Broadcast media (Radio) [time series]

broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA radios: NA

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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

Broadcast media (Television) [time series]

broadcast stations: NA televisions: NA

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

no functioning central government military forces; clan militias continue to battle for control of key economic or political prizes

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

$NA, NA% of GDP SOUTH AFRICA

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49 1,736,673; males fit for military service 972,203 (1995 est.

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: prior to the civil war, 75,000 kW, but now almost completely shut down due to war damage; note - UN and relief organizations use their own portable power systems production: NA kWh consumption per capita: NA kWh

Exchange rates [time series]

Somali shillings (So. Sh.) per US$1 - approximately 5,000 (1 January 1995), 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 NA%

Industries [time series]

a few small industries, including sugar refining, textiles, petroleum refining (mostly shut down) (1994)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

NA% (1994)

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

GDP - purchasing power parity - $3.3 billion (1994 est.)

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

$500 (1994 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 livelihood make up about 70% 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; most facilities have been shut down because of the civil strife. The greatly increased political turmoil of 1991-93 has resulted in a substantial drop in agricultural output, with widespread famine. In 1994 economic conditions stabilized in the countryside but may turn worse in 1995 if civil strife intensifies after the UN withdrawal.

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Area [time series]

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

Climate [time series]

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 [time series]

3,025 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: famine; use of contaminated water contributes to human 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 Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia

Map references [time series]

Africa

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

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]

SO

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; the United Somali Congress (USC) ousted the regime of Maj. Gen. Mohamed SIAD Barre on 27 January 1991; the present political situation is one of anarchy, marked by inter-clan fighting and random banditry

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

[254] (2) 340838

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 (not functioning)

Legal system [time series]

NA

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral People's Assembly People's Assembly (Golaha Shacbiga): not functioning

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

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

Country name (Names) [time series]

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

National holiday [time series]

NA

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

numerous clan and subclan factions are currently vying for power

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]

note: the US Embassy in Mogadishu was evacuated and closed indefinitely in January 1991; Ambassador Daniel SIMPSON, ambassador to Kenya, represents US interests in Somalia liaison office: US Embassy, Nairobi, Kenya address: corner of Moi Avenue and Haile Selassie Avenue, Nairobi mailing address: P.O. Box 30137, Unit 64100, Nairobi or APO AE 09831 telephone: [254] (2) 334141

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 45% (female 1,653,175; male 1,650,377) 15-64 years: 51% (female 1,845,886; male 1,932,012) 65 years and over: 4% (female 138,264; male 127,840) (July 1995 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

45.53 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate [time series]

13.3 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

Somali 85%, Bantu, Arabs 30,000

Infant mortality rate [time series]

119.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 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%

Languages [time series]

Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 55.74 years male: 55.48 years female: 56 years (1995 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]

123.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Population [time series]

7,347,554 (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

15.58% (1995 est.)

Religions [time series]

Sunni Muslim

Total fertility rate [time series]

7.13 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Airports [time series]

total: 76 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 3 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 14 with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 16 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 33

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]

total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,529 GRT/6,892 DWT ships by type: cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 1

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil 15 km

Ports [time series]

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

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

0 km