Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Somalia
Somalia: Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million was 2.85 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Somalia, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
In 2025, population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Somalia stood at 2.85 million. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.4% on the previous year and up 59.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Somalia peaked at 2.85 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 93,923, in 1960.
That places Somalia 75th out of 121 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Somalia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 93,923 | — |
| 1961 | 100,879 | +7.4% |
| 1962 | 108,361 | +7.4% |
| 1963 | 116,398 | +7.4% |
| 1964 | 127,855 | +9.8% |
| 1965 | 143,560 | +12.3% |
| 1966 | 161,221 | +12.3% |
| 1967 | 181,054 | +12.3% |
| 1968 | 203,359 | +12.3% |
| 1969 | 228,340 | +12.3% |
| 1970 | 256,430 | +12.3% |
| 1971 | 287,975 | +12.3% |
| 1972 | 323,453 | +12.3% |
| 1973 | 363,185 | +12.3% |
| 1974 | 407,863 | +12.3% |
| 1975 | 444,981 | +9.1% |
| 1976 | 464,428 | +4.4% |
| 1977 | 484,668 | +4.4% |
| 1978 | 505,820 | +4.4% |
| 1979 | 527,895 | +4.4% |
| 1980 | 550,966 | +4.4% |
| 1981 | 574,977 | +4.4% |
| 1982 | 600,127 | +4.4% |
| 1983 | 648,176 | +8.0% |
| 1984 | 700,125 | +8.0% |
| 1985 | 747,230 | +6.7% |
| 1986 | 797,577 | +6.7% |
| 1987 | 851,315 | +6.7% |
| 1988 | 908,756 | +6.7% |
| 1989 | 969,899 | +6.7% |
| 1990 | 1.04 million | +6.7% |
| 1991 | 1.10 million | +6.7% |
| 1992 | 1.12 million | +0.9% |
| 1993 | 1.13 million | +0.9% |
| 1994 | 1.14 million | +0.9% |
| 1995 | 1.15 million | +0.9% |
| 1996 | 1.16 million | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 1.17 million | +0.9% |
| 1998 | 1.18 million | +0.9% |
| 1999 | 1.19 million | +0.9% |
| 2000 | 1.20 million | +0.9% |
| 2001 | 1.21 million | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 1.26 million | +3.9% |
| 2003 | 1.31 million | +3.9% |
| 2004 | 1.36 million | +4.0% |
| 2005 | 1.42 million | +3.9% |
| 2006 | 1.47 million | +3.9% |
| 2007 | 1.10 million | -25.2% |
| 2008 | 1.18 million | +7.2% |
| 2009 | 1.26 million | +7.1% |
| 2010 | 1.35 million | +7.1% |
| 2011 | 1.45 million | +7.1% |
| 2012 | 1.53 million | +5.3% |
| 2013 | 1.61 million | +5.3% |
| 2014 | 1.69 million | +5.3% |
| 2015 | 1.78 million | +5.3% |
| 2016 | 1.88 million | +5.3% |
| 2017 | 1.98 million | +5.3% |
| 2018 | 2.08 million | +5.3% |
| 2019 | 2.18 million | +4.7% |
| 2020 | 2.28 million | +4.7% |
| 2021 | 2.39 million | +4.6% |
| 2022 | 2.50 million | +4.6% |
| 2023 | 2.61 million | +4.5% |
| 2024 | 2.73 million | +4.5% |
| 2025 | 2.85 million | +4.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 146,495 | 93,923 | 228,340 | 10 |
| 1970s | 406,670 | 256,430 | 527,895 | 10 |
| 1980s | 734,915 | 550,966 | 969,899 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.14 million | 1.04 million | 1.19 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.28 million | 1.10 million | 1.47 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.75 million | 1.35 million | 2.18 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.56 million | 2.28 million | 2.85 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Somalia
More urban development data for Somalia
- Population in the largest city 26.3% (2025)
- Population density 29.26 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- 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, 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 in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Somalia?
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Somalia was 2.85 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million recorded in Somalia?
- The highest recorded value was 2.85 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million recorded in Somalia?
- The lowest recorded value was 93,923 in 1960.
- How does Somalia rank for population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million?
- Somalia ranks 75th out of 121 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million rising or falling in Somalia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 59.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Somalia data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as part of Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population in urban agglomerations of more than one million is the country's population living in metropolitan areas that in 2018 had a population of more than one million people.