Djibouti Facts for Kids

There is no place in the entire galaxy quite as diverse as the earth. Different parts of the earth have different types of climates and weather patterns. The various cultures around the world are very different in many ways and similar in others.

There are also many different animals in different parts of the world. There are some animals that are only found is specific parts of the world. Each place is fascinating and completely unique. One amazing place to learn about is Djibouti. If you are interested in learning some of the most interesting facts about Djibouti, you have come to the right place. Here, you will find an entire list of fun and interesting facts all about Djibouti.

Djibouti takes the title of the third (3rd) smallest country in continental Africa.
The entire country is a bit smaller than the state of Massachusetts. The second smallest is Swaziland and the first smallest is Gambia.
Outside of Antarctica, the saltiest lake in the world is Lac Assal which is located in Djibouti.
This lake is even saltier than the famous Dead Sea.
This lake is the lowest point in Djibouti, but it is also the lowest point on the entire continent of Africa.
Djibouti has two areas of closed forest, Mount Mabla and the Foret du Day National Park. The latter is the largest forest in all of Djibouti. Within this forest is a very large stand of East African Juniper trees (Juniperus procera) which grow to be more than nine hundred and fifty (950) meters high.
The juniper tree in Djibouti are the only type of juniper found south of the equator.
A stamp printed and used in Djibouti in the year 2011 featured the image of a famous American singer/songwriter and dancer, Michael Jackson.
In Djibouti, Christmas is not celebrated on the traditional date of December twenty-fifth (25th). It is instead celebrated on January seventh (7th).
There is a railway connecting Djibouti to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. The construction of this railway began in the year 1897 and was completed in the year 1917. This railway was replaced and updated in the year 2017.
Immigrant from Arabia migrated to the area now known as Djibouti in the third (3rd) century BC. The descendants of the immigrants are still one of the two main ethnic groups found on Djibouti.
The French made Djibouti the capital of French Somaliland in the year 1891. Then, in the year 1977, Djibouti gained its independence from France.
In the year 1967, Djibouti was renamed French Territories of the Afars and the Issas. Its name would not change again until the country gained its independence in 1977. It then official became Republic of Djibouti.
The most common religion in Djibouti is Islam. There are many mosques located all through the country. The tomb of Sheikh Abu Yazid is located in the Goda Mountains and is considered to be a very holy place for the local Muslims.
There is a small coral island called Moucha Island located off of the coast of Djibouti. This island is less than three (3) kilometers long.
Djibouti is home to military bases for several nations. Among these nations are France, the United States, and China. The United States base is the only permanent US military base in Africa.
The capital of Djibouti is Djibouti City. This city contains seventy-six percent (76%) of the country’s population.
Only one Olympic competitor from Djibouti has ever won a medal. The athlete was a man named Hussein Ahmed Salah. He won the bronze medal for the marathon at the 1988 Olympics held in Seoul, South Korea.
Whale sharks are a common sight in Djibouti. The country is a popular place to swim with these magnificent creatures.
Djibouti officially dissolved their national football team in the year 2017 due to constant poor performance. The team never once qualified for a major international tournament and are ranked one hundred and eighty-fifth (185th) in the world.
Djibouti is bordered by Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Somalia as well as the Red Sea.
Djibouti has two official languages. These languages are French and Arabic.
There is a peninsula in Northeast Africa known as the Horn of Africa, Djibouti is situated within the horn.