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Sheet 160 of 195 · AfricaSOM · 2.6°N 43.0°E

Somalia

Federal Republic of Somalia

Capital
Mogadishu
Population
19.7 million 2025
Area
637,657 km²
Neighbours
3
Locator map of SomaliaSOMALIAMogadishuETHIOPIAKENYADJIBOUTISOMALILANDSUDANUGANDAIndian OceanArabian SeaGulf of Aden0500 km
Somalia hatched, Mogadishu marked with a triangle, land neighbours shaded. Orthographic projection centred on 5.1°N 46.2°E; the scale bar is true at the centre.

Somalia is a country in Eastern Africa bordered by Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya. The land border with Djibouti is too small to draw at this map's scale. At 637,657 km², it ranks 41st of 195 by area, close in size to Afghanistan and the Central African Republic.

About 19.7 million people lived in Somalia in 2025, according to the World Bank, 66th of 194 countries. That works out at 31 people per km². The urban share of the population was 55.1% in 2025. It grew by 3.34% in 2025, the 8th-fastest rate of the 194.

In 2025, GDP per capita stood at US$661 in current US dollars: 185th of 191 worldwide, 48th of 52 in Africa. Newborns in 2024 had a life expectancy of 59.0 years; only five countries are lower. The fertility rate was 6.01 births per woman in 2024.

Its main landmass has land on both sides of the equator, in the Eastern Hemisphere. From 1.7°S to 12.0°N, it spans about 1,521 km north to south. The point on the opposite side of the Earth from Mogadishu lies in the South Pacific Ocean, about 930 km from the nearest land, French Polynesia.

How it compares Africa: 54 countries

MeasureFigureWorldAfrica
Population19,654,7392025, World Bank66th of 19424th of 54
Area637,657 km²world-countries41st of 19518th of 54
GDPUS$13.0 billion2025, World Bank, current US$147th of 19136th of 52
GDP per capitaUS$6612025, World Bank, current US$185th of 19148th of 52
Population density31 per km²population 2025, World Bank; area, world-countries149th of 19439th of 54
Life expectancy59.0 years2024, World Bank189th of 19449th of 54
Urban population55.1%2025, World Bank125th of 19421st of 54
Forest area7.8% of land2024, World Bank160th of 19444th of 54
Population growth+3.34% a year2025, World Bank8th of 1943rd of 54
Internet users27.9%2024, World Bank171st of 18839th of 53
Fertility rate6.01 births per woman2024, World Bank2nd of 1942nd of 54
Land neighbours3world-countries; among the 19583rd of 19531st of 54
 Ranks run from the largest value (1st) among the countries with data; equal values share a rank.

Closest in areaAfghanistan, Central African Republic and South Sudan

Closest in populationChile, Romania and Senegal

Neighbours 3 countries by land, nearest capital first

  • Kenya1,021 km
    Mogadishu to Nairobi, capital to capital
  • Ethiopia1,069 km
    Mogadishu to Addis Ababa, capital to capital
  • Djibouti1,087 km
    Mogadishu to Djibouti, capital to capital; border too short to draw at the 1:50m scale of this map

Where on Earth main landmass

Hemispheres
Northern, Southern and Eastern
Capital
Mogadishu
2.07°N 45.36°E
Northernmost latitude
11.98°N
Southernmost latitude
1.70°S
Westernmost longitude
40.96°E
Easternmost longitude
51.39°E
North to south
about 1,521 km
Antipode of Mogadishu
2.07°S 134.64°W
in the South Pacific Ocean, about 930 km from the nearest land (French Polynesia)