View Intelligence Dossier Back to 1998 CSV Excel Print All Years

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture-products) [time series]

bananas, sorghum, corn, sugarcane, mangoes, sesame seeds, beans; cattle, sheep, goats; 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

Debt - external (Debt-external) [time series]

$2.6 billion (1994 est.)

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $NA

Economic overview (Economy-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 semi-nomads, who are dependent upon livestock for their livelihood, make up a large portion of the population. Crop production generates only 10% of GDP and employs about 20% of the work force. After livestock, bananas are the principal export; sugar, sorghum, corn, and fish are products for the domestic market. The small industrial sector, based on the processing of agricultural products, accounts for less than 10% of GDP; most facilities have been shut down because of the civil strife. Moreover, ongoing civil disturbances in Mogadishu and outlying areas are interfering with any substantial economic advance.

Electricity - capacity (Electricity-capacity) [time series]

144,000 kW prior to the civil war, but now largely shut down due to war damage; some localities operate their own generating plants, providing limited municipal power; note-UN and relief organizations use their own portable power systems

Electricity - consumption per capita (Electricity-consumption per capita) [time series]

33 kWh (1995 est.)

Electricity - production (Electricity-production) [time series]

245 million kWh (1995 est.)

Exchange rates [time series]

Somali shillings (So. Sh.) per US$1-7,500 (November 1997 est.), 7,000 (January 1996 est.), 5,000 (1 January 1995), 2,616 (1 July 1993), 4,200 (December 1992) note: the Republic of Somaliland, a self-declared independent country not recognized by any government, issues its own currency, the Somaliland shilling (Sol. Sh.); estimated exchange rate, Sol. Sh. per US$1-4,000 (November 1997)

Exports [time series]

total value: $130 million (1994 est.) commodities: bananas, live animals, fish, hides (1997) partners: Saudi Arabia 57%, Yemen 14%, Italy 13%, UAE 10%, US (bananas) (1995 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

NA Communications

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

purchasing power parity-$8 billion (1996 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP-composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 59% industry: 10% services: 31% (1995 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP-per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity-$600 (1996 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP-real growth rate) [time series]

4% (1996 est.)

Imports [time series]

total value: $269 million (1994 est.) commodities: manufactures, petroleum products, foodstuffs, construction materials (1995) partners: Kenya 24%, Djibouti 18%, Pakistan 6% (1995 est.)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate-consumer price index) [time series]

NA%

Labor force [time series]

total: 3.7 million (very few are skilled laborers)(1993 est.) by occupation: agriculture (mostly pastoral nomadism) 71%, industry and services 29%

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA (there are at least five radio broadcast stations of NA type)

Radios [time series]

370,000 (1993 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [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 domestic: recently, local cellular telephone systems have been established in Mogadishu and in several other population centers international: international connections are available from Mogadishu by satellite

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

9,000 (1991 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

0 (Somalia's only TV station was demolished during the civil strife, sometime in 1991)

Televisions [time series]

118,000 (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 637,660 sq km land: 627,340 sq km water: 10,320 sq km

Area - comparative (Area-comparative) [time series]

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

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Shimbiris 2,450 m

Environment - current issues (Environment-current issues) [time series]

famine; use of contaminated water contributes to human health problems; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

International environmental agreements (Environment-international agreements) [time series]

party to: Endangered Species, Law of the Sea signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban

Geographic coordinates [time series]

10 00 N, 49 00 E

Geography - note (Geography-note) [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

1,800 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 69% forests and woodland: 26% other: 3% (1993 est.)

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 hazards [time series]

recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plains in summer

Natural resources [time series]

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

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

Constitution [time series]

25 August 1979, presidential approval 23 September 1979

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

the US does not have an embassy in Somalia; US interests are represented by the US Embassy in Nairobi at Moi Avenue and Haile Selassie Avenue; mail address: P. O. Box 30137, Unit 64100, Nairobi; APO AE 09831; telephone: [254] (2) 334141; FAX [254] (2) 340838

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

Somalia does not have an embassy in the US (ceased operations on 8 May 1991)

Executive branch [time series]

Somalia has no functioning government; the United Somali Congress (USC) ousted the regime of Major General Mohamed SIAD Barre on 27 January 1991; the present political situation is one of anarchy, marked by interclan fighting and random banditry

Flag (Flag description) [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)

Government type [time series]

none

Government - note (Government-note) [time series]

While chaos and clan fighting continue in most of Somalia, some orderly government has been established in the northern part. In May 1991, the elders of clans in former British Somaliland established the independent Republic of Somaliland, which, although not recognized by any government, maintains a stable existence, aided by the overwhelming dominance of the ruling clan and the economic infrastructure left behind by British, Russian and American military assistance programs. The economy has been growing and in February 1996 the EU agreed to finance the reconstruction of the port of Berbera; since then, other aid projects have been assumed by the EU and by a non-governmental Italian organization.

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)

International organization participation [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

(not functioning); note-following the breakdown of national government, most regions have reverted to Islamic law with a provision for appeal of all sentences

Legal system [time series]

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral People's Assembly or Golaha Shacbiga note: the Golaha Shacbiga is not functioning

Capital (National capital) [time series]

Mogadishu

National holiday [time series]

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

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

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

numerous clan and subclan factions are currently vying for power

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures-dollar figure) [time series]

$NA

Military expenditures (Military expenditures-percent of GDP) [time series]

NA%

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower-availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,669,645 (1998 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower-fit for military service) [time series]

males: 930,405 (1998 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 44% (male 1,512,014; female 1,511,858) 15-64 years: 53% (male 1,833,922; female 1,786,261) 65 years and over: 3% (male 90,475; female 107,165) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

46.75 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate [time series]

18.5 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Somali 85%, Bantu, Arabs 30,000

Infant mortality rate [time series]

125.77 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Languages [time series]

Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 46.23 years male: 44.66 years female: 47.85 years (1998 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Somali(s) adjective: Somali

Net migration rate [time series]

16.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Population [time series]

6,841,695 (July 1998 est.) note: this estimate was derived from an official census taken in 1987 by the Somali Government with the cooperation of the UN and the US Bureau of the Census; population estimates are updated year by year between census years by factoring growth rates into them and by taking account of refugee movements and of losses due to famine; lower estimates of Somalia's population in mid-1996 (on the order of 6.0 million to 6.5 million) have been made by aid and relief agencies, based on the number of persons being fed; population counting in Somalia is complicated by the large numbers of nomads and by refugee movements in response to famine and clan warfare

Population growth rate [time series]

4.43% (1998 est.)

Religions [time series]

Sunni Muslim

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

7.01 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (Disputes-international) [time series]

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

Transportation

Airports [time series]

61 (1997 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports-with paved runways) [time series]

total: 7 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1997 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports-with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 54 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 27 under 914 m: 10 (1997 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 22,100 km paved: 2,608 km unpaved: 19,492 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

none

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil 15 km

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

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

Railways [time series]

0 km