Total population (thousands) in Somalia
Somalia: Total population (thousands) was 19,332 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
19,332 thousands
Change on year
up 3.5%
World rank
66th
of 233 countries
All-time high
19,332 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
3,689 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Total population in Somalia, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
The most recent figure for total population in Somalia is 19,332 thousands, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
The figure is up 3.5% on the previous year and up 42.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population in Somalia peaked at 19,332 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 3,689 thousands, in 1970.
Somalia ranks 66th of 233 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Total population (thousands) in Somalia, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 3,689 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 3,788 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1972 | 3,887 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1973 | 3,992 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1974 | 4,100 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1975 | 4,204 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1976 | 4,311 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1977 | 4,421 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1978 | 4,548 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1979 | 5,082 thousands | +11.8% |
| 1980 | 5,816 thousands | +14.4% |
| 1981 | 6,056 thousands | +4.1% |
| 1982 | 5,909 thousands | -2.4% |
| 1983 | 6,098 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1984 | 6,299 thousands | +3.3% |
| 1985 | 6,558 thousands | +4.1% |
| 1986 | 6,828 thousands | +4.1% |
| 1987 | 7,121 thousands | +4.3% |
| 1988 | 7,335 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1989 | 7,135 thousands | -2.7% |
| 1990 | 7,094 thousands | -0.6% |
| 1991 | 7,071 thousands | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 6,556 thousands | -7.3% |
| 1993 | 6,434 thousands | -1.9% |
| 1994 | 6,929 thousands | +7.7% |
| 1995 | 7,125 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1996 | 7,445 thousands | +4.5% |
| 1997 | 7,664 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1998 | 7,985 thousands | +4.2% |
| 1999 | 8,326 thousands | +4.3% |
| 2000 | 8,659 thousands | +4.0% |
| 2001 | 9,019 thousands | +4.2% |
| 2002 | 9,378 thousands | +4.0% |
| 2003 | 9,722 thousands | +3.7% |
| 2004 | 10,096 thousands | +3.9% |
| 2005 | 10,466 thousands | +3.7% |
| 2006 | 10,823 thousands | +3.4% |
| 2007 | 11,128 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 11,517 thousands | +3.5% |
| 2009 | 11,809 thousands | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 12,113 thousands | +2.6% |
| 2011 | 12,410 thousands | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 12,287 thousands | -1.0% |
| 2013 | 12,635 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 13,104 thousands | +3.7% |
| 2015 | 13,575 thousands | +3.6% |
| 2016 | 14,039 thousands | +3.4% |
| 2017 | 14,658 thousands | +4.4% |
| 2018 | 15,175 thousands | +3.5% |
| 2019 | 15,730 thousands | +3.7% |
| 2020 | 16,332 thousands | +3.8% |
| 2021 | 16,970 thousands | +3.9% |
| 2022 | 17,572 thousands | +3.5% |
| 2023 | 18,031 thousands | +2.6% |
| 2024 | 18,686 thousands | +3.6% |
| 2025 | 19,332 thousands | +3.5% |
Somalia compared with similar countries
- Somalia's 19,332 thousands is below the median for low income countries, which is 23,812 thousands, 81% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Somalia's 19,332 thousands is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14,783 thousands, 1.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4,202 thousands | 3,689 thousands | 5,082 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 6,516 thousands | 5,816 thousands | 7,335 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 7,263 thousands | 6,434 thousands | 8,326 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 10,262 thousands | 8,659 thousands | 11,809 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 13,573 thousands | 12,113 thousands | 15,730 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 17,821 thousands | 16,332 thousands | 19,332 thousands | 6 |
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 total population in Somalia?
- Total population in Somalia was 19,332 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total population recorded in Somalia?
- The highest recorded value was 19,332 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest total population recorded in Somalia?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,689 thousands in 1970.
- How does Somalia rank for total population?
- Somalia ranks 66th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total population rising or falling in Somalia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 42.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Somalia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total population (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release