Introduction
Background
Britain withdrew from British Somaliland in 1960 to allow its protectorate to join with Italian Somaliland and form the new nation of Somalia. In 1969, a coup headed by Mohamed SIAD Barre ushered in an authoritarian socialist rule characterized by the persecution, jailing, and torture of political opponents and dissidents. After the regime's collapse early in 1991, Somalia descended into turmoil, factional fighting, and anarchy. In May 1991, northern clans declared an independent Republic of Somaliland that now includes the administrative regions of Awdal, Woqooyi Galbeed, Togdheer, Sanaag, and Sool. Although not recognized by any government, this entity has maintained a stable existence and continues efforts to establish a constitutional democracy, including holding municipal, parliamentary, and presidential elections. The regions of Bari, Nugaal, and northern Mudug comprise a neighboring semi-autonomous state of Puntland, which has been self-governing since 1998 but does not aim at independence; it has also made strides toward reconstructing a legitimate, representative government but has suffered some civil strife. Puntland disputes its border with Somaliland as it also claims portions of eastern Sool and Sanaag. Beginning in 1993, a two-year UN humanitarian effort (primarily in the south) was able to alleviate famine conditions, but when the UN withdrew in 1995, having suffered significant casualties, order still had not been restored. In 2000, the Somalia National Peace Conference (SNPC) held in Djibouti resulted in the formation of an interim government, known as the Transitional National Government (TNG). When the TNG failed to establish adequate security or governing institutions, the Government of Kenya, under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), led a subsequent peace process that concluded in October 2004 with the election of Abdullahi YUSUF Ahmed as President of a second interim government, known as the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of the Somali Republic. The TFG included a 275-member parliamentary body, known as the Transitional Federal Parliament (TFP). President YUSUF resigned late in 2008 while United Nations-sponsored talks between the TFG and the opposition Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS) were underway in Djibouti. In January 2009, following the creation of a TFG-ARS unity government, Ethiopian military forces, which had entered Somalia in December 2006 to support the TFG in the face of advances by the opposition Islamic Courts Union (ICU), withdrew from the country. The TFP was doubled in size to 550 seats with the addition of 200 ARS and 75 civil society members of parliament. The expanded parliament elected Sheikh SHARIF Sheikh Ahmed, the former ICU and ARS chairman as president in January 2009. The creation of the TFG was based on the Transitional Federal Charter (TFC), which outlined a five-year mandate leading to the establishment of a new Somali constitution and a transition to a representative government following national elections. In 2009, the TFP amended the TFC to extend TFG's mandate until 2011 and in 2011 Somali principals agreed to institute political transition by August 2012. The transition process ended in September 2012 when clan elders replaced the TFP by appointing 275 members to a new parliament who subsequently elected a new president.
Geography
Location
Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia
Geographic coordinates
10 00 N, 49 00 E
Area (sq km)
total: 637,657 sq km
land: 627,337 sq km
water: 10,320 sq km
Area - comparative (sq km)
almost five times the size of Alabama; slightly smaller than Texas
Area comparison map
Land boundaries (km)
total: 2,340 km
border countries: Djibouti 58 km, Ethiopia 1,600 km, Kenya 682 km
Coastline (km)
3,025 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate
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
Terrain
mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north
Elevation extremes (m)
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Shimbiris 2,416 m
Natural resources
uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt, natural gas, likely oil reserves
Land use (%)
arable land: 1.73%
permanent crops: 0.05%
other: 98.23% (2011)
Irrigated land (sq km)
2,000 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources (cu km)
14.7 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural) ()
total: 3.3 cu km/yr (0%/0%/99%)
per capita: 377.6 cu m/yr (2003)
Natural hazards
recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plains in summer; floods during rainy season
Environment - current issues
famine; use of contaminated water contributes to human health problems; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note
strategic location on Horn of Africa along southern approaches to Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea and Suez Canal
People and Society
Nationality
noun: Somali(s)
adjective: Somali
Ethnic groups (%)
Somali 85%, Bantu and other non-Somali 15% (including 30,000 Arabs)
Languages (%)
Somali (official), Arabic (official, according to the Transitional Federal Charter), Italian, English
Religions (%)
Sunni Muslim (Islam) (official, according to the Transitional Federal Charter)
Population
10,428,043
note: this estimate was derived from an official census taken in 1975 by the Somali Government; population counting in Somalia is complicated by the large number of nomads and by refugee movements in response to famine and clan warfare (July 2014 est.) evolution and prospects (1950-2100)
Age structure (%)
0-14 years: 44% (male 2,293,746/female 2,298,442)
15-24 years: 18.9% (male 995,102/female 970,630)
25-54 years: 31.2% (male 1,681,705/female 1,571,586)
55-64 years: 3.6% (male 180,622/female 199,059)
65 years and over: 2.3% (male 92,707/female 144,444) (2014 est.)
Median age (years)
total: 17.7 years
male: 17.9 years
female: 17.6 years (2014 est.)
Population growth rate (%)
1.75% (2014 est.)
Birth rate (births/1,000 population)
40.87 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Death rate (deaths/1,000 population)
13.91 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Net migration rate (migrant(s)/1,000 population)
-9.51 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Urbanization (%)
urban population: 37.7% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 3.79% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population
MOGADISHU (capital) 1.554 million (2011)
Sex ratio (male(s)/female)
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2014 est.)
Maternal mortality rate (deaths/100,000 live births)
1,000 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
Infant mortality rate (deaths/1,000 live births)
total: 100.14 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 108.89 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 91.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)
Life expectancy at birth (years)
total population: 51.58 years
male: 49.58 years
female: 53.65 years (2014 est.)
Total fertility rate (children born/woman)
6.08 children born/woman (2014 est.)
Physicians density (physicians/1,000 population)
0.04 physicians/1,000 population (2006)
Drinking water source (% of population)
improved: urban: 69.6% of population
rural: 8.8% of population
total: 31.7% of population
unimproved: urban: 30.4% of population
rural: 91.2% of population
total: 68.3% of population (2011 est.)
Sanitation facility access (% of population)
improved: urban: 52% of population
rural: 6.3% of population
total: 23.6% of population
unimproved: urban: 48% of population
rural: 93.7% of population
total: 76.4% of population (2011 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate (%)
0.5% (2012 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
31,200 (2012 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
2,500 (2012 est.)
Major infectious diseases
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, and Rift Valley fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
animal contact disease: rabies (2013)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate (%)
4.8% (2008)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight (%)
32.8% (2006)
Education expenditures (% of GDP)
NA
Literacy (%)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 37.8%
male: 49.7%
female: 25.8% (2001 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Federal Republic of Somalia
conventional short form: Somalia
local long form: Jamhuuriyadda Federaalkaa Soomaaliya
local short form: Soomaaliya
former: Somali Republic, Somali Democratic Republic
Government type
in the process of building a federal parliamentary republic
Capital
name: Mogadishu
geographic coordinates: 2 04 N, 45 20 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions
18 regions (plural - NA, singular - gobolka); 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
Independence
1 July 1960 (from a merger of British Somaliland that became independent from the UK on 26 June 1960 and Italian Somaliland that became independent from the Italian-administered UN trusteeship on 1 July 1960 to form the Somali Republic)
National holiday
Foundation of the Somali Republic, 1 July (1960); note - 26 June (1960) in Somaliland
Constitution
previous 1961, 1979; latest drafted 12 June 2012, approved 1 August 2012 (provisional) (2012)
Legal system
mixed legal system of civil law, Islamic law, and customary law (referred to as Xeer)
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: resident HASSAN SHEIKH Mohamud (since 10 September 2012)
head of government: Prime Minister ABDIWELLI Sheikh Ahmed (since 21 December 2013); Deputy Prime Minister Ridwan HIRSI Mohamed (since 17 January 2014)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister, approved by the National Parliament; note - new cabinet sworn in 22 January 2014
elections: president elected by the National Parliament; election last held 10 September 2012 (next to be held NA)
election results: HASSAN SHEIKH Mahamud elected president; National Parliament vote - HASSAN SHEIKH Mahamud 190, Sheikh SHARIF Sheikh Ahmed 79; the prime minister is chosen by the president and confirmed by the National Parliament
Legislative branch
bicameral National Parliament consisting of the House of the People of the Federal Parliament (275 seats, elected by Somali citizens) and the Upper House of the Federal Parliament (54 seats, elected by people of the federal member states)
note: the inaugural House of the People in September 2012 was appointed by clan elders; as of December 2013, the Upper House has not been formed
Judicial branch
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)
note - under the terms of the 2004 Transitional National Charter (TNC), a Supreme Court based in Mogadishu and an Appeal Court were established; yet most regions have reverted to local forms of conflict resolution, either secular, traditional Somali customary law, or sharia Islamic law
judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the president upon proposal of the Judicial Service Commission, a 9-member judicial and administrative body; judge tenure NA
subordinate courts: federal- and federal member state-level courts; military courts; sharia (Islamic) courts
Political parties and leaders
none
Political pressure groups and leaders
other: numerous clan and sub-clan factions exist both in support and in opposition to the transitional government
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, CAEU (candidate), FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITSO, ITU, LAS, NAM, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US
Somalia does not have an embassy in the US (ceased operations on 8 May 1991); note - the Somali Government is represented in the US through its Permanent Mission to the UN
Diplomatic representation from the US
the US does not have an embassy in Somalia; US interests are represented by the US Special Representative for Somalia, Ambassador James P. MCANULTY, operating out of the US Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya at United Nations Avenue, Nairobi; mailing address: Unit 64100, Nairobi; APO AE 09831; telephone: [254] (20) 363-6000; FAX [254] (20) 363-6157
Flag description
light blue with a large white five-pointed star in the center; the blue field was originally influenced by the flag of the UN, but today is said to denote the sky and the neighboring Indian Ocean; the five points of the star represent the five regions in the horn of Africa that are inhabited by Somali people: the former British Somaliland and Italian Somaliland (which together make up Somalia), Djibouti, Ogaden (Ethiopia), and the North East Province (Kenya)
National symbol(s)
leopard
National anthem
name: "Qolobaa Calankeed" (Every Nation Has its own Flag)
lyrics/music: lyrics/music: Abdullahi QARSHE
note: adopted 2012; written in 1959
Government - note
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 and the semi-autonomous state of Puntland in northeastern Somalia
Economy
Economy - overview
Despite the lack of effective national governance, Somalia maintains an informal economy largely based on livestock, remittance/money transfer companies, and telecommunications. Agriculture is the most important sector with livestock normally accounting for about 40% of GDP and more than 50% of export earnings. Nomads and semi-pastoralists, who are dependent upon livestock for their livelihood, make up a large portion of the population. Livestock, hides, fish, charcoal, and bananas are Somalia's principal exports, while sugar, sorghum, corn, qat, and machined goods are the principal imports. Somalia's small industrial sector, based on the processing of agricultural products, has largely been looted and the machinery sold as scrap metal. Telecommunication firms provide wireless services in most major cities and offer the lowest international call rates on the continent. Mogadishu's main market offers a variety of goods from food to electronic gadgets. Hotels continue to operate and are supported with private-security militias. Somalia's government lacks the ability to collect domestic revenue, and arrears to the IMF have continued to grow. Somalia's capital city - Mogadishu - has witnessed the development of the city's first gas stations, supermarkets, and flights between Europe (Istanbul-Mogadishu) since the collapse of central authority in 1991. This economic growth has yet to expand outside of Mogadishu, and within the city, security concerns dominate business. In the absence of a formal banking sector, money transfer/remittance services have sprouted throughout the country, handling up to $1.6 billion in remittances annually, although international concerns over the money transfers into Somalia currently threatens these services.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$5.896 billion (2010 est.)
$5.75 billion (2009 est.)
$5.607 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate)
$2.372 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate (%)
2.6% (2010 est.)
2.6% (2012 est.)
2.6% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$600 (2010 est.)
$600 (2009 est.)
$600 (2008 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin (%)
agriculture: 59.3%
industry: 7.2%
services: 33.5% (2012 est.)
Labor force
3.447 million (2007)
Labor force - by occupation (%)
agriculture: 71%
industry and services: 29% (1975)
Unemployment rate (%)
NA%
Population below poverty line (%)
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share (%)
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices) (%)
NA%
note: businesses print their own money, so inflation rates cannot be easily determined
Central bank discount rate (%)
NA%
Commercial bank prime lending rate (%)
NA%
Agriculture - products
bananas, sorghum, corn, coconuts, rice, sugarcane, mangoes, sesame seeds, beans; cattle, sheep, goats; fish
Industries
a few light industries, including sugar refining, textiles, wireless communication
Industrial production growth rate (%)
NA%
Exports
$515.8 million (2012 est.)
$594.3 million (2011 est.)
Exports - commodities (%)
livestock, bananas, hides, fish, charcoal, scrap metal
Exports - partners (%)
UAE 51.7%, Yemen 18.1%, Oman 13% (2012)
Imports
$1.263 billion (2010 est.)
$798 million (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities (%)
manufactures, petroleum products, foodstuffs, construction materials, qat
Imports - partners (%)
Djibouti 27.3%, India 13.2%, Kenya 7.1%, China 6.7%, Pakistan 6.4%, Oman 5.1%, UAE 5%, Yemen 4.4% (2012)
External debt ($)
$3.05 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
$2.942 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency converter
Somali shillings (SOS) per US dollar -
1,600 (2012 est.)
31,900 (2011 est.)
Fiscal year
NA
Energy
Electricity - production (kWh)
310 million kWh (2010 est.)
Electricity - consumption (kWh)
288.3 million kWh (2010 est.)
Electricity - exports (kWh)
0 kWh (2012 est.)
Electricity - imports (kWh)
0 kWh (2012 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity (kW)
80,000 kW (2010 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels (% of total installed capacity)
100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from nuclear fuels (% of total installed capacity)
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants (% of total installed capacity)
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from other renewable sources (% of total installed capacity)
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Crude oil - production (bbl/day)
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Crude oil - exports (bbl/day)
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil - imports (bbl/day)
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves (bbl)
0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production (bbl/day)
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Refined petroleum products - consumption (bbl/day)
5,659 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports (bbl/day)
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports (bbl/day)
5,399 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Natural gas - production (cu m)
0 cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - consumption (cu m)
0 cu m (2010 est.)
Natural gas - exports (cu m)
0 cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - imports (cu m)
0 cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves (cu m)
5.663 billion cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy (Mt)
753,400 Mt (2011 est.)
Communications
Telephones - main lines in use
100,000 (2012)
Telephones - mobile cellular
658,000 (2012)
Telephone system
general assessment: the public telecommunications system was almost completely destroyed or dismantled during the civil war; private companies offer limited local fixed-line service and private wireless companies offer service in most major cities while charging the lowest international rates on the continent
domestic: local cellular telephone systems have been established in Mogadishu and in several other population centers with one company beginning to provide 3G services in late 2012
international: country code - 252; Mogadishu is a landing point for the EASSy fiber-optic submarine cable system linking East Africa with Europe and North America (2010)
Broadcast media
2 private TV stations rebroadcast Al-Jazeera and CNN; Somaliland has 1 government-operated TV station and Puntland has 1 private TV station; the transitional government operates Radio Mogadishu; 1 SW and roughly 10 private FM radio stations broadcast in Mogadishu; several radio stations operate in central and southern regions; Somaliland has 1 government-operated radio station; Puntland has roughly a half dozen private radio stations; transmissions of at least 2 international broadcasters are available (2007)
Internet country code
.so
Internet hosts
186 (2012)
Internet users
106,000 (2009)
Transportation
Airports
61 (2013)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 6
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 55
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 20
914 to 1,523 m: 23
under 914 m: 6 (2013)
Roadways (km)
total: 22,100 km
paved: 2,608 km
unpaved: 19,492 km (2000)
Merchant marine
total: 1
by type: cargo 1 (2008)
Ports and terminals
major seaport(s): Berbera, Kismaayo
Transportation - note
despite a dramatic drop in the number of attacks in 2012, the International Maritime Bureau continues to report the territorial and offshore waters in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean as a region of significant risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships accounting for 25% of all attacks in 2012; 75 vessels, including commercial shipping and pleasure craft, were attacked or hijacked both at anchor and while underway compared with 237 in 2011; the number of hijackings off the coast of Somalia was reduced to 14 in 2012, down from 28 in 2011; as of April 2013, 77 vessels and 7 hostages were being held for ransom by Somali pirates; the presence of several naval task forces in the Gulf of Aden and additional anti-piracy measures on the part of ship operators, including the use of on-board armed security teams, have reduced piracy incidents in that body of water; in response Somali-based pirates, using hijacked fishing trawlers as "mother ships" to extend their range, shifted operations as far south as the Mozambique Channel, eastward to the vicinity of the Maldives, and northeastward to the Strait of Hormuz
Military
Military branches
National Security Force (NSF): Somali Army (2011)
Military service age and obligation (years of age)
18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory and voluntary military service (2012)
Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49: 2,260,175
females age 16-49: 2,159,293 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49: 1,331,894
females age 16-49: 1,357,051 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male: 101,634
female: 101,072 (2010 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
Ethiopian forces invaded southern Somalia and routed Islamist Courts from Mogadishu in January 2007; "Somaliland" secessionists provide port facilities in Berbera to landlocked Ethiopia and have established commercial ties with other regional states; "Puntland" and "Somaliland" "governments" seek international support in their secessionist aspirations and overlapping border claims; the undemarcated former British administrative line has little meaning as a political separation to rival clans within Ethiopia's Ogaden and southern Somalia's Oromo region; Kenya works hard to prevent the clan and militia fighting in Somalia from spreading south across the border, which has long been open to nomadic pastoralists
Refugees and internally displaced persons
IDPs: 1.1 million (civil war since 1988, clan-based competition for resources; 2011 famine; insecurity because of fighting between al-Shabaab and TFG allied forces) (2014) (2012)
Largest cities of Somalia
These are the 50 largest cities of Somalia ordered based on their number of inhabitants.
| # | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mogadishu | 2,590,180 |
| 2 | Hargeysa | 478,283 |
| 3 | Berbera | 242,363 |
| 4 | Kismayo | 234,884 |
| 5 | Jamame | 185,270 |
| 6 | Bosaso | 74,287 |
| 7 | Afgoye | 65,461 |
| 8 | Garowe | 49,913 |
| 9 | Jawhar | 47,086 |
| 10 | Jilib | 43,694 |
| 11 | Borama | 38,075 |
| 12 | Barawe | 27,067 |
| 13 | Wanlaweyn | 22,022 |
| 14 | Eyl | 18,904 |
| 15 | Dinsor | 16,149 |
| 16 | Qandala | 15,923 |
| 17 | Bandarbeyla | 13,753 |
| 18 | Xuddur | 13,303 |
| 19 | Hobyo | 12,564 |
| 20 | Afmadu | 11,939 |
| 21 | Bereda | 11,262 |
| 22 | Mahadday Weyne | 8,273 |
| 23 | Bargal | 6,798 |
| 24 | Wajid | 6,666 |
| 25 | Odweyne | 5,491 |