contributes to human health problems; deforestation; overgrazing; soil
erosion; desertification

Environment - international agreements: party to: Endangered Species,
Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Marine
Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban

Geography - note: strategic location on Horn of Africa along southern
approaches to Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea and Suez Canal

People Somalia

Population: 7,753,310 note: this estimate was derived from an official
census taken in 1975 by the Somali Government; population counting in
Somalia is complicated by the large number of nomads and by refugee
movements in response to famine and clan warfare (July 2002 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 44.7% (male 1,737,491; female 1,730,237)
15-64 years: 52.6% (male 2,054,243; female 2,019,980) 65 years and over:
2.7% (male 92,617; female 118,742) (2002 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.46% (2002 est.)

Birth rate: 46.83 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate: 17.99 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Net migration rate: 5.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 122.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: 48.65 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility
rate: 7.05 children born/woman (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA

Nationality: noun: Somali(s) adjective: Somali

Ethnic groups: Somali 85%, Bantu and other non-Somali 15% (including
Arabs 30,000)

Religions: Sunni Muslim

Languages: Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total
population: 37.8% male: 49.7% female: 25.8% (2001 est.)

Government Somalia

Country name: Somalia former: Government type: no permanent national
government; transitional, parliamentary national government

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