Somalia Population: 15,730,245

Somalia is an easternmost country of Africa that extends from south of Equator to the Gulf of Aden northward. This country occupies a crucial geopolitical position between sub-Saharan Africa and the countries of southwestern Asia and Arabia. The capital city Mogadishu is located north of the Equator on the Indian Ocean. It has a mountainous coastal zone in the north, several river valleys, and most of the country is flat with less natural barriers to restrict the movement of nomads and their livestock.

Largest Cities in Somalia by Population

Mogadishu has the highest population with more than two million inhabitants, followed by Hargeysa, Burao, and Berbera.

CITY NAME POPULATION CITY NAME POPULATION
Mogadishu 2,587,183 Qoryooley 51,720
Hargeysa 477,876 Jawhar 47,086
Berbera 242,344 Jilib 43,694
Kismayo 234,852 Baardheere 42,240
Marka 230,100 Ceerigaabo 33,853
Jamaame 185,270 Luuq 33,820
Baidoa 129,839 Buurhakaba 27,792
Burao 99,270 Ceeldheer 26,562
Bosaso 74,287 Wanlaweyn 22,022
Afgooye 65,461 Baki 20,000
Gaalkacyo 61,200 Eyl 18,904
Laascaanood 60,100 Buulobarde 16,928
Garoowe 57,300 Qandala 15,923
Beledweyne 55,410

Somalia Population History

Since ancient times Somalia has remained inhabited, but in terms of leadership is has undergone many changes throughout time. After independence, Somalia experienced problems when a severe drought brought death to thousands in 1975. In December 2004, a tsunami caused the displacement of 10,000 along the coast. From 2010 to 2012, about quarter-million people were killed due to famine. Though there is a history of hardships faced by this country, the population rate is steadily increasing, with the current population of 15,724,232 inhabitants.

Year Population Yearly % Change Yearly Change Migrants (net) Median Age Fertility Rate Density (P/Km²) Urban Pop % Urban Population Country’s Share of World Pop World Population Global Rank
2020 15,893,222 2.92% 450,317 -40,000 16.7 6.12 25 46.80% 7,431,038 0.20% 7,794,798,739 73
2019 15,442,905 2.90% 434,679 -40,000 16.3 6.51 25 46.10% 7,122,882 0.20% 7,713,468,100 73
2018 15,008,226 2.87% 419,047 -40,000 16.3 6.51 24 45.50% 6,827,415 0.20% 7,631,091,040 73
2017 14,589,179 2.84% 403,543 -40,000 16.3 6.51 23 44.90% 6,544,404 0.19% 7,547,858,925 73
2016 14,185,636 2.82% 388,435 -40,000 16.3 6.51 23 44.20% 6,273,587 0.19% 7,464,022,049 73
2015 13,797,201 2.76% 350,664 -46,681 16.2 6.61 22 43.60% 6,014,594 0.19% 7,379,797,139 74
2010 12,043,883 2.89% 319,404 -39,999 15.9 7.1 19 39.30% 4,738,106 0.17% 6,956,823,603 73
2005 10,446,863 3.32% 314,922 0 16.1 7.47 17 36.20% 3,779,950 0.16% 6,541,907,027 77
2000 8,872,254 3.44% 276,123 0 16.5 7.7 14 33.80% 2,996,056 0.14% 6,143,493,823 83
1995 7,491,637 0.73% 53,309 -164,401 17.3 7.53 12 32.30% 2,421,245 0.13% 5,744,212,979 89
1990 7,225,092 1.68% 115,293 -82,157 17.8 7.26 12 30.40% 2,193,935 0.14% 5,327,231,061 87
1985 6,648,627 1.14% 73,499 -90,906 18 7.07 11 28.70% 1,906,249 0.14% 4,870,921,740 85
1980 6,281,134 10.11% 480,168 359,221 18.1 7 10 27.10% 1,701,924 0.14% 4,458,003,514 82
1975 3,880,292 2.41% 87,145 0 18.2 7.1 6 25.50% 989,409 0.10% 4,079,480,606 103
1970 3,444,568 2.34% 75,222 382 18.3 7.25 5 22.70% 781,165 0.09% 3,700,437,046 105
1965 3,068,459 2.17% 62,497 -266 18.5 7.25 5 20.00% 612,593 0.09% 3,339,583,597 105
1960 2,755,972 2.04% 52,886 -266 18.9 7.25 4 17.30% 477,113 0.09% 3,034,949,748 107
1955 2,491,542 1.93% 45,492 0 19.2 7.25 4 14.90% 370,572 0.09% 2,773,019,936 105

Somalia Population Forecast

According to the UN data, the population of Somalia by the end of 2020 is expected to be 15,893,222, and by the year 2050, it can jump to 34,922,447 residents. The yearly change is estimated to be 2.87%, and the median age is 16.7 years. Such an increase in the population because Somalia has a high fertility rate and a high number of people in reproductive age, which makes each generation larger than the previous one.\

Year Population Yearly % Change Yearly Change Migrants (net) Median Age Fertility Rate Density (P/Km²) Urban Pop % Urban Population Country’s Share of World Pop World Population Global Rank
2020 15,893,222 2.87% 419,204 -40,000 16.7 6.12 25 46.80% 7,431,038 0.20% 7,794,798,739 73
2025 18,376,514 2.95% 496,658 -29,999 17.2 6.12 29 49.90% 9,168,559 0.22% 8,184,437,460 71
2030 21,191,037 2.89% 562,905 -29,999 17.6 6.12 34 53.00% 11,229,249 0.25% 8,548,487,400 67
2035 24,277,396 2.76% 617,272 -29,999 18.1 6.12 39 56.10% 13,626,150 0.27% 8,887,524,213 65
2040 27,590,981 2.59% 662,717 -29,999 18.8 6.12 44 59.30% 16,358,048 0.30% 9,198,847,240 62
2045 31,131,086 2.44% 708,021 -29,999 19.6 6.12 50 62.40% 19,435,527 0.33% 9,481,803,274 61
2050 34,922,447 2.33% 758,272 20.5 6.12 56 65.50% 22,865,427 0.36% 9,735,033,990 58

Somalia Demographics

The total population of Somalia makes up 0.2% of the world population, and it ranks in position 73 in the list of countries by population. 46.8% of the total of Somalia’s population is urban. The life expectancy for both the sexes at birth is 58.3 years. The infant mortality is 62.8 if infant deaths per 1,000 live births are considered.

Somalia Religion & Politics

According to the reports of Pew Research Centre, 99.8% of total Somalia’s population is Muslim. Also, less than 0.1% of the population are adherent to either Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, or unaffiliated with any religion.

The political system can be said as a parliamentary representative democratic republic. Somali’s law is based on civil law, Islamic law, and customary law.

Somalia Economy

Though three-fifths of the economy is due to agriculture, the main activity is not farming but livestock raising. The GDP of Somalia is expected to reach 8.45 billion dollars by the end of 2020. Somalia’s production consists of both traditional and modern methods, but now modern industrial techniques have readily opted.

Largest Countries in the World by Population

S.No Country Population (2020) World Population Share (%)
1 China 1,439,323,776 18.47%
2 India 1,380,004,385 17.70%
3 United States 331,002,651 4.25%
4 Indonesia 273,523,615 3.51%
5 Pakistan 220,892,340 2.83%
6 Brazil 212,559,417 2.73%
7 Nigeria 206,139,589 2.64%
8 Bangladesh 164,689,383 2.11%
9 Russia 145,934,462 1.87%
10 Mexico 128,932,753 1.65%