1999 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1999 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Area
total: 637,660 sq km land: 627,340 sq km water: 10,320 sq km
Area--comparative
slightly smaller than Texas
Climate
principally desert; December to February--northeast monsoon, moderate temperatures in north and very hot in south; May to October--southwest monsoon, torrid in the north and hot in the south, irregular rainfall, hot and humid periods (tangambili) between monsoons
Coastline
3,025 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Shimbiris 2,416 m
Environment--current issues
famine; use of contaminated water contributes to human health problems; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Environment--international agreements
party to: Endangered Species, Law of the Sea signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban
Geographic coordinates
10 00 N, 49 00 E
Geography--note
strategic location on Horn of Africa along southern approaches to Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea and Suez Canal
Irrigated land
1,800 sq km (1993 est.)
Land boundaries
total: 2,366 km border countries: Djibouti 58 km, Ethiopia 1,626 km, Kenya 682 km
Land use
arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 69% forests and woodland: 26% other: 3% (1993 est.)
Location
Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia
Map references
Africa
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 200 nm
Natural hazards
recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plains in summer
Natural resources
uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt
Terrain
mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 44% (male 1,588,025; female 1,584,770) 15-64 years: 53% (male 1,898,794; female 1,865,487) 65 years and over: 3% (male 92,419; female 111,148) (1999 est.)
Birth rate
47.98 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate
18.62 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Ethnic groups
Somali 85%, Bantu, Arabs 30,000
Infant mortality rate
125.77 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Languages
Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 46.23 years male: 44.66 years female: 47.85 years (1999 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 24% male: 36% female: 14% (1990 est.)
Nationality
noun: Somali(s) adjective: Somali
Net migration rate
11.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Population
7,140,643 (July 1999 est.) note: this estimate was derived from an official census taken in 1987 by the Somali Government with the cooperation of the UN and the US Bureau of the Census; population estimates are updated between censuses by factoring in growth rates and by taking account of refugee movements and losses due to famine; lower estimates of Somalia's population in mid-1996 (on the order of 6.0 million to 6.5 million) have been made by aid and relief agencies, based on the number of persons being fed; population counting in Somalia is complicated by the large numbers of nomads and by refugee movements in response to famine and clan warfare
Population growth rate
4.13% (1999 est.)
Religions
Sunni Muslim
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate
7.25 children born/woman (1999 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
Constitution
25 August 1979, presidential approval 23 September 1979
Country name
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Somalia former: Somali Republic, Somali Democratic Republic
Data code
SO
Executive branch
Somalia has no functioning government; the United Somali Congress (USC) ousted the regime of Major General Mohamed SIAD Barre on 27 January 1991; the present political situation is one of anarchy, marked by interclan fighting and random banditry
Flag description
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)
Government type
none
Government--note
While chaos and clan fighting continue in most of Somalia, some orderly government has been established in the northern part. In May 1991, the elders of clans in former British Somaliland established the independent Republic of Somaliland, which, although not recognized by any government, maintains a stable existence, aided by the overwhelming dominance of the ruling clan and the economic infrastructure left behind by British, Russian and American military assistance programs. The economy has been growing and in February 1996 the EU agreed to finance the reconstruction of the port of Berbera; since then, other aid projects have been assumed by the EU and by a non-governmental Italian organization.
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)
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer) Diplomatic representation in the US: Somalia does not have an embassy in the US (ceased operations on 8 May 1991) Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in Somalia; US interests are represented by the US Embassy in Nairobi at Moi Avenue and Haile Selassie Avenue; mail address: P.
Judicial branch
(not functioning); note--following the breakdown of national government, most regions have reverted to Islamic law with a provision for appeal of all sentences Political parties and leaders: none Political pressure groups and leaders: numerous clan and subclan factions are currently vying for power
Legal system
NA
Legislative branch
unicameral People's Assembly or Golaha Shacbiga note: not functioning
National holiday
NA
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture--products
bananas, sorghum, corn, sugarcane, mangoes, sesame seeds, beans; cattle, sheep, goats; fish
Budget
revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Currency
1 Somali shilling (So. Sh.) = 100 cents
Debt--external
$2.6 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient
$191.5 million (1995)
Economy--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 semi-nomads, who are dependent upon livestock for their livelihood, make up a large portion of the population. After livestock, bananas are the principal export; sugar, sorghum, corn, and fish are products for the domestic market. The small industrial sector, based on the processing of agricultural products, accounts for 10% of GDP; most facilities have been shut down because of the civil strife. Moreover, as of early 1999, ongoing civil disturbances in Mogadishu and outlying areas are interfering with any substantial economic advance.
Electricity--consumption
258 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--production
258 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source
fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Exchange rates
Somali shillings (So. Sh.) per US$1--2,620 (January 1999), 7,500 (November 1997 est.), 7,000 (January 1996 est.), 5,000 (1 January 1995), 2,616 (1 July 1993), 4,200 (December 1992) note: the Republic of Somaliland, a self-declared independent country not recognized by any government, issues its own currency, the Somaliland shilling (So. Sh.)
Exports
$123 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
Exports--commodities
livestock, bananas, hides, fish (1997)
Exports--partners
Saudi Arabia 55%, Yemen 19%, Italy 11%, UAE, US (1996 est.)
Fiscal year
NA
GDP
purchasing power parity--$4 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector
agriculture: 59% industry: 10% services: 31% (1995 est.)
GDP--per capita
purchasing power parity?$600 (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$60 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
Imports--commodities
manufactures, petroleum products, foodstuffs, construction materials (1995)
Imports--partners
Kenya 28%, Djibouti 21%, Brazil 6%, Pakistan (1996 est.)
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
a few small industries, including sugar refining, textiles, petroleum refining (mostly shut down)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
NA%
Labor force
3.7 million (very few are skilled laborers)(1993 est.)
Labor force--by occupation
agriculture (mostly pastoral nomadism) 71%, industry and services 29%
Population below poverty line
NA%
Unemployment rate
NA%
Communications
Radio broadcast stations
AM NA, FM NA, shortwave 5
Radios
300,000
Telephone system
the public telecommunications system was completely destroyed or dismantled by the civil war factions; all relief organizations depend on their own private systems domestic: recently, local cellular telephone systems have been established in Mogadishu and in several other population centers international: international connections are available from Mogadishu by satellite
Telephones
9,000 (1991 est.)
Television broadcast stations
1 (1997)
Televisions
118,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Airports
61 (1998 est.) Airports--with paved runways: total: 7 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.) Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 54 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 28 under 914 m: 10 (1998 est.)
Highways
total: 22,100 km paved: 2,608 km unpaved: 19,492 km (1996 est.)
Merchant marine
none
Pipelines
crude oil 15 km Ports and harbors: Bender Cassim (Boosaaso), Berbera, Chisimayu (Kismaayo), Merca, Mogadishu
Railways
0 km
Military and Security
Military branches
NA; note--no functioning central government military forces; clan militias continue to battle for control of key economic or political prizes
Military expenditures--dollar figure
$NA
Military expenditures--percent of GDP
NA%
Military manpower--availability
males age 15-49: 1,730,450 (1999 est.) Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 962,545 (1999 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international
most of the southern half of the boundary with Ethiopia is a Provisional Administrative Line; territorial dispute with Ethiopia over the Ogaden