Country profile
Somalia
Federal Republic of Somalia · Eastern Africa
👥 Population
19,654,739
World Bank · 2025
🏛 Capital
Mogadishu
🗺 Area
637,657 km²
💹 GDP (nominal)
$13B
World Bank · 2025
📈 HDI
0.404
UNDP · 2023
📍 Pop. density
31 /km²
💱 Currency
SOS
Somali shilling
🗣 Languages
Arabic, Somali
About Somalia
Somalia (officially Federal Republic of Somalia) is a country in Eastern Africa, with Mogadishu as its capital. It is home to roughly 19.65 million people, giving a population density of about 31 people per square kilometre. The country covers 637,657 km² of land and shares land borders with 3 neighbouring countries. Its economy is valued at approximately $13B in nominal GDP (2025), and it records a Human Development Index of 0.404. The official currency is the Somali shilling (SOS), and the main languages are Arabic, Somali.
Key indicators
Latest available data · World Bank & UNDP.
💹 Economy
GDP (PPP)
$30.45B
GDP/capita (PPP)
$1,602
GDP growth
3.0%
Unemployment
18.9%
👥 People
Life expectancy
59.0 yrs
Fertility rate
6.01
Pop. growth
3.3%
Urban population
55.1%
Infant mortality /1k
65.4
🌍 Quality of Life
Internet users
27.9%
Literacy rate
54.1%
Physicians /1k
0.05
Renewable energy
95.4%
Travel & practical
Capital
Mogadishu
Currency
SOS
Dialing code
+252
Internet TLD
.so
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Fun facts about Somalia
- Somalia is the 66th most populous country in the world, with about 19.65 million people.
- By land area it is the 41st-largest country in the world, covering 637,657 km².
- It has the world's 146th-largest economy by nominal GDP ($13B).
- Somalia shares land borders with 3 countries.
- It is classed by the UN as a country of low human development, with an HDI of 0.404.
- Somalia has a population density of about 31 people per square kilometre.