Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Somalia
Somalia: Number of people living in urban and rural areas was 10.84 million people in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Somalia, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2025, number of people living in urban and rural areas in Somalia stood at 10.84 million people. 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, number of people living in urban and rural areas in Somalia peaked at 10.84 million people in 2025 and was at its lowest, 284,454 people, 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 377,083 people | 284,454 people | 481,050 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 655,666 people | 508,138 people | 825,377 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.09 million people | 868,915 people | 1.45 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.84 million people | 1.59 million people | 2.08 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.28 million people | 1.95 million people | 2.77 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.70 million people | 2.92 million people | 4.53 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.16 million people | 4.73 million people | 8.28 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.75 million people | 8.71 million people | 10.84 million people | 6 |
Countries ranked near Somalia
- 58 Kazakhstan 13.00 million people compare
- 59 Ecuador 11.59 million people compare
- 60 Afghanistan 11.37 million people compare
- 62 Madagascar 10.77 million people compare
- 63 Jordan 10.74 million people compare
- 64 Senegal 10.56 million people compare
More population data for Somalia
- 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)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.4% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 6.01 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 6.01 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 19,503 people (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 6.01 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. Share of people who are religious 6.13 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate accounting for survival until childbearing age 5.16 children per women (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people living in urban and rural areas in Somalia?
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Somalia was 10.84 million people in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Somalia?
- The highest recorded value was 10.84 million people in 2025.
- What is the lowest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Somalia?
- The lowest recorded value was 284,454 people in 1950.
- How does Somalia rank for number of people living in urban and rural areas?
- Somalia ranks 61st out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people living in urban and rural areas 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 United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.