Djibouti adopts what3words as national postal addressing system

what3words, the multi-award winning addressing system, has been adopted as an addressing standard by Djibouti Post. Located in the Horn of Africa, the Republic of Djibouti is the fifth in the world to accept 3 word addresses to improve its national infrastructure.

Though Djibouti occupies a total area of just 23,200 km ² with a population of approximately 850,000 citizens, with only a few named streets, delivering mail is a constant struggle for Djibouti Post, the nation’s official postal system.

Until recently, home delivery was restricted to express mail in Djibouti City the capital of the Republic. Any other post would be delivered to centralised PO Boxes, with the recipient responsible for collection. That resulted in high volumes of undelivered mail, taking up space and incurring extra costs for Djibouti Post.

“Thanks to our partnership with what3words, every place in the country now has a fixed, accurate and immediately assigned address. Each inhabitant living in Balbala or Arhiba, Ali Sabieh or Obock, Randa or Assa Geyla will be able to quickly determine any address of three words and write it on an envelope or communicate it by telephone. With our application, you will be able to receive parcels from all over the world, sell goods and services throughout the country, insure your houses precisely, deliver your local products in the middle of the great Bara or on the Goda mountain without losing your way.”
Bahnan Ali Maidal – CEO, La Poste de Djibouti

By using what3words, every location in the Republic of Djibouti now has an instant address. what3words provides an easy-to-use, accurate, and fixed address for every 3m x 3m square in the world. By making this addressing system part of the country’s infrastructure, Djibouti Post is helping unlock the region’s economic growth and social development.

Using 3 word addresses for Djibouti Postal service is both practical and user friendly for residents, as well as time and cost efficient for the company.

Djibouti Post is planning an expansive education campaign, including visiting customers’ homes, providing brochures, flyers and other informational material.

Available in fourteen languages, including English, French and Spanish, what3words is used by individuals, delivery companies, navigation tools, governments, logistics firms, travel guides and NGOs. It is more precise than traditional addresses, simpler than descriptions, and easier to communicate and remember than long strings of GPS coordinates. The system has built-in error detection and is available both as a mobile app and API integration . The system works offline without a data connection, ensuring it can be used everywhere.

“Every postal service in the world struggles with addressing,” said Chris Sheldrick , CEO and Co-Founder of what3words. “Djibouti Post have taken the lead and by implementing 3 word addresses they have a solution that leapfrogs traditional, expensive and inaccurate street systems.”