Somalia

none

Somalia as the 1993 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 76 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalMogadishu

Area637,660 km2

LocationEastern Africa, bordering the northwestern Indian Ocean, south of the

Populationas each edition published it

6.51 million July 1993 est. · 8.42m in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.35% 1993 est. · 3.32% in 2025

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 17.6 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

32.91 years 1993 est. · 56.5 yrs in 2025

Fertility ratechildren per woman

6.4 children per woman 1993 est. · 7.3 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

162.7 deaths per 1,000 live births 1993 est. · 125 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

Not in this edition $500 in 1994

GDP real growth% a year

Not in this edition 2% in 1996

Geography

Eastern Africa, bordering the northwestern Indian Ocean, south of the | Arabian Peninsula

14 fields

Land useshare of 637,660 km2

arable land 2%permanent crops 0%meadows and pastures 46%forest and woodland 14%other 38%irrigated 1,600 km2 (1989 est.)

Area

637,660km2

land area: 627,340 km2comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas

Coastline

3,025km

territorial sea: 200 nm

Land boundaries

2,366km

total · Djibouti 58 km, Ethiopia 1,626 km, Kenya 682 km

Location

Eastern Africa, bordering the northwestern Indian Ocean, south of the Arabian Peninsula

Map references

Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World

International disputes

southern half of boundary with Ethiopia is a Provisional Administrative Line;
territorial dispute with Ethiopia over the Ogaden;
possible claims to Djibouti and parts of Ethiopia and Kenya based on unification of ethnic Somalis

Climate

desert;
northeast monsoon (December to February), cooler southwest monsoon (May to October);
irregular rainfall;
hot, 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

Environment

recurring droughts;
frequent dust storms over eastern plains in summer;
deforestation;
overgrazing;
soil erosion;
desertification

Note

strategic location on Horn of Africa along southern approaches to Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea and Suez Canal

People

14 fields

Population

6,514,629

(July 1993 est.)growth rate: 1.35% (1993 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1993 est.)

Birth

41.95Death

28.41Net migration

Male · female(1993 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years32.91

32.86 · 32.95

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy24%

36% · 14%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1990)

Labor force

2.2million

(very few are skilled laborers)by occupation: pastoral nomad 70%, agriculture, government, trading, fishing, handicrafts, and other 30%note: 53% of population of working age (1985)

Infant mortality rate

162.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Somali(s)
adjective:: Somali

Ethnic divisions

Somali 85%, Bantu, Arabs 30,000, Europeans 3,000, Asians 800

Languages

Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English

Government

None

21 fields

Names

conventional long form:: none
conventional short form:: Somalia
former:: Somali Republic

Administrative divisions

18 regions (plural - NA, singular - gobolka);
Awdal, Bakool, Banaadir, Bari, Bay, Galguduud, Gedo, Hiiraan, Jubbada Dhexe, Jubbada Hoose, Mudug, Nugaal, Sanaag, Shabeellaha Dhexe, Shabeellaha Hoose, Sool, Togdheer, Woqooyi Galbeed

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)

Constitution

25 August 1979, presidential approval 23 September 1979

Legal system

National holiday

Political parties and leaders

the United Somali Congress (USC) ousted the former regime on 27 January 1991; formerly the only party was the Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party (SRSP), headed by former President and Commander in Chief of the Army Maj. Gen. Mohamed SIAD Barre

Other political or pressure groups

numerous clan and subclan factions are currently vying for power

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Elections

President:: last held 23 December 1986 (next to be held NA); results - President SIAD was reelected without opposition
People's Assembly:: last held 31 December 1984 (next to be held NA); results - SRSP was the only party; seats - (177 total, 171 elected) SRSP 171; note - the United Somali Congress (USC) ousted the regime of Maj. Gen. Mohamed SIAD Barre on 27 January 1991; the provisional government has promised that a democratically elected government will be established

Executive branch

president, two vice presidents, prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch

unicameral People's Assembly (Golaha Shacbiga); non-functioning

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (non-functioning)

Leaders

Chief of State:: Interim President ALI MAHDI Mohamed (since 27 January 1991)
Head of Government:: Prime Minister OMAR Arteh Ghalib (since 27 January 1991)

Member of

ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:: (vacant)
chancery:: Suite 710, 600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone:: (202) 342-1575
consulate general:: New York

note: Somalian Embassy ceased operations on 8 May 1991

US diplomatic representation

the US Embassy in Mogadishu was evacuated and closed indefinitely in January 1991; United States Liaison Office (USLO) opened in December 1992

Flag

light blue with a large white five-pointed star in the center; design based on the flag of the UN (Italian Somaliland was a UN trust territory)

Economy

One of the world's poorest and least developed countries, Somalia has few | resources.

18 fields

External debt

$1.9billion

(1989)

Overview

One of the world's poorest and least developed countries, Somalia has few resources. Moreover, much of the economy has been devastated by the civil war. Agriculture is the most important sector, with livestock accounting for about 40% of GDP and about 65% of export earnings. Nomads and seminomads who are dependent upon livestock for their livelihoods make up more than half of the population.

Crop production generates only 10% of GDP and employs about 20% of the work force. The main export crop is bananas; sugar, sorghum, and corn are grown for the domestic market. The small industrial sector is based on the processing of agricultural products and accounts for less than 10% of GDP. Greatly increased political turmoil in 1991-92 has resulted in a substantial drop in output, with widespread famine.

National product

$NA

National product real growth rate

NA%

National product per capita

$NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

Unemployment rate

NA%

Budget

revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Exports

$NA

commodities:: bananas, livestock, fish, hides, skins
partners:: Saudi Arabia, Italy, FRG (1986)

Imports

$NA

commodities:: petroleum products, foodstuffs, construction materials
partners:: US 13%, Italy, FRG, Kenya, UK, Saudi Arabia (1986)

Electricity

former public power capacity of 75,000 kW is completely shut down by the destruction of the civil war;
UN, relief organizations, and foreign military units in Somalia use their own portable power systems

Industries

a few small industries, including sugar refining, textiles, petroleum refining; probably shut down by the widespread destruction during the civil war

Agriculture

dominant sector, led by livestock raising (cattle, sheep, goats);
crops - bananas, sorghum, corn, mangoes, sugarcane;
not self-sufficient in food;
distribution of food disrupted by civil strife;
fishing potential largely unexploited

Economic aid

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $639 million;
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $3.8 billion;
OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $1.1 billion;
Communist countries (1970-89), $336 million

Currency

1 Somali shilling (So. Sh.) = 100 centesimi

Exchange rates

Somali shillings (So. Sh.) per US$1 - 4,200 (December 1992), 3,800.00 (December 1990), 490.7 (1989), 170.45 (1988), 105.18 (1987), 72.00 (1986)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

6 fields

Merchant marine, 3 ships by typeone square, one ship

cargo 2refrigerated cargo 13 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,913 GRT/8,718 DWT

total:: 69
usable:: 48
with permanent-surface runways:: 8
with runways over 3,659 m:: 2
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:: 6
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:: 20

Telecommunications

the public telecommunications system was completely destroyed or dismantled by the civil war factions;
all relief organizations depend on their own private systems (1993)

Defense Forces

3 fields

How to cite ← 1992 edition 1994 edition →