Population:

7,253,137

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 2000 est.)

 

Location:

Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia

 

Area:

637,657 sq km 

 

Language:

Somali (official), Arabic, Italian  

 

Literacy:

14% (by definition, total population age 15 or older)

 

Compulsory Education:

Education is officially compulsory to age 14           

 

Currency:

Somali Shilling

Source: UNESCO IBE Database and World Fact Book, CIA

This country profile was developed by WES with funding from the Government of Ontario.

Revised: 05/06/2004
© 2003 World Education Services.
All rights reserved.