2000 Edition

Background

Intermittent civil war has been a fact of life in Somalia since 1977. In 1991, the northern portion of the country declared its independence as Somaliland; although de facto independent and relatively stable compared to the tumultuous south, it has not been recognized by any foreign government. Beginning in 1993, a two-year UN humanitarian effort (primarily in the south) was able to alleviate famine conditions, but when the UN withdrew in 1995, having suffered significant casualties, order still had not been restored.

Area

land

627,337 sq km

total

637,657 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

highest point

Shimbiris 2,416 m

lowest point

Indian Ocean 0 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

border countries

Djibouti 58 km, Ethiopia 1,626 km, Kenya 682 km

total

2,366 km

Land use

arable land

2%

forests and woodland

26%

other

3% (1993 est.)

permanent crops

0%

permanent pastures

69%

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; floods during rainy season

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 44% (male 1,610,945; female 1,608,209) 15-64 years: 53% (male 1,938,263; female 1,892,752) 65 years and over: 3% (male 90,717; female 112,251) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

47.7 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

18.69 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

Somali 85%, Bantu, Arabs 30,000

Infant mortality rate

125.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English

Life expectancy at birth

female

47.85 years (2000 est.)

male

44.66 years

total population

46.23 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

14% (1990 est.)

male

36%

total population

24%

Nationality

adjective

Somali

noun

Somali(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

7,253,137

note

this estimate was derived from an official census taken in 1975 by the Somali Government; population counting in Somalia is complicated by the large number of nomads and by refugee movements in response to famine and clan warfare (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

2.9% (2000 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: 0.81 male(s)/female

total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

7.18 children born/woman (2000 est.)

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

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. O. Box 30137, Unit 64100, Nairobi; APO AE 09831; telephone: (2) 334141; FAX (2) 340838

Diplomatic representation in the US

Somalia does not have an embassy in the US (ceased operations on 8 May 1991)

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 - 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. Neighboring Puntland has also made strides towards reconstructing legitimate, representative government. 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.

Government type

none

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)

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

Legal system

NA

Legislative branch

unicameral People's Assembly or Golaha Shacbiga

note

not functioning

National holiday

NA

Political parties and leaders

none

Political pressure groups and leaders

numerous clan and subclan factions are currently vying for power

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

bananas, sorghum, corn, sugarcane, mangoes, sesame seeds, beans; cattle, sheep, goats; fish

Budget

expenditures

$NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

revenues

$NA

Currency

1 Somali shilling (So. Sh.) = 100 cents

Debt - external

$2.6 billion (1997 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, in 1999, ongoing civil disturbances in Mogadishu and outlying areas interfered with any substantial economic advance and with international aid arrangements.

Electricity - consumption

246 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

265 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

100%

hydro

0%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (1998)

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 foreign government, issues its own currency, the Somaliland shilling (So. Sh.)

Exports

$187 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Exports - commodities

livestock, bananas, hides, fish (1997)

Exports - partners

Saudi Arabia 57%, UAE 15%, Italy 12%, Yemen 8% (1997)

Fiscal year

NA

GDP

purchasing power parity - $4.3 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

59%

industry

10%

services

31% (1995 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $600 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$327 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Imports - commodities

manufactures, petroleum products, foodstuffs, construction materials (1995)

Imports - partners

Djibouti 20%, Kenya 11%, Belarus 11%, India 10%, Saudi Arabia 9%, Brazil 9% (1997)

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%

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

NA

Radio broadcast stations

AM 0, FM 0, shortwave 4 (1988)

Radios

470,000 (1997)

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 - main lines in use

NA

Telephones - mobile cellular

NA

Television broadcast stations

1 (1997)

Televisions

135,000 (1997)

Airports

61 (1999 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 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

54 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 29 under 914 m: 10 (1999 est.)

Highways

paved

2,608 km

total

22,100 km

unpaved

19,492 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine

none (1999 est.)

Pipelines

crude oil 15 km

Ports and harbors

Bender Cassim (Boosaaso), Berbera, Chisimayu (Kismaayo), Merca, Mogadishu

Railways

0 km

Military branches

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: 1,772,631 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 984,103 (2000 est.)

Disputes - international

most of the southern half of the boundary with Ethiopia is a Provisional Administrative Line; territorial dispute with Ethiopia over the Ogaden

SOUTH AFRICA