Somalia
none
Somalia as the 1996 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 84 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.
No fields match. Try a shorter word.
Geography
Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the | Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia
15 fieldsLand useshare of 637,660 sq km
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
- lowest point:
- Indian Ocean 0 m
- highest point:
- Shimbiris 2,450 m
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
Geographic note
strategic location on Horn of Africa along southern approaches to Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea and Suez Canal
People
15 fieldsNote
Per 1,000 population(1996 est.)
Male · female(1996 est.)
Age structure
- 0-14 years:
- 44% (male 2,143,775; female 2,139,104)
- 15-64 years:
- 52% (male 2,609,911; female 2,387,620)
- 65 years and over:
- 4% (male 182,991; female 175,750) (July 1996 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.03 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 1.09 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 1.04 male(s)/female
- all ages:
- 1.05 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Government
None
19 fieldsAdministrative 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;
- the United Somali Congress (USC) ousted the regime of Major General Mohamed SIAD Barre on 27 January 1991;
- the present political situation is one of anarchy, marked by interclan fighting and random banditry
Legislative branch
unicameral People's Assembly; People's Assembly (Golaha Shacbiga): 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 Major General Mohamed SIAD Barre
International organization participation
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, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in US
Somalia does not have an embassy in the US (ceased operations on 8 May 1991)
US diplomatic representation
- the US does not have an embassy in Somalia;
- US interests are represented by the US Embassy in Nairobi at Moi Avenue and Haile Selassie Avenue;
- mail address: ;
- 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.
20 fieldsEconomic 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 a large portion 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 resulted in a substantial drop in agricultural output, with widespread famine. In 1994 economic conditions stabilized in the countryside, followed in 1995 by slight improvements. However, ongoing civil strife in Mogadishu and outlying areas is interfering with any substantial recovery.
Industries
a few small industries, including sugar refining, textiles, petroleum refining (mostly shut down)
Electricity
- capacity:
- 75,000 kW prior to the civil war, but now largely shut down due to war damage;
- some localities operate their own generating plants, providing limited municipal power;
- note - UN and relief organizations use their own portable power systems
- production:
- NA kWh
- consumption per capita:
- NA kWh
Agriculture
- bananas, sorghum, corn, mangoes, sugarcane;
- cattle, sheep, goats;
- fishing potential largely unexploited
Exports
$100 million (1995 est.)
- commodities:
- bananas, live animals, fish, hides
- partners:
- Saudi Arabia, other Gulf states, Italy, US (bananas)
Imports
$249 million (1990 est.)
- commodities:
- petroleum products, foodstuffs, construction materials
- partners:
- US 13%, Italy, FRG, Kenya, UK, Saudi Arabia (1986)
Exchange rates
Somali shillings (So. Sh.) per US$1 - approximately 7,000 (January 1996), 5,000 (1 January 1995), 2,616 (1 July 1993), 4,200 (December 1992), 3,800.00 (December 1990), 490.7 (1989),
Transportation
6 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 52 in all
Networkskm
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 (1995 est.)
Communications
NA; note - no functioning central government military | forces; clan militias continue to battle for control of key economic | or political prizes
9 fieldsTelephone system
- the public telecommunications system was completely destroyed or dismantled by the civil war factions;
- all relief organizations depend on their own private systems
- domestic:
- recently, local cellular telephone systems have been established in Mogadishu and in several other population centers
- international:
- international connections are available from Mogadishu by satellite
Radio broadcast stations
AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA (there are at least five radio broadcast stations of NA type)
Television broadcast stations
0 (Somalia's only TV station was demolished during the civil strife, sometime in 1991)
Branches
- NA;
- note - no functioning central government military forces;
- clan militias continue to battle for control of key economic or political prizes
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Somalia.” The World Factbook 1996. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/somalia/1996.