Statistical information Somalia 1989

Somalia in the World
top of pageBackground: Intermittent civil war has been a fact of life in Somalia since 1977.
top of pageLocationGeographic coordinatesMap referenceAreaLand boundaries:
2,340 km total
Djibouti 58 km, Ethiopia 1,600 km, Kenya 682 km
Coastline: 3,025 km
Maritime claims: Territorial sea:200 nm
Climate: desert; northeast monsoon (December to February), cooler southwest monsoon (May to October; irregular rainfall; hot, humid periods (tangambili) between monsoons
Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north
ElevationNatural resources: uranium, and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt
Land use: 2% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 46% meadows and pastures; 14% forest and woodland; 38% other; includes 3% irrigated
Irrigated landMajor riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographyNote: strategic location on Horn of Africa along southern approaches to Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea and Suez Canal
top of pagePopulation: 8,248,133 (July 1989), growth rate 3.2% (1989)
Nationality: noun - Somali(s; adjective - Somali
Ethnic groups: 85% Somali, rest mainly Bantu; 30,000 Arabs, 3,000 Europeans, 800 Asians
Languages: Somali (official; Arabic, Italian, English
Religions: almost entirely Sunni Muslim
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rateBirth rate: 47 births/1000 population (1989)
Death rate: 15 deaths/1000 population (1989)
Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1000 population (1989)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plains in summer; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 128 deaths/1000 live births (1989)
Life expectancy at birth: 53 years male, 53 years female (1989)
Total fertility rate: 7.3 children born/woman (1989)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: 60% (government est.)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry name: conventional long form: Somali Democratic Republic
Government type: republic
Capital: Mogadishu
Administrative divisions: 16 regions (plural - NA, singular - gobolka; Bakool, Banaadir, Bari, Bay, Galguduud, Gedo, Hiiraan, Jubbada Dhexe, Jubbada Hoose, Mudug, Nugaal, Sanaag, Shabeellaha Dhexe, Shabeellaha Hoose, Togdheer, Woqooyi Galbeed
Dependent areasIndependence: 1 July 1960 (from a merger of British Somaliland, which became independent from the UK on 26 June 1960, and Italian Somaliland, which became independent from the Italian-administered UN trusteeship on 1 July 1960, to form the Somali Republic)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Revolution, 21 October (1969)
Constitution: 25 August 1979, presidential approval 23 September 1979
Legal systemInternational law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: universal over age 18
Executive branch: Chief of State President and Commander in Chief of the Army Maj. Gen. Mohamed SIAD Barre (since 21 October 1969; Head of Government Prime Minister Lt. Gen. Mohamed Ali SAMANTAR (since 1 February 1987)
Legislative branch: Somali National Army (including Navy, Air Force, and Air Defense Force), National Police Force
Judicial branchPolitical parties and leadersInternational organization participation: AfDB, Arab League, EAMA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB - Islamic Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representationIn the us: Ambassador Abdullahi Ahmed ADDOU; Chancery at Suite 710, 600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington DC 20,037; telephone (202) 342-1575; there is a Somali Consulate General in New York; US - Ambassador T. Frank CRIGLER; Embassy at Corso Primo Luglio, Mogadishu (mailing address is P. O. Box 574, Mogadishu; telephone Õ252å (01) 20,811
Flag description
: light blue with a large white five-pointed star in the center; design based on the flag of the UN (Italian Somaliland was a UN trust territory)
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: One of the world's least developed countries, Somalia has few resources. In 1987 per capita GDP was less than $200. Agriculture is the most important sector of the economy, with the livestock sector accounting for about 40% of GDP and about 65% of export earnings. About 50% of the population are nomads and seminomads who are dependent upon livestock for their livelihoods. Crop production generates only 10% of GDP and employs about 20% of the work force. The main export crop is bananas; sugar, sorghum, and corn are grown for the domestic market. The small industrial sector is based on the processing of agricultural products and accounts for less than 10% of GDP. At the end of 1987 serious economic problems facing the nation were the external debt of $1.9 billion and double-digit inflation.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rateReal gdp per capitaGross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: mainly a pastoral country, raising livestock; bananas, sugarcane, cotton, cereals
Industries: a few small industries, including sugar refining, textiles, petroleum refining
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Labor force: 2,200,000; very few are skilled laborers; 70% pastoral nomad, 30% agriculture, government, trading, fishing, handicrafts, and other; 53% of population of working age (1985)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $74.7 million; expenditures $477.6 million, including capital expenditures of $280.7 million (1987)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $95.0 million (f.o.b., 1987)
Commodities: livestock, hides, skins, bananas, fish
Partners: US 0.5%, Saudi Arabia, Italy, FRG (1986)
Imports: $418.0 million (c.i.f., 1987)
Commodities: textiles, petroleum products, foodstuffs, construction materials
Partners: US 13%, Italy, FRG, Kenya, UK, Saudi Arabia (1986)
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $2.0 billion (1988 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Somali shillings (So. Sh.) per US$1 - 264.25 (December 1988), 170.45 (1988), 105.18 (1987), 72.00 (1986), 39.49 (1985)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 71,000 kW capacity; 86 million kWh produced, 10 kWh per capita (1988)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: NA
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 63 total, 47 usable; 8 with permanent-surface runways; 2 with runways over 3,659 m; 5 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 20 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
HeliportsPipelines: 15 km crude oil
RailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marine: 2 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,563 GRT/5,718 DWT
Ports and terminalsSomalia - Transnational issues 1989
top of pageDisputes international: southern half of boundary with Ethiopia is a Provisional Administrative Line; territorial dispute with Ethiopia over the Ogaden; possible claims to Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Kenya based on unification of ethnic Somalis
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs