SOMALIA – Country Information

Population:
Somalia has a population of 11,757,124 as of 2020.

Size:
637,657 sq km / 246,200 sq mi (slightly smaller than Texas)

Capital City:
The capital city of Mogadishu is the largest city and was one of the earliest Arab settlements in East Africa.

Ethnic Groups:
85% Somali
15% Other

Religion:
99% Sunni Muslim
1% Other / Non-religious

Languages:
Somali
Arabic 

Italian and English are also spoken and used in schools and universities.

Geography:
Somalia lies mostly north of the equator, on the Horn of Africa. It is also a country of geographic extremes with a hot and dry climate.

Economy:
Somalia is one of the poorest countries in the world. Agriculture is three-fifths of the economy, mostly livestock.

Interesting Fact:
Somalia is the easternmost country on the African continental mainland.

Important Facts:
Somalia was colonized by Britain in 1887 and gained its independence on June 26, 1960. Somalia is also known for a rich oral tradition consisting of the countries stories, myths, traditions, and genealogies.