djibouti

United Arab Emirates
Year Inflation
Djibouti UAE Djibouti UAE
1996 3.5% 3%
1997 2.5% 3%
1998 2.2% 2%
1999 -0.4% 2.1%
2000 1.2% 1.3%
2001 1.9% 2.8%
2002 1.4% 2.9%
2003 1.6% 3.1%
2004 2.4% 5%
2005 3.3% 6.2%
2006 3.5% 9.3%
2007 5.9% 11.1%
2008 8.7% 12.3%
2009 5.6% -4.7%
2010 2.5% 0.9%
2011 5.2% 0.9%
2012 4.2% 0.7%
2013 1.1% 1.1%
2014 1.3% 2.3%
2015 -0.5% 4.1%
2016 2.4% 1.6%
2017 0.6% 2%
2018 0.1% 3.1%
2019 3.3% -1.9%
2020 1.8% -2.1%
2021 1.2% -0.1%
2022 5.2% 4.8%
2023 1.4% 1.6%
2024 2.1% 1.7%
2025 1.5% 1.6%

Top exports between countries

Djibouti
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $161M
Chemicals & pharma $25.7M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $24.4M
Raw materials & minerals $7.95M
Textiles & consumer goods $2.82M
Raw agricultural goods $777K
Metals $180K
Wood & paper products $129K
Animal & marine products $98K
Miscellaneous $60K
UAE
Export category Export value
Raw materials & minerals $579M
Machinery & equipment $316M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $189M
Raw agricultural goods $117M
Chemicals & pharma $108M
Metals $45.9M
Textiles & consumer goods $40.1M
Animal & marine products $11.5M
Wood & paper products $9.06M
Weapons & explosives $4.57M

Balance of trade

Djibouti UAE
Current account balance
$610M
2024
n/a
Current account balance ranking
57/189
2024
n/a
Current account balance, % of GDP
+14.9%
2024
n/a
Goods imports
$4.04B
2024
n/a
Goods exports
$4.08B
2024
n/a
Service imports
$730M
2024
n/a
Service exports
$1.17B
2024
n/a
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
148.3%
2024
93.7%
2023
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
160.8%
2024
108.6%
2023

Economic freedom indices

The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.

Djibouti UAE
Economic freedom 55.7 71.6
Economic freedom ranking 126/197 29/197
Property rights 30.6 65.4
Government integrity 27.7 65.9
Judicial effectiveness 27.7 35.2
Tax burden 83.5 96.9
Government spending 86.2 82.3
Fiscal health 86.6 97.9
Business freedom 53.7 84.2
Labor freedom 52.8 62.1
Monetary freedom 70.3 80.5
Trade freedom 49.8 78.4
Investment freedom 50 50
Financial freedom 50 60

Economic freedom by year comparison

The Economic Freedom Index for Djibouti is 55.7, ranking 126/197, compared to 71.6 for the United Arab Emirates, ranking 29/197. The chart below displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Djibouti
United Arab Emirates
Year Economic freedom index
Djibouti UAE
1996 - 71.6
1997 54.5 71.9
1998 55.9 72.2
1999 57.1 71.5
2000 55.1 74.2
2001 58.3 74.9
2002 57.8 73.6
2003 55.7 73.4
2004 55.6 67.2
2005 55.2 65.2
2006 53.2 62.2
2007 52.4 62.6
2008 51.2 62.6
2009 51.3 64.7
2010 51 67.3
2011 54.5 67.8
2012 53.9 69.3
2013 53.9 71.1
2014 55.9 71.4
2015 57.5 72.4
2016 56 72.6
2017 46.7 76.9
2018 45.1 77.6
2019 47.1 77.6
2020 52.9 76.2
2021 56.2 76.9
2022 55.3 70.2
2023 56.1 70.9
2024 55.8 71.1
2025 55.7 71.6

More economic indicators

Djibouti UAE
Services, % of GDP
75.5%
2024
51.6%
2023
Industry, % of GDP
15.4%
2024
47.7%
2023
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
2.58%
2024
0.7%
2023
GNI, Atlas method
$4.14B
2024
$538B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$7,850
2024
$78,110
2024
Total reserves including gold
$349M
2024
$238B
2024
Total reserves ranking
165/177
2024
14/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$67.8M
2024
n/a
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$67.8M
2024
$45.6B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
n/a
$23.4B
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
2.52%
2023
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
23%
2020
19.5%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
-3.78%
2024
27.1%
2023

GDP per capita map

GDP per capita

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The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.