2005 Edition

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 44.5% (male 1,918,209/female 1,905,974) 15-64 years: 52.9% (male 2,278,406/female 2,263,602) 65 years and over: 2.6% (male 96,256/female 129,182) (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

60 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

6 over 3,047 m: 4 2438 to 3047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

54 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 19 914 to 1,523 m: 29 under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.) Military Somalia

Area

land

627,337 sq km

total

637,657 sq km

water

10,320 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Texas

Background

The regime of Mohamed SIAD Barre was ousted in January 1991; turmoil, factional fighting, and anarchy have followed in the years since. In May of 1991, northern clans declared an independent Republic of Somaliland that now includes the administrative regions of Awdal, Woqooyi Galbeed, Togdheer, Sanaag, and Sool. Although not recognized by any government, this entity has maintained a stable existence, aided by the overwhelming dominance of a ruling clan and economic infrastructure left behind by British, Russian, and American military assistance programs. The regions of Bari and Nugaal and northern Mudug comprise a neighboring self-declared autonomous state of Puntland, which has been self-governing since 1998, but does not aim at independence; it has also made strides towards reconstructing a legitimate, representative government, but has suffered some civil strife. Puntland disputes its border with Somaliland as it also claims portions of eastern Sool and Sanaag. 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. The mandate of the Transitional National Government (TNG), created in August 2000 in Arta, Djibouti, expired in August 2003. New Somali President Abdullahi YUSUF Ahmed has formed a new Transitional Federal Government (TFG) consisting of a 275-member parliament. It was established in October 2004 to replace the TNG but has not yet moved to Mogadishu. Discussions regarding the establishment of a new government in Mogadishu are ongoing in Kenya. Numerous warlords and factions are still fighting for control of the capital city as well as for other southern regions. Suspicion of Somali links with global terrorism further complicates the picture. Geography Somalia

Birth rate

45.62 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Budget

expenditures

NA, including capital expenditures of NA

revenues

NA

Capital

Mogadishu

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

Constitution

25 August 1979, presidential approval 23 September 1979 note: the formation of transitional governing institutions, known as the Transitional Federal Government, is currently ongoing

Country name

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Somalia

former

Somali Republic, Somali Democratic Republic

Currency (code)

Somali shilling (SOS)

Currency code

SOS

Death rate

16.97 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Debt - external

$3 billion (2001 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

the US does not have an embassy in Somalia; US interests are represented by the US Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya at United Nations Avenue, Gigira, Nairobi; mailing address: Unit 64100, Nairobi; APO AE 09831; telephone: [254] (20) 363-6000; FAX [254] (20) 363-6157

Diplomatic representation in the US

Somalia does not have an embassy in the US (ceased operations on 8 May 1991); note - the TNG and other factions have representatives in Washington and at the United Nations

Disputes - international

"Somaliland" secessionists provide port facilities to land-locked Ethiopia and establish commercial ties with regional states; "Puntland" and "Somaliland" "governments" seek support from neighboring states in their secessionist aspirations and in conflicts with each other; Ethiopia has only an administrative line with the Oromo region of southern Somalia and maintains alliances with local Somali clans opposed to the unrecognized Somali Interim Government, which plans eventual relocation from Kenya to Mogadishu; rival militia and clan fighting in southern Somalia periodically spills over into Kenya; most of the remaining 23,000 Somali refuges in Ethiopia are expected to be repatriated in 2005

Economic aid - recipient

$60 million (1999 est.)

Economy - overview

Somalia's economic fortunes are driven by its deep political divisions. The northwestern area has declared its independence as the "Republic of Somaliland"; the northeastern region of Puntland is a semi-autonomous state; and the remaining southern portion is riddled with the struggles of rival factions. Economic life continues, in part because much activity is local and relatively easily protected. Agriculture is the most important sector, with livestock normally accounting for about 40% of GDP and about 65% of export earnings, but Saudi Arabia's recent ban on Somali livestock, because of Rift Valley Fever concerns, has severely hampered the sector. Nomads and semi-nomads, who are dependent upon livestock for their livelihood, make up a large portion of the population. Livestock, hides, fish, charcoal, and bananas are Somalia's principal exports, while sugar, sorghum, corn, qat, and machined goods are the principal imports. Somalia's small industrial sector, based on the processing of agricultural products, has largely been looted and sold as scrap metal. Despite the seeming anarchy, Somalia's service sector has managed to survive and grow. Telecommunication firms provide wireless services in most major cities and offer the lowest international call rates on the continent. In the absence of a formal banking sector, money exchange services have sprouted throughout the country, handling between $500 million and $1 billion in remittances annually. Mogadishu's main market offers a variety of goods from food to the newest electronic gadgets. Hotels continue to operate, and militias provide security. The ongoing civil disturbances and clan rivalries, however, have interfered with any broad-based economic development and international aid arrangements. In 2004 Somalia's overdue financial obligations to the IMF continued to grow. Statistics on Somalia's GDP, growth, per capita income, and inflation should be viewed skeptically. In late December 2004, a major tsunami took an estimated 150 lives and caused destruction of properity in coastal areas.

Electricity - consumption

223.5 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - production

240.3 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

100%

hydro

0%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

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, Ozone Layer Protection

Ethnic groups

Somali 85%, Bantu and other non-Somali 15% (including Arabs 30,000)

Exchange rates

Somali shillings per US dollar - 11,000 (November 2000), 2,620 (January 1999), 7,500 (November 1997 est.), 7,000 (January 1996 est.), 5,000 (1 January 1995) note: the Republic of Somaliland, a self-declared independent country not recognized by any foreign government, issues its own currency, the Somaliland shilling

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the prime minister and approved by the Transitional Federal Assembly

chief of state

Abdullahi YUSUF Ahmed (since 14 October 2004); note - a new Transitional Federal Government consisting of a 275-member parliament was established in October 2004 but remains resident in Nairobi, Kenya, and has not extablished effective governance inside Somalia

election results

Abdullahi YUSUF Ahmed, the leader of the Puntland region of Somalia, was elected president by the Transitional Federal Assembly

head of government

Prime Minister Ali Muhammad GHEDI (since 24 December 2004)

Exports

$79 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

livestock, bananas, hides, fish, charcoal, scrap metal

Exports - partners

UAE 39.3%, Thailand 24.3%, Yemen 12.2%, Oman 4.7% (2004)

Fiscal year

NA Communications Somalia

Flag description

light blue with a large white five-pointed star in the center; blue field influenced by the flag of the UN

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

65%

industry

10%

services

25% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $600 (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

2.8% (2004 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$4.597 billion (2004 est.)

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 People Somalia

Government - note

although an interim government was created in 2004 other governing bodies continue to exist and control various cities and regions of the country, including the self-declared Republic of Somaliland, and traditional clan and faction strongholds Economy Somalia

Government type

no permanent national government; transitional, parliamentary federal government

Highways

paved

2,608 km

total

22,100 km

unpaved

19,492 km (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

43,000 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA

Imports

$344 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

manufactures, petroleum products, foodstuffs, construction materials, qat

Imports - partners

Djibouti 30.1%, Kenya 13.7%, India 8.6%, Brazil 8.5%, Oman 4.4%, UAE 4.2% (2004)

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)

Industrial production growth rate

NA

Industries

a few light industries, including sugar refining, textiles, wireless communication

Infant mortality rate

female

107.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

male

126.06 deaths/1,000 live births

total

116.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

note - businesses print their own money, so inflation rates cannot be sensibly determined (2004 est.)

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, LAS, NAM, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Internet country code

.so

Internet hosts

4 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

3 (one each in Boosaaso, Hargeisa, and Mogadishu) (2000)

Internet users

89,000 (2002) Transportation Somalia

Irrigated land

2,000 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

following the breakdown of the central government, most regions have reverted to local forms of conflict resolution, either secular, traditional clan-based arbitration, or Islamic (Shari'a) law with a provision for appeal of all sentences

Labor force

3.7 million (very few are skilled laborers)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture (mostly pastoral nomadism) 71%, industry and services 29%

Land boundaries

border countries

Djibouti 58 km, Ethiopia 1,600 km, Kenya 682 km

total

2,340 km

Land use

arable land

1.67%

other

98.29% (2001)

permanent crops

0.04%

Languages

Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English

Legal system

no national system; Shari'a and secular courts are in some localities

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly note: fledgling parliament; a 275-member Transitional Federal Assembly; the new parliament consists of 61 seats assigned to each of four large clan groups (Darod, Digil-Mirifle, Dir, and Hawiye) with the remaining 31 seats divided between minority clans

Life expectancy at birth

female

49.87 years (2005 est.)

male

46.36 years

total population

48.09 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

25.8% (2001 est.) Government Somalia

male

49.7%

total population

37.8%

Location

Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia

Major infectious diseases

animal contact disease

rabies (2004)

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases

malaria and dengue fever are high risks in some locations

water contact disease

schistosomiasis

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49: 1,787,727 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49: 1,022,360 (2005 est.)

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

territorial sea

200 nm

Median age

female

17.65 years (2005 est.)

male

17.53 years

total

17.59 years

Military branches

A Somali National Army was attempted under the interim government; numerous factions and clans maintain independent militias, and the Somaliland and Puntland regional governments maintain their own security and police forces

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$18.9 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.9% (2003) Transnational Issues Somalia

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age (est.) (2001)

National holiday

Foundation of the Somali Republic, 1 July (1960); note - 26 June (1960) in Somaliland

Nationality

adjective

Somali

noun

Somali(s)

Natural gas - proved reserves

2.832 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

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, natural gas, likely oil reserves

Net migration rate

5.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption

4,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA

Oil - imports

NA

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2002)

Political parties and leaders

none

Political pressure groups and leaders

numerous clan and subclan factions are currently vying for power

Population

8,591,629 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 2005 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA

Population growth rate

3.38% (2005 est.)

Ports and harbors

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

Radio broadcast stations

AM 0, FM 11, shortwave 1 in Mogadishu; 1 FM in Puntland, 1 FM in Somaliland (2001)

Radios

470,000 (1997)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

375,000 (civil war since 1988, clan-based competition for resources) (2004) This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005 ======================================================================

Religions

Sunni Muslim

Sex ratio

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

local cellular telephone systems have been established in Mogadishu and in several other population centers

general assessment

the public telecommunications system was almost completely destroyed or dismantled by the civil war factions; private wireless companies offer service in most major cities and charge the lowest international rates on the continent

international

country code - 252; international connections are available from Mogadishu by satellite

Telephones - main lines in use

100,000 (2002 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

35,000 (2002)

Television broadcast stations

4 note: two in Mogadishu; two in Hargeisa (2001)

Televisions

135,000 (1997)

Terrain

mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north

Total fertility rate

6.84 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA