Population density in Somalia
Somalia: Population density was 29.26 people per sq. km of land area in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
29.26 people per sq. km of land area
Change on year
up 3.1%
World rank
171st
of 215 countries
All-time high
29.26 people per sq. km of land area
in 2023
All-time low
4.71 people per sq. km of land area
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Population density in Somalia, 1961–2023
Source: FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in people per sq. km of land area.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population density in Somalia is 29.26 people per sq. km of land area, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
The figure is up 3.1% on the previous year and up 42.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population density in Somalia peaked at 29.26 people per sq. km of land area in 2023 and was at its lowest, 4.71 people per sq. km of land area, in 1961.
Somalia ranks 171st of 215 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population density in Somalia, year by year
| Year | people per sq. km of land area | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 4.71 people per sq. km of land area | — |
| 1962 | 4.83 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 1963 | 4.96 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 1964 | 5.09 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1965 | 5.23 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1966 | 5.36 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1967 | 5.51 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1968 | 5.65 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1969 | 5.8 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1970 | 5.96 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1971 | 6.12 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1972 | 6.28 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1973 | 6.45 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1974 | 6.62 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 1975 | 6.79 people per sq. km of land area | +2.5% |
| 1976 | 6.96 people per sq. km of land area | +2.5% |
| 1977 | 7.15 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1978 | 7.68 people per sq. km of land area | +7.4% |
| 1979 | 8.69 people per sq. km of land area | +13.2% |
| 1980 | 9.46 people per sq. km of land area | +8.9% |
| 1981 | 9.54 people per sq. km of land area | +0.8% |
| 1982 | 9.57 people per sq. km of land area | +0.4% |
| 1983 | 9.88 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 1984 | 10.25 people per sq. km of land area | +3.7% |
| 1985 | 10.67 people per sq. km of land area | +4.1% |
| 1986 | 11.12 people per sq. km of land area | +4.2% |
| 1987 | 11.52 people per sq. km of land area | +3.6% |
| 1988 | 11.53 people per sq. km of land area | +0.1% |
| 1989 | 11.34 people per sq. km of land area | -1.7% |
| 1990 | 11.29 people per sq. km of land area | -0.4% |
| 1991 | 10.86 people per sq. km of land area | -3.8% |
| 1992 | 10.35 people per sq. km of land area | -4.7% |
| 1993 | 10.65 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1994 | 11.2 people per sq. km of land area | +5.2% |
| 1995 | 11.61 people per sq. km of land area | +3.7% |
| 1996 | 12.04 people per sq. km of land area | +3.7% |
| 1997 | 12.47 people per sq. km of land area | +3.6% |
| 1998 | 13 people per sq. km of land area | +4.2% |
| 1999 | 13.54 people per sq. km of land area | +4.1% |
| 2000 | 14.09 people per sq. km of land area | +4.1% |
| 2001 | 14.66 people per sq. km of land area | +4.1% |
| 2002 | 15.22 people per sq. km of land area | +3.8% |
| 2003 | 15.8 people per sq. km of land area | +3.8% |
| 2004 | 16.39 people per sq. km of land area | +3.8% |
| 2005 | 16.97 people per sq. km of land area | +3.5% |
| 2006 | 17.5 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 18.05 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 2008 | 18.59 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 2009 | 19.07 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 19.55 people per sq. km of land area | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 19.68 people per sq. km of land area | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 19.86 people per sq. km of land area | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 20.51 people per sq. km of land area | +3.3% |
| 2014 | 21.26 people per sq. km of land area | +3.7% |
| 2015 | 22.01 people per sq. km of land area | +3.5% |
| 2016 | 22.87 people per sq. km of land area | +3.9% |
| 2017 | 23.78 people per sq. km of land area | +4.0% |
| 2018 | 24.63 people per sq. km of land area | +3.6% |
| 2019 | 25.55 people per sq. km of land area | +3.7% |
| 2020 | 26.54 people per sq. km of land area | +3.9% |
| 2021 | 27.53 people per sq. km of land area | +3.7% |
| 2022 | 28.38 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 2023 | 29.26 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5.24 people per sq. km of land area | 4.71 people per sq. km of land area | 5.8 people per sq. km of land area | 9 |
| 1970s | 6.87 people per sq. km of land area | 5.96 people per sq. km of land area | 8.69 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 1980s | 10.49 people per sq. km of land area | 9.46 people per sq. km of land area | 11.53 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 1990s | 11.7 people per sq. km of land area | 10.35 people per sq. km of land area | 13.54 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.63 people per sq. km of land area | 14.09 people per sq. km of land area | 19.07 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.97 people per sq. km of land area | 19.55 people per sq. km of land area | 25.55 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2020s | 27.93 people per sq. km of land area | 26.54 people per sq. km of land area | 29.26 people per sq. km of land area | 4 |
Countries ranked near Somalia
- 168 Estonia 32.07 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 169 Latvia 30.27 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 170 Angola 29.48 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 172 Eritrea 28.64 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 173 Solomon Islands 28.58 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 174 Zambia 27.88 people per sq. km of land area compare
More urban development data for Somalia
- Population in the largest city 26.3% (2025)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 18.54 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.1448 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 2.85 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 4.39 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square 4.16 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population in largest city 2.85 million (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 48.36 Hectares (2020)
- PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO 100.0% (2017)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population density in Somalia?
- Population density in Somalia was 29.26 people per sq. km of land area in 2023, according to FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest population density recorded in Somalia?
- The highest recorded value was 29.26 people per sq. km of land area in 2023.
- What is the lowest population density recorded in Somalia?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.71 people per sq. km of land area in 1961.
- How does Somalia rank for population density?
- Somalia ranks 171st out of 215 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population density rising or falling in Somalia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 42.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Somalia data come from?
- The figures come from FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as part of Population density (people per sq. km of land area). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of their country of origin. Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes.