country comparison to the world: 200
Transportation ::Solomon Islands
Airports:
36 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 108
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 34
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 25 (2010)
Heliports:
3 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 1,360 km
country comparison to the world: 177
paved: 33 km
unpaved: 1,327 km
note: includes 800 km of private plantation roads (2002)
Ports and terminals:
Honiara, Malloco Bay, Viru Harbor, Tulaghi
Military ::Solomon Islands
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Solomon Islands Police Force (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 150,987 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 125,928
females age 16-49: 126,999 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 7,256
female: 6,995 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
3% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 45
Transnational Issues ::Solomon Islands
Disputes - international:
since 2003, RAMSI, consisting of police, military, and civilian
advisors drawn from 15 countries, has assisted in reestablishing and
maintaining civil and political order while reinforcing regional
stability and security
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 5,400 (displaced by tsunami on 2 April 2007) (2007)
page last updated on January 11, 2011
======================================================================
@Somalia (Africa)
Introduction ::Somalia
Background:
Britain withdrew from British Somaliland in 1960 to allow its
protectorate to join with Italian Somaliland and form the new nation
of Somalia. In 1969, a coup headed by Mohamed SIAD Barre ushered in
an authoritarian socialist rule characterized by the persecution,
jailing and torture of political opponents and dissidents. After the
regime's collapse early in 1991, Somalia descended into turmoil,
factional fighting, and anarchy. In May 1991, northern clans
declared an independent Republic of Somaliland that now includes the
administrative regions of Awdal, Woqooyi Galbeed, Togdheer, Sanaag,
and Sool. Although not recognized by any government, this entity has
maintained a stable existence and continues efforts to establish a
constitutional democracy, including holding municipal,
parliamentary, and presidential elections. The regions of Bari,
Nugaal, and northern Mudug comprise a neighboring semi-autonomous
state of Puntland, which has been self-governing since 1998 but does
not aim at independence; it has also made strides toward
reconstructing a legitimate, representative government but has
suffered some civil strife. Puntland disputes its border with
Somaliland as it also claims portions of eastern Sool and Sanaag.
Beginning in 1993, a two-year UN humanitarian effort (primarily in
the south) was able to alleviate famine conditions, but when the UN
withdrew in 1995, having suffered significant casualties, order
still had not been restored. In 2000, the Somalia National Peace
Conference (SNPC) held in Djibouti resulted in the formation of an
interim government, known as the Transitional National Government
(TNG). When the TNG failed to establish adequate security or
governing institutions, the Government of Kenya, under the auspices
of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), led a
subsequent peace process that concluded in October 2004 with the
election of Abdullahi YUSUF Ahmed as President of a second interim
government, known as the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of
the Somali Republic. The TFG included a 275-member parliamentary
body, known as the Transitional Federal Parliament (TFP). President
YUSUF resigned late in 2008 while United Nations-sponsored talks
between the TFG and the opposition Alliance for the Re-Liberation of
Somalia (ARS) were underway in Djibouti. In January 2009, following
the creation of a TFG-ARS unity government, Ethiopian military
forces, which had entered Somalia in December 2006 to support the
TFG in the face of advances by the opposition Islamic Courts Union
(ICU), withdrew from the country. The TFP was increased to 550 seats
with the addition of 200 ARS and 75 civil society members of
parliament. The expanded parliament elected Sheikh SHARIF Sheikh
Ahmed, the former CIC and ARS chairman as president on 31 January
2009, in Djibouti. Subsequently, President SHARIF appointed Omar
Abdirashid ali SHARMARKE, son of a former president of Somalia, as
prime minister on 13 February 2009. SHARMARKE resigned in September
2010 and was replaced by Mohamed Abdullahi MOHAMED, aka Farmajo, a
dual US-Somali citizen that lived in the United Stated from 1985
until his return to Somalia in October 2010. The creation of the TFG
was based on the Transitional Federal Charter (TFC), which outlines
a five-year mandate leading to the establishment of a new Somali
constitution and a transition to a representative government
following national elections. However, in January 2009 the TFP
amended the TFC to extend TFG's mandate until 2011.
Geography ::Somalia
Location:
Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean,
east of Ethiopia
Geographic coordinates:
10 00 N, 49 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 637,657 sq km
country comparison to the world: 43
land: 627,337 sq km
water: 10,320 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 2,340 km
border countries: Djibouti 58 km, Ethiopia 1,600 km, Kenya 682 km
Coastline:
3,025 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate:
principally desert; northeast monsoon (December to February),
moderate temperatures in north and hot in south; southwest monsoon
(May to October), torrid in the north and hot in the south,
irregular rainfall, hot and humid periods (tangambili) between
monsoons
Terrain:
mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Shimbiris 2,416 m
Natural resources:
uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum,
bauxite, copper, salt, natural gas, likely oil reserves
Land use:
arable land: 1.64%
permanent crops: 0.04%
other: 98.32% (2005)
Irrigated land:
2,000 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
15.7 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 3.29 cu km/yr (0%/0%/100%)
per capita: 400 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plains in
summer; floods during rainy season
Environment - current issues:
famine; use of contaminated water contributes to human health
problems; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of
the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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:
10,112,453
country comparison to the world: 82
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 2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 45% (male 2,215,331/female 2,204,503)
15-64 years: 52.6% (male 2,588,356/female 2,579,737)
65 years and over: 2.5% (male 101,764/female 142,326) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.6 years
male: 17.4 years
female: 17.7 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.809% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
Birth rate:
43.33 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
Death rate:
15.24 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Urbanization:
urban population: 37% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 4.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 107.42 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 5
male: 116.47 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 98.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 50 years
country comparison to the world: 213
male: 48.12 years
female: 51.94 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.44 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.5% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
24,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,600 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, and Rift Valley fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
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.)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Somalia
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Somalia
local long form: Jamhuuriyada Demuqraadiga Soomaaliyeed
local short form: Soomaaliya
former: Somali Republic, Somali Democratic Republic
Government type:
no permanent national government; transitional, parliamentary
federal government
Capital:
name: Mogadishu
geographic coordinates: 2 04 N, 45 22 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
18 regions (plural - NA, singular - gobolka); Awdal, Bakool,
Banaadir, Bari, Bay, Galguduud, Gedo, Hiiraan, Jubbada Dhexe (Middle
Jubba), Jubbada Hoose (Lower Jubba), Mudug, Nugaal, Sanaag,
Shabeellaha Dhexe (Middle Shabeelle), Shabeellaha Hoose (Lower
Shabeelle), Sool, Togdheer, Woqooyi Galbeed
Independence:
1 July 1960 (from a merger of British Somaliland that became
independent from the UK on 26 June 1960 and Italian Somaliland that
became independent from the Italian-administered UN trusteeship on 1
July 1960 to form the Somali Republic)
National holiday:
Foundation of the Somali Republic, 1 July (1960); note - 26 June
(1960) in Somaliland
Constitution:
25 August 1979, presidential approval 23 September 1979
note: the formation of transitional governing institutions, known as
the Transitional Federal Government, is currently ongoing
Legal system:
no national system; a mixture of English common law, Italian law,
Islamic sharia, and Somali customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Transitional Federal President Sheikh SHARIF Sheikh
Ahmed (since 31 January 2009); note - a transitional governing
entity with a five-year mandate, known as the Transitional Federal
Institutions (TFIs), was established in October 2004; the TFIs
relocated to Somalia in June 2004; in 2009, the TFI's were given a
two-year extension to October 2011
head of government: Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed FARMAJO
(since 1 November 2010)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister and approved by the
Transitional Federal Assembly
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
election results: Sheikh SHARIF Sheikh Ahmed elected president by
the expanded Transitional Federal Assembly in Djibouti
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly
note: unicameral Transitional Federal Assembly (TFA) (550 seats; 475
members appointed according to the 4.5 clan formula, with the
remaining 75 seats reserved for civil society and business persons)
Judicial branch:
following the breakdown of the central government, most regions have
reverted to local forms of conflict resolution, either secular,
traditional Somali customary law, or sharia (Islamic) law with a
provision for appeal of all sentences
Political parties and leaders:
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: numerous clan and sub-clan factions exist both in support and
in opposition to the transitional government
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
ITSO, ITU, LAS, NAM, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Somalia does not have an embassy in the US (ceased operations on 8
May 1991); note - the Transitional Federal Government is represented
in the United States through its Permanent Mission to the United
Nations
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Somalia; US interests are
represented by the US Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya at United Nations
Avenue, Nairobi; mailing address: Unit 64100, Nairobi; APO AE 09831;
telephone: [254] (20) 363-6000; FAX [254] (20) 363-6157
Flag description:
light blue with a large white five-pointed star in the center; the
blue field was originally influenced by the flag of the UN, but
today is said to denote the sky and the neighboring Indian Ocean;
the five points of the star represent the five regions in the horn
of Africa that are inhabited by Somali people: the former British
Somaliland and Italian Somaliland (which together make up Somalia),
Djibouti, Ogaden (Ethiopia), and the Northern Frontier District
(Kenya)
National anthem:
name: "Soomaaliyeey toosoo" (Somalia Wake Up)
lyrics/music: Ali Mire AWALE and Yuusuf Xaaji Aadan Cilmi QABILLE
note: adopted 2000; written in 1947, the lyrics speak of creating
unity and an end to fighting
Government - note:
although an interim government was created in 2004, other regional
and local governing bodies continue to exist and control various
regions of the country, including the self-declared Republic of
Somaliland in northwestern Somalia and the semi-autonomous State of
Puntland in northeastern Somalia
Economy ::Somalia
Economy - overview:
Despite the lack of effective national governance, Somalia has
maintained a healthy informal economy, largely based on livestock,
remittance/money transfer companies, and telecommunications.
Agriculture is the most important sector with livestock normally
accounting for about 40% of GDP and more than 50% of export
earnings. Nomads and semi-pastoralists, who are dependent upon
livestock for their livelihood, make up a large portion of the
population. Livestock, hides, fish, charcoal, and bananas are
Somalia's principal exports, while sugar, sorghum, corn, qat, and
machined goods are the principal imports. Somalia's small industrial
sector, based on the processing of agricultural products, has
largely been looted and the machinery sold as scrap metal. Somalia's
service sector also has grown. Telecommunication firms provide
wireless services in most major cities and offer the lowest
international call rates on the continent. In the absence of a
formal banking sector, money transfer/remittance services have
sprouted throughout the country, handling up to $1.6 billion in
remittances annually. Mogadishu's main market offers a variety of
goods from food to the newest electronic gadgets. Hotels continue to
operate and are supported with private-security militias. Due to
armed attacks on and threats to humanitarian aid workers, the World
Food Programme partially suspended its operations in southern
Somalia in early January 2010 pending improvement in the security
situation. Somalia's arrears to the IMF have continued to grow.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$5.896 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
$5.75 billion (2009 est.)
$5.607 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$2.372 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
2.6% (2009 est.)
2.6% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$600 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 225
$600 (2009 est.)
$600 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 65%
industry: 10%
services: 25% (2005 est.)
Labor force:
3.447 million (few skilled laborers) (2007)
country comparison to the world: 97
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 71%
industry and services: 29% (1975)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
note: businesses print their own money, so inflation rates cannot be
easily determined
Central bank discount rate:
NA% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA%
Agriculture - products:
bananas, sorghum, corn, coconuts, rice, sugarcane, mangoes, sesame
seeds, beans; cattle, sheep, goats; fish
Industries:
a few light industries, including sugar refining, textiles, wireless
communication
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
280 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
Electricity - consumption:
260.4 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
108 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
Oil - consumption:
5,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Oil - exports:
1,475 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
Oil - imports:
6,387 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Natural gas - proved reserves:
5.663 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Exports:
$300 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 173
Exports - commodities:
livestock, bananas, hides, fish, charcoal, scrap metal
Exports - partners:
UAE 58.27%, Yemen 20.32%, Saudi Arabia 3.78% (2009)
Imports:
$798 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 178
Imports - commodities:
manufactures, petroleum products, foodstuffs, construction
materials, qat
Imports - partners:
Djibouti 30.84%, Kenya 8.06%, India 7.86%, China 6.97%, Brazil
6.59%, Yemen 4.97%, Oman 4.72%, UAE 4.6% (2009)
Debt - external:
$3 billion (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Exchange rates:
Somali shillings (SOS) per US dollar - NA (2007-08), 1,438.3 (2006)
official rate; the unofficial black market rate was about 23,000
shillings per dollar as of February 2007
note: the Republic of Somaliland, a self-declared independent
country not recognized by any foreign government, issues its own
currency, the Somaliland shilling
Communications ::Somalia
Telephones - main lines in use:
100,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 144
Telephones - mobile cellular:
641,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 155
Telephone system:
general assessment: the public telecommunications system was almost
completely destroyed or dismantled during the civil war; private
companies offer limited local fixed-line service and private
wireless companies offer service in most major cities while charging
the lowest international rates on the continent
domestic: local cellular telephone systems have been established in
Mogadishu and in several other population centers
international: country code - 252; international connections are
available from Mogadishu by satellite
Broadcast media:
2 private TV stations rebroadcast Al-Jazeera and CNN; Somaliland has
1 government-operated TV station and Puntland has 1 private TV
station; Radio Mogadishu operated by the transitional government; 1
SW and roughly 10 private FM radio stations broadcast in Mogadishu;
several radio stations operate in central and southern regions;
Somaliland has 1 government-operated radio station; Puntland has
roughly a half dozen private radio stations; transmissions of at
least 2 international broadcasters are available (2007)
Internet country code:
.so
Internet hosts:
3 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 228
Internet users:
106,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 159
Transportation ::Somalia
Airports:
59 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 80
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 7
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 52
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
914 to 1,523 m: 23
under 914 m: 6 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 22,100 km
country comparison to the world: 106
paved: 2,608 km
unpaved: 19,492 km (2000)
Merchant marine:
total: 1
country comparison to the world: 154
by type: cargo 1
foreign-owned: 1 (UAE 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Berbera, Kismaayo
Transportation - note:
the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and
offshore waters in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean are high risk
for piracy and armed robbery against ships; numerous vessels,
including commercial shipping and pleasure craft, have been attacked
and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; crew, passengers,
and cargo are held for ransom; the presence of several naval task
forces in the Gulf of Aden and additional anti-piracy measures on
the part of ship operators have reduced the piracy incidents; in
response local pirates shifted operations farther south along the
east coast of Somalia and eastward along the coast of Oman
Military ::Somalia
Military branches:
National Security Force (NSF): Somali Army (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
note: since 2005, the UN has listed the Transitional Federal
Government and its allied militias as persistent violators in
recruiting child soldiers (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,261,704
females age 16-49: 2,217,584 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,328,567
females age 16-49: 1,386,971 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 99,919
female: 99,771 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Transnational Issues ::Somalia
Disputes - international: