Somalia Demographics

Population of Somalia (2026)

View live population, charts & trends: Population of Somalia

Somalia Population
20,305,907
see live
Yearly Change
+3.31%
Global Share
0.24%
Global Rank
66

Median Age

The median age in Somalia is 15.6 years (2026).

Fertility in Somalia

A Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of 2.1 represents the Replacement-Level Fertility : the average number of children per woman needed for each generation to exactly replace itself without needing international immigration. A value below 2.1 will cause the native population to decline


Total Fertility Rate (TFR)
5.80
(Live Births per Woman, 2026)

Life Expectancy in Somalia

See also: Countries in the world ranked by Life Expectancy

Both Sexes
59.3
(life expectancy at birth, both sexes combined)
Females
61.9
(life expectancy at birth, females)
Males
56.8
(life expectancy at birth, males)


Infant Mortality Rate and Deaths of Children under 5 Years Old in Somalia


Infant Mortality
64.3
(infant deaths per 1,000 live births)
Deaths under age 5
100.1
(per 1,000 live births)


Somalia Urban Population

Currently, 55.6% of the population of Somalia is urban (11,297,904 people in 2026)


Population Density

The 2026 population density in Somalia is 32 people per km² (84 people per mi2), calculated on a total land area of 627,337 km² (242,216 sq. miles).

Largest Urban Areas in Somalia

The 30 largest of 53 urban areas, ranked by the UN's population estimates for 2026.

RankUrban AreaPopulation
1Muqdisho (Mogadishu)4,518,627
2Hargeisa1,634,283
3Kismayo471,113
4Burao440,659
5Baidoa426,911
6Borama374,543
7Wanlaweyn327,022
8Merca312,035
9Beledweyne306,026
10Jowhar268,011
11Bosaso235,813
12Balcad195,556
13Galkayo182,291
14Berbera173,042
15Buulo Mareer148,100
16Bardera147,255
17Qoryooley139,401
18El Afweyn132,342
19Buurhakaba128,975
20Erigavo119,851
21Wajid117,210
22Barawa116,015
23Guriel115,692
24Las Anod112,302
25Jilib112,130
26Jamame106,236
27Qardho100,684
28Garoowe96,751
29Bulo Burto92,501
30Shalaambood91,058
Unlike official city figures, UN urban areas cover the entire built-up area, which can include multiple cities and towns.
See all 53 urban areas in Somalia

See also

Sources

Definitions

Population Pyramid

A Population pyramid (also called "Age-Sex Pyramid") is a graphical representation of the age and sex of a population.

Types:

  • Expansive - pyramid with a wide base (larger percentage of people in younger age groups, indicating high birth rates and high fertility rates) and narrow top (high death rate and lower life expectancies). It suggests a growing population. Example: Nigeria Population Pyramid
  • Constrictive - pyramid with a narrow base (lower percentage of younger people, indicating declining birth rates with each succeeding age group getting smaller than the previous one). Example: United States
  • Stationary - with a somewhat equal proportion of the population in each age group. The population is stable, neither increasing nor decreasing.

Stages:

Population pyramid stages

Dependency Ratio

There are three types of age dependency ratio: Youth, Elderly, and Total. All three ratios are commonly multiplied by 100.

Youth Dependency Ratio

Definition: population ages 0-15 divided by the population ages 16-64.

Formula: ([Population ages 0-15] ÷ [Population ages 16-64]) × 100

Elderly dependency ratio

Definition: population ages 65-plus divided by the population ages 16-64.

Formula: ([Population ages 65-plus] ÷ [Population ages 16-64]) × 100

Total dependency ratio

Definition: sum of the youth and old-age ratios.

Formula: (([Population ages 0-15] + [Population ages 65-plus]) ÷ [Population ages 16-64] ) × 100

NOTE: Dependency Ratio does not take into account labor force participation rates by age group. Some portion of the population counted as "working age" may actually be unemployed or not in the labor force whereas some portion of the "dependent" population may be employed and not necessarily economically dependent.