← Back to all countries

Sub-Saharan Africa

Somalia

Somalia · SOM · population about 20.3 million

Of every 1,000 babies born in the world right now, 6 are born here — about one in 158. That is 0.8 million a year, or 1.6 a minute.

This is a draw with the birthplace fixed, not weighted. Sex, family and everything after are still random.

The numbers here

16 indicators and where they rank among 237 countries and territories. Rank 1 is the better end (longer lives first, lower mortality first).

Births, deaths, income and education in Somalia, and where each ranks among 237 countries and territories
IndicatorValueRank
Female life expectancyhigher is better61.4yrs#232 / 237
Male life expectancyhigher is better56.3yrs#232 / 237
Dies before fivelower is better100.1‰#235 / 237
Infant mortalitylower is better64.3‰#234 / 237
GDP per person (PPP)higher is better1,643int$#234 / 237
Gini coefficientlower is more equal38.4#161 / 237
Maternal mortalitylower is better563/100k births#232 / 237
Secondary enrolmenthigher is better8%#237 / 237
Tertiary enrolmenthigher is better10%#207 / 237
Urban populationhigher is better55%#165 / 237
Agricultural employmentlower is better30%#177 / 237
Road deathslower is better27.4/100k people#201 / 237
Male smokinglower is better10%#32 / 237
Out-of-pocket healthlower is better31%#153 / 237
Internet usehigher is better28%#215 / 237
Fertility ratehigher is better5.80#2 / 237

4 of these had no recent observation and were filled with the regional median: gini, hom, smoke, ter.

Sources:UN World Population Prospects 2024 (births, population, life expectancy, infant and under-five mortality, fertility), World Bank WDI (income, Gini, enrolment, urbanisation, agricultural employment, internet use, out-of-pocket health spending), WHO (maternal mortality, smoking, road deaths), UNODC (homicide). Estimated values are marked. Methods and limits are inhow it is calculated.

Three questions about Somalia

What are the odds of being born in Somalia?

About 0.8 million babies are born in Somalia in 2026, 0.63% of the world’s 132.5 million newborns — roughly one in 158. At 4.2 births a second worldwide, that is about 1.6 a minute here.

What is life expectancy in Somalia?

On the UN life table, women in Somalia live 61.4 years and men 56.3; female life expectancy ranks 232 of 237. Infant mortality is 64.3‰ and under-five mortality 100.1‰.

What is income per person in Somalia?

GDP per person (PPP) is about 1,643 international dollars, ranking 234 of 237. The Gini coefficient is 38.4 (lower is more equal), and 55% of people live in cities.