Somalia/Society

Society in Somalia

An overview of key social indicators. Select a category for detailed trends, charts, and insights.

Explore Social Domains

Demographics

Coming Soon
Population
18.4M(2023)
Population Growth
3.1%(2023)
Fertility Rate
6.13(2023)
Death Rate
9.8 per 1k(2023)
Net Migration
+26.9K(2024)

Public Health

Coming Soon
Life Expectancy
58.8 years(2023)
Under-5 Mortality
104 per 1k(2023)
Maternal Mortality
563 per 100k(2023)
Health Expenditure (as share of GDP)
2.6%(2022)

Education & Human Capital

Coming Soon
Literacy Rate
54%(2022)
Primary Enrollment
14.5%(1980)
Secondary Enrollment
3.3%(2023)
Tertiary Enrollment
2.4(1987)
Education Expenditure (as share of GDP)
1.3%(1973)

Living Standards & Connectivity

Coming Soon
Internet Users
27.6%(2022)
Access to Electricity
50.3%(2023)
Access to Basic Drinking Water
58.3%(2022)
Urban Population
8.8M(2023)
Rural Population
9.6M(2023)

Current Snapshot Overview

A summary of key social and demographic indicators for Somalia

  • Somalia has an estimated population of 18.4M
    2023
    The nation is experiencing rapid demographic expansion with an annual growth rate of 3.1%
    2023
    , indicative of a dynamic and youthful population structure and potential for a significant demographic dividend. The elevated fertility rate of 6.1 births per woman
    2023
    contributes to a young population, presenting both opportunities for future growth and demands on educational and health services. Positive net migration of approximately 27K individuals annually (or 1.5 per 1,000 inhabitants)
    2024
    contributes to population stability and growth.
  • Regarding public health, The notably low life expectancy of 58.8 years
    2023
    underscores critical public health challenges that necessitate urgent and comprehensive interventions. Concurrently, Healthcare delivery faces significant systemic challenges, as evidenced by elevated child mortality (under 5 years) (104.0 per 1,000 live births
    2023
    and maternal mortality (563 per 100,000 live births
    2023
    ) rates, suggesting areas for critical intervention and resource allocation. These outcomes are supported by limited healthcare spending, at 2.6% of GDP
    2022
    , which may constrain comprehensive health system improvements and the attainment of higher health outcomes.
  • Basic literacy development shows promise at 54%
    2022
    , but substantial and targeted investment is required to expand educational access and improve outcomes comprehensively. Complementing this, educational access remains notably limited with 14% primary enrollment
    1980
    , pointing to fundamental infrastructure, accessibility, and retention barriers across the educational system. This educational framework is supported by limited educational investment, at 1.3% of GDP
    1973
    , which may constrain the scale and quality of future human capital development initiatives.
  • In terms of infrastructure and connectivity, a still balanced urban-rural distribution (48% urban population
    2023
    ) creates diverse economic opportunities but necessitates coordinated infrastructure development to bridge potential disparities. Furthermore, critical infrastructure gaps are evident, with electricity access at 50%
    2023
    and internet penetration at 28%
    2022
    severely limiting economic potential, hindering social development, and impeding digital integration.

Key Development Insights

Population Dynamics

A youthful, rapidly growing population presents a "demographic dividend" opportunity if met with sufficient investment in jobs and services.

Public Health System

Addressing critical gaps in the healthcare system is essential to improve lagging indicators like life expectancy and maternal mortality.

Human Capital Formation

Improving foundational literacy and secondary school completion is a critical priority for unlocking future economic potential.

Infrastructure & Connectivity

Expanding access to basic infrastructure, particularly electricity, remains a key bottleneck for broad-based development.

More About This Country

Neighbors & Regional Peers

Note: The information on this page has been compiled from authoritative sources. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, please note that some figures may not be current or entirely precise.