*Somalia, Geography

Location:
  Eastern Africa, bordering the northwestern Indian Ocean, south of the
  Arabian Peninsula
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  637,660 km2
 land area:
  627,340 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:
  total 2,366 km, Djibouti 58 km, Ethiopia 1,626 km, Kenya 682 km
Coastline:
  3,025 km
Maritime claims:
 territorial sea:
  200 nm
International disputes:
  southern half of boundary with Ethiopia is a Provisional Administrative
  Line; territorial dispute with Ethiopia over the Ogaden; possible claims to
  Djibouti and parts of Ethiopia and Kenya based on unification of ethnic
  Somalis
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
Natural resources:
  uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite,
  copper, salt
Land use:
 arable land:
  2%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  46%
 forest and woodland:   14%
 other:
  38%
Irrigated land:
  1,600 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plains in summer;
  deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Note:
  strategic location on Horn of Africa along southern approaches to Bab el
  Mandeb and route through Red Sea and Suez Canal

*Somalia, People

Population:
  6,514,629 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.35% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  41.95 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  28.41 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  162.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  32.91 years
 male:
  32.86 years
 female:
  32.95 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  6.4 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Somali(s)
 adjective:
  Somali
Ethnic divisions:
  Somali 85%, Bantu, Arabs 30,000, Europeans 3,000, Asians 800
Religions:
  Sunni Muslim
Languages:
  Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  24%
 male:
  36%
 female:
  14%
Labor force:
  2.2 million (very few are skilled laborers)
 by occupation:
  pastoral nomad 70%, agriculture, government, trading, fishing, handicrafts,
  and other 30%
 note:
  53% of population of working age (1985)

*Somalia, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Somalia
 former:
  Somali Republic
Digraph:
  SO
Type:
  none
Capital:
  Mogadishu
Administrative divisions:
  18 regions (plural - NA, singular - gobolka); Awdal, Bakool, Banaadir, Bari,
  Bay, Galguduud, Gedo, Hiiraan, Jubbada Dhexe, Jubbada Hoose, Mudug, Nugaal,
  Sanaag, Shabeellaha Dhexe, Shabeellaha Hoose, Sool, Togdheer, Woqooyi
  Galbeed
Independence:
  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)
Constitution:
  25 August 1979, presidential approval 23 September 1979
Legal system:
  NA
National holiday:
  NA
Political parties and leaders:
  the United Somali Congress (USC) ousted the former regime on 27 January
  1991; formerly the only party was the Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party
  (SRSP), headed by former President and Commander in Chief of the Army Maj.
  Gen. Mohamed SIAD Barre
Other political or pressure groups:
  numerous clan and subclan factions are currently vying for power
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held 23 December 1986 (next to be held NA); results - President SIAD
  was reelected without opposition
 People's Assembly:
  last held 31 December 1984 (next to be held NA); results - SRSP was the only
  party; seats - (177 total, 171 elected) SRSP 171; note - the United Somali
  Congress (USC) ousted the regime of Maj. Gen. Mohamed SIAD Barre on 27
  January 1991; the provisional government has promised that a democratically
  elected government will be established
Executive branch:
  president, two vice presidents, prime minister, Council of Ministers
  (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral People's Assembly (Golaha Shacbiga); non-functioning
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (non-functioning)
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  Interim President ALI MAHDI Mohamed (since 27 January 1991)

*Somalia, Government

 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister OMAR Arteh Ghalib (since 27 January 1991)
Member of:
  ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD,
  IFC, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU,
  LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  (vacant)
 chancery:
  Suite 710, 600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
 telephone:
  (202) 342-1575
 consulate general:
  New York
 note:
  Somalian Embassy ceased operations on 8 May 1991
US diplomatic representation:
  the US Embassy in Mogadishu was evacuated and closed indefinitely in January
  1991; United States Liaison Office (USLO) opened in December 1992
Flag:
  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)

*Somalia, Economy

Overview:
  One of the world's poorest and least developed countries, Somalia has few
  resources. Moreover, much of the economy has been devastated by the civil
  war. Agriculture is the most important sector, with livestock accounting for
  about 40% of GDP and about 65% of export earnings. Nomads and seminomads who
  are dependent upon livestock for their livelihoods make up more than half of
  the population. 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. Greatly increased political turmoil in 1991-92 has resulted in a
  substantial drop in output, with widespread famine.
National product:
  $NA
National product real growth rate:
  NA%
National product per capita:
  $NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  NA%
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
  $NA
 commodities:
  bananas, livestock, fish, hides, skins
 partners:
  Saudi Arabia, Italy, FRG (1986)
Imports:
  $NA
 commodities:
  petroleum products, foodstuffs, construction materials
 partners:
  US 13%, Italy, FRG, Kenya, UK, Saudi Arabia (1986)
External debt:
  $1.9 billion (1989)
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%, accounts for NA% of GDP
Electricity:
  former public power capacity of 75,000 kW is completely shut down by the
  destruction of the civil war; UN, relief organizations, and foreign military
  units in Somalia use their own portable power systems
Industries:
  a few small industries, including sugar refining, textiles, petroleum
  refining; probably shut down by the widespread destruction during the civil
  war
Agriculture:
  dominant sector, led by livestock raising (cattle, sheep, goats); crops -
  bananas, sorghum, corn, mangoes, sugarcane; not self-sufficient in food;
  distribution of food disrupted by civil strife; fishing potential largely
  unexploited
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $639 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $3.8 billion; OPEC
  bilateral aid (1979-89), $1.1 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $336
  million

*Somalia, Economy

Currency:
  1 Somali shilling (So. Sh.) = 100 centesimi
Exchange rates:
  Somali shillings (So. Sh.) per US$1 - 4,200 (December 1992), 3,800.00
  (December 1990), 490.7 (1989), 170.45 (1988), 105.18 (1987), 72.00 (1986)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Somalia, Communications

Highways:
  22,500 km total; including 2,700 km paved, 3,000 km gravel, and 16,800 km
  improved earth or stabilized soil (1992)
Pipelines:
  crude oil 15 km
Ports:
  Mogadishu, Berbera, Chisimayu (Kismaayo), Bender Cassim (Boosaaso)
Merchant marine:
  3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,913 GRT/8,718 DWT; includes 2 cargo,
  1 refrigerated cargo
Airports:
 total:
  69
 usable:
  48
 with permanent-surface runways:
  8
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  2
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  6
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  20
Telecommunications:
  the public telecommunications system was completely destroyed or dismantled
  by the civil war factions; all relief organizations depend on their own
  private systems (1993)

*Somalia, Defense Forces

Branches:
  NA
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 1,596,380; fit for military service 897,660 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP