Population growth rates in Somalia
Somalia: Population growth rates was 3.56 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
3.56
Change on year
up 38.2%
World rank
7th
of 236 countries
All-time high
13.49
in 1979
All-time low
-7.56
in 1991
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Population growth rates in Somalia, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Somalia recorded 3.56 for population growth rates in 2023.
That represents a change of up 38.2% on the previous year and down 2.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population growth rates in Somalia peaked at 13.49 in 1979 and was at its lowest, -7.56, in 1991.
Somalia ranks 7th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population growth rates in Somalia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 2.87 | — |
| 1951 | 2.79 | -2.7% |
| 1952 | 2.72 | -2.8% |
| 1953 | 2.62 | -3.4% |
| 1954 | 2.61 | -0.6% |
| 1955 | 2.59 | -0.9% |
| 1956 | 2.57 | -0.7% |
| 1957 | 2.55 | -0.8% |
| 1958 | 2.47 | -3.1% |
| 1959 | 2.56 | +3.8% |
| 1960 | 2.59 | +1.2% |
| 1961 | 2.6 | +0.3% |
| 1962 | 2.62 | +0.5% |
| 1963 | 2.61 | -0.0% |
| 1964 | 2.62 | +0.1% |
| 1965 | 2.64 | +1.0% |
| 1966 | 2.61 | -1.2% |
| 1967 | 2.63 | +0.9% |
| 1968 | 2.63 | -0.3% |
| 1969 | 2.63 | +0.2% |
| 1970 | 2.65 | +0.8% |
| 1971 | 2.59 | -2.4% |
| 1972 | 2.64 | +2.1% |
| 1973 | 2.67 | +1.2% |
| 1974 | 2.51 | -6.0% |
| 1975 | 2.52 | +0.1% |
| 1976 | 2.51 | -0.3% |
| 1977 | 2.83 | +12.9% |
| 1978 | 11.12 | +292.5% |
| 1979 | 13.49 | +21.3% |
| 1980 | 4.05 | -70.0% |
| 1981 | -2.46 | -160.7% |
| 1982 | 3.15 | -228.1% |
| 1983 | 3.23 | +2.7% |
| 1984 | 4.04 | +25.0% |
| 1985 | 4.04 | -0.1% |
| 1986 | 4.2 | +4.0% |
| 1987 | 2.96 | -29.4% |
| 1988 | -2.77 | -193.3% |
| 1989 | -0.576 | -79.2% |
| 1990 | -0.325 | -43.6% |
| 1991 | -7.56 | +2227.1% |
| 1992 | -1.88 | -75.1% |
| 1993 | 7.41 | -493.9% |
| 1994 | 2.79 | -62.3% |
| 1995 | 4.4 | +57.7% |
| 1996 | 2.89 | -34.2% |
| 1997 | 4.11 | +42.1% |
| 1998 | 4.17 | +1.5% |
| 1999 | 3.92 | -6.0% |
| 2000 | 4.08 | +3.9% |
| 2001 | 3.91 | -4.1% |
| 2002 | 3.6 | -7.9% |
| 2003 | 3.78 | +5.0% |
| 2004 | 3.59 | -4.9% |
| 2005 | 3.36 | -6.6% |
| 2006 | 2.78 | -17.1% |
| 2007 | 3.43 | +23.4% |
| 2008 | 2.51 | -27.0% |
| 2009 | 2.54 | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 2.42 | -4.7% |
| 2011 | -0.996 | -141.1% |
| 2012 | 2.79 | -380.1% |
| 2013 | 3.65 | +30.7% |
| 2014 | 3.53 | -3.3% |
| 2015 | 3.36 | -4.6% |
| 2016 | 4.32 | +28.3% |
| 2017 | 3.46 | -19.7% |
| 2018 | 3.59 | +3.7% |
| 2019 | 3.75 | +4.5% |
| 2020 | 3.83 | +2.1% |
| 2021 | 3.48 | -9.1% |
| 2022 | 2.58 | -26.0% |
| 2023 | 3.56 | +38.2% |
Somalia compared with similar countries
- Somalia's 3.56 is above the median for low income countries, which is 2.71, 1.3× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Somalia's 3.56 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.35, 1.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population growth rates 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | -2227.1% | -0.325 | -7.56 |
| 1993 | +493.9% | -1.88 | 7.41 |
| 2012 | +380.1% | -0.996 | 2.79 |
| 1978 | +292.5% | 2.83 | 11.12 |
| 1982 | +228.1% | -2.46 | 3.15 |
| 1988 | -193.3% | 2.96 | -2.77 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 2.64 | 2.47 | 2.87 | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.62 | 2.59 | 2.64 | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.55 | 2.51 | 13.49 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.99 | -2.77 | 4.2 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.99 | -7.56 | 7.41 | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.36 | 2.51 | 4.08 | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.99 | -0.996 | 4.32 | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.37 | 2.58 | 3.83 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Somalia
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 rates in Somalia?
- Population growth rates in Somalia was 3.56 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population growth rates recorded in Somalia?
- The highest recorded value was 13.49 in 1979.
- What is the lowest population growth rates recorded in Somalia?
- The lowest recorded value was -7.56 in 1991.
- How does Somalia rank for population growth rates?
- Somalia ranks 7th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population growth rates rising or falling in Somalia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Somalia data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Population growth rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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