Somalia
Region
🌍 Africa
Population
👥 20
Currency
💱 Somali shilling
Languages
🗣️ Arabic, Somali
This mark means a fact is linked to a checked source. Hover or tap it to see the source. 34 of 141 facts on this page are sourced.
Official NameSource: REST Countries
Federal Republic of Somalia
Continent
Africa
DemonymSource: REST Countries
Somali
Independence
July 1, 1960 (from Italy and the UK)
Top-Level Domain
.so
Calling CodeSource: REST Countries
+252
Time ZoneSource: REST Countries
UTC+03:00
Capital CitySource: REST Countries
Mogadishu
ISO Alpha-2
SO
ISO Alpha-3
SOM
UN Code
706
Geographic Coordinates
10,49
Area (km²)Source: REST Countries
637,657#42 of 249
PopulationSource: REST Countries
20,305,907#65 of 247
Population Density (per km²)
29.26
Highest Point (m)
Mount Shimbiris, 2,460 m
Lowest Point (m)
Sea level (Indian Ocean)
Land Use
Roughly 46% pasture, 14% arable land, and 40% other
Irrigated Land
Approximately 1,600 sq km (2012 estimate)
Coastline Length
3,025 km
Climate
Primarily arid to semi-arid; monsoon seasons
Natural Resources
Uranium, iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt, natural gas, oil
Bordering CountriesSource: REST Countries
Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya
Major Rivers
Shabelle River, Jubba River
Major Lakes
This country has no major lakes.
Government Type
Federal parliamentary republic
Administrative Divisions
18 regions (gobollada, singular - gobol)
Legal System
Mixture of customary law, Islamic law, Italian civil law, and English common law
Chief of State
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud
Head of Government
Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre
Cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the Prime Minister.
Elections
Elections are held for the Federal Parliament; presidential elections are indirect.
Judicial Branch
Supreme Court; various regional and district courts.
Legislative Branch
Parliament (bicameral: Senate and House of the People)
Major Political Parties
Various political parties and clan-based factions.
CurrencySource: REST Countries
Somali shilling
GDP, Nominal (US$ billion)Source: World Bank: GDP (current US$) (2025)Checked September 29, 2026
13#149 of 211
GDP, PPP (US$ billion)Source: World Bank: GDP, PPP (current international $) (2025)Checked September 29, 2026
32.29#149 of 201
GDP per Capita (US$)Source: World Bank: GDP per capita (current US$) (2025)Checked September 29, 2026
661.17#205 of 211
GDP - Agriculture (%)Source: World Bank: Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (% of GDP) (1990)Checked September 29, 2026
55.79
GDP - Industry (%)Source: World Bank: Industry (including construction), value added (% of GDP) (1986)Checked September 29, 2026
9.66
GDP - Services (%)
—
Inflation Rate (%)
Inflation rates in Somalia are highly variable; recent estimates suggest high single digits.
Labor Force (people)Source: World Bank: Labor force, total (2025)Checked September 29, 2026
3,555,419
Unemployment Rate (%)Source: World Bank: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) (2025)Checked September 29, 2026
18.95#8 of 185
Public Debt (% of GDP)Source: World Bank: Central government debt, total (% of GDP) (2024)Checked September 29, 2026
12.66
Budget
Somalia's budget is constrained and relies heavily on external assistance.
Exports (US$ billion)Source: World Bank: Exports of goods and services (current US$) (2025)Checked September 29, 2026
3.8#140 of 192
Imports (US$ billion)Source: World Bank: Imports of goods and services (current US$) (2025)Checked September 29, 2026
12.84#112 of 192
Foreign Reserves
Foreign reserves are limited due to economic instability.
Currency Exchange
Exchange rates fluctuate significantly. Consult a financial institution for current rates.
GDP by Sector
Agriculture is the dominant sector, followed by services.
Major Industries
Industries are primarily livestock, remittances, and fishing.
Major Export Partners
Major export partners include Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
Major Import Partners
Major import partners include India and Oman.
Society
Literacy Rate (%)Source: World Bank: Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) (2022)Checked September 29, 2026
54.12#154 of 169
Birth Rate (per 1,000 people)Source: World Bank: Birth rate, crude (per 1,000 people) (2024)Checked September 29, 2026
42.3
Death Rate (per 1,000 people)Source: World Bank: Death rate, crude (per 1,000 people) (2024)Checked September 29, 2026
9.7
Net Migration Rate
The net migration rate is negative, with emigration exceeding immigration.
Median Age
The median age is very young, reflecting a high birth rate.
Urban Population (%)Source: World Bank: Urban population (% of total population) (2025)Checked September 29, 2026
55.14#144 of 214
Urbanization Rate
Somalia's urbanization rate is moderately increasing.
Life Expectancy (years)Source: World Bank: Life expectancy at birth, total (years) (2024)Checked September 29, 2026
59#209 of 214
HIV/AIDS Prevalence
HIV/AIDS prevalence is relatively low but data is limited.
Health Expenditures (% of GDP)Source: World Bank: Current health expenditure (% of GDP) (2023)Checked September 29, 2026
3.74
Ethnic Groups
Somalis are the dominant ethnic group.
Religions
Islam is the predominant religion.
LanguagesSource: REST Countries
Arabic, Somali
Education
Education System
The education system faces significant challenges due to instability and lack of resources; it includes primary, secondary, and higher education.
School Life Expectancy (years)Source: World Bank: School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes (years) (1976)Checked September 29, 2026
2.5
Government Education Spending
Government spending on education is very low due to ongoing conflict and limited resources.
Primary Education Access
—
Secondary Education Access
—
Higher Education Access
—
Major Universities
Major universities include the Somali National University, but access is limited and impacted by security concerns.
Culture
Cultural Overview
Somali culture is rich with oral traditions, poetry, music, and dance, heavily influenced by Islamic and nomadic traditions.
National HolidaysSource: Nager.Date
- New Year's Day (2026-01-01)
- Labour Day (2026-05-01)
- Independence Day (2026-06-26)
- Republic Day (2026-07-01)
Popular Music
Popular music includes traditional Somali music and modern genres like Somali pop and hip-hop.
Traditional Food
Traditional food includes dishes like rice with meat, pasta, and various types of stews and soups flavored with spices.
Sports
Football (soccer) is the most popular sport, with a growing interest in other sports like basketball and track and field.
Major Festivals
Major festivals include Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, celebrated with religious observances and festivities.
Famous People
Famous people include notable poets, athletes, and political figures.
Cultural Heritage Sites
Cultural heritage sites are limited and often affected by conflict; efforts are underway to preserve them.
UNESCO Sites
Somalia currently has no UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Annual Tourist Visits
Extremely low, data unreliable.
Tourism Overview
Tourism is underdeveloped due to instability.
Top Tourist Attractions
Limited accessibility; potential attractions include ancient sites and coastal areas.
Famous Cities
Mogadishu, Hargeisa.
National Parks
Limited national parks due to instability.
Protected Areas
Limited protected areas.
Best Time to Visit
—
Tourist Visa Info
Visa requirements vary; check with embassy.
Visa Requirements Overview
—
Travel Advisory
Extremely high risk; advise against all travel.
Healthcare
Healthcare Quality
Healthcare quality is extremely limited due to ongoing conflict and instability.
Medical Cost
Medical costs are generally low, but access to care is very limited.
Number of Hospitals
The number of hospitals is very small, and their capacity is limited.
Universal Healthcare
Healthcare access is limited, and a universal healthcare system is not in place.
Medical Services Overview
Medical services are severely limited, with many people relying on traditional medicine.
Emergency Medical Access
Emergency medical access is severely restricted.
Emergency & Safety
Emergency Number (Police)
Emergency numbers for police are unreliable and vary by region; specific numbers may not be consistent.
Emergency Number (Ambulance)
Emergency numbers for ambulances are unreliable and vary by region; specific numbers may not be consistent.
Emergency Number (Fire)
Emergency numbers for fire services are unreliable and vary by region; specific numbers may not be consistent.
Crime Rate
Crime rates are high due to instability and internal conflict; statistics are often unreliable.
Safety Index
The safety index is low due to ongoing conflict, instability, and insecurity.
Military Expenditure
Military expenditure is low due to economic constraints and ongoing conflict, but the exact amount is difficult to ascertain.
Emergency Services Overview
Emergency services are limited due to ongoing conflict and limited resources, and are highly variable by region.
Safety Overview
—
Military Branches
Military branches include the Somali National Army, with support from various international partners.
Infrastructure
Electricity Access
Electricity access is very limited, particularly in rural areas.
Water Access
Water access is a significant challenge, with limited access to clean water sources in many areas.
Sanitation Access
Sanitation access is very limited, and proper sanitation facilities are scarce.
Railways
Somalia does not have a functional railway system.
Roadways
Roadways are underdeveloped and in poor condition in many areas, with limited paved roads.
Transportation System
The transportation system faces significant challenges due to infrastructure limitations and security concerns.
AirportsSource: OurAirports
Aden Adde International Airport (MGQ), Bender Qassim International Airport (BSA), Egal International Airport (HGA), Berbera Airport (BBO), Kismayo Airport (KMU)
Ports
Major ports include Mogadishu Port and Berbera Port, vital for trade and transportation.
Public Transit
Public transit is limited and mainly consists of informal services like minibuses.
Technology & Communication
Internet Penetration (%)Source: World Bank: Individuals using the Internet (% of population) (2024)Checked September 29, 2026
27.94#186 of 211
Mobile Subscriptions (per 100)
Data unavailable.
Tech Startups
Limited tech startup activity.
Innovation Index
Data unavailable.
ICT Development Index
Data unavailable.
TV Broadcast Stations
Limited number of TV stations.
Radio Broadcast Stations
Several radio stations operating.
Plug Type & Voltage
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CO2 Emissions (t per capita)Source: World Bank: Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions excluding LULUCF per capita (t CO2e/capita) (2024)Checked September 29, 2026
0.05#193 of 202
Air Quality Index
Data is limited; air quality is generally poor due to pollution from various sources.
Water Pollution Level
Significant water pollution from untreated sewage, industrial waste, and agricultural runoff.
Renewable Energy Usage
Very limited renewable energy usage; some solar power initiatives.
Environmental Issues
Deforestation, overgrazing, soil erosion, desertification, water scarcity, and pollution are major issues.
Natural Hazards
Droughts, floods, and cyclones are common.
Waste Management
Poor waste management infrastructure, leading to widespread littering and open dumping.
Environmental Agreements
Party to agreements on climate change, biodiversity, desertification, and others.
UN MembershipSource: REST Countries
Yes
Diplomatic Missions
Has diplomatic missions in several countries.
International OrganizationsSource: REST Countries
African Union, Arab League
Major Treaties
Limited information available, but participates in international agreements related to environment, trade, etc.
Visa-Free Countries
Somali citizens generally require visas to enter most countries; visa-free access is limited.