Regions of Djibouti

Djibouti is divided into six regions. These regions are the highest administrative division of Djibouti. Djibouti, which was divided into five regions until 2003, established the Arta region in 2003 and increased its number to six.

The administrative division of Djibouti began in 1914. This year, two administrative regions were defined except for the city of Djibouti. These regions were Dankali and Issa. In 1920, Tadjoura and Gobad-Dikkil regions were created. In 1939 Ali Sabieh region was created. In 1963, the circle of the Obock was formed by the division of the Tadjourah region. The last significant change in the regional administrative map was in 2003 with the creation of the Arta region.

The map displays Djibouti's regions in various colors, with labels and a compass rose in the top right.

Regions of Djibouti Map

Six Regions of Djibouti

Djibouti is divided into six regions since 2003. These regions are Obock, Tadjourah, Dikhil, Arta, Ali Sabieh and Djibouti.

Obock

A coastal landscape with sandy cliffs and calm blue water.

Obock is one of the six regions of Djibouti. Its capital is Obock. The most important city after the capital is Khor Angar. The Obock is neighbor to Eritrea in the north, the Tadjourah Region in the south and west, the Red Sea in the east and southeast, Bab-el-Mandeb and the Gulf of Aden. Obock has a surface area of 4,700 square kilometers and has a population of 37,856 according to 2010 data.

Tadjourah

A rural scene featuring a hut, goats, mountains, green shrubs, and a partly cloudy sky.

Tadjourah is one of the six regions of Djibouti. Its capital is Tadjourah. The most important cities after the capital are Randa, Dorra and Balho. Tadjourah is neighbor to Eritrea and Ethiopia in the north and northwest, Gulf of Tadjoura to the southeast, Dikhil Region to the south and Arta Region. Tadjourah has a surface area of 7,100 square kilometers and according to 2010 data, it has a population of 89,567.

Dikhil

A twilight coastal scene with distant rock formations, a stream to the sea, and a muddy, sparsely vegetated foreground.

Dikhil is one of the six regions of Djibouti. Its capital is Dikhil. The most important city after the capital is As Ela, Galafi, and Yoboki. Dikhil is neighbor to Tadjourah Region in the north, Arta Region in the east and Ali Sabieh Region in the east and Ethiopia in the west and south. Dikhil has a surface area of 7,200 square kilometers and according to 2010 data, it has a population of 83,409.

Arta

A makeshift shelter constructed with sticks and draped with tattered fabric, set against a backdrop of rocky terrain and a sparse tree.

Arta is one of the six regions of Djibouti. Its capital is Arta. It was the most recently created region in 2013. Arta is neighboring the Arabian Sea with Tadjourah Region, Somaliland in the east (Somalia) in the east, Ali Sabieh District in the south and Dikhil Region in the west. Arta’s surface area is 1,800 square kilometers and according to 2010 data, it has a population of 40,163.

Ali Sabieh

A train on a curved track in a dry, sparsely vegetated landscape emits smoke, with distant water visible.

Ali Sabieh is one of the six regions of Djibouti. Its capital is Ali Sabieh. The most important city after the capital is Holhol. Ali Sabieh is neighbor to the Arta region in the north, Somaliland in the east (Somalia) in the east, Ethiopia in the south and Dikhil region in the west. The surface area of Ali Sabieh is 2,400 square kilometers and its population is 71,640 according to 2010 data.

Djibouti Region

A shallow body of water with ripples on the surface, under a cloudy sky with land visible in the distance.

The Djibouti Region is the capital of the Republic of Djibouti and one of the six regional administrative divisions of the country. The region is the smallest region in Djibouti and includes the national capital city of Djibouti. The region borders the Arta region from the south and west, with the Gulf of Tadjoura from the north. The area is 200 square kilometers and has a population of 748,000 according to 2017 data.