Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Somalia
Somalia: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 63.9% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Somalia, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Somalia is 63.9%, measured in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Somalia peaked at 64.6% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 9.5%, in 1950.
That places Somalia 26th out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Somalia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 9.5% | — |
| 1955 | 14.8% | +56.3% |
| 1960 | 16.5% | +11.6% |
| 1965 | 24.2% | +46.8% |
| 1970 | 28.1% | +16.1% |
| 1975 | 39.0% | +39.0% |
| 1980 | 46.8% | +19.9% |
| 1985 | 50.2% | +7.2% |
| 1990 | 50.8% | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 53.3% | +4.7% |
| 2000 | 59.0% | +10.7% |
| 2005 | 61.0% | +3.4% |
| 2010 | 63.2% | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 64.6% | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 63.9% | -1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 12.1% | 9.5% | 14.8% | 2 |
| 1960s | 20.3% | 16.5% | 24.2% | 2 |
| 1970s | 33.6% | 28.1% | 39.0% | 2 |
| 1980s | 48.5% | 46.8% | 50.2% | 2 |
| 1990s | 52.0% | 50.8% | 53.3% | 2 |
| 2000s | 60.0% | 59.0% | 61.0% | 2 |
| 2010s | 63.9% | 63.2% | 64.6% | 2 |
| 2020s | 63.9% | 63.9% | 63.9% | 1 |
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)
- World population growth 0.4% (2100)
- Population density 107.38 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 5.14 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Somalia?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Somalia was 63.9% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Somalia?
- The highest recorded value was 64.6% in 2015.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Somalia?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.5% in 1950.
- How does Somalia rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Somalia ranks 26th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Somalia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Somalia data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in cities. Cities are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.