Country Profile: Somalia

Somalia, located in Eastern Africa, is bordered by the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, and has a diverse geography characterized by a mostly flat to undulating plateau. With a population of approximately 20.3 million, it is predominantly Somali with a rich cultural history shaped by centuries of trade and colonization. The economy is classified as low-income, heavily reliant on remittances, agriculture, and an emerging digital economy. After enduring years of civil conflict and instability, Somalia has made strides towards establishing a federal parliamentary republic, though governance challenges remain.

Geography

Somalia is strategically located at the Horn of Africa, providing access to key maritime routes. The country covers an area of 637,657 square kilometers, featuring a coastline of 3,025 kilometers along the Indian Ocean. The terrain is primarily flat, with its highest point being Mount Shimbiris at 2,460 meters.

Area: 637,657 sq km
Coastline: 3,025 km
Highest Point: Mount Shimbiris (2,460 m)
Climate: Predominantly desert with monsoons influencing temperature and rainfall.
Natural Resources: Includes uranium, iron ore, potential oil reserves.
Major Aquifers: Ogaden-Juba Basin.

People and Society

Somalia's population is estimated at 20.3 million as of 2025, predominantly Somali, with significant Muslim representation (99.9%). The population is young, with a median age of 15.7 years and a high dependency ratio. Urbanization is increasing, with nearly half of the population living in urban areas.

Population: 20,324,160 (2025 est.)
Urban Population: 47.9% (2023)
Birth Rate: 46.36 births per 1,000 population (2025 est.)
Life Expectancy: 56.5 years (2024 est.)
Literacy Rate: 54.1% (2022 est.)
Youth (0-14 years): 41.4% of total population (2025 est.)

Economy

Somalia's economy is recovering from decades of conflict, characterized by a high reliance on remittances and agriculture. The country has innovative urbanization efforts and is seeing an annual growth rate of approximately 4%. The GDP is projected at $26.77 billion in purchasing power parity for 2024.

Real GDP (PPP): $26.77 billion (2024 est.)
GDP Growth Rate: 4% (2024 est.)
Unemployment Rate: 18.9% (2024 est.)
Remittances: 15.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Population below Poverty Line: 54.4% (2022 est.)
Major Agricultural Products: Camel milk, vegetables, fruits.

Government

Somalia operates as a federal parliamentary republic, with a complex political history shaped by civil war and attempts at stabilization. The capital, Mogadishu, serves as the political center. The government has established a provisional constitution and holds regular elections, though challenges such as clan-based power structures persist.

Government Type: Federal parliamentary republic
Capital: Mogadishu
Current President: Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (since May 2022)
Constitution: Adopted on August 1, 2012
Suffrage: Universal at age 18
Legislature: Bicameral, with 275 seats in the House of the People.

Military and Security

The Somali Armed Forces consist of the national army, navy, and air force, supported by internal security forces to combat threats like al-Shabaab. The military is bolstered by international assistance, primarily from the African Union and allied nations.

Active Personnel: 20,000 estimated (2025)
Military Expenditures: 6% of GDP (2021 est.)
Primary Threat: Al-Shabaab terrorist group.
Military Age: Voluntary service age is 18-22.
Military Equipment: Mix of older and donated equipment from various sources.

Energy

Somalia's energy sector is underdeveloped, with approximately 49% of the population having access to electricity. The primary energy sources are fossil fuels, solar, and wind, with the majority of installed capacity derived from fossil fuels.

Electrification Rate: 48.9% total population (2022 est.)
Installed Capacity: 156,000 kW (2023 est.)
Renewable Share: 16% from solar (2023 est.)
Coal Imports: 4 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy Consumption: 649,000 Btu/person (2023 est.)

Environment

Somalia faces significant environmental challenges, including water scarcity and deforestation. The country is a party to several international environmental agreements but struggles with issues like land degradation and desertification.

Environmental Issues: Water scarcity, soil erosion, deforestation.
Water Resources: Total renewable water resources estimated at 14.7 billion cubic meters (2022 est.).
Carbon Dioxide Emissions: Approximately 838,000 metric tonnes (2023 est.).
Waste Generated: 2.326 million tons of municipal solid waste (2024 est.).

Transportation

Transportation infrastructure includes a mix of air and maritime resources, with notable deficiencies due to past conflicts. The country has 40 airports and several key ports vital for trade.

Airports: 40 (2025)
Ports: 6 major ports, including Mogadishu.
Merchant Marine: 4 vessels (2023).

Communications

Technological advancement is evident in Somalia, with mobile phone subscriptions growing rapidly. Fixed-line infrastructure, however, remains limited.

Mobile Cellular Subscriptions: 9.91 million (2023 est.)
Internet Users: 28% of the population (2022 est.)
Fixed-line Subscriptions: 91,000 (2022 est.).

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	20,324,160	(2025 est.)
Area	637,657 sq km
GDP (PPP)	$26.77 billion	(2024 est.)
Unemployment Rate	18.9%	(2024 est.)
Birth Rate	46.36 births/1,000 people	(2025 est.)
Life Expectancy	56.5 years	(2024 est.)
Electrification Rate	48.9%	(2022 est.)