Somalia has been ravaged by civil war and the absence of government structures for over 20 years. Extremist groups and extreme weather are major challenges.
Key figures and facts
- Capital: Mogadishu
- Ethnic groups: Somali 85%, Bantu and non-Somali 15% (including 30,000 Arabs)
- Language: Somali (official), Arabic (official), Italian, English
- Religion: Sunni Muslims
- Population: 15 181 925 (2018)
- Control Form: Parliamentary Federation
- Area: 637 660 km2
- Currency: Somali shilling
- National Day: July 1st
Somalia’s Population
Somalia’s population in 2013 was estimated to be 10 496 000 people, and annual population growth to 2.9 percent. Fertility rates are 6.7 children per woman in 2012, down from 7.5 in 2000. According to the World Bank, the average life expectancy is 56.3 years for women and 53.1 years for men (2012).
The population situation in Somalia is unclear due to a large number of nomads and large refugee flows. Both drought disasters and acts of war at home and abroad have contributed to the many refugees. In January 2015, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimated that at least 1 100,000 Somalis were refugees in their own country. In addition, an estimated 1,000,000 Somalis have fled to other countries, mainly in the region, but also many to Europe.
People Groups
About 95 percent of the population is Somalis, which are divided into six large groups of clans: Dir, Ishaaq, Hawiye, Daarood, Digil and Rahanweyn. It is mainly the clans that the Somalis are loyal to. There are also smaller groups of Bantu people. Before the Civil War, there were also some Arabs in the country, mainly in the cities.
Population Density
The population density is 16.7 people per square kilometer, but the driest areas are very thinly populated. The largest population is in the south and in the valleys along the rivers Jubba and Shabelle. Around one third of the population lives in cities. The capital Mogadishu is the largest city.
After the drought disaster in the 1970s, part of the nomadic population settled, but still more than half of the population are nomads or half-nomads.
Religion
Islam is state religion and has support from about 99 percent of the population, most of them Sunni Muslims. Some are followers of local, traditional religions. There is a Christian minority group, consisting mainly of Catholics.
Language
Official languages are Arabic and Somali. The latter belongs to the Cushitic languages of the Afro-Asian language family. It is the dominant vernacular in the country. English and Italian are used to a certain extent.