The central government controls Somalia only partly. Militant groups occupy some parts of the country. Somaliland with the five north-western regions declared independence from Somalia in 1991. Despite of its de-facto independence, it is still internationally considered to be part of Somalia.
Federal States
The federal states (without Somaliland and without Banaadir that remains a region) consist of following pre-war regions:
- Galmudugh: Galgaduud and southern parts of Mudug.
- Hirshabelle: Hiiraan and Shabeellaha Dhexe.
- Jubaland: Gedo, Jubbada Dhexe and Jubbada Hoose.
- Koonfur Galbeed [South West]: Bakool, Bay and Shabeellaha Hoose.
- Puntland: Bari, Nugaal and northern parts of Mudug. It claims also the eastern districts of Somaliland.
Pre-war Regions
The population of the pre-war regions of Somalia according to latest estimates and calculations.
| Name | Abbr. | Area A (km²) | Population Estimate (E) 2005-08-01 | Population Estimate (E) 2014-01-01 | Population Calculation (UP) 2019-01-01 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Somalia | SOM | 637,657 | 7,502,700 | 12,316,895 | 15,626,000 | → | ||
| Awdal | ADL | 21,374 | 305,500 | 673,263 | 1,010,600 | 2137400 | → | |
| Bakool | BKL | 26,962 | 310,600 | 367,226 | 383,400 | 2696200 | → | |
| Banaadir | BND | 370 | 901,200 | 1,650,227 | 2,330,700 | 37000 | → | |
| Bari [East] | BAR | 70,088 | 367,600 | 719,512 | 949,700 | 7008800 | → | |
| Bay | BAY | 35,156 | 620,600 | 792,182 | 1,035,900 | 3515600 | → | |
| Galgaduud (Galguduud) | GGD | 46,126 | 330,100 | 569,434 | 634,300 | 4612600 | → | |
| Gedo | GED | 60,389 | 328,400 | 508,405 | 566,300 | 6038900 | → | |
| Hiiraan [Hiran] | HRN | 31,510 | 329,800 | 520,685 | 566,400 | 3151000 | → | |
| Jubbada Dhexe [Middle Juba] | JBD | 9,836 | 238,900 | 362,921 | 432,200 | 983600 | → | |
| Jubbada Hoose [Lower Juba] | JBH | 42,876 | 385,800 | 489,307 | 632,900 | 4287600 | → | |
| Mudug | MDG | 72,933 | 350,100 | 717,863 | 864,700 | 7293300 | → | |
| Nugaal [Nugal] | NGL | 26,180 | 145,300 | 392,698 | 473,900 | 2618000 | → | |
| Sanaag | SNG | 53,374 | 270,400 | 544,123 | 578,100 | 5337400 | → | |
| Shabeellaha Dhexe [Middle Shebelle] | SBD | 22,663 | 514,900 | 516,036 | 622,700 | 2266300 | → | |
| Shabeellaha Hoose [Lower Shebelle] | SBH | 25,285 | 850,700 | 1,202,219 | 1,218,700 | 2528500 | → | |
| Sool | SOL | 25,036 | 150,300 | 327,428 | 618,600 | 2503600 | → | |
| Togdheer | TOG | 38,663 | 402,300 | 721,363 | 962,400 | 3866300 | → | |
| Woqooyi Galbeed [Northwest] | WGB | 28,836 | 700,300 | 1,242,003 | 1,744,400 | 2883600 | → |
- The total population of Somalia according to the 1987 census was 7,114,431.
- (2005) UN Development Programme (web).
(2014) UN Population Fund (web). The population estimation survey 2014 was carried out by the Somali authorities from October 2013 to March 2014. The total population consists of an urban population of 5,216,392, of a rural population of 2,806,787, of 3,186,965 nomads and of 1,106,751 IDPs (internally displaced persons).
(2019) OCHA Somalia Information Management Working Group.
Contents: Cities & Towns
The major cities and towns in Somalia (partly with population projections of the UN).
| Name | Population Projection (P) 2014-07-01 | Area | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afgooye | ... | 0 | |
| Baardheere [Bardera] | ... | 0 | |
| Badhan (Baran) | ... | 0 | |
| Barbara [Berbera] | 374,000 | 0 | |
| Baydhabo [Baidoa] | ... | 0 | |
| Beletweeyne [Beledweyne] | ... | 0 | |
| Boorama [Borama] | ... | 0 | |
| Boosaaso (Bender Qasim) [Bosaso] | ... | 0 | |
| Burco [Burao] | ... | 0 | |
| Buuloburte [Buloburde] | ... | 0 | |
| Buurhakaba [Burhakaba] | ... | 0 | |
| Ceerigaabo [Erigabo] | ... | 0 | |
| Gaalkacyo [Galkacyo] | ... | 0 | |
| Garoowe [Garowe] | ... | 0 | |
| Hargeysa [Hargeisa] | 741,000 | 0 | |
| Jamaame [Jamame] | ... | 0 | |
| Jilib | ... | 0 | |
| Jowhar | ... | 0 | |
| Kismaayo [Kismayo] | 358,000 | 0 | |
| Laascaanood [Las Anod] | ... | 0 | |
| Marka [Merca] | 499,000 | 0 | |
| Muqdisho [Mogadishu] | 1,650,227 | 0 | |
| Qardho [Gardo] | ... | 0 | |
| Qoryooley [Qoryoley] | ... | 0 |
- UN World Urbanization Prospects: The 2014 Revision. For Mogadishu the result of the population estimation survey 2014 for Banaardir is tabulated.