NAVIGATION
|
HOME
• FLAG FINDER
• MAP FINDER
• SOURCES
• ADD YOURSELF TO THE ATLAS! COUNTRIES A-D • COUNTRIES E-K • COUNTRIES L-R • COUNTRIES S-Z |
NAVIGATION
Somalia
former: Somali Republic, Somali Democratic Republic
INTRODUCTION
|
Background:
|
The SIAD BARRE regime was ousted in January 1991; turmoil, factional fighting, and anarchy have followed for twelve years. In May of 1991, northern clans declared an independent Republic of Somaliland that now includes the administrative regions of Awdal, Woqooyi Galbeed, Togdheer, Sanaag, and Sool. Although not recognized by any government, this entity has maintained a stable existence, aided by the overwhelming dominance of a ruling clan and economic infrastructure left behind by British, Russian, and American military assistance programs. The regions of Bari and Nugaal and northern Mudug comprise a neighboring self-declared autonomous state of Puntland, which has been self-governing since 1998, but does not aim at independence; it has also made strides towards reconstructing a legitimate, representative government, but has suffered civil strife in 2002. Puntland disputes its border with Somaliland as it also claims portions of eastern Sool and Sanaag. Beginning in 1993, a two-year UN humanitarian effort (primarily in the south) was able to alleviate famine conditions, but when the UN withdrew in 1995, having suffered significant casualties, order still had not been restored. The mandate of the Transitional National Government (TNG), created in August 2000 in Arta, Djibouti, expires in August 2003 and a new interim government was being created at peace talks held in Kenya. Numerous warlords and factions are still fighting for control of Mogadishu and the other southern regions. Suspicion of Somali links with global terrorism further complicates the picture. |
GEOGRAPHY
|
Location:
|
Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia |
|
Geographic coordinates:
|
10 00 N, 49 00 E |
|
Map references:
|
Africa |
|
Area:
|
total: 637,657 sq km
water: 10,320 sq km land: 627,337 sq km |
|
Area - comparative:
|
slightly smaller than Texas |
|
Land boundaries:
|
total: 2,340 km
border countries: Djibouti 58 km, Ethiopia 1,600 km, Kenya 682 km |
|
Coastline:
|
3,025 km |
|
Maritime claims:
|
territorial sea: 200 NM |
|
Climate:
|
principally desert; December to February - northeast monsoon, moderate temperatures in north and very hot in south; May to October - southwest monsoon, torrid in the north and hot in the south, irregular rainfall, hot and humid periods (tangambili) between monsoons |
|
Terrain:
|
mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north |
|
Elevation extremes:
|
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Shimbiris 2,416 m |
|
Natural resources:
|
uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt, natural gas, likely oil reserves |
|
Land use:
|
arable land: 1.66%
permanent crops: 0.04% other: 98.3% (1998 est.) |
|
Irrigated land:
|
2,000 sq km (1998 est.) |
|
Natural hazards:
|
recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plains in summer; floods during rainy season |
|
Environment - current issues:
|
famine; use of contaminated water contributes to human health problems; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification |
|
Environment - international agreements:
|
party to: Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban |
|
Geography - note:
|
strategic location on Horn of Africa along southern approaches to Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea and Suez Canal |
PEOPLE
|
Population:
|
8,025,190
note: this estimate was derived from an official census taken in 1975 by the Somali Government; population counting in Somalia is complicated by the large number of nomads and by refugee movements in response to famine and clan warfare (July 2003 est.) |
|
Age structure:
|
0-14 years: 44.8% (male 1,802,154; female 1,792,749)
15-64 years: 52.5% (male 2,120,934; female 2,093,699) 65 years and over: 2.7% (male 93,682; female 121,972) (2003 est.) |
|
Median age:
|
total: 17.6 years
male: 17.6 years female: 17.6 years (2002) |
|
Population growth rate:
|
3.43% (2003 est.) |
|
Birth rate:
|
46.42 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
|
Death rate:
|
17.64 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
|
Net migration rate:
|
5.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
|
Sex ratio:
|
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.) |
|
Infant mortality rate:
|
total: 120.34 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 110.56 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) male: 129.84 deaths/1,000 live births |
|
Life expectancy at birth:
|
total population: 47.34 years
male: 45.67 years female: 49.05 years (2003 est.) |
|
Total fertility rate:
|
6.98 children born/woman (2003 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
|
1% (2001 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
|
43,000 (2001 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
|
NA |
|
Nationality:
|
noun: Somali(s)
adjective: Somali |
|
Ethnic groups:
|
Somali 85%, Bantu and other non-Somali 15% (including Arabs 30,000) |
|
Religions:
|
Sunni Muslim |
|
Languages:
|
Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English |
|
Literacy:
|
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 37.8% male: 49.7% female: 25.8% (2001 est.) |