People & economy

Somalia: Population, Economy & Travel Facts

The numbers behind a trip to Somalia: who lives there, how the economy and prices compare, how many tourists visit, and what healthcare and internet access are like.

Marco Gualazzini CC BY-SA 4.0 Wikimedia Commons

Population & Geography

Population
15,008,154
#74 of 197 countries
Area
637,657 km²
#44 of 248 countries
Density
23.5 / km²
#196 of 245 countries

Somalia has a population of 15,008,154 spread across 637,657 km², giving it an average density of 23.5 people per km².

Demographics

Median Age
15.7
Life Expectancy
56.5 yrs
Literacy Rate
54.1%
Government
federal parliamentary republic
Religions

Population Trends

How a country's age structure is shifting tells you a lot about what to expect on the ground. A growing elderly population often means better healthcare and higher costs, while a young population signals energy and growth but potentially less developed infrastructure.

Age Structure Over Time
Population Growth Rate (%)
Urban vs Rural (%)
Birth & Death Rates (per 1,000)

Economy & Cost of Living

Understanding the local economy helps travellers budget effectively and set expectations. Somalia is classified as a low income country by the World Bank. Prices are roughly 38% of US levels, meaning your money goes significantly further here: accommodation, food, and transport are very affordable by Western standards.

Income Level
Low income
GDP per Capita
$597
Cost of Living
38% of US
GDP per Capita (USD)
GDP Growth (%)
Inflation Rate (%)
Employment
GDP/Capita (PPP)
$1,400
Unemployment
18.9%

Tourism

Tourism data reveals how popular a destination is and how much infrastructure exists to support visitors.

Air Passengers
34,066
International Tourist Arrivals
Tourism Receipts (USD)
Air Passengers Carried
Tourism as % of Exports

Health & Safety Infrastructure

Healthcare quality matters when you're far from home. These indicators help gauge what level of medical care is available In Somalia there are 0.05 doctors per 1,000 people, which is well below the global average of 1.7. Travel insurance with medical evacuation coverage is strongly recommended.

Physicians
0.05/1k
Hospital Beds
0.87/1k
Health Spend
$22/person
Infant Mortality
67.8/1k
Immunization
64%
Safe Drinking Water
75.3%
Bottled water recommended
Basic Sanitation
44.5%
Health Expenditure per Capita (USD)
Hospital Beds per 1,000

Connectivity & Digital Infrastructure

Staying connected while travelling is essential for navigation, communication, and remote work. In Somalia, 28% of the population uses the internet, so connectivity can be limited outside major cities, so download offline maps and content before heading to rural areas. There are 54 mobile subscriptions per 100 people.

Internet Users
27.6%
Mobile Subs
54/100
Broadband
0.7/100
Electricity Access
50.3%
Internet Users (%)
Urbanization (%)

Source: World Bank Open Data