Population and Demographics

There is little reliable statistical information on urbanisation in Somalia. However, rough estimates have been made indicating an urbanisation of 5% and 8% per annum with many towns rapidly growing into cities. Currently, 34% of the Somali population lives in towns and cities with the percentage rapidly increasing.

Because of the civil war, the country has a large diaspora community, one of the largest of the whole continent. There are over a million Somalis outside of Africa, and this excludes those who have inhabited Ogaden province, northeastern Kenya, and Djibouti.

Facts and Figures

• Population: 8,863,338
• Age Structure:
  • 0-14 years: 44.4% (male 1,973,294/female 1,961,083)
  • 15-64 years: 53% (male 2,355,861/female 2,342,988)
  • 65 years and over: 2.6% (male 97,307/female 132,805)
• Median Age:
  • Total: 17.6 years
  • Male: 17.5 years
  • Female: 17.7 years
• Population Growth Rate: 2.85%
• Birth Rate: 45.13 births/1,000 population
• Death Rate: 16.63 deaths/1,000 population
• Net Migration Rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
• Sex Ratio:
  • At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  • Under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  • 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  • 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
  • Total population: 1 male(s)/female
• Infant Mortality Rate:
  • Total: 114.89 deaths/1,000 live births
  • Male: 124.18 deaths/1,000 live births
  • Female: 105.32 deaths/1,000 live births
• Life Expectancy at Birth:
  • Total population: 48.47 years
  • Male: 46.71 years
  • Female: 50.28 years
• Total Fertility Rate: 6.76 children born/woman
• HIV/AIDS:
  • Adult prevalence rate: 1%
  • People living with HIV/AIDS: 43,000
• Ethnic Groups:
  • Somali 85%
  • Bantu and other non-Somali 15% (including Arabs 30,000)
• Literacy:
  • Total population: 37.8%
  • Male: 49.7%
  • Female: 25.8%