Officially the Federal Republic of Somaia, is located in the Horn of Africa and has the longest coastline on Africa's mainland. Somalia has an estimated Population of around 14.3 million. Around 85% of its residents are ethnic Somalis, who have historically inhabited the northern part of the country.In antiquity, Somalia was an important commercial centre. The Supreme Revolutionary Council seized power in 1969 and established the Somali Democratic Republic. Led by Mohamed Siad Barre, this government later collapsed in 1991 as the Somali Civil War broke out. Various armed factions began competing for influence in the power vacuum, particularly in the south.
Languages: Somali, Arabic, Italian, English
Ethnic Groups: Somali 85%, Bantu and other non-Somali 15% (including 30,000 Arabs)
Belief Systems: Sunni Muslim
Demographics:
Population: 10.3 million people (World Rank: 86th) (2014 estimate)
Population Density: 42.6 people/mi^2 (People per Square Mile) (World Rank: 210th) (2014 estimate)
Population Growth: 2.61 %/yr (World Rank: 29th) (2013 estimate)
Life Expectancy: 55 years (World Rank: 215th) (2013 estimate)
Median Age: 16.1 years (World Rank: 192nd) (2010 estimate)
Sites for More Information:
Map of Somalia
Worldatlas.com
Somalia
World Factbook
Current News About Somalia
AllAfrica.com
Somalia - Facts and Information 1
U.S. Library of Congress
Somalia - Facts and Information 2
Encyclopedia.com
Traveling to Somalia
Africaguide.com
Somalian Embassy
in Washington D.C.
Somalia Government Web Sites
by Gunnar Anzinger
