Country Profile: Somalia

Somalia is located in Eastern Africa, bordered by the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, with a vast area characterized by a principally desert climate. The country has a population of approximately 13 million, primarily composed of ethnic Somalis and practicing Islam. Economically, Somalia has faced challenges due to decades of conflict and instability, yet it has seen a shift towards a mixed economy with high remittances playing a crucial role for survival. Governance remains complex, influenced by regional administrations and ongoing security issues with groups like al-Shabaab continuing to pose significant threats.

Geography

Somalia is situated in the Horn of Africa, with a coastline of 3,025 kilometers along the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. The landscape mainly consists of a flat to undulating plateau with the highest point being Mount Shimbiris at 2,460 meters. The climate is predominantly desert, with significant variations between the north and south influenced by monsoon seasons.

Area: 637,657 sq km (about 5 times the size of Alabama)
Land Boundaries: 2,385 km (Djibouti 61 km, Ethiopia 1,640 km, Kenya 684 km)
Natural Resources: Uranium, largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, gas, and oil
Climate Hazards: Recurring droughts and frequent dust storms
Urban Population: 47.9% of the total population (2023)

People and Society

Somalia's population is estimated at 13,017,273 (2024), with a predominantly Somali ethnic group and a small percentage of Arabs and Bantus. The official languages are Somali and Arabic, reflecting the country's Islamic heritage, with 99.9% of the population adhering to Islam. The society is youthful, with a median age of 19.1 years, and a high birth rate of 37.4 births per 1,000.

Life Expectancy: 56.5 years (2024)
Population Growth Rate: 2.55% (2024)
Urbanization Rate: 4.2% annual rate of change (2020-25)
Literacy Rate: 54.1% (2022)
Major Urban Areas: 2.610 million in Mogadishu (capital)

Economy

Somalia's economy is classified as low-income, significantly impacted by a history of conflict and instability. The economy is heavily reliant on remittances, which accounted for 15.8% of GDP in 2023. Recent efforts towards fiscal reform and a more structured governance approach show potential for growth, with a projected real GDP growth rate of 4% in 2024.

GDP (PPP): $26.77 billion (2024 est.)
GDP Per Capita: $1,400 (2024 est.)
Unemployment Rate: 18.9% (2024 est.)
Remittances: 15.8% of GDP (2023)
Public Debt: 93% of GDP (2014)

Government

Somalia is a federal parliamentary republic with a complex governance structure influenced by local clan dynamics. The country has seen a series of transitional governments following state collapse in 1991. The latest constitution was adopted in August 2012, and the current president is Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, elected in May 2022.

Capital: Mogadishu
Legislature: Bicameral Federal Parliament
Executive Branch: President elected indirectly, with a term of 4 years
Suffrage: Universal at 18 years, with local elections expected in 2024
Administrative Divisions: 18 regions

Military and Security

The Somali Armed Forces consist of the Somali National Army, Navy, and Air Force, along with the Somali National Police. The military's primary objective is combating the al-Shabaab terrorist group, which remains active across the country. Ongoing military support is provided by several international allies.

Active Personnel: Estimated 20,000 (2025)
Military Expenditure: 6% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Age: Legal minimum age is 18
Terrorist Groups: al-Shabaab and Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham – Somalia

Energy

Somalia's electricity access is limited, with just 48.9% of the population having electricity as of 2022. The majority of electricity generation comes from fossil fuels, although there are growing efforts in solar energy.

Installed Capacity: 156,000 kW (2023 est.)
Energy Consumption: 649,000 Btu/person (2023 est.)
Electricity Access in Urban Areas: 76.7%
Electricity Access in Rural Areas: 30.6%

Environment

Somalia faces significant environmental challenges, including water scarcity, deforestation, and land degradation. The country is part of several international environmental agreements aimed at addressing these issues and promoting sustainability.

Total Water Withdrawal: 15 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Carbon Dioxide Emissions: 838,000 metric tonnes (2023 est.)
Agricultural Land Use: 70.3% of total area (2023 est.)
Urbanization Rate: 47.9% (2023)

Transportation

Somalia's transportation infrastructure includes a mix of air, sea, and limited road networks, with major ports facilitating international trade. There are 40 airports as of 2025, indicating a developing aviation sector.

Total Ports: 6 (2024)
Merchant Marine: 4 vessels (2023)
Civil Aircraft Registration Code: 6O

Communications

The communication landscape in Somalia is rapidly evolving, with a significant rise in mobile cellular subscriptions but limited fixed-line services. Internet connectivity is growing, with 28% of the population using the internet as of 2022.

Mobile Cellular Subscriptions: 8.84 million (2022)
Fixed-line Subscriptions: 91,000 (2022)
Internet Users: 28% of the population (2022)

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	13,017,273 (2024 est.)
Area	637,657 sq km
GDP (PPP)	$26.77 billion (2024 est.)
Energy Consumption Per Capita	649,000 Btu/person (2023 est.)
Birth Rate	37.4 births/1,000 (2024 est.)
Unemployment Rate	18.9% (2024 est.)
Life Expectancy at Birth	56.5 years (2024 est.)
Urban Population	47.9% of total population (2023)
Literacy Rate	54.1% (2022 est.)