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Somalia: Quick Facts

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News •

Jarma Mohamed: How Jersey Bulls midfielder became a Somalia international • Nov. 11, 2026, 2:13 AM ET (BBC)
Uganda, Somalia, South Sudan among 11 African nations on US travel warning list • Nov. 10, 2026, 6:52 AM ET (The Standard)
Indian navy rescues 20 crew from Iranian fishing boat hijacked off Somalia • Nov. 3, 2026, 10:55 AM ET (AP)
Peacekeepers plan to take over bases near Somaliaā€™s capital as Ugandan troops withdraw • Nov. 3, 2026, 4:12 AM ET (AP)
Somali pirates seize Iranian fishing vessel, raising fears of attacks on cargo ships • Nov. 1, 2026, 9:25 AM ET (AP)

Facts

Also Known As As-SÅ«māl ā€¢ Jamhuuriyadda Dimuqraadiga Soomaaliya ā€¢ Somali Democratic Republic ā€¢ Soomaaliya
Head Of Government Prime Minister: Hamza Abdi Barre2
Capital Mogadishu
Population (2026 est.) 22,326,000
Head Of State President: Hassan Sheikh Mohamud2
Form Of Government federal republic2 with two legislative houses (House of the People [275]; Upper House [54])
Official Languages Somali; Arabic
Official Religion Islam
Official Name Jamhuuriyadda Federaalka ee Soomaaliya1 (Somali); Jumhūriyyat al-Sūmāl al-Fīdīraliyyah (Arabic) (Federal Republic of Somalia)
Total Area (Sq Km) 637,657
Total Area (Sq Mi) 246,201
Monetary Unit Somali shilling (Shilin Soomaali; So.Sh.)
Population Rank (2026) 62
Population Projection 2030 19,254,000
Density: Persons Per Sq Mi (2026) 90.7
Density: Persons Per Sq Km (2026) 35
Urban-Rural Population Urban: (2020) 46.1% ā€¢ Rural: (2020) 53.9%
Life Expectancy At Birth Male: (2021) 51.7 years ā€¢ Female: (2021) 56.3 years
Gni (U.S.$ ā€™000,000) (2024) 11,710
Gni Per Capita (U.S.$) (2024) 620
1Proclamation of the ā€œRepublic of Somalilandā€ in May 1991 on territory corresponding to the former British Somaliland (which unified with the former Italian Trust Territory of Somalia to form Somalia in 1960) had not received widespread international recognition as of January 2026. This entity represented about a quarter of Somaliaā€™s territory. 2The government did not control all of Somalia in August 2026.

Photos

Somalia
Map of Somalia showing its national boundaries, major cities such as Mogadishu, Hargeysa, Kismaayo, and Boosaaso, and surrounding countries including Ethiopia, Kenya, and Djibouti. The Indian Ocean borders Somalia to the east, and a small locator map highlights Somalia's position in eastern Africa.
Fishermen stand on a sandy beach and in shallow water near small boats at the port of Mogadishu, Somalia, with weathered buildings and dark clouds in the background.
Map highlighting Somalia in eastern Africa, shaded in orange, with surrounding countries labeled, including Ethiopia, Kenya, Djibouti, Eritrea, Uganda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Yemen across the Gulf of Aden. The capital city, Mogadishu, is marked along the southeastern coast on the Indian Ocean.
Map showing Somaliland in the northwest region of Somalia, with solid lines marking international boundaries and dashed lines indicating disputed boundaries with Puntland and Somalia. Major cities such as Hargeysa, Berbera, Boosaaso, Garoowe, and Mogadishu are labeled, along with neighboring countries Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Kenya.
Map of Somalia and its surrounding region in East Africa, showing major physical features such as the Nugaaleed Valley, Galgodon Highlands, and mountain ranges including the Cal Madow and Dharoor Valleys. Neighboring countries Ethiopia, Kenya, and Djibouti are labeled, as are nearby bodies of water, the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. An inset locator map highlights Somalia's position on the African continent.
Thematic map of the Horn of Africa showing major peoples and language areas, with regions shaded to indicate where Semitic languages (in pink) and Cushitic languages (in green) are spoken. The map highlights ethnic groups such as Amhara, Tigray, Oromo, Somali, and Sidamo across Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, and surrounding areas.
Aįø„mad ibn IbrāhÄ«m al-GhāzÄ«
Historical map of eastern Africa around 1850 showing major states such as Kefa, Buganda, and the Sultanate of Zanzibar, along with minor states, stateless peoples, and the Maasai. Red lines trace major trade routes connecting inland regions to the Red Sea, Arabian Peninsula, and Indian Ocean, while green arrows indicate directions of expansion by groups like the Oromo and Maasai. Major lakes, rivers, and mountain landmarks are labeled throughout the region.
Historical map of eastern Africa around 1914, showing the region divided among British, German, French, and Italian colonial powers. Different territories are color-coded by colonial ruler, with key locations such as British East Africa (Kenya and Uganda), German East Africa (including present-day Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi), Italian Somaliland, and French Somaliland labeled. Major lakes, rivers, and cities are also marked.
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Related Topics and References

Topics
George H.W. Bush
George H.W. Bush
president of United States
Mohamed Siad Barre
Mohamed Siad Barre
president of Somalia
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Sayyid Maxamed Cabdulle Xasan
Somalian leader
Mogadishu, Somalia
Muhammad Farah Aydid
Somalian faction leader

Related Places

A map of the continent of Africa, including its countries, boundaries, and capital cities. It also shows parts of Europe and Asia and surrounding bodies of water, including the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, and Indian Ocean.
Africa
continent
Map of East Africa showing political boundaries, major cities, and capitals, overlaid with shaded elevation zones. Higher elevations are concentrated in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania, while lower elevations follow the coastal regions along the Indian Ocean and extend into Somalia and Mozambique. Major lakes such as Victoria, Tanganyika, and Rudolf are also marked.
Eastern Africa
region, Africa
Map of the Horn of Africa, highlighting the core countries of Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Djibouti in solid light green, with Sudan, South Sudan, Kenya, and Uganda shown in striped light green to indicate broader definitions. Surrounding countries and bodies of water, including the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Indian Ocean, are also labeled. An inset globe marks the region's location in Africa.
Horn of Africa
region, eastern Africa
Mogadishu, Somalia
Mogadishu
national capital, Somalia
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Berbera
Somalia
default image
Hargeisa
Somalia
default image
Seylac
Somalia
default image
Jamaame
Somalia
default image
Marca
Somalia
default image
Benadir
region, Somalia
default image
Kismaayo
Somalia
default image
Galgodon Highlands
mountains, Somalia
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Guban
plain, Somalia
default image
Nugaaleed Valley
river valley, Somalia
colonization of Africa by European countries
British Somaliland
historical region, Somalia

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