Population of Somalia

As of September 2026, the population of Somalia is 20.4 million. The number of inhabitants has increased by 658 thousand in the last year, representing a growth of 3.31%. The median age of the population has increased in recent years, rising from 15 years in 2016 to 15.6 years in 2026. Currently, life expectancy at birth is 59.3 years and population density is 32.4 inhabitants per square kilometer.

Population Growth

The population growth rate of Somalia peaked in 1979, reaching around 13.49% annually, but has since declined to approximately 3.24% in 2026. The annual increase in the number of people has also decreased from a peak of around 733.75 thousand in 1979 to nearly 657.81 thousand in 2026.

Life Expectancy

In Somalia, life expectancy at birth has been increasing, with the indicator rising from 50.9 years in 2006 to 59.3 years in 2026, representing an increase of more than 8 years over the past 2 decades.

Most populous cities in Somalia

The cities of Somalia are mostly small, but 10 stand out with more than 100 thousand inhabitants. The most populous city is Mogadishu, Banaadir, con una diferencia significativa sobre las demás, alcanzando approximately 2.6 million inhabitants. It is followed by Borama, Awdal with 597.8 thousand and Hargeysa, Woqooyi Galbeed with 477.9 thousand.

These are the 20 most populous cities in Somalia: