2020 Edition

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.

Area

land

627,337 sq km

total

637,657 sq km

water

10,320 sq km

Area - comparative

almost five times the size of Alabama; slightly smaller than Texas

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

Coastline

3,025 km

Elevation

highest point

Mount Shimbiris 2,460 m

lowest point

Indian Ocean 0 m

mean elevation

410 m

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

2,000 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

border countries

Djibouti 61 km; Ethiopia 1,640 km; Kenya 684 km

total

2,385 km

Land use

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.)

forest

7.9% (2023 est.)

other

21.7% (2023 est.)

Location

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

Major aquifers

Ogaden-Juba Basin

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

200 nm; note: the US does not recognize this claim

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

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

Terrain

mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north

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)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

46.36 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

62.4% (2019 est.)

Death rate

11.22 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

3.3 (2025 est.)

potential support ratio

29.9 (2025 est.)

total dependency ratio

100.5 (2025 est.)

youth dependency ratio

97.1 (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.)

Ethnic groups

predominantly Somali with lesser numbers of Arabs, Bantus, and others

Gross reproduction rate

3.14 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

2.5% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

0.9 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

73.7 deaths/1,000 live births

male

93.2 deaths/1,000 live births

total

81.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 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.

Life expectancy at birth

female

59 years

male

54.1 years

total population

56.5 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

female

43.9% (2022 est.)

male

64.5% (2022 est.)

total population

54.1% (2022 est.)

Major urban areas - population

2.610 million MOGADISHU (capital), 1.127 million Hargeysa (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

563 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

female

18.9 years

male

19.3 years

total

15.7 years (2025 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Somali

noun

Somali(s)

Net migration rate

-1.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

8.3% (2016)

Physician density

0.05 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

Population

female

10,153,297

male

10,170,863

total

20,324,160 (2025 est.)

Population growth rate

3.32% (2025 est.)

Religions

Muslim 99.9% (Sunni Muslim 98.1%, Shia Muslim 1.2%, Islamic schismatic 0.6%), ethnic religionist 0.1% (2020 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.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.04 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.76 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Total fertility rate

6.38 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

4.2% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

47.9% of total population (2023)

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

Capital

etymology

the name is probably derived from the Arabic word mukaddas, meaning "holy"

geographic coordinates

2 04 N, 45 20 E

name

Mogadishu

time difference

UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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

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

history

previous 1961, 1979; latest drafted 12 June 2012, adopted 1 August 2012

Country name

conventional long form

Federal Republic of Somalia

conventional short form

Somalia

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"

former

British Somaliland, Italian Somaliland, Somali Republic, Somali Democratic Republic

local long form

Jamhuuriyadda Federaalka Soomaaliya (Somali)/ Jumhuriyat as Sumal al Fidiraliyah (Arabic)

local short form

Soomaaliya (Somali)/ As Sumal (Arabic)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Richard H. RILEY (since 20 June 2024)

email address and website

SomaliaPublicAffairs@state.gov https://so.usembassy.gov/

embassy

Mogadishu, (reopened October 2019 on the grounds of the Mogadishu Airport)

mailing address

P.O. Box 606 Village Market 00621 Nairobi, Kenya

telephone

[254] 20 363-6451

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1609 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador DAHIR Hassan Abdi (since 18 September 2024)

email address and website

washingtonembassy@mfa.gov.so https://usa.mfa.gov.so/

telephone

[1] (202) 853-9164

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%

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

head of government

Prime Minister Hamza Abdi BARRE (since 25 June 2022)

most recent election date

15 May 2022

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)

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

Government type

federal parliamentary republic

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 law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

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)

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

subordinate courts

federal courts; federal member state-level courts; military courts; sharia courts

Legal system

mixed system of civil law, Islamic (sharia) law, and customary law (referred to as Xeer)

Legislative branch

legislative structure

bicameral

legislature name

Federal Parliament

Legislative branch - lower chamber

chamber name

House of the People (Golaha Shacabka)

expected date of next election

October 2026

most recent election date

11/1/2021 to 5/5/2022

number of seats

275 (all indirectly elected)

percentage of women in chamber

19%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

5 years

Legislative branch - upper chamber

chamber name

Upper House (Aqalka Sare)

expected date of next election

July 2026

most recent election date

7/27/2021 to 11/13/2021

number of seats

54 (all indirectly elected)

percentage of women in chamber

25.9%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

5 years

National anthem(s)

history

adopted 2012

lyrics/music

Abdullahi QARSHE

title

"Qolobaa Calankeed" (Every Nation Has Its Own Flag)

National color(s)

blue, white

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

leopard

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal suffrage starting with 24 June 2024 local elections

Agricultural products

camel milk, milk, goat milk, sheep milk, sugarcane, fruits, sorghum, cassava, vegetables, maize (2023)

Debt - external

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

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.)

Exports

Exports 2022

$1.804 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$2.164 billion (2023 est.)

Exports 2024

$2.424 billion (2024 est.)

Exports - commodities

sheep and goats, gold, postage stamps/documents, other animals, cattle (2023)

Exports - partners

UAE 35%, Saudi Arabia 27%, Oman 18%, Djibouti 8%, India 3% (2023)

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

20% (2024 est.)

government consumption

7.6% (2024 est.)

household consumption

124% (2024 est.)

imports of goods and services

-74.3% (2024 est.)

investment in fixed capital

22.7% (2024 est.)

investment in inventories

0% (2024 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$12.109 billion (2024 est.)

Imports

Imports 2022

$7.456 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$8.002 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2024

$9.002 billion (2024 est.)

Imports - commodities

raw sugar, tobacco, broadcasting equipment, rice, milk (2023)

Imports - partners

UAE 29%, China 19%, India 15%, Turkey 8%, Oman 5% (2023)

Industries

light industries, including sugar refining, textiles, wireless communication

Inflation rate (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.)

Labor force

3.439 million (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

54.4% (2022 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2014

93% of GDP (2014 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

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.)

Real GDP growth rate

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.)

Real GDP per capita

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.)

Remittances

Remittances 2021

18.3% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

17% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

15.8% of GDP (2023 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

0% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2022

19.1% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

19% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

18.9% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

37% (2024 est.)

male

32.1% (2024 est.)

total

33.9% (2024 est.)

Coal

imports

4 metric tons (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.)

Electricity access

electrification - rural areas

30.6%

electrification - total population

48.9% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas

76.7%

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels

82.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

16% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind

1.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

649,000 Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

proven reserves

5.663 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

6,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

1 (2022 est.)

total

119,000 (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

Internet users

percent of population

28% (2022 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

1 (2022 est.) less than 1

total subscriptions

91,000 (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

54 (2023 est.)

total subscriptions

9.91 million (2023 est.)

Airports

40 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

6O

Merchant marine

by type

general cargo 1, other 3

total

4 (2023)

Ports

key ports

Baraawe, Berbera, Boosaaso, Kismaayo, Marka, Muqdisho

large

1

medium

0

ports with oil terminals

2

small

2

total ports

6 (2024)

very small

3

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 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 and security service personnel strengths

estimated 20,000 active Somali Armed Forces (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 expenditures

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 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)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

3,869,345 (2024 est.)

refugees

41,763 (2024 est.)

Trafficking in persons

tier rating

Special Case; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/somalia/

Terrorist group(s)

al-Shabaab; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham – Somalia

Carbon dioxide emissions

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.)

total emissions

838,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Environmental issues

water scarcity; contaminated water; improper waste disposal; deforestation; land degradation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

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

Particulate matter emissions

14.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

14.7 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

3.281 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial

2 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

municipal

15 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

2.326 million tons (2024 est.)