The Federal Republic of Somalia is an East African country with 10.4 million inhabitants. Somalia is bordered by Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, and the Arabian Sea. Somalia is governed by a federalist republic, with an executive administrative branch, a parliamentary legislative branch and a judiciary. A former British and Italian protectorate, Somalia gained independence in 1960, and the government has endured multiple transitions of power, both violent and peaceful.


View Larger Map

General Information
Official Name: 
Federal Republic of Somalia, Jamhuuriyadda Federaalka Soomaaliya, جمهورية الصومال الفدرالية (Jumhūriyyat aṣ-Ṣūmāl al-Fiderāliyya)
Capitol: 
Mogadishu
Population: 
10,428,043
Languages: 
Somali, Arabic
Geographic Region: 
Africa
Eastern Africa
Geographic Size (km sq): 
637,657
Year of UN Membership: 
1960
Year of Present State Formation: 
1960
Current UN Representative: 
Dr. Augustine P. Mahiga
Online Profiles
CIA World Factbook Country Profile: Somalia
BBC Country Profile: Somalia
U.S. Department of State Country Profile: Somalia
U.S. Library of Congress Country Profile: Somalia
Law Library of Congress Country Profile: Somalia
Canada Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade County Profile: Somalia
Australia Department of Foreign Affairs Countries, Economies and Regions: Somalia
National Geographic Country Profile: Somalia
Lonely Planet Country Profile: Somalia
Key Statistics & Indicators
Gross Domestic Product (GDP, Nominal): 
$5.896 Billion
Per Capita Income (PPP Adjusted): 
$600 (CID)
GDP Growth: 
2.60 (%)
Human Development Index (HDI): 
0.36
Economic Grouping: 
Developing Country
Least Developed Country
History
Somalia: A Country in Turmoil
BBC News: Somalia Profile
International Relations
UN Voting Blocs & Caucuses: 
Group of 77 (G-77)
Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)
African Group
Islamic Group
Arab Group
Major International & Regional Organizations: 
ACP: African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States
AfDB: African Development Bank
AFESD: Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development
AMF: Arab Monetary Fund
AU: African Union
CAEU: Council of Arab Economic Unity
ICRM: International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
IDB: Islamic Development Bank
IFRCS: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
IGAD: Intergovernmental Authority on Development
Interpol: International Criminal Police Organization
IOC: International Olympic Committee
IOM: International Organization for Migration
ITSO: International Telecommunications Satellite Organization
LAS/AL: League of Arab States, aka Arab League
OIC: Organization of Islamic Cooperation
WFTU: World Federation of Trade Unions
UN Specialized Agencies & Organizations: 
FAO: Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN
IBRD: International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
ICAO: International Civil Aviation Organization
ICSID: International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes
IDA: International Development Association
IFAD: International Fund for Agricultural Development
IFC: International Finance Corporation
ILO: International Labor Organization
IMF: International Monetary Fund
IMO: International Maritime Organization
ITU: International Telecommunications Union
OPCW: Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
UNIDO: United Nations Industrial Development Organization
UPU: Universal Postal Union
WBG: World Bank Group
WHO: World Health Organization
WIPO: World Intellectual Property Organization
WMO: World Meteorological Organization
Bilateral Relations
Security Council: 
U.S. Department of State Fact Sheets: US-Somalia Bilateral Relations
U.K. Gov.UK Worldwide Activities: UK-Somalia Bilateral Relations
French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development: France-Somalia Bilateral Relations
P.R. of China Ministry of Foreign Affairs: China-Somalia Bilateral Relations
Russian Federation Ministry of Foreign Affairs: News, Statements, Speeches and Documents
Asia (E/S/SE): 
Japan-Somalia Bilateral Relations: Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs
South Korea-Somalia Bilateral Relations: Republic of Korea Ministry of Foreign Affairs
India-Somalia Bilateral Relations: Government of India Ministry of External Affairs Briefs
Vietnam-Somalia Bilateral Relations: Viet Nam Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Africa & Middle East: 
Turkey-Somalia Bilateral Relations: Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Armenia-Somalia Bilateral Relations: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia
Egypt-Somalia Bilateral Relations: Arab Republic of Egypt Ministry of Foreign Affairs
South Africa-Somalia Bilateral Relations: South Africa International Relations & Cooperation
European Union: 
EU-Somalia Relations: E.U. External Action, European Union Around the Globe
Germany-Somalia Relations: Federal Foreign Office of Germany
Netherlands-Somalia Relations: Government of the Netherlands International Relations
Finland-Somalia Bilateral Relations: Finland Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Greece-Somalia Bilateral Relations: Hellenic Republic Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Western (Non-EU): 
Canada-Somalia Bilateral Relations: Government of Canada International Gateway, Offices & Embassies
Australia-Somalia Bilateral Relations: Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Country Briefs
New Zealand-Somalia Bilateral Relations: New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Switzerland-Somalia Bilateral Relations: Swiss Confederation Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
Monaco-Somalia Bilateral Relations: Principauté de Monaco, Monaco Worldwide
Latin America & Caribbean : 
Cuba-Somalia Bilateral Relations: Cuba MinRex, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba
Brazil-Somalia Bilateral Relations: Brasil Ministério das Relações Exteriores (in Portuguese)
United Nations Data
UN Department of Political Affairs: Somalia
UNICEF in Somalia
World Bank: Somalia
Security Council Reports for Somalia
UNOSOM: Peacekeeping
UN Development Policy and Analysis Division (DESA) least developed country profiles: Somalia
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) least developed country profiles: Somalia
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) least developed country profiles: Somalia
News Sources
BBC News Country Media Profile: Somalia
The Guardian World News Stories: Somalia
New York Times Countries & Regions News: Somalia
The Economist Topics Index: Somalia
World News Report: Somalia
Topix Real Time News and Updates: Somalia
ABYZ Newspapers and Media Guide: Somalia
Government Sources
Official Government of Somalia
Official Website of Somali Government
UN Mission
Permanent Mission of the Somali Republic to the UN
425 East 61st Street, Suite 702,
New York, NY 10021
(212) 688-9410
(212) 759-0651
somalia@un.int

View Another Country