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
Latest (2025)
10.84 million people
Change on year
up 4.4%
World rank
61st
of 236 countries
All-time high
10.84 million people
in 2025
All-time low
284,454 people
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
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.
Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Somalia, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 284,454 people | — |
| 1951 | 302,612 people | +6.4% |
| 1952 | 321,542 people | +6.3% |
| 1953 | 341,307 people | +6.1% |
| 1954 | 362,341 people | +6.2% |
| 1955 | 384,256 people | +6.0% |
| 1956 | 407,071 people | +5.9% |
| 1957 | 430,819 people | +5.8% |
| 1958 | 455,382 people | +5.7% |
| 1959 | 481,050 people | +5.6% |
| 1960 | 508,138 people | +5.6% |
| 1961 | 536,512 people | +5.6% |
| 1962 | 566,187 people | +5.5% |
| 1963 | 597,189 people | +5.5% |
| 1964 | 630,077 people | +5.5% |
| 1965 | 665,366 people | +5.6% |
| 1966 | 702,759 people | +5.6% |
| 1967 | 742,034 people | +5.6% |
| 1968 | 783,022 people | +5.5% |
| 1969 | 825,377 people | +5.4% |
| 1970 | 868,915 people | +5.3% |
| 1971 | 912,996 people | +5.1% |
| 1972 | 957,368 people | +4.9% |
| 1973 | 1.00 million people | +4.7% |
| 1974 | 1.05 million people | +4.3% |
| 1975 | 1.09 million people | +4.0% |
| 1976 | 1.13 million people | +3.8% |
| 1977 | 1.17 million people | +3.8% |
| 1978 | 1.27 million people | +8.4% |
| 1979 | 1.45 million people | +14.2% |
| 1980 | 1.59 million people | +9.9% |
| 1981 | 1.62 million people | +1.6% |
| 1982 | 1.64 million people | +1.1% |
| 1983 | 1.70 million people | +4.1% |
| 1984 | 1.78 million people | +4.6% |
| 1985 | 1.87 million people | +5.0% |
| 1986 | 1.97 million people | +5.2% |
| 1987 | 2.06 million people | +4.7% |
| 1988 | 2.08 million people | +1.1% |
| 1989 | 2.07 million people | -0.6% |
| 1990 | 2.08 million people | +0.6% |
| 1991 | 2.02 million people | -2.8% |
| 1992 | 1.95 million people | -3.6% |
| 1993 | 2.03 million people | +4.0% |
| 1994 | 2.16 million people | +6.4% |
| 1995 | 2.26 million people | +4.9% |
| 1996 | 2.37 million people | +4.9% |
| 1997 | 2.49 million people | +4.8% |
| 1998 | 2.63 million people | +5.5% |
| 1999 | 2.77 million people | +5.5% |
| 2000 | 2.92 million people | +5.5% |
| 2001 | 3.08 million people | +5.5% |
| 2002 | 3.25 million people | +5.3% |
| 2003 | 3.42 million people | +5.2% |
| 2004 | 3.59 million people | +5.2% |
| 2005 | 3.78 million people | +5.0% |
| 2006 | 3.95 million people | +4.7% |
| 2007 | 4.14 million people | +4.8% |
| 2008 | 4.34 million people | +4.7% |
| 2009 | 4.53 million people | +4.4% |
| 2010 | 4.73 million people | +4.5% |
| 2011 | 4.86 million people | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 5.02 million people | +3.2% |
| 2013 | 5.31 million people | +5.8% |
| 2014 | 5.65 million people | +6.4% |
| 2015 | 6.06 million people | +7.2% |
| 2016 | 6.59 million people | +8.9% |
| 2017 | 7.21 million people | +9.4% |
| 2018 | 7.87 million people | +9.1% |
| 2019 | 8.28 million people | +5.2% |
| 2020 | 8.71 million people | +5.2% |
| 2021 | 9.14 million people | +5.0% |
| 2022 | 9.52 million people | +4.2% |
| 2023 | 9.93 million people | +4.2% |
| 2024 | 10.38 million people | +4.6% |
| 2025 | 10.84 million people | +4.4% |
Somalia compared with similar countries
- Somalia's 10.84 million people is above the median for low income countries, which is 6.96 million people, 1.6× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Somalia's 10.84 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.82 million people, 2.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
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
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.4952 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.4652 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.4% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 5.14 million people (2100)
- Population density 107.38 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.4% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.3207 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.89 Percent per annum (2030)
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.