Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
1 (2022 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
119,000 (2022 est.)
Communications: 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)
Communications: Internet country code
.so
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
27.94% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
1 (2022 est.) less than 1
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
91,000 (2022 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
54 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
9.91 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
camel milk, milk, goat milk, sheep milk, sugarcane, fruits, sorghum, cassava, vegetables, maize (2023)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$4.095 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$2.563 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
23097.987 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
Somali shillings (SOS) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
19283.800 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
20230.929 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
22254.236 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
23061.784 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
23097.987 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
sheep and goats, gold, postage stamps/documents, other animals, cattle (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$1.098 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$1.038 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$1.067 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$994.3 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$1.119 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$1.131 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$1.178 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$1.532 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$1.804 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$2.164 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$2.424 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
20% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
7.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
124% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-74.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
22.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
0% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$1,602 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$12.109 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$30.452 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
raw sugar, tobacco, broadcasting equipment, rice, milk (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$3.667 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$3.851 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$4.240 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$4.693 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$4.954 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$5.353 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$5.969 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$7.456 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$8.002 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$9.002 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
4.3% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
4.6% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
6.8% (2022 est.)
Economy: Labor force
3.439 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
55.40% (2022 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2014
93% of GDP (2014 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2021
47.31% (2021 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2022
43.38% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$15.043 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$18.521 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$21.071 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$23.819 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$24.820 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$24.215 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$24.047 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$24.706 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$25.747 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$26.77 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
10.46% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
7.03% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
14.74% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
2.05% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
2.80% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-2.76% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
3.45% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
2.72% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
4.18% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
4.11% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$1,128 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$1,341 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$1,469 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$1,597 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$1,548 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$1,454 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$1,392 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$1,486 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$1,556 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
18.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
17% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
15.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
0% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
18.83% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
19.41% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
19.66% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
19.11% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
18.96% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
18.95% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
37% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
32.1% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
33.9% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
4 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - rural areas
30.6%
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
48.9% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - urban areas
76.7%
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
82.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
16% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: wind
1.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
396.792 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
156,000 kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
15.408 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
649,000 Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: proven reserves
5.663 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
6,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
10 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
838,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
838,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: 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
Environment: Environmental issues
water scarcity; contaminated water; improper waste disposal; deforestation; land degradation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Environment: 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
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
Nuclear Test Ban
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
70.3% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 1.8% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 68.5% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
7.9% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
21.7% (2023 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
14.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
14.7 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
3.281 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
2 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
15 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
4.2% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
54.62% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
2.326 million tons (2024 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
almost five times the size of Alabama; slightly smaller than Texas
Geography: Area: land
627,337 sq km
Geography: Area: water
10,320 sq km
Geography: Coastline
3,025 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Mount Shimbiris 2,460 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Indian Ocean 0 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
410 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
10 00 N, 49 00 E
Geography: Geography - note
strategic location on Horn of Africa along southern approaches to Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea and Suez Canal
Geography: Irrigated land
2,000 sq km (2012)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Djibouti 61 km; Ethiopia 1,640 km; Kenya 684 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
2,385 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
70.3% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 1.8% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 68.5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
7.9% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
21.7% (2023 est.)
Geography: Major aquifers
Ogaden-Juba Basin
Geography: Map references
Africa
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
200 nm; note: the US does not recognize this claim
Geography: Natural hazards
recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plains in summer; floods during rainy season
Geography: 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
Geography: Terrain
mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north
Government: 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
Government: Capital: etymology
the name is probably derived from the Arabic word mukaddas , meaning "holy"
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
2 04 N, 45 20 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
the father must be a citizen of Somalia
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
no
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
7 years
Government: 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
Government: Constitution: history
previous 1961, 1979; latest drafted 12 June 2012, adopted 1 August 2012
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Somalia
Government: Country name: 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"
Government: Country name: former
British Somaliland, Italian Somaliland, Somali Republic, Somali Democratic Republic
Government: Country name: local long form
Jamhuuriyadda Federaalka Soomaaliya (Somali)/ Jumhuriyat as Sumal al Fidiraliyah (Arabic)
Government: Country name: local short form
Soomaaliya (Somali)/ As Sumal (Arabic)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Richard H. RILEY (since 20 June 2024)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
SomaliaPublicAffairs@state.gov https://so.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
Mogadishu, (reopened October 2019 on the grounds of the Mogadishu Airport)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
P.O. Box 606 Village Market 00621 Nairobi, Kenya
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[254] 20 363-6451
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
1609 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador DAHIR Hassan Abdi (since 18 September 2024)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
washingtonembassy@mfa.gov.so https://usa.mfa.gov.so/
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 853-9164
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the prime minister, approved by the House of the People
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President HASSAN SHEIKH Mohamud (since 23 May 2022)
Government: Executive branch: 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%
Government: Executive branch: 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
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
2026
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Prime Minister Hamza Abdi BARRE (since 25 June 2022)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
15 May 2022
Government: 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: 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: International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt
Government: 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
Government: 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)
Government: Judicial branch: 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
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
federal courts; federal member state-level courts; military courts; sharia courts
Government: Legal system
mixed system of civil law, Islamic (sharia) law, and customary law (referred to as Xeer)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: chamber name
House of the People (Golaha Shacabka)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: expected date of next election
October 2026
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: most recent election date
11/1/2021 to 5/5/2022
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: number of seats
275 (all indirectly elected)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: percentage of women in chamber
19%
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: term in office
5 years
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: chamber name
Upper House (Aqalka Sare)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: expected date of next election
July 2026
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: most recent election date
7/27/2021 to 11/13/2021
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: number of seats
54 (all indirectly elected)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: percentage of women in chamber
25.9%
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: term in office
5 years
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
bicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
Federal Parliament
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 2012
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Abdullahi QARSHE
Government: National color(s)
blue, white
Government: National holiday
Foundation of the Somali Republic, 1 July (1960); note - 26 June (1960) in Somaliland
Government: National symbol(s)
leopard
Government: 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
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal suffrage starting with 24 June 2024 local elections
Introduction: 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.
Military and Security: 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: 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: Military and security service personnel strengths
estimated 20,000 active Somali Armed Forces (2025)
Military and Security: 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 and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
0.68% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
0.65% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
5.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
6% of GDP (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
5.6% of GDP (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
6% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
6% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
1.16% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
1.29% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
1.59% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: 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)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
41.4% (male 2,689,086/female 2,694,372)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
55.8% (male 3,699,721/female 3,568,163)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
2.8% (2024 est.) (male 157,505/female 208,426)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
46.36 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
3.74% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
62.4% (2019 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
11.22 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
3.3 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
29.9 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
100.5 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
97.1 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 38.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 58.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 80.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 61.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 41.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 19.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
0% of GDP (2023 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
8.1% national budget (2025 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
0.00% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
predominantly Somali with lesser numbers of Arabs, Bantus, and others
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
3.14 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure
2.5% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.10% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
0.9 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
73.7 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
93.2 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
65.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Languages: Languages
Somali (official), Arabic (official), Italian, English
People and Society: Languages: major-language sample(s)
Buugga Xaqiiqda Aduunka, waa laga maarmaanka macluumaadka assasiga. (Somali) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
61.6 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
56.5 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
43.9% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
64.5% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
54.12% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
2.610 million MOGADISHU (capital), 1.127 million Hargeysa (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
563 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
18.9 years
People and Society: Median age: male
19.3 years
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Somali
People and Society: Net migration rate
-1.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
8.3% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
0.05 physicians/1,000 population (2014)
People and Society: Population
19,009,151 (2024 est.)
People and Society: 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
People and Society: Population growth rate
3.48% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
10,153,297
People and Society: Population: male
10,170,863
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 34.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 57.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 82.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 65.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 42.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 17.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
1.04 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.76 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.03 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
6.01 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
4.2% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
54.62% (2024 est.)
Terrorism: Terrorist group(s)
al-Shabaab; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham – Somalia
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
3,869,345 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
41,763 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Trafficking in persons: tier rating
Special Case; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/somalia/
Transportation: Airports
40 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
6O
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
general cargo 1, other 3
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
4 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Baraawe, Berbera, Boosaaso, Kismaayo, Marka, Muqdisho
Transportation: Ports: large
1
Transportation: Ports: medium
0
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
2
Transportation: Ports: small
2
Transportation: Ports: total ports
6 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
3
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.