lation (1991)

_#_Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Infant mortality rate: 116 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

_#_Life expectancy at birth: 56 years male, 56 years female (1991)

_#_Total fertility rate: 7.2 children born/woman (1991)

_#_Nationality: noun--Somali(s); adjective--Somali

_#_Ethnic divisions: Somali 85%, rest mainly Bantu; Arabs 30,000,
Europeans 3,000, Asians 800

_#_Religion: almost entirely Sunni Muslim

_#_Language: Somali (official); Arabic, Italian, English

_#_Literacy: 24% (male 36%, female 14%) age 15 and over can
read and write (1990 est.)

_#_Labor force: 2,200,000; very few are skilled laborers; pastoral
nomad 70%, agriculture, government, trading, fishing, handicrafts, and
other 30%; 53% of population of working age (1985)

_#_Organized labor: General Federation of Somali Trade Unions is
controlled by the government

_*_Government
_#_Long-form name: Somali Democratic Republic

_#_Type: republic

_#_Capital: Mogadishu

_#_Administrative divisions: 16 regions (plural--NA,
singular--gobolka); Bakool, Banaadir, Bari, Bay, Galguduud, Gedo,
Hiiraan, Jubbada Dhexe, Jubbada Hoose, Mudug, Nugaal, Sanaag, Shabeellaha
Dhexe, Shabeellaha Hoose, Togdheer, Woqooyi Galbeed

_#_Independence: 1 July 1960 (from a merger of British Somaliland,
which became independent from the UK on 26 June 1960, and Italian
Somaliland, which became independent from the Italian-administered UN
trusteeship on 1 July 1960, to form the Somali Republic)

_#_Constitution: 25 August 1979, presidential approval 23 September
1979

_#_National holiday: Anniversary of the Revolution, 21 October (1969)

_#_Executive branch: president, two vice presidents, prime minister,
Council of Ministers (cabinet)

_#_Legislative branch: unicameral People's Assembly (Golaha Shacbiga)

_#_Judicial branch: Supreme Court

_#_Leaders:

Chief of State--Interim President ALI Mahdi Mohamed (since 27
January 1991);

Head of Government--Prime Minister OMAR Arteh Ghalib
(since 27 January 1991); Deputy Prime Minister MOHAMED Abshir Mussa
(since 27 January 1991)

_#_Political parties and leaders: the United Somali Congress (USC)
ousted the former regime on 27 January 1991; note--formerly the only
party was the Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party (SRSP), headed by
former President and Commander in Chief of the Army Maj. Gen. Mohamed
Siad BARRE

_#_Suffrag