Somalia
none
Somalia as the 1994 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 107 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Geography
Eastern Africa, bordering the northwestern Indian Ocean, south of the | Arabian Peninsula
22 fieldstotal area
637,660 sq km
land area
627,340 sq km
comparative area
slightly smaller than Texas
territorial sea
200 nm
International disputes
southern half of boundary with Ethiopia is a Provisional Administrative Line; territorial dispute with Ethiopia over the Ogaden
Climate
- desert;
- northeast monsoon (December to February), cooler southwest monsoon (May to October);
- irregular rainfall;
- hot, humid periods (tangambili) between monsoons
Natural resources
uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt
arable land
2%
permanent crops
0%
meadows and pastures
46%
forest and woodland
14%
other
38%
current issues
- use of contaminated water contributes to health problems;
- deforestation;
- overgrazing;
- soil erosion;
- desertification
natural hazards
recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plains in summer
international agreements
party to - Endangered Species, Law of the Sea; signed, but not ratified - Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban
Note
strategic location on Horn of Africa along southern approaches to Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea and Suez Canal
People
22 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1994 est.)
total population
54.75 years
male
54.49 years
female
55.01 years (1994 est.)
noun
Somali(s)
adjective
Somali
total population
24%
male
36%
female
14%
by occupation
pastoral nomad 70%, agriculture, government, trading, fishing, handicrafts, and other 30%
note
53% of population of working age (1985)
Government
None
22 fieldsLegislature, 171 seatsone dot, one seat
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
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)
Executive branch
- Somalia has no functioning government;
- presidential elections last held 23 December 1986 (next to be held NA);
- results - President SIAD was reelected without opposition
People's Assembly (Golaha Shacbiga)
elections 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
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
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
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.
25 fieldsOverview
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 1991-93 has resulted in a substantial drop in output, with widespread famine.
revenues
$NA
expenditures
$NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
commodities
bananas, live animals, fish, hides
partners
Saudi Arabia, Italy, FRG (1986)
commodities
petroleum products, foodstuffs, construction materials
partners
US 13%, Italy, FRG, Kenya, UK, Saudi Arabia (1986)
capacity
- former 75,000 kW is almost 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
production
NA
consumption per capita
NA
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
recipient
- 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
Exchange rates
Somali shillings (So. Sh.) per US$1 - 2,616 (1 July 1993), 4,200 (December 1992), 3,800.00 (December 1990), 490.7 (1989)
Communications
13 fieldstotal
22,500 km
paved
2,700 km
unpaved
gravel 3,000 km; improved, stabilized earth 16,800 km (1992)
Merchant marine
2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,554 GRT/6,892 DWT, cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 1
total
76
usable
59
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
24
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
NA
3 fieldsCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Somalia.” The World Factbook 1994. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/somalia/1994.