Somalia
sovereign state in Africa
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Somalia is a country located in Africa[1][2] that was established on January 1, 1960. Its capital is Mogadishu[1], and its official languages are Somali and Arabic. The nation observes the UTC+03:00 time zone within the Africa/Mogadishu region.
Geographically, Somalia encompasses an area of 638k[3]. In 2017, the country had a population of 11.0M.
World Factbook
CIA reference data · 4 sections
Geography
Location
Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia
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
Natural resources
uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt, natural gas, likely oil reserves
People & Society
Religions
Muslim 99.9% (Sunni Muslim 98.1%, Shia Muslim 1.2%, Islamic schismatic 0.6%), ethnic religionist 0.1% (2020 est.)
Government
Government type
federal parliamentary republic
Independence
1 July 1960 (from a merger of British Somaliland, which became independent from the UK on 26 June 1960, and Italian Somaliland, which 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
Legal system
mixed system of civil law, Islamic (sharia) law, and customary law (referred to as Xeer)
Economy
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$26.77 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$1,400 (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
4% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
6.8% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate
18.9% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
UAE 35%, Saudi Arabia 27%, Oman 18%, Djibouti 8%, India 3% (2023)
Imports - partners
UAE 29%, China 19%, India 15%, Turkey 8%, Oman 5% (2023)
Source: CIA World Factbook · public domain (US gov work, 17 USC §105) · fetched 2026-05-06
Key Facts
- Member of: United Nations[3], African Union[4], League of Arab States[5], Organisation of Islamic Cooperation[6], International Bank for Reconstruction and Development[7], International Development Association[8], International Finance Corporation[9], International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes[10], African Development Bank[11], Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States[12], Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development[13], Arab Monetary Fund[14], Interpol[15], Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons[16]
- Country: Somalia[17]
- Head of government: Mohamed Hussein Roble[18]
- Continent: Africa[19]
- Instance of: sovereign state[20], federal republic[21], country[22]
- Head of state: Hassan Sheikh Mohamud[23]
- Capital: Mogadishu[24]
- Official language: Somali[25], Arabic[26]
- Currency: Somali shilling[27]
- Shares border with: Djibouti[28], Ethiopia[29], Kenya[30]
- Top-level Internet domain: .so[31]
- Anthem: Qolobaa Calankeed[32]
- Basic form of government: federal republic[33]
- Contains the administrative territorial entity: Awdal Region[34], Bakool[35], Banaadir[36], Bari[37], Bay[38], Galguduud[39], Gedo[40], Hiran[41], Middle Juba[42], Lower Juba[43], Mudug[44], Nugal[45], Middle Shebelle[46], Lower Shebelle[47]
- Follows: State of Somaliland[48]
- Flag: flag of Somalia[49]
- Legislative body: Federal Parliament of Somalia[50]
- Executive body: Federal Government of Somalia[51]
- Coat of arms: coat of arms of Somalia[52]
- Commons category: Somalia[53]
- Licence plate code: SO[54]
- Located in time zone: UTC+03:00[55], Africa/Mogadishu[56]
Body
Brands and Namesakes
Things named for Somalia include Somali Current[57], an ocean current[58] and Kassina somalica[59], a taxon[60].
Why It Matters
Somalia has Wikipedia articles in 30 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[61] Somalia is known by 50 alternative names across languages and contexts.[62]
Entities named for Somalia include Somali Current[57], an ocean current[58] and Kassina somalica[59], a taxon[60].