The CIA World Factbook Every edition, 1990 to 2025 Africa

Country name Somalia, in 35 editions.

The entry for Somalia published Country name in 35 editions of 36, from 1990 to 2025. The text changed in 15 editions. Each is shown as published. Country name in every entry.

editions changed the text
15
the first edition with it
1990
the latest edition with it
2025

Published as “Long-form name” (1990 to 1992), “Names” (1993 to 1995), “Name of country” (1996) and “Country name” (1997 to 2025).

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe edition shownChoose an edition on the strip beside the text, or step through them with the arrows. Mark changes compares it with the edition before: the marks are ours, words added and words removed.

2025

Changed since 2024
Mark changes

Open the 2025 entry

conventional long form:
Federal Republic of Somalia
conventional short form:
Somalia
local long form:
Jamhuuriyadda Federaalka Soomaaliya (Somali)/ Jumhuriyat as Sumal al Fidiraliyah (Arabic)
local short form:
Soomaaliya (Somali)/ As Sumal (Arabic)
former:
  • British Somaliland,
  • Italian Somaliland,
  • Somali Republic,
  • Somali Democratic Republic
etymology:
  • the name means "Land of the Somali," a local ethnic group;
  • the origin of the group's name is unclear but may come from 1) a Cushitic word meaning "dark," 2) the local phrase soo mal , meaning "go and milk" (referring to offering guests milk), 3) the name of a local chief, or 4) the Arabic zamla , meaning "cattle"

conventional long form: Federal Republic of Somalia
conventional short form: Somalia
local long form: Jamhuuriyadda Federaalka Soomaaliya (Somali)/ Jumhuriyat as Sumal al Fidiraliyah (Arabic)
local short form: Soomaaliya (Somali)/ As Sumal (Arabic)
former: British Somaliland, Italian Somaliland, Somali Republic, Somali Democratic Republic
etymology: the name means "Land of the Somali" (ethnic group) Somali," a local ethnic group; the origin of the group's name is unclear but may come from 1) a Cushitic word meaning "dark," 2) the local phrase soo mal , meaning "go and milk" (referring to offering guests milk), 3) the name of a local chief, or 4) the Arabic zamla , meaning "cattle"

Central Intelligence Agency. “Somalia: Country name.” The World Factbook, 1990–2025 editions. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/somalia/country-name.

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