1993 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1993 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Area
total area: 637,660 km2 land area: 627,340 km2 comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas
Climate
desert; northeast monsoon (December to February), cooler southwest monsoon (May to October); irregular rainfall; hot, humid periods (tangambili) between monsoons
Coastline
3,025 km
Environment
recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plains in summer; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
International disputes
southern half of boundary with Ethiopia is a Provisional Administrative Line; territorial dispute with Ethiopia over the Ogaden; possible claims to Djibouti and parts of Ethiopia and Kenya based on unification of ethnic Somalis
Irrigated land
1,600 km2 (1989 est.)
Land boundaries
total 2,366 km, Djibouti 58 km, Ethiopia 1,626 km, Kenya 682 km
Land use
arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 46% forest and woodland: 14% other: 38%
Location
Eastern Africa, bordering the northwestern Indian Ocean, south of the Arabian Peninsula
Map references
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 200 nm
Natural resources
uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt
Note
strategic location on Horn of Africa along southern approaches to Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea and Suez Canal
Terrain
mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north
People and Society
Birth rate
41.95 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate
28.41 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Ethnic divisions
Somali 85%, Bantu, Arabs 30,000, Europeans 3,000, Asians 800
Infant mortality rate
162.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Labor force
2.2 million (very few are skilled laborers) by occupation: pastoral nomad 70%, agriculture, government, trading, fishing, handicrafts, and other 30% note: 53% of population of working age (1985)
Languages
Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 32.91 years male: 32.86 years female: 32.95 years (1993 est.)
Literacy
age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 24% male: 36% female: 14%
Nationality
noun: Somali(s) adjective: Somali
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Population
6,514,629 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate
1.35% (1993 est.)
Religions
Sunni Muslim
Total fertility rate
6.4 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
18 regions (plural - NA, singular - gobolka); Awdal, Bakool, Banaadir, Bari, Bay, Galguduud, Gedo, Hiiraan, Jubbada Dhexe, Jubbada Hoose, Mudug, Nugaal, Sanaag, Shabeellaha Dhexe, Shabeellaha Hoose, Sool, Togdheer, Woqooyi Galbeed
Capital
Mogadishu
Chief of State
Interim President ALI MAHDI Mohamed (since 27 January 1991)
Constitution
25 August 1979, presidential approval 23 September 1979
Digraph
SO
Diplomatic representation in US
chief of mission: (vacant) chancery: Suite 710, 600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: (202) 342-1575 consulate general: New York note: Somalian Embassy ceased operations on 8 May 1991
Executive branch
president, two vice presidents, prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
Flag
light blue with a large white five-pointed star in the center; design based on the flag of the UN (Italian Somaliland was a UN trust territory)
Head of Government
Prime Minister OMAR Arteh Ghalib (since 27 January 1991)
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)
Judicial branch
Supreme Court (non-functioning)
Legal system
NA
Legislative branch
unicameral People's Assembly (Golaha Shacbiga); non-functioning
Member of
ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Names
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Somalia former: Somali Republic
National holiday
NA
Other political or pressure groups
numerous clan and subclan factions are currently vying for power
People's Assembly
last held 31 December 1984 (next to be held NA); results - SRSP was the only party; seats - (177 total, 171 elected) SRSP 171; note - the United Somali Congress (USC) ousted the regime of Maj. Gen. Mohamed SIAD Barre on 27 January 1991; the provisional government has promised that a democratically elected government will be established
Political parties and leaders
the United Somali Congress (USC) ousted the former regime on 27 January 1991; formerly the only party was the Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party (SRSP), headed by former President and Commander in Chief of the Army Maj. Gen. Mohamed SIAD Barre
President
last held 23 December 1986 (next to be held NA); results - President SIAD was reelected without opposition
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Type
none
US diplomatic representation
the US Embassy in Mogadishu was evacuated and closed indefinitely in January 1991; United States Liaison Office (USLO) opened in December 1992
Economy
Agriculture
dominant sector, led by livestock raising (cattle, sheep, goats); crops - bananas, sorghum, corn, mangoes, sugarcane; not self-sufficient in food; distribution of food disrupted by civil strife; fishing potential largely unexploited
Budget
revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Currency
1 Somali shilling (So. Sh.) = 100 centesimi
Economic aid
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $639 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $3.8 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $1.1 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $336 million
Electricity
former public power capacity of 75,000 kW is completely shut down by the destruction of the civil war; UN, relief organizations, and foreign military units in Somalia use their own portable power systems
Exchange rates
Somali shillings (So. Sh.) per US$1 - 4,200 (December 1992), 3,800.00 (December 1990), 490.7 (1989), 170.45 (1988), 105.18 (1987), 72.00 (1986)
Exports
$NA commodities: bananas, livestock, fish, hides, skins partners: Saudi Arabia, Italy, FRG (1986)
External debt
$1.9 billion (1989)
Fiscal year
calendar year
Imports
$NA commodities: petroleum products, foodstuffs, construction materials partners: US 13%, Italy, FRG, Kenya, UK, Saudi Arabia (1986)
Industrial production
growth rate NA%, accounts for NA% of GDP
Industries
a few small industries, including sugar refining, textiles, petroleum refining; probably shut down by the widespread destruction during the civil war
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
NA%
National product
$NA
National product per capita
$NA
National product real growth rate
NA%
Overview
One of the world's poorest and least developed countries, Somalia has few resources. Moreover, much of the economy has been devastated by the civil war. Agriculture is the most important sector, with livestock accounting for about 40% of GDP and about 65% of export earnings. Nomads and seminomads who are dependent upon livestock for their livelihoods make up more than half of the population. Crop production generates only 10% of GDP and employs about 20% of the work force. The main export crop is bananas; sugar, sorghum, and corn are grown for the domestic market. The small industrial sector is based on the processing of agricultural products and accounts for less than 10% of GDP. Greatly increased political turmoil in 1991-92 has resulted in a substantial drop in output, with widespread famine.
Unemployment rate
NA%
Communications
Airports
total: 69 usable: 48 with permanent-surface runways: 8 with runways over 3,659 m: 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 6 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 20
Highways
22,500 km total; including 2,700 km paved, 3,000 km gravel, and 16,800 km improved earth or stabilized soil (1992)
Merchant marine
3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,913 GRT/8,718 DWT; includes 2 cargo, 1 refrigerated cargo
Pipelines
crude oil 15 km
Ports
Mogadishu, Berbera, Chisimayu (Kismaayo), Bender Cassim (Boosaaso)
Telecommunications
the public telecommunications system was completely destroyed or dismantled by the civil war factions; all relief organizations depend on their own private systems (1993)
Military and Security
Branches
NA
Defense expenditures
exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP
Manpower availability
males age 15-49 1,596,380; fit for military service 897,660 (1993 est.)