The Human Truth Foundation

Somalia

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

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

#somalia

Somalia
StatusIndependent State
Social and Moral Index196th 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
1Norway29.8
2Denmark30.0
3Finland33.7
...
189Tuvalu133.1
190Central African Rep.133.3
191Vatican City136.2
192S. Sudan136.6
193Equatorial Guinea137.1
194Eritrea137.4
195Chad137.8
196Somalia157.1
Africa Avg112.4
World Avg87.9
q=196.

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 #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population

Population:

Somalia's population is predicted to rise to 16.36 million by 2030. This country has a fertility rate of 6.30. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population is growing, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity, i.e., 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, 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.

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
13
Pos.201313
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
...
173Uganda5.95
174Malawi5.98
175Timor-Leste (E. Timor)5.99
176Afghanistan6.03
177Mali6.16
178Zambia6.30
179Somalia6.30
180Niger6.96
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Old-Age Dependency Ratio
Lower is better
14
Pos.2016
Per 10014
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:

Immigrants15
Pos.2017
%15
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.
Emigrants16
Pos.2010
%16
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 #gender_equality #human_rights #morals #politics #prejudice #somalia #somalia_human_rights #tolerance

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2020)17
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank17
1Sweden9.0
2Norway14.5
3Denmark14.5
...
194Brunei147.1
195Sudan148.6
196Vatican City154.0
197Tuvalu158.4
198Somalia159.5
199Solomon Islands166.2
Africa Avg108.2
World Avg87.9
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 when it comes to its nominal commitment to Human Rights18 (amongst the lowest in Africa) and in freethought19. It sits amongst the bottom 20 in commentary in Human Rights Watch reports20, supporting press freedom21 (amongst the worst in Africa) and in speed of uptake of HR treaties22 (amongst the highest in Africa). And finally, it is second-from-the-bottom in LGBT equality23. "Somalia´s armed conflict, abuses by all warring parties, and a new humanitariancrisis [continues] to take a devastating toll on civilians24". 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 right24 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 #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #vaccines

Compared to Africa (2020)25
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank25
1Mauritius64.5
2Morocco73.1
3=Eritrea77.0
...
31Madagascar111.5
32=Niger113.1
32=Congo, DR113.1
34Somalia113.1
35Uganda113.3
36S. Africa113.4
37Togo113.6
38Liberia113.8
39Mozambique113.9
Africa Avg108.2
q=54.
Health (2020)25
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank25
1Monaco13.0
2Hong Kong18.3
3Maldives41.0
...
162Philippines112.9
163=Niger113.1
163=Congo, DR113.1
165Somalia113.1
166Uganda113.3
167S. Africa113.4
168Togo113.6
169Liberia113.8
World Avg93.5
q=196.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Hong Kong and The Maldives26. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are The Marshall Islands, S. Sudan and Palau26.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are 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, Asia and The Mediterranean26, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Australasia and Africa26.

For more, see:

Health:

Somalia is a pretty unhealthy country. Somalia performs the best when it comes to its alcohol consumption rate27. It does better than average in its smoking rate28. But that's it. Somalia has problems. It does worse than average in its adolescent birth rate29. It falls into the worst-performing 20 when it comes to its average life expectancy11 and in its immunizations take-up30 (one of the worst in Africa). And finally, it is second-from-the-bottom in its fertility rate13. The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% over the past 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 of +7.9yrs.

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
27
Pos.2016
Per Capita27
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
13
Pos.201313
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
...
173Uganda5.95
174Malawi5.98
175Timor-Leste (E. Timor)5.99
176Afghanistan6.03
177Mali6.16
178Zambia6.30
179Somalia6.30
180Niger6.96
Africa Avg4.31
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Smoking Rates
Lower is better
28
Pos.201428
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
31
Pos.2016
%31
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
29
Pos.2015
Per 100029
1N. Korea0.5
2S. Korea1.6
3Switzerland2.9
...
161Lesotho92.7
162Dominican Rep.97.9
163Gabon99.9
164Somalia103.9
165Cameroon104.6
166Burkina Faso108.5
167Equatorial Guinea108.7
168Liberia108.8
Africa Avg87.5
World Avg47.9
q=185.
Infant Immunizations 2011-2015
Higher is better
30
Pos.2015
Avg %30
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.

6. Somalia's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #deforestation #over-exploitation #the_environment

This rank is calculated from 2 data sets. And finally, it falls into the worst 20 in terms of how quickly it ratified the 1993 Convention on Biological Diversity and in its forested percent change 2000-202032.

Forest Area Change 2000-2020
Higher is better
32
Pos.Total32
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.

Convention on Biological Diversity
Earlier is better
Pos.Total
Signed
1=China1993 Dec 29
1=Guinea1993 Dec 29
1=Cook Islands1993 Dec 29
...
190Timor-Leste (E. Timor)2007 Jan 08
191Brunei2008 Jul 27
192Iraq2009 Oct 26
193Somalia2009 Dec 10
194Palestine2015 Apr 02
195Andorra2015 May 05
196USA
197Vatican City
Africa Avg1899 Dec 30
World Avg1899 Dec 30
q=197.

7. Somalia's Modernity and Learning

#intelligence #the_internet

Modernity and Education:

IQ
Higher is better33
Pos.200633
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
34
Pos.201634
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.

8. National Culture

#corruption #happiness #politics

Corruption
Higher is better
35
Pos.2022
Points35
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
36
Pos.2018
Score36
1Finland7.6
2Norway7.6
3Denmark7.6
...
95Vietnam5.1
96Indonesia5.1
97Bhutan5.1
98Somalia5.0
99Cameroon5.0
100Bulgaria4.9
101Nepal4.9
102Venezuela4.8
Africa Avg4.29
World Avg5.38
q=156.

9. Peace Versus Instability

#extremism #human_development #peace #politics #religious_violence #terrorism

Global Peace Index
Lower is better
37
Pos.2023
Score37
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
38
Pos.2019
Score38
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.

10. Economic Inequality and Poverty

#health #inequality #life_expectancy

Inequality in Life Expectancy
Lower is better39
Pos.201939
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.

11. Religion and Beliefs

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

Disbelief In God (2007)40
Pos.Higher is better
%40
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 below41:

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)42.

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)43.

Links: