Somalia
Federal Republic of Somalia
People: Somali
Somalia is located in Eastern Africa and has a population of around 19.7 million. Its capital city is Mogadishu, and the most widely spoken official language is Arabic.
By the numbers, Somalia is the 66th most populous of the 196 countries covered on this site, home to 0.25% of the world's population. By land area it ranks 41st out of 196, with a population density of roughly 31 people per km².
Facts last checked 31 August 2026.
Somalia — key facts at a glance
| Official Name | Federal Republic of Somalia |
|---|---|
| Capital City | Mogadishu |
| Continent | Africa |
| Region | Eastern Africa |
| Population | 19,655,000 |
| Area | 637,657 km² |
| Currency | Somali shilling (SOS) Sh |
| Official Languages | Arabic, Somali |
| Dialling Code | +252 |
| Internet TLD | .so |
| Timezone | UTC+03:00 |
| Drives on the | Right side |
| Emergency Number | 112 (works on most mobile networks worldwide) |
| ISO Code | SO / SOM |
| Borders | Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya |
Travelling to Somalia?
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Getting to and around Somalia
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Planning a trip to Somalia?
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Frequently Asked Questions about Somalia
What is the capital and currency of Somalia?
The capital of Somalia is Mogadishu and the currency is the Somali shilling (SOS), symbol Sh.
What is the capital of Somalia?
The capital of Somalia is Mogadishu.
What currency does Somalia use?
Somalia uses the Somali shilling (SOS, symbol: Sh).
What language do they speak in Somalia?
The official languages of Somalia are Arabic and Somali.
What is the dialling code for Somalia?
The international dialling code for Somalia is +252.
What side of the road does Somalia drive on?
Somalia drives on the right-hand side of the road.
Djibouti
Ethiopia
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