GeoRealityMatch

The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to parts of the country, and all but essential travel to other areas. FCDO travel advice, read 29 October 2026.

Capture of a breathtaking sunset over the cityscape of Hargeisa, Somalia.An aerial shot depicting vibrant rooftops and lush greenery under a bright sky.

Somalia

Africa · Eastern Africa

Very low safetyLow development

It is among the least peaceful countries.

Safety

151st most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
2.973lower is more peacefulVery low safety
#151 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Safety index
37.5Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferLowNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$640national income per person, US dollarsVery low
World Bank · 2025

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 44% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 64% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parity

$0$1.0K$2.0K$1,643 PPP$661200620102015202020252006, $458 a person, $659 at PPP2007, $480 a person, $700 at PPP2008, $507 a person, $739 at PPP2009, $247 a person, $774 at PPP2010, $219 a person, $815 at PPP2011, $235 a person, $881 at PPP2012, $350 a person, $1,003 at PPP2013, $393 a person, $944 at PPP2014, $429 a person, $1,128 at PPP2015, $446 a person, $1,341 at PPP2016, $461 a person, $1,469 at PPP2017, $511 a person, $1,597 at PPP2018, $509 a person, $1,552 at PPP2019, $540 a person, $1,548 at PPP2020, $518 a person, $1,454 at PPP2021, $549 a person, $1,392 at PPP2022, $573 a person, $1,486 at PPP2023, $597 a person, $1,557 at PPP2024, $630 a person, $1,604 at PPP2025, $661 a person, $1,643 at PPP$0$1.0K$2.0K200620102015202020252006, $458 a person, $659 at PPP2007, $480 a person, $700 at PPP2008, $507 a person, $739 at PPP2009, $247 a person, $774 at PPP2010, $219 a person, $815 at PPP2011, $235 a person, $881 at PPP2012, $350 a person, $1,003 at PPP2013, $393 a person, $944 at PPP2014, $429 a person, $1,128 at PPP2015, $446 a person, $1,341 at PPP2016, $461 a person, $1,469 at PPP2017, $511 a person, $1,597 at PPP2018, $509 a person, $1,552 at PPP2019, $540 a person, $1,548 at PPP2020, $518 a person, $1,454 at PPP2021, $549 a person, $1,392 at PPP2022, $573 a person, $1,486 at PPP2023, $597 a person, $1,557 at PPP2024, $630 a person, $1,604 at PPP2025, $661 a person, $1,643 at PPP

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Among the shortest life expectancies

Life expectancy
59.0years, at birthVery low
#190 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
30WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100Very lowWHO · 2023
Air pollution
16.5PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageModerateWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Slow home internet

Unemployment rate
18.9%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
18 Mbpsmedian download speedSlowOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
398EF English Proficiency Index scoreVery lowEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet18 MbpsSlow

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

An aerial shot depicting vibrant rooftops and lush greenery under a bright sky.
How it changed

Somalia's Human Development Index

0.404Low human development

192nd of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 53rd of 54 in Africa.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #190Chad0.416
  2. #191Central African Republic0.414
  3. #192Somalia0.404
  4. #193South Sudan0.388
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
59 years2024at birthUp 8.1 years from 50.9 years in 2005
Internet users
28%2024of people onlineUp 27 points from 1% in 2006
Urban population
55%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 19 points from 36% in 2006
Births per woman
6.012024births per womanDown 1.52 from 7.53 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
95%2022of energy usedUp 2 points from 93% in 2004
Access to electricity
54%2024of people with electricityUp 39 points from 15% in 2005
Infant mortality
652024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 39 from 104 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
0.1 t2024of CO2 per person a yearLevel with 2005
Forest area
9%2023of land under forestDown 2 points from 11% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Recovering failed state; Al-Shabaab remains active, but Mogadishu is slowly rebuilding. The case against is a low peace ranking, low incomes and short lives.

About Somalia

Somalia is a country on the Horn of Africa with a coastline longer than any in sub-Saharan Africa, an ancient trading heritage connecting the Indian Ocean world, and a culture with one of the richest oral poetry traditions anywhere. The landscape ranges from fertile river valleys in the south to dramatic highland gorges. It remains a very challenging destination requiring extensive local knowledge and planning, but the culture and landscape hold something genuinely extraordinary.

Practical facts

  • CapitalMogadishu
  • LanguagesArabic, Somali
  • CurrencySomali shilling (SOS)
  • Area627,340 km²
  • Plug typeType C/G
  • Drives on theright
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Quick answers

What is Somalia's Human Development Index?

Somalia's Human Development Index is 0.404 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #192 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Somalia safe?

Somalia scores 2.97 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #151 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

What is life expectancy in Somalia?

Life expectancy at birth in Somalia is 59.0 yrs (World Bank), ranked #190 of 195 countries.