The most interesting facts about Somalia include a gigantic coastline, prehistoric rock paintings and a tragic and troubled history.
Fast facts
Official name: Federal Republic of Somalia
Capital city: Mogadishu
Population: 12.7 million
Area: 637,657 sq km
Major languages: Somali, Arabic, Italian, English
Major religions: Islam
Time zone: UTC+3 (East Africa Time)
Interesting facts about Somalia
1. Somalia is the easternmost country of Africa, located in what is known as the Horn of Africa.
2. The northern and eastern Somali coasts have been open to the outside world for centuries. Somalia formed part of Punt, an ancient region of Africa known as ‘the land of aromatics and incense’. It was cited in ancient Egyptian and Greek scripts.
3. Between the 7th and 19th centuries Somalia was ruled by a series of sultanates following the arrival of Islam in the 7th century.
4. Somalia was created in 1960 from an Italian colony and a former British protectorate.
5. Following the overthrow of the military regime in 1991, Somalia collapsed into anarchy and has been struggling to recover ever since.
6. In 1992 it was estimated that 350,000 Somalis had died of disease, starvation or civil war. Reacting to news images of the famine and war, U.S. President George H.W. Bush ordered emergency airlifts of food and supplies to Somalia.
7. Somalia has recently faced its worst drought in 40 years with 43,000 lives lost in 2022 alone. The Red Cross revealed in a December 2023 update that more than 3 million people are struggling to gain access to food.
8. In 1993, US Army Rangers were killed when Somali militias shot down two US helicopters in Mogadishu. In the ensuing Battle of Mogadishu, hundreds of Somalis and 18 Americans died.
9. The event was depicted in the 1999 book by Mark Bowden, Black Hawk Down, and a 2001 movie by Ridley Scott.
10. England’s first female Muslim football referee is from Somalia. Jawahir Roble used to live in Mogadishu but now referees football matches in northwest London.
11. In 1991, Somaliland declared unilateral independence from Somalia. Although not officially recognised, Somaliland is far more stable and open to foreign visitors.
12. Anjero is a traditional bread in Somalia. The spongy flatbread is usually topped with meat and vegetable curries such as okra, chickpeas and lentils.
13. Madagascar got its name from the Somali capital city of Mogadishu. Famous 13th-century explorer Marco Polo confused the island of Madagascar with Mogadishu and called it ‘Madageiscar’ – a corrupted transliteration of Mogadishu.
14. Somalia has a very simple flag consisting of a white star on a light blue background. The light blue was inspired by the United Nations flag as it played an intrinsic role in supporting Somalia’s move towards independence. The white star is the Somali national symbol. Each of its five points represents a Somali homeland.
15. An intrinsic part of Somali culture is the camel. Camels provide milk, transportation, income and status for owners. Camel meat is also a delicacy in Somali cuisine.
16. At over 800kg, Somalia’s camels are the largest in Africa.
17. Throughout the 2000s, pirates operated in the busy shipping lanes of the Gulf of Aden regularly seizing ships and taking hostages. Piracy in the region reached its peak in 2010 when Somali pirates hijacked 49 ships and took over 1,000 hostages.
18. The 2009 highjacking of the Maersk Alabama inspired the 2013 movie, Captain Phillips.
19. Somalia is currently ranked among the poorest countries in the world. The country’s GDP-PPP per capita is $2.06 thousand.
20. Prehistoric rock paintings dating back 5,000 years have been found in parts of Somalia, including one of the earliest known depictions of a mounted hunter.
21. With 3,025km of coastline, Somalia has the longest coastline on Africa’s mainland. The only African country with more coastline is the island of Madagascar.
22. In 2010, it’s believed that Mike Spencer Bown became the first tourist to visit Somalia since 1990. When he arrived, officials didn’t believe he was a tourist and accused him of being a spy.
23. Mo Farah, one of Britain’s most successful Olympic athletes, is from Somalia. He was born in Mogadishu in 1983 and moved to the UK in 1991.
24. Livestock accounts for over 80% of Somalia’s exports. Sheep and goats account for 44% with bovine (cattle) exports accounting for 22%.
25. Somalia is the eighth-highest source country of refugees. In 2018 over 900,000 people fled the country.
26. Somalia is among the 10 most dangerous countries in the world according to the International SOS Travel Risk Map. It has been assessed as carrying an ‘extreme travel security risk’.
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These facts about Somalia have been carefully corroborated using primary sources. If you find an error or have any questions, please contact us.
Caitriona Maria is an education writer and owner of The Facts Institute. A teacher for seven years, she has been committed to providing students with the best learning opportunities possible, both domestically and abroad. Dedicated to unlocking students' potential, Caitriona has taught English in several countries and continues to explore new cultures through her travels.