Somalia
Somalia⌘K
Overview
- Background
- Between A.D. 800 and 1100, immigrant Muslim Arabs and Persians set up coastal trading posts along the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, solidifying present-day Somalia’s close trading relationship with the Arab Peninsula. In the late 19th century, Britain, France, and Italy established colonies in the Somali Peninsula that lasted until 1960, when British Somaliland gained independence and joined with Italian Somaliland to form the Republic of Somalia.
The country functioned as a parliamentary democracy until 1969, when General Mohamed SIAD Barre took control in a coup, beginning a 22-year socialist dictatorship. In an effort to centralize power, SIAD called for the eradication of the clan, the key cultural and social organizing principle in Somali society. Resistance to SIAD’s socialist leadership, which was causing a rapid deterioration of the country, prompted allied clan militias to overthrow SIAD in 1991, resulting in state collapse. Subsequent fighting between rival clans for resources and territory overwhelmed the country, causing a manmade famine and prompting international intervention. Beginning in 1993, the UN spearheaded an international humanitarian mission, but the international community largely withdrew by 1995 after an incident that became known as Black Hawk Down, in which two US military helicopters were shot down in Mogadishu. The fighting and subsequent siege and rescue resulted in 21 deaths and 82 wounded among the international forces.
International peace conferences in the 2000s resulted in a number of transitional governments that operated outside Somalia. Left largely to themselves, Somalis in the country established alternative governance structures; some areas formed their own administrations, such as Somaliland and Puntland, while others developed localized institutions. Many local populations turned to sharia courts, an Islamic judicial system that implements religious law. Several of these courts came together in 2006 to form the Islamic Courts Union (ICU). The ICU established order in many areas of central and southern Somalia, including Mogadishu, but was forced out when Ethiopia intervened militarily in 2006 on behalf of the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG). As the TFG settled in the capital, the ICU fled to rural areas or left Somalia altogether, but the organization reemerged less than a year later as the Islamic insurgent and terrorist movement al-Shabaab, which is still active today.
In 2007, the African Union (AU) established a peacekeeping force, took over security responsibility for the country, and gave the TFG space to develop Somalia’s new government. By 2012, Somali powerbrokers agreed on a provisional constitution with a loose federal structure and established a central government in Mogadishu called the Somali Federal Government (SFG). Since then, the country has seen several interim regional administrations and three presidential elections, but significant governance and security problems remain because al-Shabaab still controls large portions of the country.
Geography
Area
- Land
- 627,337 sq km
- Water
- 10,320 sq km
- Total
- 637,657 sq km
- Climate
- principally desert; northeast monsoon (December to February), moderate temperatures in north and hot in south; southwest monsoon (May to October), torrid in the north and hot in the south, irregular rainfall, hot and humid periods (tangambili) between monsoons
- Terrain
- mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north
Land Use
- Other
- 21.7% (2023 est.)
- Forest
- 7.9% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land
- 70.3% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land: arable land
- arable land: 1.8% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land: permanent crops
- permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land: permanent pasture
- permanent pasture: 68.5% (2023 est.)
- Location
- Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia
- Coastline
- 3,025 km
Elevation
- Lowest point
- Indian Ocean 0 m
- Highest point
- Mount Shimbiris 2,460 m
- Mean elevation
- 410 m
- Irrigated land
- 2,000 sq km (2012)
- Major aquifers
- Ogaden-Juba Basin
- Map references
- Africa
Land Boundaries
- Total
- 2,385 km
- Border countries
- Djibouti 61 km; Ethiopia 1,640 km; Kenya 684 km
Maritime Claims
- Territorial sea
- 200 nm; note: the US does not recognize this claim
- Exclusive economic zone
- 200 nm
- Natural hazards
- recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plains in summer; floods during rainy season
- Geography note
- strategic location on Horn of Africa along southern approaches to Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea and Suez Canal
- Natural resources
- uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt, natural gas, likely oil reserves
- Area comparative
- almost five times the size of Alabama; slightly smaller than Texas
- Geographic coordinates
- 10 00 N, 49 00 E
- Population distribution
- distribution varies greatly throughout the country; least densely populated areas are in the northeast and central regions, as well as areas along the Kenyan border; most populated areas are in and around the cities of Mogadishu, Marka, Boorama, Hargeysa, and Baidoa, as shown on this population distribution map
People & Society
Literacy
- Male
- 64.5% (2022 est.)
- Female
- 43.9% (2022 est.)
- Total population
- 54.1% (2022 est.)
Languages
- Languages
- Somali (official), Arabic (official), Italian, English
- Major language sample(s)
Buugga Xaqiiqda Aduunka, waa laga maarmaanka macluumaadka assasiga. (Somali)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
- Religions
- Muslim 99.9% (Sunni Muslim 98.1%, Shia Muslim 1.2%, Islamic schismatic 0.6%), ethnic religionist 0.1% (2020 est.)
Sex Ratio
- At birth
- 1.03 male(s)/female
- 0 14 years
- 1 male(s)/female
- 15 64 years
- 1.04 male(s)/female
- Total population
- 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
- 65 years and over
- 0.76 male(s)/female
- Birth rate
- 46.36 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- Death rate
- 11.22 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median Age
- Male
- 19.3 years
- Total
- 15.7 years (2025 est.)
- Female
- 18.9 years
Population
- Male
- 10,170,863
- Total
- 20,324,160 (2025 est.)
- Female
- 10,153,297
Nationality
- Noun
- Somali(s)
- Adjective
- Somali
Urbanization
- Urban population
- 47.9% of total population (2023)
- Rate of urbanization
- 4.2% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Age Structure
- 0 14 years
- 41.4% (male 2,689,086/female 2,694,372)
- 15 64 years
- 55.8% (male 3,699,721/female 3,568,163)
- 65 years and over
- 2.8% (2024 est.) (male 157,505/female 208,426)
- Ethnic groups
- predominantly Somali with lesser numbers of Arabs, Bantus, and others
Dependency Ratios
- Total dependency ratio
- 100.5 (2025 est.)
- Youth dependency ratio
- 97.1 (2025 est.)
- Potential support ratio
- 29.9 (2025 est.)
- Elderly dependency ratio
- 3.3 (2025 est.)
- Physician density
- 0.05 physicians/1,000 population (2014)
- Health expenditure
- 2.5% of national budget (2022 est.)
- Net migration rate
- -1.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- Hospital bed density
- 0.9 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)
- Total fertility rate
- 6.38 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Drinking Water Source
- Improved: rural
- rural: 38.6% of population (2022 est.)
- Improved: total
- total: 58.3% of population (2022 est.)
- Improved: urban
- urban: 80.1% of population (2022 est.)
- Unimproved: rural
- rural: 61.4% of population (2022 est.)
- Unimproved: total
- total: 41.7% of population (2022 est.)
- Unimproved: urban
- urban: 19.9% of population (2022 est.)
Education Expenditure
- Education expenditure (% GDP)
- 0% of GDP (2023 est.)
- Education expenditure (% national budget)
- 8.1% national budget (2025 est.)
Infant Mortality Rate
- Male
- 93.2 deaths/1,000 live births
- Total
- 81.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
- Female
- 73.7 deaths/1,000 live births
- Population growth rate
- 3.32% (2025 est.)
- Gross reproduction rate
- 3.14 (2025 est.)
- Population distribution
- distribution varies greatly throughout the country; least densely populated areas are in the northeast and central regions, as well as areas along the Kenyan border; most populated areas are in and around the cities of Mogadishu, Marka, Boorama, Hargeysa, and Baidoa, as shown on this population distribution map
Life Expectancy at Birth
- Male
- 54.1 years
- Female
- 59 years
- Total population
- 56.5 years (2024 est.)
- Maternal mortality ratio
- 563 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Sanitation Facility Access
- Improved: rural
- rural: 34.8% of population (2022 est.)
- Improved: total
- total: 57.6% of population (2022 est.)
- Improved: urban
- urban: 82.9% of population (2022 est.)
- Unimproved: rural
- rural: 65.2% of population (2022 est.)
- Unimproved: total
- total: 42.4% of population (2022 est.)
- Unimproved: urban
- urban: 17.1% of population (2022 est.)
Alcohol Consumption Per Capita
- Beer
- 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- Wine
- 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- Total
- 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- Spirits
- 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- Other alcohols
- 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- Major urban areas population
- 2.610 million MOGADISHU (capital), 1.127 million Hargeysa (2023)
- Obesity adult prevalence rate
- 8.3% (2016)
- Currently married women (ages 15 49)
- 62.4% (2019 est.)
Government
Civica · structure
How power is organised
ExecutiveLegislative
- Flag
- description: light blue with a large white five-pointed star in the center
meaning: the blue field was originally influenced by the UN flag but today is said to represent the sky and the Indian Ocean; the five points of the star represent the regions in the horn of Africa where Somali people live: the former British Somaliland and Italian Somaliland (which together make up Somalia), Djibouti, Ogaden (Ethiopia), and the Northeast Province (Kenya)
Capital
- Name
- Mogadishu
- Etymology
- the name is probably derived from the Arabic word mukaddas, meaning "holy"
- Time difference
- UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- Geographic coordinates
- 2 04 N, 45 20 E
- Suffrage
- 18 years of age; universal suffrage starting with 24 June 2024 local elections
Citizenship
- Citizenship BY birth
- no
- Citizenship BY descent only
- the father must be a citizen of Somalia
- Dual citizenship recognized
- no
- Residency requirement for naturalization
- 7 years
Constitution
- History
- previous 1961, 1979; latest drafted 12 June 2012, adopted 1 August 2012
- Amendment process
- proposed by the federal government, by members of the state governments, the Federal Parliament, or by public petition; proposals require review by a joint committee of Parliament with inclusion of public comments and state legislatures’ comments; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote in both houses of Parliament and approval by a majority of votes cast in a referendum; constitutional clauses on Islamic principles, the federal system, human rights and freedoms, powers and authorities of the government branches, and inclusion of women in national institutions cannot be amended
Country Name
- Former
- British Somaliland, Italian Somaliland, Somali Republic, Somali Democratic Republic
- Etymology
- the name means "Land of the Somali," a local ethnic group; the origin of the group's name is unclear but may come from 1) a Cushitic word meaning "dark," 2) the local phrase soo mal, meaning "go and milk" (referring to offering guests milk), 3) the name of a local chief, or 4) the Arabic zamla, meaning "cattle"
- Local long form
- Jamhuuriyadda Federaalka Soomaaliya (Somali)/ Jumhuriyat as Sumal al Fidiraliyah (Arabic)
- Local short form
- Soomaaliya (Somali)/ As Sumal (Arabic)
- Conventional long form
- Federal Republic of Somalia
- Conventional short form
- Somalia
- Independence
- 1 July 1960 (from a merger of British Somaliland, which became independent from the UK on 26 June 1960, and Italian Somaliland, which became independent from the Italian-administered UN trusteeship on 1 July 1960 to form the Somali Republic)
- Legal system
- mixed system of civil law, Islamic (sharia) law, and customary law (referred to as Xeer)
- Government type
- federal parliamentary republic
Judicial Branch
- Note
- note: under the terms of the 2004 Transitional National Charter, a Supreme Court based in Mogadishu and the Appeal Court were established, but most regions have reverted to local forms of conflict resolution, whether secular, Somali customary law, or Islamic law
- Highest court(s)
- the provisional constitution stipulates the establishment of the Constitutional Court (consists of 5 judges, including the chief judge and deputy chief judge)
- Subordinate courts
- federal courts; federal member state-level courts; military courts; sharia courts
- Judge selection and term of office
- judges appointed by the president on proposal of the Judicial Service Commission, a 9-member judicial and administrative body; judge tenure NA
Executive Branch
- Cabinet
- Cabinet appointed by the prime minister, approved by the House of the People
- Chief of state
- President HASSAN SHEIKH Mohamud (since 23 May 2022)
- Election results
2022: HASSAN SHEIKH Mohamud elected president in third round - Federal Parliament percent of vote in first round - Said ABDULLAHI DENI (Kaah) 20.2%, Mohamed ABDULLAHI Mohamed "Farmaajo" (TPP) 18.3%, HASSAN SHEIKH Mohamud (PDP) 16.2%, Hassan Ali KHAYRE (independent) 14.6%, other 30.7%; Federal Parliament percent of vote in second round - HASSAN SHEIKH Mohamud 34.1%, Mohamed ABDULLAHI Mohamed "Farmaajo" 25.7%, Said ABDULLAHI DENI 21%, Hassan Ali KHAYRE 19.2%; Federal Parliament percent of vote in third round - HASSAN SHEIKH Mohamud 66%, Mohamed ABDULLAHI Mohamed "Farmaajo" 34%- Head of government
- Prime Minister Hamza Abdi BARRE (since 25 June 2022)
- Most recent election date
- 15 May 2022
- Election/appointment process
- president indirectly elected by the Federal Parliament by two-thirds majority vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a single 4-year term; prime minister appointed by the president, approved by the House of the People
- Expected date of next election
- 2026
- National holiday
- Foundation of the Somali Republic, 1 July (1960); note - 26 June (1960) in Somaliland
- Government note
- regional and local governing bodies continue to exist and control various areas of the country, including the self-declared Republic of Somaliland in northwestern Somalia
- National color(s)
- blue, white
- Political parties
- Cosmopolitan Democratic Party
Green Party
Himilo Qaran Party
Ilays Party
Justice and Reconciliation Party
National Progressive Party
Peace and Unity Party
Qaransoor Party
Qiimo Qaran Party
Security and Justice Party
Social Justice Party
Somali Labour Party
Somali Republic Party
Somali Social Unity Party or SSUP
Union for Peace and Development Party or PDP
Wadajir Party
Legislative Branch
- Note
- note: despite the formation of political parties in 2020, the 2021 parliamentary elections maintained a primarily clan-based system of appointments; seats in the legislature were apportioned to Somali member states and not by party representation
- Legislature name
- Federal Parliament
- Legislative structure
- bicameral
National Anthem(s)
- Title
- "Qolobaa Calankeed" (Every Nation Has Its Own Flag)
- History
- adopted 2012
- Lyrics/music
- Abdullahi QARSHE
- National symbol(s)
- leopard
- Administrative divisions
- 18 regions (gobollo, singular - gobol); Awdal, Bakool, Banaadir, Bari, Bay, Galguduud, Gedo, Hiiraan, Jubbada Dhexe (Middle Jubba), Jubbada Hoose (Lower Jubba), Mudug, Nugaal, Sanaag, Shabeellaha Dhexe (Middle Shabeelle), Shabeellaha Hoose (Lower Shabeelle), Sool, Togdheer, Woqooyi Galbeed
Legislative Branch Lower Chamber
- Chamber name
- House of the People (Golaha Shacabka)
- Term in office
- 5 years
- Number of seats
- 275 (all indirectly elected)
- Scope of elections
- full renewal
- Most recent election date
- 11/1/2021 to 5/5/2022
- Expected date of next election
- October 2026
- Percentage of women in chamber
- 19%
Legislative Branch Upper Chamber
- Chamber name
- Upper House (Aqalka Sare)
- Term in office
- 5 years
- Number of seats
- 54 (all indirectly elected)
- Scope of elections
- full renewal
- Most recent election date
- 7/27/2021 to 11/13/2021
- Expected date of next election
- July 2026
- Percentage of women in chamber
- 25.9%
Diplomatic Representation in the US
- Chancery
- 1609 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
- Telephone
- [1] (202) 853-9164
- Chief of mission
- Ambassador DAHIR Hassan Abdi (since 18 September 2024)
- Email address and website
washingtonembassy@mfa.gov.so
https://usa.mfa.gov.so/
Diplomatic Representation from the US
- Embassy
- Mogadishu, (reopened October 2019 on the grounds of the Mogadishu Airport)
- Telephone
- [254] 20 363-6451
- Mailing address
- P.O. Box 606 Village Market
00621 Nairobi, Kenya - Chief of mission
- Ambassador Richard H. RILEY (since 20 June 2024)
- Email address and website
SomaliaPublicAffairs@state.gov
https://so.usembassy.gov/
- International organisations
- ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, CAEU (candidate), EAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, LAS, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO
- International law organization participation
- accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt
Legislature
SOMALIA · LOWER HOUSE
House of the People
275 seats · hover a seat for the party
Total seats
275
Majority line
139
Largest party
independent politician
Parties
4
All political parties
Upper house
SOMALIA · UPPER HOUSE
Upper House
54 seats · hover a seat for the party
Total seats
54
Majority line
28
Largest party
independent politician
Parties
4
All political parties
Leaders
Current
Hassan Sheikh Mohamud
- Head of State
Mohamed Hussein Roble
- Head of Government
Economy
Exports
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- $3.7B
- Note
- note: GDP expenditure basis - exports of goods and services in current dollars
- Exports 2022
- $1.804 billion (2022 est.)
- Exports 2023
- $2.164 billion (2023 est.)
- Exports 2024
- $2.424 billion (2024 est.)
Imports
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- $11.9B
- Note
- note: GDP expenditure basis - imports of goods and services in current dollars
- Imports 2022
- $7.456 billion (2022 est.)
- Imports 2023
- $8.002 billion (2023 est.)
- Imports 2024
- $9.002 billion (2024 est.)
- Industries
- light industries, including sugar refining, textiles, wireless communication
- Labor force
- 3.439 million (2024 est.)
Public Debt
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- 12.7%
- Public debt 2014
- 93% of GDP (2014 est.)
Remittances
- Note
- note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
- Remittances 2021
- 18.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
- Remittances 2022
- 17% of GDP (2022 est.)
- Remittances 2023
- 15.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Exchange Rates
- Currency
- Somali shillings (SOS) per US dollar -
- Exchange rates 2013
- 19,283.8 (2013 est.)
- Exchange rates 2014
- 20,230.929 (2014 est.)
- Exchange rates 2015
- 22,254.236 (2015 est.)
- Exchange rates 2016
- 23,061.784 (2016 est.)
- Exchange rates 2017
- 23,097.987 (2017 est.)
Debt External
- Note
- note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
- Debt external 2023
- $2.563 billion (2023 est.)
- Economic overview
- low-income African Horn economy; 30 years of war and instability crippled economic potential; high remittances for basic survival; new fiscal federalism approach; cleared some unsustainable debt; environmentally fragile; digitally driven urbanization efforts
Unemployment Rate
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- 18.9%
- Note
- note: % of labor force seeking employment
- Unemployment rate 2022
- 19.1% (2022 est.)
- Unemployment rate 2023
- 19% (2023 est.)
- Unemployment rate 2024
- 18.9% (2024 est.)
- Exports partners
- UAE 35%, Saudi Arabia 27%, Oman 18%, Djibouti 8%, India 3% (2023)
- Imports partners
- UAE 29%, China 19%, India 15%, Turkey 8%, Oman 5% (2023)
Real GDP Per Capita
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- $1,602
- Note
- note: data in 2021 dollars
- Real GDP per capita 2022
- $1,400 (2022 est.)
- Real GDP per capita 2023
- $1,400 (2023 est.)
- Real GDP per capita 2024
- $1,400 (2024 est.)
Real GDP Growth Rate
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- 4.1%
- Note
- note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
- Real GDP growth rate 2022
- 2.7% (2022 est.)
- Real GDP growth rate 2023
- 4.2% (2023 est.)
- Real GDP growth rate 2024
- 4% (2024 est.)
- Agricultural products
- camel milk, milk, goat milk, sheep milk, sugarcane, fruits, sorghum, cassava, vegetables, maize (2023)
- Exports commodities
- sheep and goats, gold, postage stamps/documents, other animals, cattle (2023)
- Imports commodities
- raw sugar, tobacco, broadcasting equipment, rice, milk (2023)
- Taxes and other revenues
- 0% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
- GDP (official exchange rate)
- $12.109 billion (2024 est.)
GDP Composition, BY End Use
- Note
- note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
- Household consumption
- 124% (2024 est.)
- Government consumption
- 7.6% (2024 est.)
- Investment in inventories
- 0% (2024 est.)
- Investment in fixed capital
- 22.7% (2024 est.)
- Exports of goods and services
- 20% (2024 est.)
- Imports of goods and services
- -74.3% (2024 est.)
- Population below poverty line
- 54.4% (2022 est.)
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- 6.8% (2022 est.)
- Note
- note: annual % change based on consumer prices
- Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
- 4.3% (2020 est.)
- Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
- 4.6% (2021 est.)
- Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
- 6.8% (2022 est.)
Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- $26.77 billion (2024 est.)
- Note
- note: data in 2021 dollars
- Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
- $24.706 billion (2022 est.)
- Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
- $25.747 billion (2023 est.)
- Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
- $26.77 billion (2024 est.)
Youth Unemployment Rate (Ages 15 24)
- Male
- 32.1% (2024 est.)
- Note
- note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
- Total
- 33.9% (2024 est.)
- Female
- 37% (2024 est.)
Energy
Coal
- Imports
- 4 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
- Refined petroleum consumption
- 6,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Electricity
- Consumption
- 396.792 million kWh (2023 est.)
- Installed generating capacity
- 156,000 kW (2023 est.)
- Transmission/distribution losses
- 15.408 million kWh (2023 est.)
Natural Gas
- Proven reserves
- 5.663 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Electricity Access
- Electrification rural areas
- 30.6%
- Electrification urban areas
- 76.7%
- Electrification total population
- 48.9% (2022 est.)
Energy Consumption Per Capita
- Total energy consumption per capita 2023
- 649,000 Btu/person (2023 est.)
Electricity Generation Sources
- Wind
- 1.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
- Solar
- 16% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
- Fossil fuels
- 82.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Communications
Internet Users
- Percent of population
- 28% (2022 est.)
- Broadcast media
- 2 private TV stations rebroadcast Al-Jazeera and CNN; 1 state-operated TV station and 1 private TV station; state-operated Radio Mogadishu; 1 SW and roughly 10 private FM radio stations in Mogadishu; several radio stations in central and southern regions; transmissions of at least 2 international broadcasters available (2019)
- Internet country code
- .so
Telephones Fixed Lines
- Total subscriptions
- 91,000 (2022 est.)
- Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
- 1 (2022 est.) less than 1
Telephones Mobile Cellular
- Total subscriptions
- 9.91 million (2023 est.)
- Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
- 54 (2023 est.)
Broadband Fixed Subscriptions
- Total
- 119,000 (2022 est.)
- Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
- 1 (2022 est.)
Transport
Ports
- Large
- 1
- Small
- 2
- Medium
- 0
- Key ports
- Baraawe, Berbera, Boosaaso, Kismaayo, Marka, Muqdisho
- Very small
- 3
- Total ports
- 6 (2024)
- Ports with oil terminals
- 2
- Airports
- 40 (2025)
Merchant Marine
- Total
- 4 (2023)
- BY type
- general cargo 1, other 3
- Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
- 6O
Environment
- Climate
- principally desert; northeast monsoon (December to February), moderate temperatures in north and hot in south; southwest monsoon (May to October), torrid in the north and hot in the south, irregular rainfall, hot and humid periods (tangambili) between monsoons
Land Use
- Other
- 21.7% (2023 est.)
- Forest
- 7.9% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land
- 70.3% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land: arable land
- arable land: 1.8% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land: permanent crops
- permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land: permanent pasture
- permanent pasture: 68.5% (2023 est.)
Urbanization
- Urban population
- 47.9% of total population (2023)
- Rate of urbanization
- 4.2% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and Recycling
- Municipal solid waste generated annually
- 2.326 million tons (2024 est.)
- Environmental issues
- water scarcity; contaminated water; improper waste disposal; deforestation; land degradation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Total Water Withdrawal
- Municipal
- 15 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
- Industrial
- 2 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
- Agricultural
- 3.281 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Carbon Dioxide Emissions
- Total emissions
- 838,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- From coal and metallurgical coke
- 10 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- From petroleum and other liquids
- 838,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- Particulate matter emissions
- 14.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
- Total renewable water resources
- 14.7 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
International Environmental Agreements
- Party to
- Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
- Signed, but not ratified
- Nuclear Test Ban
Military & Security
- Military note
- the primary responsibility of the Somali National Army (SNA) is combating the al-Shabaab terrorist group, which controls large portions of central and southern Somalia and continues to conduct attacks targeting both military and civilian sites, including military bases, government institutions, and civilian gatherings; the SNA is supported by the National Police, regional/state security forces, and allied militias, as well as international forces; some African Union (AU) countries have provided military assistance to the SNA since 2007 under the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM, 2007-2022), the AU Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS, 2022-2024), and the AU Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM, January 2025-present); Turkey and the US have also provided military support to SNA operations
Turkey and the US have formed and trained SNA units, including the US-backed Danab ("Lightning") Brigade and the Turkish-trained Gorgor ("Eagle") brigades; SNA soldiers have also received training from Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, the EU, Uganda, UAE, and the UK (2025)
Military Expenditures
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- 1.6%
- Military expenditures 2017
- 5.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
- Military expenditures 2018
- 6% of GDP (2018 est.)
- Military expenditures 2019
- 5.6% of GDP (2019 est.)
- Military expenditures 2020
- 6% of GDP (2020 est.)
- Military expenditures 2021
- 6% of GDP (2021 est.)
- Military and security forces
- Somali Armed Forces (SAF; aka Somali Defense Force): Somali National Army (SNA; aka Land Forces), Somali Navy, Somali Air Force
Ministry of Internal Security: Somali National Police (SNP, includes Coast Guard, commando unit) (2025) - Military service age and obligation
- 18-22 for voluntary military service for men and women in the Somali Armed Forces; compulsory service is reportedly authorized, but not currently utilized (2025)
- Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
- the SNA's inventory is a mix of older and donated (typically secondhand) equipment from a variety of suppliers, including Italy, Russia, South Africa, Türkiye, the UK, and the US (2025)
- Military and security service personnel strengths
- estimated 20,000 active Somali Armed Forces (2025)
Terrorism
- Terrorist group(s)
- al-Shabaab; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham – Somalia
Transnational Issues
Trafficking in Persons
- Tier rating
- Special Case; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/somalia/
Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons
- Idps
- 3,869,345 (2024 est.)
- Refugees
- 41,763 (2024 est.)
Scores & Rankings
ScoreValueGlobal rankTrendAs of
Civica Index8.0 / 100as of 2024-Q4188 / 1902024-Q4
V-Dem Liberal Democracy0.13as of 2024-Q4129 / 1702024-Q4
Freedom House StatusNot Free (0/100)as of 2024-Q4—2024-Q4
Press Freedom (RSF)Partly free (50/100)as of 2024—2024
Human Development Index0.380as of 2022—2022
Corruption Perceptions Index11 / 100as of 2023180 / 1802023
Cite this page
Cite this page
Civica. (2026). Civica Atlas — Somalia — vintage 2026-Q1: Somalia factbook. Civica Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://civicaatlas.org/factbook/somalia
Sources: FAO FAOSTAT, ILO ILOSTAT, IMF (WEO), UN Statistics Division, UNDP HDR, UNESCO Institute for Statistics, V-Dem, WHO Global Health Observatory, World Bank, WTO Stats, CIA World Factbook, Wikidata