5% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
41.95 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
28.41 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
162.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
32.91 years
male:
32.86 years
female:
32.95 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.4 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Somali(s)
adjective:
Somali
Ethnic divisions:
Somali 85%, Bantu, Arabs 30,000, Europeans 3,000, Asians 800
Religions:
Sunni Muslim
Languages:
Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
total population:
24%
male:
36%
female:
14%
Labor force:
2.2 million (very few are skilled laborers)
by occupation:
pastoral nomad 70%, agriculture, government, trading, fishing, handicrafts,
and other 30%
note:
53% of population of working age (1985)

*Somalia, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Somalia
former:
Somali Republic
Digraph:
SO
Type:
none
Capital:
Mogadishu
Administrative divisions:
18 regions (plural - NA, singular - gobolka); Awdal, Bakool, Banaadir, Bari,
Bay, Galguduud, Gedo, Hiiraan, Jubbada Dhexe, Jubbada Hoose, Mudug, Nugaal,
Sanaag, Shabeellaha Dhexe, Shabeellaha Hoose, Sool, 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
Legal system:
NA
National holiday:
NA
Political parties and leaders:
the United Somali Congress (USC) ousted the former regime on 27 January
1991; 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
Other political or pressure groups:
numerous clan and subclan factions are currently vying for power
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
President:
last held 23 December 1986 (next to be held NA); results - President SIAD
was reelected without opposition
People's Assembly:
last held 31 December 1984 (next t