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Demographics of Somalia

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Demographics of Somalia
Population pyramid of Somalia in 2020
Population18,100,000 (2023 est.)[1]
Growth rate2.42% (2022 est.)
Birth rate37.98 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate11.62 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Life expectancy55.72 years
 • male53.39 years
 • female58.12 years
Fertility rate6.90 children born/woman (2020)[2]
Infant mortality86.53 deaths/1,000 live births
Net migration rate-2.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Immigrant share0.4% (2024)[3]
Age structure
0–14 years42.38%
65 and over2.27%
Nationality
NationalitySomali
Major ethnicSomali (98%)

Demographic features of Somalia's inhabitants include ethnicity, language, population density, education level, health, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population. Somalia is believed to be one of the most homogeneous countries in Africa.[4][5]

2020 survey

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Child marriages, known to deprive women of opportunities to reach their full potential, have among women aged 20–24, 36 percent of total population.[2]

The April 2020 SHDS report further unveils that fertility rates remain very high, the total fertility rate for Somalia is 6.9 children per woman, the highest in the world, which would impact planning for the next years.[2] In addition, 99 percent of women have still been genitally circumcised.[2]

Population

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According to the 2022 revision of the World Population Prospects[6][7], the total population was 17,065,581 in 2021, compared to 2,264,000 in 1950. The proportion of children below the age of 15 in 2010 was 44.9%, 52.3% was between 15 and 65 years of age, while 2.7% was 65 years or older.[8]

Vital statistics

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Registration of vital events in Somalia is incomplete. The Population Department of the United Nations prepared the following estimates:[9]

Year Population Live births per year Deaths per year Natural change per year CBR* CDR* NC* TFR* IMR* Life expectancy (years)
1950 2,213,000 112,000 50,000 62,000 50.5 22.4 28.1 7.25 152.1 41.40
1951 2,276,000 114,000 51,000 62,000 49.9 22.6 27.3 7.25 151.4 41.52
1952 2,339,000 116,000 53,000 63,000 49.4 22.5 26.8 7.25 150.1 41.74
1953 2,402,000 117,000 54,000 64,000 48.9 22.4 26.5 7.25 148.8 41.97
1954 2,466,000 119,000 55,000 65,000 48.5 22.3 26.2 7.25 147.6 42.19
1955 2,530,000 122,000 56,000 66,000 48.0 22.1 26.0 7.25 146.3 42.40
1956 2,595,000 124,000 57,000 67,000 47.7 21.9 25.8 7.25 145.1 42.62
1957 2,662,000 126,000 58,000 68,000 47.4 21.7 25.7 7.25 143.9 42.83
1958 2,729,000 129,000 59,000 70,000 47.1 21.5 25.6 7.25 142.7 43.04
1959 2,798,000 131,000 60,000 71,000 46.8 21.3 25.5 7.25 141.6 43.25
1960 2,871,000 134,000 61,000 73,000 46.6 21.1 25.5 7.25 140.4 43.45
1961 2,946,000 137,000 62,000 75,000 46.4 21.0 25.3 7.25 139.8 43.56
1962 3,023,000 140,000 63,000 77,000 46.2 20.7 25.4 7.26 138.1 43.88
1963 3,102,000 143,000 64,000 79,000 46.0 20.5 25.4 7.26 137.0 44.10
1964 3,184,000 146,000 65,000 81,000 45.8 20.4 25.4 7.26 135.9 44.30
1965 3,268,000 149,000 66,000 83,000 45.7 20.2 25.5 7.26 134.6 44.54
1966 3,354,000 153,000 67,000 86,000 45.5 20.0 25.6 7.26 133.5 44.76
1967 3,442,000 156,000 68,000 88,000 45.4 19.8 25.6 7.25 132.4 44.97
1968 3,532,000 160,000 69,000 91,000 45.3 19.6 25.7 7.23 131.4 45.17
1969 3,625,000 164,000 71,000 93,000 45.2 19.5 25.8 7.21 130.4 45.37
1970 3,721,000 168,000 72,000 96,000 45.2 19.3 25.9 7.18 129.4 45.56
1971 3,818,000 173,000 73,000 99,000 45.2 19.2 26.0 7.15 128.4 45.75
1972 3,918,000 177,000 75,000 103,000 45.2 19.0 26.2 7.12 127.5 45.94
1973 4,022,000 182,000 76,000 106,000 45.2 18.9 26.3 7.09 126.5 46.13
1974 4,126,000 187,000 86,000 101,000 45.3 20.7 24.6 7.06 137.8 43.82
1975 4,228,000 192,000 86,000 106,000 45.5 20.4 25.1 7.03 135.9 44.18
1976 4,334,000 198,000 87,000 111,000 45.7 20.1 25.5 7.02 134.0 44.57
1977 4,450,000 204,000 82,000 122,000 45.8 18.3 27.5 7.00 122.6 46.92
1978 4,778,000 214,000 84,000 130,000 46.8 18.4 28.4 7.13 121.7 46.95
1979 5,409,000 241,000 93,000 148,000 47.1 18.2 28.8 7.16 120.7 47.31
1980 5,892,000 277,000 106,000 171,000 47.3 18.1 29.2 7.18 119.8 47.49
1981 5,935,000 291,000 110,000 181,000 47.7 18.1 29.7 7.23 119.0 47.67
1982 5,952,000 286,000 107,000 179,000 48.0 18.0 30.0 7.25 118.2 47.83
1983 6,143,000 296,000 109,000 187,000 48.3 17.8 30.5 7.28 116.6 48.17
1984 6,369,000 307,000 112,000 196,000 48.5 17.6 30.9 7.30 115.2 48.46
1985 6,631,000 322,000 117,000 205,000 48.7 17.7 31.0 7.33 114.8 48.28
1986 6,909,000 336,000 121,000 215,000 48.9 17.6 31.2 7.35 114.1 48.37
1987 7,158,000 351,000 124,000 227,000 49.0 17.3 31.7 7.37 113.1 48.90
1988 7,160,000 362,000 151,000 211,000 49.1 20.5 28.6 7.40 115.8 43.84
1989 7,035,000 352,000 131,000 221,000 49.2 18.3 30.8 7.42 110.1 46.72
1990 6,999,000 349,000 128,000 221,000 49.0 18.0 31.0 7.44 108.3 47.11
1991 6,733,000 346,000 284,000 63,000 49.4 40.5 8.9 7.47 237.4 26.57
1992 6,428,000 327,000 251,000 76,000 50.2 38.6 11.7 7.50 236.3 27.31
1993 6,621,000 328,000 101,000 227,000 50.4 15.5 34.9 7.53 104.6 50.65
1994 6,960,000 351,000 111,000 240,000 50.3 15.9 34.4 7.54 105.1 50.33
1995 7,211,000 360,000 113,000 247,000 50.1 15.8 34.4 7.58 104.5 50.60
1996 7,472,000 376,000 119,000 257,000 50.1 15.9 34.2 7.62 104.8 50.45
1997 7,734,000 388,000 124,000 264,000 50.3 16.1 34.2 7.66 106.8 50.20
1998 8,057,000 403,000 127,000 276,000 50.2 15.8 34.4 7.65 104.6 50.66
1999 8,384,000 419,000 133,000 286,000 50.1 15.9 34.2 7.63 104.7 50.53
2000 8,721,000 434,000 137,000 297,000 49.9 15.8 34.1 7.61 104.6 50.66
2001 9,071,000 450,000 142,000 308,000 49.7 15.7 34.0 7.58 104.4 50.74
2002 9,411,000 467,000 148,000 320,000 49.7 15.7 34.0 7.58 104.4 50.73
2003 9,758,000 482,000 153,000 329,000 49.4 15.7 33.7 7.55 104.5 50.61
2004 10,117,000 498,000 159,000 339,000 49.2 15.7 33.5 7.52 104.6 50.54
2005 10,467,000 513,000 163,000 350,000 49.0 15.6 33.4 7.48 104.4 50.66
2006 10,785,000 527,000 168,000 359,000 48.7 15.6 33.2 7.46 104.1 50.60
2007 11,118,000 539,000 173,000 366,000 48.5 15.5 32.9 7.42 103.5 50.52
2008 11,445,000 555,000 174,000 381,000 48.2 15.1 33.1 7.39 101.3 51.12
2009 11,730,000 565,000 172,000 393,000 47.9 14.6 33.4 7.34 98.7 51.85
2010 12,027,000 576,000 185,000 390,000 47.7 15.4 32.3 7.30 102.5 50.56
2011 12,217,000 589,000 184,000 405,000 47.5 14.9 32.7 7.26 100.0 51.30
2012 12,440,000 590,000 169,000 420,000 47.3 13.6 33.7 7.20 91.4 53.16
2013 12,852,000 604,000 169,000 435,000 47.0 13.1 33.9 7.13 88.7 53.84
2014 13,309,000 622,000 170,000 452,000 46.7 12.8 33.9 7.06 86.1 54.28
2015 13,764,000 640,000 171,000 469,000 46.5 12.4 34.0 6.98 83.9 54.86
2016 14,293,000 657,000 175,000 482,000 46.2 12.3 33.9 6.89 82.0 55.04
2017 14,864,000 675,000 177,000 498,000 45.5 11.9 33.6 6.74 79.8 55.65
2018 15,411,000 693,000 176,000 516,000 45.0 11.4 33.5 6.63 77.2 56.38
2019 15,981,000 711,000 176,000 535,000 44.6 11.0 33.5 6.53 75.0 57.08
2020 16,537,000 728,000 188,000 540,000 44.0 11.4 32.6 6.42 72.9 55.97
2021 17,271,000 762,000 195,000 566,000 44.1 11.3 32.8 6.35 70.0 57.2
2022 17,802,000 780,000 228,000 551,000 43.8 12.8 31.0 6.26 86.7 53.9
2023 18,356,000 789,000 181,000 608,000 43.0 9.8 33.1 6.13 66.3 58.8
* CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); CDR = crude death rate (per 1000); NC = natural change (per 1000); IMR = infant mortality rate per 1000 births; TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman)

Ethnic groups

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Somalis

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Somalis constitute the largest ethnic group in Somalia, at approximately 85% of its inhabitants.[10] They are organized into clan groupings, which are important social units; clan membership plays a central part in Somali culture and politics. Clans are patrilineal and are typically divided into sub-clans, sometimes with many sub-divisions. Through the xeer system (customary law), the advanced clan structure has served governmental roles in many rural Somali communities.[11]

According to The Economist, at independence Somalia was "arguably in ethnic terms the most homogeneous country in Africa" however, the publication also notes:

"..its ethnic homogeneity is misleading. Despite also sharing a single language and religion, it is divided into more than 500 clans and sub-clans."[12]

Somali Clans

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Somali clans (Somali: Qabaa'ilka Soomaalida; Arabic: القبائل الصومالية, romanized: al-Qabā'il al-Sūmāliyya) are patrilineal kinship groups based on agnatic descent of the Somali people.[13][14][15] Tradition and folklore connects the origin of the Somali population by language and way of life, and societal organisations, by customs, and by a feeling of belonging to a broader family among individuals from the Arabian Peninsula.[16][17][18]

The Somali people are mainly divided among five patrilineal clans, the Hawiye, Darod, Rahanweyn, Dir, and Isaaq.[19] The average person is able to trace their ancestry generations back. Somali clans in contemporary times have an established official structure in the country's political system, acknowledged by a mathematical formula for equitably distributing seats between the clans in the Federal Parliament of Somalia.[20][21][22]

The clan represents the highest degree of familial affiliation. It holds territorial properties and is typically overseen by a Sultan. Clans possess ancestral lands, which are associated with the migratory patterns of the Somali populace throughout their historical narrative. Each clan is administered by its designated leader and supported by its council of elders, with land being communally owned and overseen.[23] Various Somali clans utilise distinct titles for their leaders, including Sultan,[24] Emir, Imam,[25] Ughaz,[24] and Garad.[26] Clan leadership may be hereditary, or leaders may be elected by the council of elders composed of representatives from diverse clan lineages. The leaders of these clans fulfill both religious and political responsibilities.[23]

Other ethnic groups

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Non-Somali ethnic minority groups make up about 15% of Somalia's population.[10] They include Arabs, Bantus and Bajunis.

Languages

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Speech sample in Standard Somali.

Somali is the official language of Somalia. It is the mother tongue of Somalis, the nation's most populous ethnic group.[27] The language is a member of the Cushitic branch of the Afroasiatic family.[28]

In addition to Somali, Arabic, which is also an Afroasiatic tongue,[29] is another official language in Somalia. Many speak it due to centuries-old ties with the Arab world, the far-reaching influence of the Arabic media, and religious education.[29][30][31]

English is widely used and taught. Other minority languages include Bravanese, a variant of the Bantu Swahili language that is spoken along the southern coast by the Bravanese people, as well as Bajuni, another Swahili dialect that is the mother tongue of the Bajuni ethnic minority group

See also

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Notes

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Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from The World Factbook (2025 ed.). CIA.

  1. ↑ "World Population Dashboard Somalia". unfpa.org. United Nations Population Fund. 2023-01-01. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Govt. Somalia, UNFPA (30 April 2020). "The Somali Health and Demographic Survey 2020". reliefweb.int.
  3. ↑ "International Migrant Stock". United Nations Population Division. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  4. ↑ Olanrewaju, Ilemobola Peter (2014), "Fractionality in Homogeneity? Value Differences and Cross-Cultural Conflict in Somalia", in Asuelime, Lucky; Francis, Suzanne (eds.), Selected Themes in African Political Studies: Political Conflict and Stability, Advances in African Economic, Social and Political Development, Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 9–23, doi:10.1007/978-3-319-06001-9_2, ISBN 978-3-319-06001-9
  5. ↑ Popescu, Alba Iulia Catrinel (2021). "SOMALIA – CASE STUDY ON THE FRAGMENTATION OF AN ETHNICALLY AND CIVILIZATIONALLY HOMOGENEOUS STATE". Bulletin of "Carol I" National Defence University. 10 (3): 164–176. doi:10.53477/2284-9378-21-37. ISSN 2284-936X.
  6. ↑ "World Population Prospects 2022". United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  7. ↑ "World Population Prospects 2022: Demographic indicators by region, subregion and country, annually for 1950–2100" (XSLX) ("Total Population, as of 1 July (thousands)"). United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  8. ↑ "World Population Prospects: The 2010 Revision" (PDF) (Press release). United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. 2011-05-03. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-05-06.
  9. ↑ United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division (2022). "World Population Prospects 2022 Demographic indicators by region, subregion and country, annually for 1950-2100" (XLS (91MB)). United Nations Population Division. 27 (Online ed.). New York: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. rows 2741:2812, cols M,X,AE,S,AH,S,AA,AV,AI. Archived from the original on 2022-08-09.
  10. 1 2 "Somalia". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. 10 November 2021. Archived from the original on 25 January 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
  11. ↑ Abdullahi, Mohamed Diriye (2001). Culture and Customs of Somalia. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 142. ISBN 0313313334.
  12. ↑ "The centre holds, but only just". The Economist. 11 May 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  13. ↑ Lewis, Ioan (2004). "Visible and Invisible Differences: The Somali Paradox". Africa. 74 (4): 489–515. doi:10.3366/afr.2004.74.4.489. ISSN 1750-0184.
  14. ↑ Lewis & Samatar 1999, p. 11.
  15. ↑ Marian Aguiar (2010). Anthony Appiah and Henry Louis Gates (ed.). Encyclopedia of Africa. Oxford University Press. p. 395. ISBN 978-0-19-533770-9.
  16. ↑ Touval, Saadia. Somali Nationalism: International Politics and the Drive for Unity in the Horn of Africa. Harvard University Press. p. 15. ISBN 978-0-674-59435-7.
  17. ↑ Abdi, Farhia (2024-01-01). "Relational Leadership and Governing: Somali Clan Cultural Relational Leadership and Governing: Somali Clan Cultural Leadership Leadership". The Journal of Social Encounters. doi:10.69755/2995-2212.1248.
  18. ↑ Hamilton, David (1967). "Imperialism Ancient and Modern: A Study of British Attitudes to the Claims to Sovereignty to the Northern Somali Coastline" (PDF). Journal of Ethiopian Studies: 11–12.
  19. ↑ "Somali networks - structures of clan and society (GSDRC Helpdesk Research Report 949)". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
  20. ↑ "The role of 4.5 in democratization and governance in Somalia: Implications and considerations for the way forward (May 2023) - Somalia | ReliefWeb". reliefweb.int. 2023-05-22. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
  21. ↑ Ahmed, Nasteha (2019-02-01). "Somalia's struggle to integrate traditional and modern governance: The 4.5 formula and 2012 provisional constitution". Theses and Dissertations.
  22. ↑ Osman, Abdulahi A. (2007-07-31). Somalia at the Crossroads: Challenges and Perspectives inReconstituting a Failed State. Adonis & Abbey Publishers Ltd. ISBN 978-1-909112-87-2.
  23. 1 2 Ssero, Florence. Global Review of Ethnopolitics. Vol. 2. pp. 25–40.
  24. 1 2 Lewis & Samatar 1999, pp. 203–204.
  25. ↑ Mohamed Haji Muktar, Historical Dictionary of Somalia, (Scarecrow Press: 2003), p.35
  26. ↑ Encyclopaedia Aethiopica: Gärad.
  27. ↑ Central Intelligence Agency (2011). "Somalia". The World Factbook. Langley, Virginia: Central Intelligence Agency. Archived from the original on January 9, 2021. Retrieved 2011-10-05.
  28. ↑ I. M. Lewis, Peoples of the Horn of Africa: Somalis, Afar and Saho, (Red Sea Press: 1998), p. 11.
  29. 1 2 Helena Dubnov, A grammatical sketch of Somali, (Kِppe: 2003), pp. 70–71.
  30. ↑ Diana Briton Putman, Mohamood Cabdi Noor, The Somalis: their history and culture, (Center for Applied Linguistics: 1993), p. 15.: "Somalis speak Somali. Many people also speak Arabic, and educated Somalis usually speak either English or Italian as well. Swahili may also be spoken in coastal areas near Kenya."
  31. ↑ Fiona MacDonald et al., Peoples of Africa, Volume 10, (Marshall Cavendish: 2000), p. 178.

References

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