Is It Safe to Travel to Djibouti in 2026?
Djibouti - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Last updated: · Source: U.S. Department of State
Djibouti, officially the Republic of Djibouti, is a country in the Horn of Africa, bordered by Somalia to the south, Ethiopia to the southwest, Eritrea in the north, and the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden to the east. The country has an area of 23,200 km2 (8,958 sq mi).
Is It Safe to Travel to Djibouti in 2026?
Djibouti is currently rated Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution by the U.S. Department of State. Exercise increased caution in Djibouti due to terrorism. Some areas have increased risk, particularly near the border with Eritrea.
Key concerns cited in the advisory:
- terrorism
Traveler Impact
Solo travelers face significant risks from terrorism, particularly near the Eritrean border, where attacks may target public areas frequented by tourists.
Business travelers may encounter operational disruptions due to terrorism threats and limited consular support, especially in border areas.
Families with children should be cautious due to health risks such as malaria and the potential for terrorism targeting public spaces, which could affect safety.
Remote workers may find decent connectivity in urban areas but should avoid border regions where security risks are heightened.
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of State, the CDC, the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, and Freedom House. All sources are updated regularly and cross-referenced to provide a composite safety picture for Djibouti.
Regional Safety Breakdown
▶Level 3 — Reconsider Travel1 region
▶Border with Eritrea
Reconsider travel within 10 miles of the border with Eritrea due to government of Djibouti restrictions.
Djibouti has 1 distinct regions with varying advisory levels. Risk conditions differ significantly by area.
▶Safety and Stability Ratings
Threat Severity (0-10 scale)
Djibouti has an overall threat severity of 4.5 out of 10. Crime risk is rated 0.0/10, terrorism risk 6.0/10, and kidnapping risk 0.0/10.
Governance Indicators (World Bank, percentile)
Political Stability▶
Measures the likelihood that the government will be destabilized or overthrown by unconstitutional or violent means, including politically-motivated violence and terrorism. Higher percentile means greater stability.
Rule of Law▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society, including the quality of contract enforcement, property rights, the police, and the courts, as well as the likelihood of crime and violence.
Control of Corruption▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption, as well as capture of the state by elites and private interests.
Government Effectiveness▶
Captures perceptions of the quality of public services, the quality of the civil service and the degree of its independence from political pressures, the quality of policy formulation and implementation, and the credibility of the government's commitment to such policies.
Regulatory Quality▶
Captures perceptions of the ability of the government to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations that permit and promote private sector development.
Voice & Accountability▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which a country's citizens are able to participate in selecting their government, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of association, and a free media.
Data from World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (2023).
Freedom Status: Not Free — scored 24/100 by Freedom House (2024). View full freedom profile →
▶Entry Requirements and Health
Entry Information
Visa
Check embassy for details
Currency
Djiboutian Franc (DJF)
Language
French / Arabic
Notable restrictions:
- drug possession illegal including medical marijuana
- e-cigarettes prohibited
Vaccinations
Recommended:
⚠ Malaria Risk: high
Recommended medications: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine
Active health notices:
- alertGlobal Polio: Some international destinations have circulating poliovirus. Before any international travel, make sure you are up to date on your polio vaccines.
- watchGlobal Measles: Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.
Vaccination data sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consult a travel health professional before your trip.
Common Questions About Traveling to Djibouti
▶What is the current travel advisory level for Djibouti?
▶Is it safe to travel to Djibouti right now?
▶Do I need a visa to visit Djibouti?
▶What vaccines do I need for Djibouti?
▶Is Djibouti safe for solo travelers?
▶How bad is crime in Djibouti?
More Djibouti Data
Not Free — 24/100 on the Freedom House index.
Governance indicators including rule of law, corruption control, and regulatory quality.
View all 195 countries color-coded by advisory level.
Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov.
Access this data programmatically. Free tier available.
On-demand country risk PDFs from 6 government sources.