Somalia Population
Somalia has an estimated population of about 19.0 million, which makes it the 67th most populous of the 115 countries tracked here.
Its population is growing very rapidly, at 3.48% a year.
The capital is Mogadishu.
The counter below is a live estimate interpolated from the World Bank's latest annual figures — not a real-time measurement. It links to its source, base year and method via the ⓘ next to it.
Statistics
Population trend
Population 2015–2024 (World Bank)
How Somalia's population is changing
Somalia records about 2,204 births and 507 deaths a day. That is a natural increase of roughly 1,697 people per day, or about 619,829 a year before migration is counted.
Net migration runs at about 26,859 over the reported period, with more people arriving than leaving. That is equivalent to about 4% of its natural change.
If the current rate held indefinitely, Somalia would take roughly 20 years to double in size — a projection of today's rate, not a forecast.
Over the 9 years from 2015 to 2024, the population rose from 13.8 million to 19.0 million — a gain of 5.20 million, or 37.7%.
Where people live in Somalia
With about 29 people per square kilometre, Somalia is sparsely populated, well below the world average of 62. That ranks 91st of the 115 countries here. Its closest comparisons on density are Angola and Zambia.
Somalia covers about 627,340 km² of land, which is what turns a population of 19.0 million into that density figure.
About 54.6% of people live in urban areas, making Somalia majority urban, almost exactly the world average of 57.6%. That works out to roughly 10.4 million town and city dwellers and 8.63 million living rurally.
Age, fertility and life expectancy in Somalia
Somalia has a very young population: about 46.6% are under 15 and 2.6% are 65 or older. Children outnumber over-65s by roughly 18.0 to one.
The total fertility rate is about 6.01 births per woman, above the ~2.1 replacement level, which is what sustains growth from births alone. The world figure is about 2.19.
Life expectancy at birth is about 59.0 years, roughly 14.5 years below the global average of 73.5.
Somalia at a glance
| Indicator | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 19.0 million | 2024 |
| World rank by population | #67 | 2024 |
| Annual growth rate | 3.48% | 2024 |
| Population density | 29 /km² | 2023 |
| Land area | 627,340 km² | 2023 |
| Urban population | 54.6% | 2024 |
| Life expectancy at birth | 59.0 years | 2024 |
| Fertility rate | 6.01 births per woman | 2024 |
| Population under 15 | 46.6% | 2024 |
| Population 65 and over | 2.6% | 2024 |
| Net migration | 26,859 | 2024 |
| Births per day | 2,204 | 2024 |
| Deaths per day | 507 | 2024 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Somalia?
Is Somalia's population growing or shrinking?
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Where do these Somalia figures come from?
Current local time in Somalia
Methodology & sources
Data: World Bank (CC BY 4.0), base year 2024. The live counter animates the latest annual growth rate per second; it is an estimate, not a real-time measurement. No figures are invented — every number traces back to the World Bank indicators listed above.
Source: World Bank