Somalia

total: 119,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2022 est.)

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)

.so

percent of population: 28% (2022 est.)

total subscriptions: 91,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2022 est.) less than 1

total subscriptions: 9.91 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 54 (2023 est.)

camel milk, milk, goat milk, sheep milk, sugarcane, fruits, sorghum, cassava, vegetables, maize (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

$2.563 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

low-income African Horn economy; 30 years of war and instability crippled economic potential; high remittances for basic survival; new fiscal federalism approach; cleared some unsustainable debt; environmentally fragile; digitally driven urbanization efforts

Somali shillings (SOS) per US dollar - 23,097.987 (2017 est.) 23,061.784 (2016 est.) 22,254.236 (2015 est.) 20,230.929 (2014 est.) 19,283.8 (2013 est.)

$2.424 billion (2024 est.) $2.164 billion (2023 est.) $1.804 billion (2022 est.) note: GDP expenditure basis - exports of goods and services in current dollars

sheep and goats, gold, postage stamps/documents, other animals, cattle (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

UAE 35%, Saudi Arabia 27%, Oman 18%, Djibouti 8%, India 3% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

$12.109 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

household consumption: 124% (2024 est.) government consumption: 7.6% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 22.7% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 20% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -74.3% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

$9.002 billion (2024 est.) $8.002 billion (2023 est.) $7.456 billion (2022 est.) note: GDP expenditure basis - imports of goods and services in current dollars

raw sugar, tobacco, broadcasting equipment, rice, milk (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

UAE 29%, China 19%, India 15%, Turkey 8%, Oman 5% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

light industries, including sugar refining, textiles, wireless communication

6.8% (2022 est.) 4.6% (2021 est.) 4.3% (2020 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

3.439 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

54.4% (2022 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line

93% of GDP (2014 est.)

$26.77 billion (2024 est.) $25.747 billion (2023 est.) $24.706 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

4% (2024 est.) 4.2% (2023 est.) 2.7% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

$1,400 (2024 est.) $1,400 (2023 est.) $1,400 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

15.8% of GDP (2023 est.) 17% of GDP (2022 est.) 18.3% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

0% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

18.9% (2024 est.) 19% (2023 est.) 19.1% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

total: 33.9% (2024 est.) male: 32.1% (2024 est.) female: 37% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

imports: 4 metric tons (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity: 156,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 396.792 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 15.408 million kWh (2023 est.)

electrification - total population: 48.9% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 76.7% electrification - rural areas: 30.6%

fossil fuels: 82.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 16% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 1.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

649,000 Btu/person (2023 est.)

proven reserves: 5.663 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 6,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

838,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 10 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 838,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

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

water scarcity; contaminated water; improper waste disposal; deforestation; land degradation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

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 signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban

agricultural land: 70.3% (2023 est.) arable land: 1.8% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 68.5% (2023 est.) forest: 7.9% (2023 est.) other: 21.7% (2023 est.)

14.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

14.7 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

municipal: 15 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 2 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 3.281 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

urban population: 47.9% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 4.2% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.326 million tons (2024 est.)

total : 637,657 sq km land: 627,337 sq km water: 10,320 sq km

almost five times the size of Alabama; slightly smaller than Texas

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

3,025 km

highest point: Mount Shimbiris 2,460 m lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 410 m

10 00 N, 49 00 E

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

2,000 sq km (2012)

total: 2,385 km border countries (3): Djibouti 61 km; Ethiopia 1,640 km; Kenya 684 km

agricultural land: 70.3% (2023 est.) arable land: 1.8% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 68.5% (2023 est.) forest: 7.9% (2023 est.) other: 21.7% (2023 est.)

Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia

Ogaden-Juba Basin

Africa

territorial sea: 200 nm; note: the US does not recognize this claim exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plains in summer; floods during rainy season

uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt, natural gas, likely oil reserves

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

mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north

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

name: Mogadishu geographic coordinates: 2 04 N, 45 20 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name is probably derived from the Arabic word mukaddas , meaning "holy"

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Somalia dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years

history: previous 1961, 1979; latest drafted 12 June 2012, adopted 1 August 2012 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

conventional long form: Federal Republic of Somalia conventional short form: Somalia local long form: Jamhuuriyadda Federaalka Soomaaliya (Somali)/ Jumhuriyat as Sumal al Fidiraliyah (Arabic) local short form: Soomaaliya (Somali)/ As Sumal (Arabic) former: British Somaliland, Italian Somaliland, Somali Republic, Somali Democratic Republic 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"

chief of mission: Ambassador Richard H. RILEY (since 20 June 2024) embassy: Mogadishu, (reopened October 2019 on the grounds of the Mogadishu Airport) mailing address: P.O. Box 606 Village Market 00621 Nairobi, Kenya telephone: [254] 20 363-6451 email address and website: SomaliaPublicAffairs@state.gov https://so.usembassy.gov/

chief of mission: Ambassador DAHIR Hassan Abdi (since 18 September 2024) chancery: 1609 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 853-9164 email address and website: washingtonembassy@mfa.gov.so https://usa.mfa.gov.so/

chief of state: President HASSAN SHEIKH Mohamud (since 23 May 2022) head of government: Prime Minister Hamza Abdi BARRE (since 25 June 2022) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister, approved by the House of the People 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 most recent election date: 15 May 2022 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% expected date of next election: 2026

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)

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

federal parliamentary republic

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)

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt

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

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) 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 subordinate courts: federal courts; federal member state-level courts; military courts; sharia courts note: under the terms of the 2004 Transitional National Charter, a Supreme Court based in Mogadishu and the Appeal Court were established, but most regions have reverted to local forms of conflict resolution, whether secular, Somali customary law, or Islamic law

mixed system of civil law, Islamic (sharia) law, and customary law (referred to as Xeer)

legislature name: Federal Parliament legislative structure: bicameral note: despite the formation of political parties in 2020, the 2021 parliamentary elections maintained a primarily clan-based system of appointments; seats in the legislature were apportioned to Somali member states and not by party representation

chamber name: House of the People (Golaha Shacabka) number of seats: 275 (all indirectly elected) scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 11/1/2021 to 5/5/2022 percentage of women in chamber: 19% expected date of next election: October 2026

chamber name: Upper House (Aqalka Sare) number of seats: 54 (all indirectly elected) scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 7/27/2021 to 11/13/2021 percentage of women in chamber: 25.9% expected date of next election: July 2026

title: "Qolobaa Calankeed" (Every Nation Has Its Own Flag) lyrics/music: Abdullahi QARSHE history: adopted 2012

blue, white

Foundation of the Somali Republic, 1 July (1960); note - 26 June (1960) in Somaliland

leopard

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 note: in 2017 an independent electoral commission (the NIEC) was inaugurated with a mandate to oversee the process of registration of political parties in the country; as of 2021, the NIEC had registered a total of 110 parties

18 years of age; universal suffrage starting with 24 June 2024 local elections

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.

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)

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) note 1: Somalia has numerous militias and regional/state forces operating throughout the country; the militias include clan- and warlord-based forces, as well as some that are externally sponsored; regional forces include semi-official paramilitary and special police forces ("darwish") note 2: Somaliland and Puntland have separate military, security, and paramilitary forces

estimated 20,000 active Somali Armed Forces (2025) note: tens of thousands of militia forces are also active in Somalia

the SNA's inventory is a mix of older and donated (typically secondhand) equipment from a variety of suppliers, including Italy, Russia, South Africa, T rkiye, the UK, and the US (2025)

6% of GDP (2021 est.) 6% of GDP (2020 est.) 5.6% of GDP (2019 est.) 6% of GDP (2018 est.) 5.9% of GDP (2017 est.)

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)

0-14 years: 41.4% (male 2,689,086/female 2,694,372) 15-64 years: 55.8% (male 3,699,721/female 3,568,163) 65 years and over: 2.8% (2024 est.) (male 157,505/female 208,426)

total: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

46.36 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

62.4% (2019 est.)

11.22 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

total dependency ratio: 100.5 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 97.1 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 3.3 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 29.9 (2025 est.)

urban: 80.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 38.6% of population (2022 est.) total: 58.3% of population (2022 est.) urban: 19.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 61.4% of population (2022 est.) total: 41.7% of population (2022 est.)

0% of GDP (2023 est.) 8.1% national budget (2025 est.)

predominantly Somali with lesser numbers of Arabs, Bantus, and others

3.14 (2025 est.)

2.5% of national budget (2022 est.)

0.9 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)

total: 81.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 93.2 deaths/1,000 live births female: 73.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Somali (official), Arabic (official), Italian, English major-language sample(s): Buugga Xaqiiqda Aduunka, waa laga maarmaanka macluumaadka assasiga. (Somali) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

total population: 56.5 years (2024 est.) male: 54.1 years female: 59 years

total population: 54.1% (2022 est.) male: 64.5% (2022 est.) female: 43.9% (2022 est.)

2.610 million MOGADISHU (capital), 1.127 million Hargeysa (2023)

563 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

total: 15.7 years (2025 est.) male: 19.3 years female: 18.9 years

noun: Somali(s) adjective: Somali

-1.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

8.3% (2016)

0.05 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

total: 20,324,160 (2025 est.) male: 10,170,863 female: 10,153,297

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

3.32% (2025 est.)

Muslim 99.9% (Sunni Muslim 98.1%, Shia Muslim 1.2%, Islamic schismatic 0.6%), ethnic religionist 0.1% (2020 est.)

urban: 82.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 34.8% of population (2022 est.) total: 57.6% of population (2022 est.) urban: 17.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 65.2% of population (2022 est.) total: 42.4% of population (2022 est.)

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

6.38 children born/woman (2025 est.)

urban population: 47.9% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 4.2% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

al-Shabaab; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham Somalia note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

refugees: 41,763 (2024 est.) IDPs: 3,869,345 (2024 est.)

tier rating: Special Case; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/somalia/

40 (2025)

6O

total: 4 (2023) by type: general cargo 1, other 3

total ports: 6 (2024) large: 1 medium: 0 small: 2 very small: 3 ports with oil terminals: 2 key ports: Baraawe, Berbera, Boosaaso, Kismaayo, Marka, Muqdisho