Discover Fascinating Somalia Facts
Dive into the history, culture, and unique insights about Somalia.
Somalia
Background
๐Background of Somalia
Somalia has a rich history that dates back to the late 19th century when it was colonized by two powers: Britain in the north and Italy in the south. In 1960, the two colonies united to create the new nation of Somalia! ๐
However, since 1991, Somalia has faced ongoing challenges due to civil war and political instability. This has led to the division of the country into several regional governments. ๐
One significant concern for Somalia is the presence of the terrorist group al-Shabaab, which controls large areas of the country. ๐จ It's a complicated situation, but the resilience of the Somali people shines through! ๐ช
Year of unification of colonies
1960
Year civil war began
1991
Exports - commodities
๐ Somalia is rich in natural resources, and its exports reflect some fascinating commodities! In 2022, the country exported a variety of goods including:
- Gold ๐ฐ: A valuable metal that shines bright on global markets.
- Sheep and Goats ๐: These furry friends are a key part of Somalia's livestock exports.
- Cattle ๐: Strong and sturdy, cattle are another important export for the country.
- Gum Resins ๐ฑ: Nature's gift used in numerous products from perfumes to medicines.
- Shellfish ๐ฆช: Delicious seafood that is sought after both locally and globally!
With such a diverse range of exports, Somalia showcases its agricultural strengths and natural riches!
Exports - partners
Somalia has some interesting trading partners! ๐ In 2022, the country mainly exported its goods to the following nations:
- UAE: 50% ๐ด๐ฆ
- Oman: 30% ๐ด๐ฒ
- Bulgaria: 3% ๐ง๐ฌ
- India: 3% ๐ฎ๐ณ
- Kuwait: 2% ๐ฐ๐ผ
As you can see, the UAE is by far the biggest partner, accounting for half of Somalia's exports! ๐ข๐ฐ This shows how important the UAE is to Somalia's economy. Isn't that fascinating? ๐คฉ
Let's visualize this data with a pie chart to better understand the distribution of Somalia's export partners! ๐
Percentage of Exports to UAE
50%
Percentage of Exports to Oman
30%
Percentage of Exports to Bulgaria
3%
Percentage of Exports to India
3%
Percentage of Exports to Kuwait
2%
Export Partners for Somalia (2022)
Capital
๐๏ธ The capital city of Somalia is Mogadishu! This bustling city is not only the largest but also has a rich history and culture. It's located along the coast of the Indian Ocean, making it an important port city. Imagine the vibrant markets, beautiful beaches, and lively atmosphere! ๐๐
Capital City
Mogadishu
Imports - commodities
In Somalia, several key commodities are imported to meet the needs of its people and enhance the economy. ๐โจ The country brings in tobacco, raw sugar, palm oil, rice, and milk as essential items. These imports play a crucial role in both the daily diet and the overall economy of Somalia, contributing to food security and trade. ๐๐ฅ๐ฌ๐ด It's important to keep an eye on these commodities as they reflect the changing needs of the nation!
Climate
Somalia's climate is mainly desert ๐ต, which means it doesn't get a lot of rain. There are two major seasons in the year: the northeast monsoon from December to February brings moderate temperatures in the north, while the south feels the heat! โ๏ธ Then, from May to October, the southwest monsoon hits, making it quite torrid up north and still hot down south. ๐ฆ๏ธ Rainfall can be pretty irregular, and during the hot and humid times called 'tangambili', the weather can make things feel really muggy.
Executive branch
Executive Branch of Somalia ๐ธ๐ด
In Somalia, the leadership is composed of two main figures:
- Chief of State: President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has been in office since May 23, 2022.
- Head of Government: Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has taken charge since June 25, 2022.
These leaders are crucial for guiding Somalia toward stability and growth! ๐
President term start
May 23, 2022
Prime Minister term start
June 25, 2022
Legislative branch
In Somalia, the legislative branch is made up of two parts! ๐๏ธ It has a bicameral Federal Parliament, which means there are two chambers: the Senate and the House of the People. The Senate has 54 seats ๐ช, while the House of the People is larger with 275 seats! This structure helps in making sure that both regional and public interests are represented. ๐
Total Number of Seats in Federal Parliament
329
Number of Chambers in Parliament
2
Seats in the Federal Parliament
Natural resources
๐ Somalia is rich in natural resources! Hereโs a peek at what this beautiful country has beneath its surface:
- Uranium
- Iron ore (largely unexploited)
- Tin
- Gypsum
- Bauxite
- Copper
- Salt
- Natural gas
- Likely oil reserves
Each of these resources holds great potential for Somalia's economy. Imagine the possibilities if these were fully explored and utilized! ๐ฐโจ
Natural resources present in Somalia
Uranium, Iron ore, Tin, Gypsum, Bauxite, Copper, Salt, Natural gas, Likely oil reserves
Economic overview
Somalia's economy is a low-income Horn of Africa economy ๐, affected by over 30 years of war and instability, which has really hurt its potential to grow ๐. Despite these challenges, many people rely on high remittances, or money sent back home from family or friends living abroad, just to survive ๐ . Recently, the country has been trying out a new approach called fiscal federalism, which helps manage finances better and has cleared some unsustainable debt ๐ธ. However, it faces issues with being environmentally fragile ๐ฑ, yet there's some hope with digitally driven urbanization efforts ๐ป that can boost the economy!
Years of war and instability
30
Economic status
Low-income
Government type
Did you know? Somalia has a fascinating form of government known as a federal parliamentary republic! ๐๏ธ This means that the country is governed by elected officials and a system where power is shared between national and regional governments. This structure helps in recognizing the diverse identities and cultures within Somalia. ๐ธ๐ด
Ethnic groups
In Somalia, the ethnic landscape is predominantly shaped by the Somali people, who make up the majority of the population. ๐ Besides the Somali, there are also smaller groups, including Arabs and Bantus, as well as a few others. It's a vibrant mix that makes Somalia unique! โค๏ธ๐ค
Composition of Ethnic Groups in Somalia
Religions
In Somalia, the majority of the population identifies as Muslim, making up a whopping 99.9% of the religious landscape! ๐ Among these Muslims, 98.1% are Sunni, and a small part is Shia Muslim at 1.2%. There's also a tiny fraction of 0.6% that belongs to Islamic schismatic groups. On the other end, there are 0.1% who practice ethnic religions. Isn't that fascinating? ๐
Sunni Muslims in Somalia
98.1
Shia Muslims in Somalia
1.2
Islamic Schismatic in Somalia
0.6
Ethnic Religionists in Somalia
0.1
Religious Composition in Somalia
Languages
Somalia is a country rich in languages! ๐ธ๐ด The official languages spoken here are Somali and Arabic. But that's not all! Many people also speak Italian and English. ๐ These languages show how culturally diverse and connected Somalia is to the rest of the world.
Official Languages
2
Total Languages Spoken
4
Imports - partners
๐ Here's a look at Somalia's biggest trade partners when it comes to imports in 2022. ๐ Let's give a warm welcome to the top players!
- UAE: 33% of Somalia's imports come from here! ๐ฆ๐ช
- China: Contributing 19%. ๐จ๐ณ
- India: Close behind with 16%. ๐ฎ๐ณ
- Turkey: 7% of imports are from Turkey. ๐น๐ท
- Ethiopia: Finally, 5% of imports come from our neighbor, Ethiopia. ๐ช๐น
These percentages show how much each country contributes to Somalia's imports. ๐ Isn't it interesting to see which countries are most important for trade? ๐
Total number of import partners
5
Somalia's Import Partners in 2022
Population
๐ Somalia has a total population of 13,017,273 people! That's a lot of amazing individuals contributing to this beautiful country's vibrant culture and history. ๐
Total Population of Somalia
13,017,273
Area
๐ Somalia is a fascinating country with a total area of 637,657 sq km! Out of this total, 627,337 sq km is land where people and animals roam. But wait, there's a splash of water too! Somalia has 10,320 sq km of water, making it a great spot for fishing and enjoying the beautiful beaches. ๐ Isn't it interesting how much of the country is land compared to water?
Total Area of Somalia
637657 sq km
Land Area of Somalia
627337 sq km
Water Area of Somalia
10320 sq km
Land vs Water Area in Somalia
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
๐ Real GDP of Somalia (PPP) ๐
Somalia's economy has been showing a steady increase in its Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP), measured by purchasing power parity (PPP). This important economic indicator helps us understand how much goods and services the country produces.
Here are Somalia's GDP estimates over the last three years:
- 2023: $26.351 billion
- 2022: $25.558 billion
- 2021: $24.949 billion
This data shows that Somalia's economy is on the rise! ๐
Insights:
- In just two years, between 2021 and 2023, the GDP has increased by over $1.4 billion, indicating positive economic growth! ๐ฐ
2023 Real GDP
$26.351 billion
2022 Real GDP
$25.558 billion
2021 Real GDP
$24.949 billion
Increase from 2021 to 2023
$1.402 billion
Somalia's Real GDP (PPP) Over Time
Real GDP per capita
Let's take a look at the Real GDP per capita in Somalia! ๐ฐ Over the last three years, it has remained steady at $1,500. This shows a consistency in the economic situation of the country. ๐ While it hasn't increased, it also hasn't decreased, which can be seen as a positive sign in challenging times! ๐
Real GDP per Capita in Somalia (2021-2023)
Imports
Somalia's imports are a vital part of the economy. ๐ฆ In recent years, the import values have shown some interesting trends:
- In 2018, Somalia imported goods worth $94.43 billion.
- In 2017, the total imports were $80.07 billion.
This shows a significant increase in imports over the year! ๐ Let's see how these numbers can be visualized to understand the growth better.
Import Value in 2018
$94.43 billion
Import Value in 2017
$80.07 billion
Increase in Imports from 2017 to 2018
$14.36 billion
Somalia's Import Growth (2017-2018)
Exports
Somalia's export game is strong! ๐ข In 2014, the estimated value of exports was $819 million. That's a big number for a country that is working hard to boost its trade and economy! ๐ต Let's keep an eye on how this number grows in the future!
Estimated Exports in 2014
$819 million
Population growth rate
In Somalia, the population is growing at a rate of 2.55% in 2024! ๐ฑ This means more and more people are calling this beautiful country their home each year. Let's take a closer look at what this growth means for Somalia's future.
Population growth rate for 2024
2.55%