The Human Truth Foundation

Somalia

https://www.humantruth.info/somalia.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

#somalia

SomaliaFlag
StatusIndependent State
Social and Moral Index199th best
CapitalMogadishu
Land Area 627 340km21
LocationAfrica
Population15.0m2
Life Expectancy55.28yrs (2017)3
GNI$1 018 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 CodesSO, SOM, 7065
Internet Domain.so6
CurrencyShilling (SOS)7
Telephone+2528

1. Overview

Britain withdrew from British Somaliland in 1960 to allow its protectorate to join with Italian Somaliland and form the new nation of Somalia. In 1969, a coup headed by Mohamed SIAD Barre ushered in an authoritarian socialist rule characterized by the persecution, jailing, and torture of political opponents and dissidents. After the regime's collapse early in 1991, Somalia descended into turmoil, factional fighting, and anarchy. In May 1991, northern clans declared an independent Republic of Somaliland that now includes the administrative regions of Awdal, Woqooyi Galbeed, Togdheer, Sanaag, and Sool. Although not recognized by any government, this entity has maintained a stable existence and continues efforts to establish a constitutional democracy, including holding municipal, parliamentary, and presidential elections. The regions of Bari, Nugaal, and northern Mudug comprise a neighboring semi-autonomous state of Puntland, which has been self-governing since 1998 but does not aim at independence; it has also made strides toward reconstructing a legitimate, representative government but has suffered some civil strife. Puntland disputes its border with Somaliland as it also claims portions of eastern Sool and Sanaag. Beginning in 1993, a two-year UN humanitarian effort (primarily in the south) was able to alleviate famine conditions, but when the UN withdrew in 1995, having suffered significant casualties, order still had not been restored. In 2000, the Somalia National Peace Conference (SNPC) held in Djibouti resulted in the formation of an interim government, known as the Transitional National Government (TNG). When the TNG failed to establish adequate security or governing institutions, the Government of Kenya, under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), led a subsequent peace process that concluded in October 2004 with the election of Abdullahi YUSUF Ahmed as President of a second interim government, known as the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of the Somali Republic. The TFG included a 275-member parliamentary body, known as the Transitional Federal Parliament (TFP). President YUSUF resigned late in 2008 while United Nations-sponsored talks between the TFG and the opposition Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS) were underway in Djibouti. In January 2009, following the creation of a TFG-ARS unity government, Ethiopian military forces, which had entered Somalia in December 2006 to support the TFG in the face of advances by the opposition Islamic Courts Union (ICU), withdrew from the country. The TFP was doubled in size to 550 seats with the addition of 200 ARS and 75 civil society members of parliament. The expanded parliament elected Sheikh SHARIF Sheikh Ahmed, the former ICU and ARS chairman as president in January 2009. The creation of the TFG was based on the Transitional Federal Charter (TFC), which outlined a five-year mandate leading to the establishment of a new Somali constitution and a transition to a representative government following national elections. In 2009, the TFP amended the TFC to extend TFG's mandate until 2011 and in 2011 Somali principals agreed to institute political transition by August 2012. The transition process ended in September 2012 when clan elders appointed 275 members to a new parliament replacing the TFP and the subsequent election, by parliament, of a new president.

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)9

Book CoverA nation troubled and torn asunder, ... Somalia... may be set to emerge from decades of torment and trauma that brought it to international attention - most notably as a country beset by famine and militias - but like Puntland (a neighbouring, semi-autonomous state that has been self-governing since 1998), the haunt of pirates and smugglers, Mogadishu and parts thereabouts remain firm no-go zones for all Westerners. Yet the self-proclaimed Republic of Somaliland has risen from the ashes by restoring law and order within its boundaries.

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)10

2. Somalia National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
PPP $11
1Liechtenstein$146 830
2Singapore$90 919
3Qatar$87 134
...
186Liberia$1 289
187Niger$1 240
188Mozambique$1 198
189Congo, DR$1 076
190Somalia$1 018
191Central African Rep.$0 966
192S. Sudan$0 768
193Burundi$0 732
Africa Avg$5 339
World Avg$20 136
q=193.
Social & Moral
Development Index
12
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank12
1Denmark27.0
2Norway29.9
3Sweden31.8
...
192Sudan134.4
193Equatorial Guinea135.7
194Angola136.4
195Vatican City142.5
196Eritrea146.0
197S. Sudan150.8
198Western Sahara151.9
199Somalia158.4
Africa Avg119.0
World Avg88.6
q=199.

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Somalia's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

Population:

Somalia's population is predicted to rise to 16.36 million by 2030. This country has a fertility rate of 6.20. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate (two new children for each set of parents who die), which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.13

Population2
Pos.2018
Population2
1China1.4b
2India1.4b
3USA327.1m
...
69Cambodia16.2m
70Senegal15.9m
71Chad15.5m
72Somalia15.0m
73Zimbabwe14.4m
74Guinea12.4m
75Rwanda12.3m
76Tunisia11.6m
World Avg39.0m
q=195.
Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
187Guinea58.9
188Ivory Coast58.6
189Swaziland57.1
190Somalia55.3
191S. Sudan55.0
192Central African Rep.53.9
193Lesotho53.1
194Nigeria52.7
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
14
Pos.202214
1US Virgin Islands2.00
2Ecuador2.00
3Nepal2.01
...
201Nigeria5.14
202Angola5.21
203Mali5.87
204Central African Rep.5.92
205Congo, DR6.11
206Somalia6.20
207Chad6.22
208Niger6.75
World Avg2.47
q=208.
Old-Age Dependency Ratio
Lower is better
15
Pos.2016
Per 10015
1Uganda04.3
2Mali04.5
3=Chad04.7
...
11Zimbabwe05.0
12Nigeria05.1
13=Qatar05.1
14Somalia05.4
15=Togo05.4
16Ivory Coast05.6
17=Malawi05.6
17=Senegal05.6
World Avg18.3
q=185.

Migration:

Immigrants16
Pos.2017
%16
1UAE88.4%
2Kuwait75.5%
3Qatar65.2%
...
179Haiti0.4%
180Brazil0.4%
181Eritrea0.3%
182Somalia0.3%
183Lesotho0.3%
184Peru0.3%
185Colombia0.3%
186Morocco0.3%
World Avg9.4%
q=195.
Emigrants17
Pos.2010
%17
1Dominica104.8%
2Palestine68.4%
3Samoa67.3%
...
73Slovakia9.6%
74Morocco9.3%
75Sri Lanka9.1%
76Somalia8.7%
77Kuwait8.5%
78Ecuador8.3%
79Poland8.3%
80Afghanistan8.1%
World Avg11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #gender_equality #human_rights #morals #politics #prejudice #somalia #somalia_human_rights #tolerance

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)18
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank18
1Sweden6.1
2Denmark8.6
3Norway9.0
...
194Equatorial Guinea146.0
195Sudan150.2
196Eritrea153.3
197Afghanistan155.8
198N. Korea162.3
199Somalia165.8
Africa Avg110.04
World Avg86.55
q=199.
Somalia is amongst the very worst places in the world at ensuring any human rights and freedoms, and it has severe cultural issues when it comes to tolerance and equality. Somalia does worse than average in supporting press freedom19, its nominal commitment to Human Rights20 (one of the worst in Africa) and in freethought21. It falls into the worst 20 in commentary in Human Rights Watch reports22, eliminating modern slavery23, opposing gender inequality24 (amongst the highest in Africa) and in its average Freedom in the World rating. And finally, it is second-from-the-bottom for LGBT equality25. "Somalia´s armed conflict, abuses by all warring parties, and a new humanitariancrisis [continues] to take a devastating toll on civilians26". The country has no moral anchor nor effective defenders of human rights; where protections exist, they are often part of the problem rather than a good solution; for example, sexual violence is classified as being against "honour" and "modesty" rather than being fundamentally wrong in its own right26 and Shariah courts are sometimes permitted to take place instead of ordinary judicial processes. Much needs to change, and it cannot all be blamed on historical issues: prejudice against LGBT folk is a result of poor moral thinking, not a result of poverty or conflict.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

5. Somalia's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #niger #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #somalia #vaccines

Compared to Africa (2025)27
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank27
1Tunisia69.2
2Mauritius69.2
3Seychelles84.8
...
45Burkina Faso157.5
46Uganda159.0
47Chad163.2
48Somalia163.7
49Niger164.3
50Mali165.1
51Ivory Coast166.4
52Nigeria166.5
53Angola170.3
Africa Avg111.13
q=54.
Health (2025)27
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank27
1Monaco14.3
2Liechtenstein30.1
3Isle of Man32.1
...
203Burkina Faso157.5
204Uganda159.0
205Chad163.2
206Somalia163.7
207Niger164.3
208Mali165.1
209Ivory Coast166.4
210Nigeria166.5
World Avg96.74
q=212.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and The Isle of Man28. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are S. Sudan, Angola and Nigeria28.

21 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Balkans28, whereas the worst are Africa, Micronesia and Melanesia28.

For more, see:

Health:

Somalia is a pretty unhealthy country. Somalia performs the best in its alcohol consumption rate29. It does better than average in its smoking rate30. When it comes to most other metrics, Somalia does not do well. It falls into the worst 20 for its adolescent birth rate31, its average life expectancy11, its immunizations take-up32 (one of the lowest in Africa) and in its fertility rate14 (one of the highest in Africa). The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% over the last 40 years. Life expectancy in Somalia in 1990 was 47.1yrs, much lower than the global average of 64.6, and it was the worst in the world in 1991. It improved by +10yrs in the 30 years from then, better than the global average improvement of +7.9yrs. It Somalia had the 2nd-highest average fertility rate in the world in the 2000s and 2010s (after Niger). Its peak fertility rate occurred during a spike to 7.66 in 1997.

Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
187Guinea58.9
188Ivory Coast58.6
189Swaziland57.1
190Somalia55.3
191S. Sudan55.0
192Central African Rep.53.9
193Lesotho53.1
194Nigeria52.7
Africa Avg62.79
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Alcohol Consumption
Lower is better
29
Pos.2016
Per Capita29
1Bangladesh0.0
2Kuwait0.0
3Libya0.0
4Mauritania0.0
5Somalia0.0
6Yemen0.1
7=Afghanistan0.2
7=Saudi Arabia0.2
9Syria0.3
10=Pakistan0.3
11Kiribati0.4
12=Iraq0.4
Africa Avg4.8
World Avg6.2
q=189.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
14
Pos.202214
1US Virgin Islands2.00
2Ecuador2.00
3Nepal2.01
...
201Nigeria5.14
202Angola5.21
203Mali5.87
204Central African Rep.5.92
205Congo, DR6.11
206Somalia6.20
207Chad6.22
208Niger6.75
Africa Avg3.97
World Avg2.47
q=208.
Smoking Rates
Lower is better
30
Pos.201430
1Guinea 15
2Solomon Islands 26
3Kiribati 28
...
25Eritrea 114
26Haiti 114
27Peru 116
28Somalia 117
29Ghana 121
30Benin 122
31Zimbabwe 134
32Mauritania 135
Africa Avg 340
World Avg 819
q=182.
Overweight Adults
Lower is better
33
Pos.2016
%33
1Vietnam18.3
2India19.7
3Bangladesh20.0
...
35=Togo28.1
35=Mali28.1
37Indonesia28.2
38=Somalia28.4
38=Senegal28.4
38=Pakistan28.4
41Sudan28.9
42=Nigeria28.9
Africa Avg33.3
World Avg49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate
Lower is better
31
Pos.2022
Per 100031
1Hong Kong1.6
2Denmark1.8
3S. Korea2.1
...
180Cameroon108.6
181Burkina Faso108.7
182Guinea112.2
183Somalia116.1
184Zambia116.1
185Malawi117.2
186Madagascar118.1
187Liberia122.0
Africa Avg84.6
World Avg43.8
q=195.
Infant Immunizations 2011-2015
Higher is better
32
Pos.2015
Avg %32
1=Hungary99.0
1=China99.0
3Uzbekistan98.9
...
187Syria62.4
188Ukraine55.2
189Chad52.5
190Nigeria50.0
191Central African Rep.49.4
192Somalia46.0
193S. Sudan45.7
194Equatorial Guinea36.8
Africa Avg81.7
World Avg88.3
q=194.

Somalia was amongst 49 countries in the 1990s who had an adolescent birth rate of over 100 (per 1000 girls aged 15-19) and going in to the 2000s it was of only two countries that saw double-digit increases in this problematic area. Although things stabilized after that, in the 2010s it was still amongst only 27 countries that still had a rate of over 100.

6. Somalia's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #environmentalism #internationalism #over-exploitation #somalia #the_environment

Compared to Africa (2025)34
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank34
1Morocco46.5
2Burundi47.8
3Mali51.0
...
45Sudan97.8
46Comoros99.1
47Mauritania101.2
48Seychelles103.4
49Angola109.5
50Libya121.4
51Zimbabwe121.5
52Somalia131.0
53Eritrea146.2
Africa Avg80.07
q=53.
Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)34
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank34
1Sri Lanka34.9
2Uruguay43.2
3Switzerland45.0
...
188Tajikistan128.6
189Niue129.5
190Brunei130.2
191Somalia131.0
192N. Korea132.3
193Turkmenistan134.1
194Nauru134.4
195San Marino134.9
World Avg84.93
q=199.

All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

Regarding its responsibility towards the environment, Somalia is positioned 9th-worst in the world (one of the worst in Africa). This rank is calculated from 2 data sets. Somalia does worse than average when it comes to its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment. And finally, it falls into the worst-performing 20 in terms of its forested percent change 2000-202035.

Forest Area Change 2000-2020
Higher is better
35
Pos.Total35
1Guernsey82.6%
2Bahrain75.2%
3Iceland64.7%
...
218Myanmar (Burma)-19.0%
219Niger-19.7%
220Egypt-20.6%
221Somalia-21.6%
222Comoros-22.3%
223Northern Mariana Islands-24.8%
224Cambodia-25.6%
225Benin-25.8%
Africa Avg-8.7%
World Avg-0.1%
q=234.

From 2000 to 2020, Somalia destroyed almost a quarter of its forest cover, falling from 7515 to 5980 thousand hectares.

International Accords on the Environment
Higher is better
Pos.Total
Avg Rate
1Sweden83%
2Canada82%
3Norway81%
...
170N. Korea44%
171Sierra Leone43%
172Eritrea43%
173Somalia43%
174Tonga43%
175Kiribati42%
176Cook Islands42%
177Niue42%
Africa Avg56.4%
World Avg57.5%
q=197.

7. Somalia's Modernity and Learning

#corruption #extremism #happiness #health #human_development #inequality #intelligence #life_expectancy #peace #politics #religious_violence #somalia #terrorism #the_internet

Modernity and Education:

IQ
Higher is better36
Pos.200636
1=Hong Kong108
1=Singapore108
3S. Korea106
...
122=Nigeria69
123Chad68
124=Burkina Faso68
124=Somalia68
124=Angola68
127Guinea67
128=Liberia67
128=Haiti67
Africa Avg70.6
World Avg85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users
Higher is better
37
Pos.201637
1Iceland100%
2Faroe Islands99%
3Norway98%
...
194Myanmar (Burma)3%
195Sierra Leone2%
196Niger2%
197Guinea2%
198Somalia2%
199Burundi2%
200Timor-Leste (E. Timor)1%
201Eritrea1%
Africa Avg18.4%
World Avg48.1%
q=201.

National Culture:

Corruption
Higher is better
38
Pos.2022
Points38
1Denmark90.0
2=Finland87.0
2=New Zealand87.0
...
173Libya17.0
174=Haiti17.0
174=Burundi17.0
176Yemen16.0
177Venezuela14.0
178=S. Sudan13.0
178=Syria13.0
180Somalia12.0
Africa Avg32.31
World Avg42.98
q=180.

In the mid-2000s Somalia began to be included in the Corruption Perception Index data; in 2008-2009 it was rated as the most corrupt country in the world and maintained the worst overall position on average throughout the 2010s.

Happiness
Higher is better
39
Pos.2024
Score39
1Finland7.7
2Denmark7.5
3Iceland7.5
...
119Chad4.4
120Burkina Faso4.4
121Benin4.4
122Somalia4.3
123Mali4.3
124Cambodia4.3
125Ghana4.3
126Myanmar (Burma)4.3
Africa Avg4.42
World Avg5.58
q=147.

Peace Versus Instability:

Global Peace Index
Lower is better
40
Pos.2023
Score40
1Iceland1.12
2Denmark1.31
3Ireland1.31
...
153Mali2.96
154Iraq3.01
155Sudan3.02
156Somalia3.04
157Ukraine3.04
158Russia3.14
159Congo, DR3.21
160S. Sudan3.22
Africa Avg2.29
World Avg2.07
q=163.
Impact of Terrorism
Lower is better
41
Pos.2019
Score41
1Togo0.00
2Mongolia0.00
3Swaziland0.00
...
142Philippines7.14
143Yemen7.26
144India7.52
145Somalia7.80
146Pakistan7.89
147Syria8.01
148Nigeria8.60
149Iraq9.24
Africa Avg3.41
World Avg2.78
q=150.

Economic Inequality and Poverty:

Inequality in Life Expectancy
Lower is better42
Pos.201942
1Iceland2.40
2=Singapore2.50
2=Hong Kong2.50
...
177Congo, DR36.10
178S. Sudan36.20
179Mali36.70
180Nigeria37.10
181Somalia38.90
182Sierra Leone39.00
183Central African Rep.40.10
184Chad40.90
Africa Avg26.10
World Avg14.59
q=184.

8. Religion and Beliefs

#belief #buddhism #christianity #god #hinduism #islam #judaism #religion #religion_in_somalia #somalia

Disbelief In God (2007)43
Pos.Higher is better
%43
1Vietnam81
2Japan65
3Sweden64
...
84=Guatemala1
84=El Salvador1
84=Panama1
87Somalia0
88=Sri Lanka0
88=Burundi0
88=Burkina Faso0
88=Brunei0
88=Botswana0
88=Syria0
88=Sierra Leone0
88=Thailand0
88=Togo0
88=Benin0
88=Tunisia0
88=Uganda0
World Avg9.9
q=137.

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below44:

Christian0.1%
Muslim99%
Hindu0.1%
Buddhist0.1%
Folk Religion0.1%
Jewish0.1%
Unaffiliated0.1%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Sunni Muslim (Islam) (official, according to the Transitional Federal Charter)45.

Freedom of Religion and Belief: When it comes to religious freedom and persecution, sociologists Grim & Finke place Somalia into the worst category, along with just 13 other countries. In this category, severe restrictions on religious freedom and freedom of belief stem simultaneously from top-down pressure from government and institutionalized religion, and from bottom-up grassroots movements that often go even further than the government in harassing those who do not believe the right things (2011)46.

Links: