# Demographics of Somalia

Demographic features of Somalia's inhabitants include ethnicity, language, population density, education level, health, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population. Somalia is believed to be one of the most homogeneous countries in Africa.

## 2020 survey

Child marriages, known to deprive women of opportunities to reach their full potential, have among women aged 20–24, 36 percent of total population.
The April 2020 SHDS report further unveils that fertility rates remain very high, the total fertility rate for Somalia is 6.9 children per woman, the highest in the world, which would impact planning for the next years. In addition, 99 percent of women have still been genitally circumcised.

## Population

According to the 2022 revision of the World Population Prospects, the total population was 17,065,581 in 2021, compared to 2,264,000 in 1950. The proportion of children below the age of 15 in 2010 was 44.9%, 52.3% was between 15 and 65 years of age, while 2.7% was 65 years or older.

## Vital statistics

Registration of vital events in Somalia is incomplete. The Population Department of the United Nations prepared the following estimates:
| Year | Population | Live births per year | Deaths per year | Natural change per year | CBR* | CDR* | NC* | TFR* | IMR* | Life expectancy (years) |
| 1950 | 2 213 000 | 112 000 | 50 000 | 62 000 | 50.5 | 22.4 | 28.1 | 7.25 | 152.1 | 41.40 |
| 1951 | 2 276 000 | 114 000 | 51 000 | 62 000 | 49.9 | 22.6 | 27.3 | 7.25 | 151.4 | 41.52 |
| 1952 | 2 339 000 | 116 000 | 53 000 | 63 000 | 49.4 | 22.5 | 26.8 | 7.25 | 150.1 | 41.74 |
| 1953 | 2 402 000 | 117 000 | 54 000 | 64 000 | 48.9 | 22.4 | 26.5 | 7.25 | 148.8 | 41.97 |
| 1954 | 2 466 000 | 119 000 | 55 000 | 65 000 | 48.5 | 22.3 | 26.2 | 7.25 | 147.6 | 42.19 |
| 1955 | 2 530 000 | 122 000 | 56 000 | 66 000 | 48.0 | 22.1 | 26.0 | 7.25 | 146.3 | 42.40 |
| 1956 | 2 595 000 | 124 000 | 57 000 | 67 000 | 47.7 | 21.9 | 25.8 | 7.25 | 145.1 | 42.62 |
| 1957 | 2 662 000 | 126 000 | 58 000 | 68 000 | 47.4 | 21.7 | 25.7 | 7.25 | 143.9 | 42.83 |
| 1958 | 2 729 000 | 129 000 | 59 000 | 70 000 | 47.1 | 21.5 | 25.6 | 7.25 | 142.7 | 43.04 |
| 1959 | 2 798 000 | 131 000 | 60 000 | 71 000 | 46.8 | 21.3 | 25.5 | 7.25 | 141.6 | 43.25 |
| 1960 | 2 871 000 | 134 000 | 61 000 | 73 000 | 46.6 | 21.1 | 25.5 | 7.25 | 140.4 | 43.45 |
| 1961 | 2 946 000 | 137 000 | 62 000 | 75 000 | 46.4 | 21.0 | 25.3 | 7.25 | 139.8 | 43.56 |
| 1962 | 3 023 000 | 140 000 | 63 000 | 77 000 | 46.2 | 20.7 | 25.4 | 7.26 | 138.1 | 43.88 |
| 1963 | 3 102 000 | 143 000 | 64 000 | 79 000 | 46.0 | 20.5 | 25.4 | 7.26 | 137.0 | 44.10 |
| 1964 | 3 184 000 | 146 000 | 65 000 | 81 000 | 45.8 | 20.4 | 25.4 | 7.26 | 135.9 | 44.30 |
| 1965 | 3 268 000 | 149 000 | 66 000 | 83 000 | 45.7 | 20.2 | 25.5 | 7.26 | 134.6 | 44.54 |
| 1966 | 3 354 000 | 153 000 | 67 000 | 86 000 | 45.5 | 20.0 | 25.6 | 7.26 | 133.5 | 44.76 |
| 1967 | 3 442 000 | 156 000 | 68 000 | 88 000 | 45.4 | 19.8 | 25.6 | 7.25 | 132.4 | 44.97 |
| 1968 | 3 532 000 | 160 000 | 69 000 | 91 000 | 45.3 | 19.6 | 25.7 | 7.23 | 131.4 | 45.17 |
| 1969 | 3 625 000 | 164 000 | 71 000 | 93 000 | 45.2 | 19.5 | 25.8 | 7.21 | 130.4 | 45.37 |
| 1970 | 3 721 000 | 168 000 | 72 000 | 96 000 | 45.2 | 19.3 | 25.9 | 7.18 | 129.4 | 45.56 |
| 1971 | 3 818 000 | 173 000 | 73 000 | 99 000 | 45.2 | 19.2 | 26.0 | 7.15 | 128.4 | 45.75 |
| 1972 | 3 918 000 | 177 000 | 75 000 | 103 000 | 45.2 | 19.0 | 26.2 | 7.12 | 127.5 | 45.94 |
| 1973 | 4 022 000 | 182 000 | 76 000 | 106 000 | 45.2 | 18.9 | 26.3 | 7.09 | 126.5 | 46.13 |
| 1974 | 4 126 000 | 187 000 | 86 000 | 101 000 | 45.3 | 20.7 | 24.6 | 7.06 | 137.8 | 43.82 |
| 1975 | 4 228 000 | 192 000 | 86 000 | 106 000 | 45.5 | 20.4 | 25.1 | 7.03 | 135.9 | 44.18 |
| 1976 | 4 334 000 | 198 000 | 87 000 | 111 000 | 45.7 | 20.1 | 25.5 | 7.02 | 134.0 | 44.57 |
| 1977 | 4 450 000 | 204 000 | 82 000 | 122 000 | 45.8 | 18.3 | 27.5 | 7.00 | 122.6 | 46.92 |
| 1978 | 4 778 000 | 214 000 | 84 000 | 130 000 | 46.8 | 18.4 | 28.4 | 7.13 | 121.7 | 46.95 |
| 1979 | 5 409 000 | 241 000 | 93 000 | 148 000 | 47.1 | 18.2 | 28.8 | 7.16 | 120.7 | 47.31 |
| 1980 | 5 892 000 | 277 000 | 106 000 | 171 000 | 47.3 | 18.1 | 29.2 | 7.18 | 119.8 | 47.49 |
| 1981 | 5 935 000 | 291 000 | 110 000 | 181 000 | 47.7 | 18.1 | 29.7 | 7.23 | 119.0 | 47.67 |
| 1982 | 5 952 000 | 286 000 | 107 000 | 179 000 | 48.0 | 18.0 | 30.0 | 7.25 | 118.2 | 47.83 |
| 1983 | 6 143 000 | 296 000 | 109 000 | 187 000 | 48.3 | 17.8 | 30.5 | 7.28 | 116.6 | 48.17 |
| 1984 | 6 369 000 | 307 000 | 112 000 | 196 000 | 48.5 | 17.6 | 30.9 | 7.30 | 115.2 | 48.46 |
| 1985 | 6 631 000 | 322 000 | 117 000 | 205 000 | 48.7 | 17.7 | 31.0 | 7.33 | 114.8 | 48.28 |
| 1986 | 6 909 000 | 336 000 | 121 000 | 215 000 | 48.9 | 17.6 | 31.2 | 7.35 | 114.1 | 48.37 |
| 1987 | 7 158 000 | 351 000 | 124 000 | 227 000 | 49.0 | 17.3 | 31.7 | 7.37 | 113.1 | 48.90 |
| 1988 | 7 160 000 | 362 000 | 151 000 | 211 000 | 49.1 | 20.5 | 28.6 | 7.40 | 115.8 | 43.84 |
| 1989 | 7 035 000 | 352 000 | 131 000 | 221 000 | 49.2 | 18.3 | 30.8 | 7.42 | 110.1 | 46.72 |
| 1990 | 6 999 000 | 349 000 | 128 000 | 221 000 | 49.0 | 18.0 | 31.0 | 7.44 | 108.3 | 47.11 |
| 1991 | 6 733 000 | 346 000 | 284 000 | 63 000 | 49.4 | 40.5 | 8.9 | 7.47 | 237.4 | 26.57 |
| 1992 | 6 428 000 | 327 000 | 251 000 | 76 000 | 50.2 | 38.6 | 11.7 | 7.50 | 236.3 | 27.31 |
| 1993 | 6 621 000 | 328 000 | 101 000 | 227 000 | 50.4 | 15.5 | 34.9 | 7.53 | 104.6 | 50.65 |
| 1994 | 6 960 000 | 351 000 | 111 000 | 240 000 | 50.3 | 15.9 | 34.4 | 7.54 | 105.1 | 50.33 |
| 1995 | 7 211 000 | 360 000 | 113 000 | 247 000 | 50.1 | 15.8 | 34.4 | 7.58 | 104.5 | 50.60 |
| 1996 | 7 472 000 | 376 000 | 119 000 | 257 000 | 50.1 | 15.9 | 34.2 | 7.62 | 104.8 | 50.45 |
| 1997 | 7 734 000 | 388 000 | 124 000 | 264 000 | 50.3 | 16.1 | 34.2 | 7.66 | 106.8 | 50.20 |
| 1998 | 8 057 000 | 403 000 | 127 000 | 276 000 | 50.2 | 15.8 | 34.4 | 7.65 | 104.6 | 50.66 |
| 1999 | 8 384 000 | 419 000 | 133 000 | 286 000 | 50.1 | 15.9 | 34.2 | 7.63 | 104.7 | 50.53 |
| 2000 | 8 721 000 | 434 000 | 137 000 | 297 000 | 49.9 | 15.8 | 34.1 | 7.61 | 104.6 | 50.66 |
| 2001 | 9 071 000 | 450 000 | 142 000 | 308 000 | 49.7 | 15.7 | 34.0 | 7.58 | 104.4 | 50.74 |
| 2002 | 9 411 000 | 467 000 | 148 000 | 320 000 | 49.7 | 15.7 | 34.0 | 7.58 | 104.4 | 50.73 |
| 2003 | 9 758 000 | 482 000 | 153 000 | 329 000 | 49.4 | 15.7 | 33.7 | 7.55 | 104.5 | 50.61 |
| 2004 | 10 117 000 | 498 000 | 159 000 | 339 000 | 49.2 | 15.7 | 33.5 | 7.52 | 104.6 | 50.54 |
| 2005 | 10 467 000 | 513 000 | 163 000 | 350 000 | 49.0 | 15.6 | 33.4 | 7.48 | 104.4 | 50.66 |
| 2006 | 10 785 000 | 527 000 | 168 000 | 359 000 | 48.7 | 15.6 | 33.2 | 7.46 | 104.1 | 50.60 |
| 2007 | 11 118 000 | 539 000 | 173 000 | 366 000 | 48.5 | 15.5 | 32.9 | 7.42 | 103.5 | 50.52 |
| 2008 | 11 445 000 | 555 000 | 174 000 | 381 000 | 48.2 | 15.1 | 33.1 | 7.39 | 101.3 | 51.12 |
| 2009 | 11 730 000 | 565 000 | 172 000 | 393 000 | 47.9 | 14.6 | 33.4 | 7.34 | 98.7 | 51.85 |
| 2010 | 12 027 000 | 576 000 | 185 000 | 390 000 | 47.7 | 15.4 | 32.3 | 7.30 | 102.5 | 50.56 |
| 2011 | 12 217 000 | 589 000 | 184 000 | 405 000 | 47.5 | 14.9 | 32.7 | 7.26 | 100.0 | 51.30 |
| 2012 | 12 440 000 | 590 000 | 169 000 | 420 000 | 47.3 | 13.6 | 33.7 | 7.20 | 91.4 | 53.16 |
| 2013 | 12 852 000 | 604 000 | 169 000 | 435 000 | 47.0 | 13.1 | 33.9 | 7.13 | 88.7 | 53.84 |
| 2014 | 13 309 000 | 622 000 | 170 000 | 452 000 | 46.7 | 12.8 | 33.9 | 7.06 | 86.1 | 54.28 |
| 2015 | 13 764 000 | 640 000 | 171 000 | 469 000 | 46.5 | 12.4 | 34.0 | 6.98 | 83.9 | 54.86 |
| 2016 | 14 293 000 | 657 000 | 175 000 | 482 000 | 46.2 | 12.3 | 33.9 | 6.89 | 82.0 | 55.04 |
| 2017 | 14 864 000 | 675 000 | 177 000 | 498 000 | 45.5 | 11.9 | 33.6 | 6.74 | 79.8 | 55.65 |
| 2018 | 15 411 000 | 693 000 | 176 000 | 516 000 | 45.0 | 11.4 | 33.5 | 6.63 | 77.2 | 56.38 |
| 2019 | 15 981 000 | 711 000 | 176 000 | 535 000 | 44.6 | 11.0 | 33.5 | 6.53 | 75.0 | 57.08 |
| 2020 | 16 537 000 | 728 000 | 188 000 | 540 000 | 44.0 | 11.4 | 32.6 | 6.42 | 72.9 | 55.97 |
| 2021 | 17 271 000 | 762 000 | 195 000 | 566 000 | 44.1 | 11.3 | 32.8 | 6.35 | 70.0 | 57.2 |
| 2022 | 17 802 000 | 780 000 | 228 000 | 551 000 | 43.8 | 12.8 | 31.0 | 6.26 | 86.7 | 53.9 |
| 2023 | 18 356 000 | 789 000 | 181 000 | 608 000 | 43.0 | 9.8 | 33.1 | 6.13 | 66.3 | 58.8 |
| * CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); CDR = crude death rate (per 1000); NC = natural change (per 1000); IMR = infant mortality rate per 1000 births; TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman) |||||||||||

## Ethnic groups
### Somalis

Somalis constitute the largest ethnic group in Somalia, at approximately 98% of the nation's inhabitants. They are organized into clan groupings, which are important social units; clan membership plays a central part in Somali culture and politics. Clans are patrilineal and are typically divided into sub-clans, sometimes with many sub-divisions. Through the xeer system (customary law), the advanced clan structure has served governmental roles in many rural Somali communities.
According to The Economist, at independence Somalia was "arguably in ethnic terms the most homogeneous country in Africa" however, the publication also notes:
   "..its ethnic homogeneity is misleading. Despite also sharing a single language and religion, it is divided into more than 500 clans and sub-clans."

#### Somali Clans

Somali clans (Somali: Qabaa'ilka Soomaalida; Arabic: القبائل الصومالية, romanized: al-Qabā'il al-Sūmāliyya) are patrilineal kinship groups based on agnatic descent of the Somali people. Tradition and folklore connects the origin of the Somali population by language and way of life, and societal organisations, by customs, and by a feeling of belonging to a broader family among individuals from the Arabian Peninsula.
The Somali people are mainly divided among five patrilineal clans, the Hawiye, Darod, Rahanweyn, Dir, and Isaaq. The average person is able to trace his/her ancestry generations back. Somali clans in contemporary times have an established official structure in the country's political system, acknowledged by a mathematical formula for equitably distributing seats between the clans in the Federal Parliament of Somalia.
The clan represents the highest degree of familial affiliation. It holds territorial properties and is typically overseen by a Sultan. Clans possess ancestral lands, which are associated with the migratory patterns of the Somali populace throughout their historical narrative. Each clan is administered by its designated leader and supported by its council of elders, with land being communally owned and overseen. Various Somali clans utilise distinct titles for their leaders, including Sultan, Emir, Imam, Ughaz, and Garad. Clan leadership may be hereditary, or leaders may be elected by the council of elders composed of representatives from diverse clan lineages. The leaders of these clans fulfill both religious and political responsibilities.

### Other ethnic groups

Non-Somali ethnic minority groups make up about 5% of the nation's population. They include Arabs, Bantus & Bajunis.

## Languages

Somali is the official language of Somalia. It is the mother tongue of Somalis, the nation's most populous ethnic group. The language is a member of the Cushitic branch of the Afroasiatic family.
In addition to Somali, Arabic, which is also an Afroasiatic tongue, is another official language in Somalia. Many speak it due to centuries-old ties with the Arab world, the far-reaching influence of the Arabic media, and religious education.
English is widely used and taught. Other minority languages include Bravanese, a variant of the Bantu Swahili language that is spoken along the southern coast by the Bravanese people, as well as Bajuni, another Swahili dialect that is the mother tongue of the Bajuni ethnic minority group