Urban and rural population in Somalia
Somalia: Urban and rural population was 10.84 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
10.84 million
Change on year
up 4.4%
World rank
61st
of 236 countries
All-time high
10.84 million
in 2025
All-time low
284,454
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Urban and rural population in Somalia, 1950–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, urban and rural population in Somalia stood at 10.84 million. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.4% on the previous year and up 79.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban and rural population in Somalia peaked at 10.84 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 284,454, in 1950.
Somalia ranks 61st of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban and rural population in Somalia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 284,454 | — |
| 1951 | 302,612 | +6.4% |
| 1952 | 321,542 | +6.3% |
| 1953 | 341,307 | +6.1% |
| 1954 | 362,341 | +6.2% |
| 1955 | 384,256 | +6.0% |
| 1956 | 407,071 | +5.9% |
| 1957 | 430,819 | +5.8% |
| 1958 | 455,382 | +5.7% |
| 1959 | 481,050 | +5.6% |
| 1960 | 508,138 | +5.6% |
| 1961 | 536,512 | +5.6% |
| 1962 | 566,187 | +5.5% |
| 1963 | 597,189 | +5.5% |
| 1964 | 630,077 | +5.5% |
| 1965 | 665,366 | +5.6% |
| 1966 | 702,759 | +5.6% |
| 1967 | 742,034 | +5.6% |
| 1968 | 783,022 | +5.5% |
| 1969 | 825,377 | +5.4% |
| 1970 | 868,915 | +5.3% |
| 1971 | 912,996 | +5.1% |
| 1972 | 957,368 | +4.9% |
| 1973 | 1.00 million | +4.7% |
| 1974 | 1.05 million | +4.3% |
| 1975 | 1.09 million | +4.0% |
| 1976 | 1.13 million | +3.8% |
| 1977 | 1.17 million | +3.8% |
| 1978 | 1.27 million | +8.4% |
| 1979 | 1.45 million | +14.2% |
| 1980 | 1.59 million | +9.9% |
| 1981 | 1.62 million | +1.6% |
| 1982 | 1.64 million | +1.1% |
| 1983 | 1.70 million | +4.1% |
| 1984 | 1.78 million | +4.6% |
| 1985 | 1.87 million | +5.0% |
| 1986 | 1.97 million | +5.2% |
| 1987 | 2.06 million | +4.7% |
| 1988 | 2.08 million | +1.1% |
| 1989 | 2.07 million | -0.6% |
| 1990 | 2.08 million | +0.6% |
| 1991 | 2.02 million | -2.8% |
| 1992 | 1.95 million | -3.6% |
| 1993 | 2.03 million | +4.0% |
| 1994 | 2.16 million | +6.4% |
| 1995 | 2.26 million | +4.9% |
| 1996 | 2.37 million | +4.9% |
| 1997 | 2.49 million | +4.8% |
| 1998 | 2.63 million | +5.5% |
| 1999 | 2.77 million | +5.5% |
| 2000 | 2.92 million | +5.5% |
| 2001 | 3.08 million | +5.5% |
| 2002 | 3.25 million | +5.3% |
| 2003 | 3.42 million | +5.2% |
| 2004 | 3.59 million | +5.2% |
| 2005 | 3.78 million | +5.0% |
| 2006 | 3.95 million | +4.7% |
| 2007 | 4.14 million | +4.8% |
| 2008 | 4.34 million | +4.7% |
| 2009 | 4.53 million | +4.4% |
| 2010 | 4.73 million | +4.5% |
| 2011 | 4.86 million | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 5.02 million | +3.2% |
| 2013 | 5.31 million | +5.8% |
| 2014 | 5.65 million | +6.4% |
| 2015 | 6.06 million | +7.2% |
| 2016 | 6.59 million | +8.9% |
| 2017 | 7.21 million | +9.4% |
| 2018 | 7.87 million | +9.1% |
| 2019 | 8.28 million | +5.2% |
| 2020 | 8.71 million | +5.2% |
| 2021 | 9.14 million | +5.0% |
| 2022 | 9.52 million | +4.2% |
| 2023 | 9.93 million | +4.2% |
| 2024 | 10.38 million | +4.6% |
| 2025 | 10.84 million | +4.4% |
Somalia compared with similar countries
- Somalia's 10.84 million is above the median for low income countries, which is 6.96 million, 1.6× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Somalia's 10.84 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.82 million, 2.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 377,083 | 284,454 | 481,050 | 10 |
| 1960s | 655,666 | 508,138 | 825,377 | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.09 million | 868,915 | 1.45 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.84 million | 1.59 million | 2.08 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.28 million | 1.95 million | 2.77 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.70 million | 2.92 million | 4.53 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.16 million | 4.73 million | 8.28 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.75 million | 8.71 million | 10.84 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Somalia
- 58 Kazakhstan 13.00 million compare
- 59 Ecuador 11.59 million compare
- 60 Afghanistan 11.37 million compare
- 62 Madagascar 10.77 million compare
- 63 Jordan 10.74 million compare
- 64 Senegal 10.56 million 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 urban and rural population in Somalia?
- Urban and rural population in Somalia was 10.84 million in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population recorded in Somalia?
- The highest recorded value was 10.84 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population recorded in Somalia?
- The lowest recorded value was 284,454 in 1950.
- How does Somalia rank for urban and rural population?
- Somalia ranks 61st out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban and rural population rising or falling in Somalia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 79.0%. 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 Urban and rural population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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