Country

Somalia

Also Known As Federal Republic of Somalia

Eastern Africa

Somalia, officially the Federal Republic of Somalia, is the easternmost country in continental Africa. Stretching across the Horn of Africa, it borders Ethiopia to the west, Djibouti to the northwest, Kenya to the southwest, the Gulf of Aden to the north, and the Indian Ocean to the east. British Somaliland and the former Italian Somaliland each gained independence in 1960 and united to form the Somali Republic. Its capital is Mogadishu.

Facts

Capital

Mogadishu 2

Population

19,655,000 2

Rounded 2025 estimate; comprehensive census data is limited.

Population Estimate Year

2025 2

Area (sq km)

637,657 2

Independence or Founding Year

1960 2

British Somaliland gained independence from the United Kingdom on 26 June 1960 and the Trust Territory of Somaliland (formerly Italian Somaliland) followed on 1 July 1960, with the two uniting the same day to form the Somali Republic.

Landlocked

No 3

Income Group

Low 4

Government Type

Republic 3

Classification

Sovereignty Status

UN Member State 1

Somalia

FAQs

What languages are spoken in Somalia?

Somali is the official language and Arabic is recognised as a second language.

Somali is the official and national language of Somalia, and Arabic is recognised as a second language.

Connections

Adjacent To

Somaliland

Somaliland is bordered by Somalia to the east, and is internationally recognised as part of Somalia.

Source Somaliland (Wikipedia)

Associated With

Horn of Africa

Mogadishu

Source Mogadishu (Wikipedia)

The Horn of Africa

Bordered By Water

Arabian Sea

Ethiopia

Source CIA World Factbook (factbook.json archive): The World Factbook archive: Ethiopia

Gulf of Aden

Has Capital

Mogadishu

Mogadishu is the capital of Somalia.

Source Mogadishu (Wikipedia)

Rivers Through Territory

Juba River

Shebelle River

In the Other Atlases

Nationals Include

Abdulqawi Yusuf

Also in Law Atlas: a national of this subject.

Safia Abdi Haase

Also in Medicine Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Safia Abdi Haase (Wikipedia)Lead sentence

Quote, Lead sentence

born 1959) is a Somali graduate nurse

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud

Also in Political Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (Wikipedia)Lead

Quote, Lead

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (Somali: Xasan Sheekh Maxamuud; Arabic: حسن شيخ محمود, romanized: Ḥasan Shaykh Muḥamūd; born 29 November 1955) is a Somali politician who is serving as president of Somalia since 2022, his presidency being disputed since 2026.

Samia Yusuf Omar

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Origin Of

Boran Cattle

Also in Agriculture and Farming Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Source Boran cattle (Wikipedia)Infobox: country

Quote, Infobox: country

Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia

Somali Architecture

Also in Architecture and Design Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Maraq

Also in Food and Drink Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Source Maraq (dish) - Wikipedia

Buraanbur

Also in Literature Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Somali

Also in Society and Culture Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Source Wikipedia: SomaliLeadtier 3

Quote, Lead

Somalis or Somali people, are a Cushitic ethnic group and nation native to the Somali Peninsula.

Somali Clan System

Also in Society and Culture Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Site Of

Yusuf bin Ahmad al-Kawneyn

Also in Divinity Atlas: which is located in this subject.

Central Bank of Somalia

Also in Economics Atlas: which is located in this subject.