Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Somalia
Somalia: Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) was 3.5% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Population growth in Somalia, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
Somalia recorded 3.5% for population growth in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 13.1% on the previous year and down 2.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population growth in Somalia peaked at 12.4% in 1979 and was at its lowest, -4.8%, in 1992.
That places Somalia 9th out of 215 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Somalia, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2.6% | — |
| 1971 | 2.6% | -0.8% |
| 1972 | 2.6% | -0.1% |
| 1973 | 2.7% | +1.6% |
| 1974 | 2.6% | -2.5% |
| 1975 | 2.5% | -3.0% |
| 1976 | 2.5% | -0.1% |
| 1977 | 2.7% | +6.4% |
| 1978 | 7.1% | +166.4% |
| 1979 | 12.4% | +73.8% |
| 1980 | 8.6% | -30.8% |
| 1981 | 0.8% | -90.8% |
| 1982 | 0.4% | -55.3% |
| 1983 | 3.2% | +810.7% |
| 1984 | 3.6% | +14.2% |
| 1985 | 4.0% | +10.9% |
| 1986 | 4.1% | +2.0% |
| 1987 | 3.6% | -13.3% |
| 1988 | 0.1% | -97.3% |
| 1989 | -1.7% | -1821.4% |
| 1990 | -0.5% | -73.2% |
| 1991 | -3.9% | +759.0% |
| 1992 | -4.8% | +23.7% |
| 1993 | 2.8% | -159.0% |
| 1994 | 5.0% | +78.2% |
| 1995 | 3.6% | -28.4% |
| 1996 | 3.6% | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 3.5% | -3.3% |
| 1998 | 4.1% | +17.9% |
| 1999 | 4.0% | -2.3% |
| 2000 | 4.0% | -1.1% |
| 2001 | 4.0% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 3.8% | -6.0% |
| 2003 | 3.7% | -1.6% |
| 2004 | 3.7% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 3.5% | -5.7% |
| 2006 | 3.1% | -11.7% |
| 2007 | 3.1% | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 3.0% | -4.8% |
| 2009 | 2.5% | -14.8% |
| 2010 | 2.5% | -1.7% |
| 2011 | 0.7% | -71.5% |
| 2012 | 0.9% | +28.0% |
| 2013 | 3.2% | +256.2% |
| 2014 | 3.6% | +11.2% |
| 2015 | 3.4% | -4.0% |
| 2016 | 3.8% | +11.7% |
| 2017 | 3.9% | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 3.5% | -9.1% |
| 2019 | 3.7% | +4.1% |
| 2020 | 3.8% | +3.3% |
| 2021 | 3.7% | -3.7% |
| 2022 | 3.0% | -17.3% |
| 2023 | 3.1% | +1.8% |
| 2024 | 3.5% | +13.1% |
Somalia compared with similar countries
- Somalia's 3.5% is above the median for low income countries, which is 2.6%, 1.3× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Somalia's 3.5% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.3%, 1.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Somalia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | -1821.4% | 0.1% | -1.7% |
| 1983 | +810.7% | 0.4% | 3.2% |
| 1991 | -759.0% | -0.5% | -3.9% |
| 2013 | +256.2% | 0.9% | 3.2% |
| 1978 | +166.4% | 2.7% | 7.1% |
| 1993 | +159.0% | -4.8% | 2.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4.0% | 2.5% | 12.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.7% | -1.7% | 8.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.8% | -4.8% | 5.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.4% | 2.5% | 4.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.9% | 0.7% | 3.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.4% | 3.0% | 3.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Somalia
- 6 South Sudan 3.9% compare
- 7 Malta 3.8% compare
- 8 United Arab Emirates 3.7% compare
- 10 Central African Republic 3.4% compare
- 11 Niger 3.3% compare
- 12 Democratic Republic of Congo 3.2% compare
More population data for Somalia
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.4652 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 1.96 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.4652 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.4952 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 36,463 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.89 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.3207 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.424 (2100)
- Population density 107.38 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 5.14 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population growth in Somalia?
- Population growth in Somalia was 3.5% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population growth recorded in Somalia?
- The highest recorded value was 12.4% in 1979.
- What is the lowest population growth recorded in Somalia?
- The lowest recorded value was -4.8% in 1992.
- How does Somalia rank for population growth?
- Somalia ranks 9th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is population growth rising or falling in Somalia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Somalia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release