Somalia

none

Somalia as the 1995 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 79 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 sq km

LocationEastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian

Populationas each edition published it

7.35 million July 1995 est. · 8.42m in 1990

Population growth% a year

15.58% 1995 est. · 1.35% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 17.6 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

55.74 years 1995 est. · 32.91 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

7.13 children per woman 1995 est. · 7.3 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

119.5 deaths per 1,000 live births 1995 est. · 125 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$500 1994 est. · $500 in 1994

GDP real growth% a year

Not in this edition 2% in 1996

Geography

Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian | Ocean, east of Ethiopia

14 fields

Land useshare of 637,660 sq km

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

Area

637,660sq km

land area: 627,340 sq kmcomparative 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 Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia

International disputes

southern half of boundary with Ethiopia is a Provisional Administrative Line; territorial dispute with Ethiopia over the Ogaden

Climate

principally desert;
December to February - northeast monsoon, moderate temperatures in north and very hot in south;
May to October - southwest monsoon, 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

Environment

current issues:: famine;
use of contaminated water contributes to human 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

15 fields

Population

7,347,554

(July 1995 est.)growth rate: 15.58% (1995 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1995 est.)

Birth

45.53Death

13.3Net migration

123.62

Male · female(1995 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years55.74

55.48 · 56

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy24%

36% · 14%

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

Labor force

2.2million

(very few are skilled laborers)by occupation: pastoral nomad 70%, agriculture, government, trading, fishing, handicrafts, and other 30%

Age structure

0-14 years:: 45% (female 1,653,175; male 1,650,377)
15-64 years:: 51% (female 1,845,886; male 1,932,012)
65 years and over:: 4% (female 138,264; male 127,840) (July 1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate

119.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Somali(s)
adjective:: Somali

Languages

Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English

Government

None

20 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)

National holiday

Constitution

25 August 1979, presidential approval 23 September 1979

Legal system

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

Somalia has no functioning government; the United Somali Congress (USC) ousted the regime of Maj. Gen. Mohamed SIAD Barre on 27 January 1991; the present political situation is one of anarchy, marked by inter-clan fighting and random banditry

Legislative branch

unicameral People's Assembly; People's Assembly (Golaha Shacbiga): not functioning

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (not functioning)

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

Member of

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

Diplomatic representation in US

Somalian Embassy ceased operations on 8 May 1991

US diplomatic representation

note: the US Embassy in Mogadishu was evacuated and closed indefinitely in January 1991; Ambassador Daniel SIMPSON, ambassador to Kenya, represents US interests in Somalia

liaison office:: US Embassy, Nairobi, Kenya
address:: corner of Moi Avenue and Haile Selassie Avenue, Nairobi
mailing address:: P.O. Box 30137, Unit 64100, Nairobi or APO AE 09831
telephone:: [254] (2) 334141

FAX

[254] (2) 340838

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

GDP per capita, PPP

$500

(1994 est.)

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 livelihood make up about 70% 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;

most facilities have been shut down because of the civil strife. The greatly increased political turmoil of 1991-93 has resulted in a substantial drop in agricultural output, with widespread famine. In 1994 economic conditions stabilized in the countryside but may turn worse in 1995 if civil strife intensifies after the UN withdrawal.

National product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $3.3 billion (1994 est.)

National product real growth rate

NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA% (1994)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Budget

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

Exports

$58 million (1990 est.)

commodities:: bananas, live animals, fish, hides
partners:: Saudi Arabia, Italy, FRG (1986)

Imports

$249 million (1990 est.)

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

Electricity

capacity:: prior to the civil war, 75,000 kW, but now almost completely shut down due to war damage;
note - UN and relief organizations use their own portable power systems
production:: NA kWh
consumption per capita:: NA kWh

Industries

a few small industries, including sugar refining, textiles, petroleum refining (mostly shut down) (1994)

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

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

Currency

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

Exchange rates

Somali shillings (So. Sh.) per US$1 - approximately 5,000 (1 January 1995), 2,616 (1 July 1993), 4,200 (December 1992), 3,800.00 (December 1990), 490.7 (1989),

Fiscal year

calendar year

Transportation

6 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 76 in all

over 3,047 m

2,438 to 3,047 m

1,524 to 2,437 m

914 to 1,523 m

under 914 m

1,524 to 2,438 m

PavedUnpaved

Networkskm

Highways

22,500Railroads

Highways: paved: 2,700 km · unpaved: gravel 3,000 km; improved, stabilized earth 16,800 km (1992)

Highways

total:: 22,500 km
paved:: 2,700 km
unpaved:: gravel 3,000 km; improved, stabilized earth 16,800 km (1992)

Pipelines

crude oil 15 km

Ports

Bender Cassim (Boosaaso), Berbera, Chisimayu (Kismaayo), Merca, Mogadishu

Merchant marine

total:: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,529 GRT/6,892 DWT
ships by type:: cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 1

Communications

3 fields

Telephone system

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

local:: NA
intercity:: NA
international:: NA

Radio

broadcast stations:: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
radios:: NA

Television

broadcast stations:: NA
televisions:: NA

Defense Forces

No functioning central government military forces; clan | militias continue to battle for control of key economic or political | prizes