View Intelligence Dossier Back to 1994 CSV Excel Print All Years

Communications

Airports [time series]

total: 76 usable: 59 with permanent-surface runways: 8 with runways over 3,659 m: 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 6 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 24

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 22,500 km paved: 2,700 km unpaved: gravel 3,000 km; improved, stabilized earth 16,800 km (1992)

Merchant marine [time series]

2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,554 GRT/6,892 DWT, cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 1

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil 15 km

Ports [time series]

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

Telecommunication systems (Telecommunications) [time series]

the public telecommunications system was completely destroyed or dismantled by the civil war factions; all relief organizations depend on their own private systems (1993)

Defense Forces

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

$NA, NA% of GDP

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49 1,630,864; fit for military service 915,368

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

dominant sector, led by livestock raising (cattle, sheep, goats); crops - bananas, sorghum, corn, mangoes, sugarcane; not self-sufficient in food; distribution of food disrupted by civil strife; fishing potential largely unexploited

Budget [time series]

revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

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

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $639 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $3.8 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $1.1 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $336 million

Electricity [time series]

capacity: former 75,000 kW is almost completely shut down by the destruction of the civil war; UN, relief organizations, and foreign military units in Somalia use their own portable power systems production: NA consumption per capita: NA

Exchange rates [time series]

Somali shillings (So. Sh.) per US$1 - 2,616 (1 July 1993), 4,200 (December 1992), 3,800.00 (December 1990), 490.7 (1989)

Exports [time series]

$58 million (1990 est.) commodities: bananas, live animals, fish, hides partners: Saudi Arabia, Italy, FRG (1986)

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$1.9 billion (1989)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Imports [time series]

$249 million (1990 est.) commodities: petroleum products, foodstuffs, construction materials partners: US 13%, Italy, FRG, Kenya, UK, Saudi Arabia (1986)

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate 0% (1990); accounts for 4% of GDP

Industries [time series]

a few small industries, including sugar refining, textiles, petroleum refining; probably shut down by the widespread destruction during the civil war

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

210% (1989)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (National product) [time series]

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $3.4 billion (1993 est.)

Real GDP per capita (National product per capita) [time series]

$500 (1993 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (National product real growth rate) [time series]

NA%

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

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 seminomads who are dependent upon livestock for their livelihoods make up more than half of the population. Crop production generates only 10% of GDP and employs about 20% of the work force. The main export crop is bananas; sugar, sorghum, and corn are grown for the domestic market. The small industrial sector is based on the processing of agricultural products and accounts for less than 10% of GDP. Greatly increased political turmoil in 1991-93 has resulted in a substantial drop in output, with widespread famine.

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 637,660 sq km land area: 627,340 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas

Climate [time series]

desert; northeast monsoon (December to February), cooler southwest monsoon (May to October); irregular rainfall; hot, humid periods (tangambili) between monsoons

Coastline [time series]

3,025 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: use of contaminated water contributes to health problems; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification natural hazards: recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plains in summer international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Law of the Sea; signed, but not ratified - Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

1,600 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total 2,366 km, Djibouti 58 km, Ethiopia 1,626 km, Kenya 682 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 46% forest and woodland: 14% other: 38%

Location [time series]

Eastern Africa, bordering the northwestern Indian Ocean, south of the Arabian Peninsula

Map references [time series]

Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 200 nm

Natural resources [time series]

uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt

Note [time series]

strategic location on Horn of Africa along southern approaches to Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea and Suez Canal

Terrain [time series]

mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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 [time series]

Mogadishu

Constitution [time series]

25 August 1979, presidential approval 23 September 1979

Digraph [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

Somalian Embassy ceased operations on 8 May 1991

Executive branch [time series]

Somalia has no functioning government; presidential elections last held 23 December 1986 (next to be held NA); results - President SIAD was reelected without opposition

Flag [time series]

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)

Independence [time series]

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)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court (non-functioning)

Legal system [time series]

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral People's Assembly

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Country name (Names) [time series]

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Somalia former: Somali Republic

National holiday [time series]

Political parties (Other political or pressure groups) [time series]

numerous clan and subclan factions are currently vying for power

Legislative branch (People's Assembly (Golaha Shacbiga)) [time series]

elections last held 31 December 1984 (next to be held NA); results - SRSP was the only party; seats - (177 total, 171 elected) SRSP 171; note - the United Somali Congress (USC) ousted the regime of Maj. Gen. Mohamed SIAD Barre on 27 January 1991; the provisional government has promised that a democratically elected government will be established

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

the United Somali Congress (USC) ousted the former regime on 27 January 1991; formerly the only party was the Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party (SRSP), headed by former President and Commander in Chief of the Army Maj. Gen. Mohamed SIAD Barre

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Government type (Type) [time series]

none

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

the US Embassy in Mogadishu was evacuated and closed indefinitely in January 1991; United States Liaison Office (USLO) opened in December 1992

People

Birth rate [time series]

45.97 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Death rate [time series]

13.53 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

Somali 85%, Bantu, Arabs 30,000, Europeans 3,000, Asians 800

Infant mortality rate [time series]

125.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

Labor force [time series]

2.2 million (very few are skilled laborers) by occupation: pastoral nomad 70%, agriculture, government, trading, fishing, handicrafts, and other 30% note: 53% of population of working age (1985)

Languages [time series]

Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 54.75 years male: 54.49 years female: 55.01 years (1994 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 24% male: 36% female: 14%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Somali(s) adjective: Somali

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Population [time series]

6,666,873 (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

3.24% (1994 est.)

Religions [time series]

Sunni Muslim

Total fertility rate [time series]

7.25 children born/woman (1994 est.)