A Somali rancher herds cattle in Kismayo. Livestock represents the main form of wealth in Somalia

Somalia

This article is part of the series: Culture of Somalia Image File history File links File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Somalia. ... // Somali History The origins of the Somalis and their time of entry into present-day Somalia has been debated, with Somalis claiming descent from Arabian families who settled on the coast 1,000 years ago, and historians tracing the origins to pre-15th century. ...

Islam in Somalia Somali language History of Somalia Cinema of Somalia Music of Somalia Somali literature Somali writers Cuisine of Somalia Economy of Somalia Military of Somalia Shax (board game) Somali National Anthem Currency of Somalia Public holidays

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Somalia has a market economy. It lacks natural resources (or untapped resources such as Oil) and faces major development challenges, and recent economic reverses have left its people increasingly dependent on remittances from abroad. Its economy is pastoral and agricultural, with livestock — principally camels, cattle, sheep, and goats — representing the main form of wealth. Livestock exports in recent years have been severely reduced by periodic bans, ostensibly for concerns of animal health, by Arabian Peninsula states. Drought has also impaired agricultural and livestock production. Because rainfall is scanty and irregular, farming generally is limited to certain coastal districts, areas near Hargeisa, and the Jubba and Shebelle River valleys. The modern sector of the agricultural economy consists mainly of banana plantations located in the south, which have used modern irrigation systems and up-to-date farm machinery. The vast majority of Somalis are Sunni Muslims. ... The Somali language (Af Mahatiri or Af Maay) is a member of the East Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic family. ... Somalia (Somali: Soomaaliya) is a coastal nation in East Africa, widely known as Horn of Africa. ... Chopper scene from the Movie Rajo. ... Somalia has the distinction of being one of only a handful of African countries that are composed almost entirely of one ethnic group, the Somalis. ... Somalia produced a large amount of literature through Islamic poetry and Hadith from Somali Scholars of the last centuries to modern fiction from present day Somali writers which have received widespread success respectivly. ... Cuisine of Somalia varies from region to region and it encompasses different styles of cooking. ... The Somali National Army was made up of the army, navy, air force, and air defense command. ... The board used for Shax. ... The Somali national anthem, Somalia, Wake Up, was composed by Ali Mire Awale-July 1947. ... The Somali shilling (shilin soomaali) is the currency used in the African nation of Somalia. ... The holidays in Somalia: Somalia uses two calendar systems: the Gregorian calendar primarily, but the Islamic calendar for religious holidays. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... For other uses, see Camel (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Bos taurus Linnaeus, 1758 Cattle (often called cows in vernacular and contemporary usage, or kye as the Scots plural of cou) are domesticated ungulates, a member of the subfamily Bovinae of the family Bovidae. ... “Lamb” redirects here. ... Species See Species and subspecies The goat is a mammal in the genus Capra, which consists of nine species: the Ibex, the West Caucasian Tur, the East Caucasian Tur, the Markhor, and the Wild Goat. ... The Arabian Peninsula The Arabian Peninsula (in Arabic: شبه الجزيرة العربية, or جزيرة العرب) is a peninsula in Southwest Asia at the junction of Africa and Asia consisting mainly of desert. ... Hargeisa (Somali: Hargeysa, Arabic: هرجيسا) is a city in Northwestern Somalia and the second largest city in Somalia. ... The Jubba River is a river in Somalia. ... The Shebelle River (with numerous spelling variations, including Shabele and Shabell, sometimes with Wabe or Webi prepended, Shabeelle in Somalia) begins in the highlands of Ethiopia, and then flows southeast into Somalia towards Mogadishu. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

“Somalia can only deal with its massive material and social problems once the pieces of the jigsaw have been fitted back together.”^[1]

Economic progress in Somalia is decidedly mixed. As of January 2007, Somalia is still a fragile state with hundreds of thousands of refugees due to massive floods and the latest fighting of the civil war. GDP per capita remained one of the lowest in the world at $600, meaning many of its people live in extreme poverty. Extreme poverty is the most severe state of poverty, where people cannot meet basic needs for survival, such as food, water, clothing, shelter, sanitation, education and health care. ...

There are signs of growth in Somalia:

Despite the seeming anarchy, Somalia’s service sector has managed to survive and grow… Mogadishu’s main market offers a variety of goods from food to the newest electronic gadgets. Hotels continue to operate, and militias provide security.

– CIA Factbook^[2]

Economy

A Somali shop, 2005

GDP per capita of Somalia grew 37% in the 1960s, dropped to just 6% in the 1970s and recovered to 37% growth in the 1980s. Since the collapse of the state, Somalia has transformed from what Mohamed Siad Barre referred to as "scientific socialism" to a free market economy. Image File history File links Somalishop. ... Image File history File links Somalishop. ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from January 1, 1960 to December 31, 1969, inclusive. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, inclusive. ... The 1980s refers to the years of and between 1980 and 1989. ... Scientific Socialism is the term used by Friedrich Engels to describe the socio-political-economic theory pioneered by Karl Marx. ... A free market is an idealized market, where all economic decisions and actions by individuals regarding transfer of money, goods, and services are voluntary, and are therefore devoid of coercion and theft (some definitions of coercion are inclusive of theft). Colloquially and loosely, a free market economy is an economy...

Due to the lack of government oversight or statistics, and the recent war, it is difficult to calculate the size or growth of the economy. For 1994, the CIA estimated GDP at $3.3 billion^[3] In 2001, it was estimated to be $4.1 billion.^[4] In 2005, the CIA estimated GDP to be $4.809 billion.^[5] Real growth in 2005 was projected at 2.4%.

The absence of central government authority, as well as profiteering from counterfeiting, rapidly debased Somalia's currency in 2001–2002. By the spring of 2002, the free market rates, such as used in the Bakaara Market, pegged the value of the Somali shilling (SoSh) emitted by the TNG to over 30,000 shillings to the U.S. dollar. In 2003, that rate had leveled off to 20,000 shillings to the dollar.^[6] In April 2006, the value had recovered even further to 13,400, which is still below the rate of 10,100 SoSh to the dollar in January 2000.^[7] A counterfeit is an imitation that is made with the intent to deceptively represent its content or origins. ... A free market is an idealized market, where all economic decisions and actions by individuals regarding transfer of money, goods, and services are voluntary, and are therefore devoid of coercion and theft (some definitions of coercion are inclusive of theft). Colloquially and loosely, a free market economy is an economy... The Bakaara Market (also spelled Bakara) is the Mogadishu open market, selling daily essentials, but also renown for its sale of small arms and other weapons. ... The Somali shilling (shilin soomaali) is the currency used in the African nation of Somalia. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... April 2006 : ← - January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December- → Marcos Pontes, Brazils first astronaut, reaches the International Space Station. ... 2000 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December Events: January 1- Millennium celebrations take place throughout the world. ...

This rate is far worse than the official currency exchange rate, which in January 2000, stood at 2,555.42 SoSh to the dollar^[8], and in January 2007, stood at 1,288.26 to the dollar.^[9] 2000 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December Events: January 1- Millennium celebrations take place throughout the world. ... It is proposed that this article be deleted, because of the following concern: Crystal ball, user has created future months and dates before, and been told not to (See User Talk:Jose and Ricardo). ...

Agriculture and natural resources

Agriculture is the most important sector, with livestock accounting for about 40% of GDP and about 65% of export earnings. Nomads and semi-nomads, who are dependent upon livestock for their livelihood, make up a large portion of the population. After livestock, bananas are the principal export; sugar, sorghum, maize, and fish are products for the domestic market. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Magnification of grains of sugar, showing their monoclinic hemihedral crystalline structure. ... Species About 30 species, see text Sorghum is a genus of about 30 species of grasses raised for grain, native to tropical and subtropical regions of Eastern Africa, with one species native to Mexico. ... “Corn” redirects here. ... A giant grouper at the Georgia Aquarium Fish are aquatic vertebrates that are typically cold-blooded; covered with scales, and equipped with two sets of paired fins and several unpaired fins. ...

A small fishing industry has begun in the north where tuna, shark, and other warm-water fish are caught, although fishing production is seriously affected by poaching, piracy, and the lack of ability to grant concessions because of the absence of a generally recognized government. Aromatic woods — frankincense and myrrh — from a small and diminishing forest area also contribute to the country's exports. A shoal of skipjack tuna Tuna are several species of ocean-dwelling fish in the family Scombridae, mostly in the genus Thunnus. ... Orders Carcharhiniformes Heterodontiformes Hexanchiformes Lamniformes Orectolobiformes Pristiophoriformes Squaliformes Squatiniformes Symmoriida(extinct) Shark (superorder Selachimorpha) are fish with a full cartilaginous skeleton[1] and a streamlined body. ... 100g of frankincense resin. ... 100g of Myrrh. ...

Minerals, including uranium, are found throughout the country, but they have not been exploited commercially. General Name, Symbol, Number uranium, U, 92 Chemical series actinides Group, Period, Block n/a, 7, f Appearance silvery gray metallic; corrodes to a spalling black oxide coat in air Atomic mass 238. ...

Light industry

Some signs of investment: in 2004, a Coca-Cola bottling plant opened in Mogadishu.

With the help of foreign aid, small industries such as textiles, handicrafts, meat processing, and printing are being established. Investors have returned in recent years; for example, a Coca-Cola bottling plant opened in Mogadishu in 2004.^[10] Image File history File links MogadishuCoke. ... Image File history File links MogadishuCoke. ... The wave shape (known as the dynamic ribbon device) present on all Coca-Cola cans throughout the world derives from the contour of the original Coca-Cola bottles. ... The wave shape (known as the dynamic ribbon device) present on all Coca-Cola cans throughout the world derives from the contour of the original Coca-Cola bottles. ...

Transportation

Infrastructure such as roads are as numerous as those in neighbouring countries but of much lower quality. A World Bank report states the private sector has found it too hard to build roads due to high transaction costs and the fact that those who pay road fees are not the only ones using the road (see free rider problem), presenting a problem with recuperation of investment. Logo of the World Bank The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD, in Romance languages: BIRD), better known as the World Bank, is an international organization whose original mission was to finance the reconstruction of nations devastated by WWII. Now, its mission has expanded to fight poverty by means... In economics and political science, free riders are actors who consume more than their fair share of a resource, or shoulder less than a fair share of the costs of its production. ...

There are no railways in Somalia; internal transportation is by truck and bus. The national road system nominally comprises 22,100 kilometers (13,702 mi.) of roads that include about 2,600 kilometers (1,612 mi.) of all-weather roads, although most roads have received little maintenance for years and have seriously deteriorated.

Air transportation is provided by small air charter firms and craft used by drug smugglers. A number of airlines operate from Hargeisa. Some private airlines, including Air Somalia and Daallo Airlines, serve several domestic locations as well as Djibouti and the United Arab Emirates. The UN and other NGOs operate air service for their missions. Air Somalia is a privately-owned airline based in Somalia, established in 2001. ... Daallo Airlines is an airline based in Djibouti. ... This article is about the United Nations, for other uses of UN see UN (disambiguation) Official languages English, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Arabic Secretary-General Kofi Annan (since 1997) Established October 24, 1945 Member states 191 Headquarters New York City, NY, USA Official site http://www. ... The term non-governmental organization (NGO) is used in a variety of ways all over the world and, depending on the context in which it is used, can refer to many different types of organizations. ...

In 1989, before the collapse of the government, the national airline had only one airplane. Now there are approximately fifteen airlines, over sixty aircraft, six international destinations, and more domestic routes. According to a World Bank report, the "private airline business in Somalia is now thriving with more than five carriers and price wars between the companies."^[11]

The European Community and the World Bank jointly financed construction of a deepwater port at Mogadishu. The Soviet Union improved Somalia's deepwater port at Berbera in 1969. Facilities at Berbera were further improved by a U.S. military construction program completed in 1985, but they have become dilapidated. During the 1990s the United States renovated a deepwater port at Kismayo that serves the fertile Juba River basin and is vital to Somalia's banana export industry. Smaller ports are located at Merca, Brava, and Bossaso. Absence of security and lack of maintenance and improvement are major issues at most Somali ports. The European Community (EC), most important of two European Communities, was originally founded on March 25, 1957 by the signing of the Treaty of Rome under the name of European Economic Community. ... Logo of the World Bank The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD, in Romance languages: BIRD), better known as the World Bank, is an international organization whose original mission was to finance the reconstruction of nations devastated by WWII. Now, its mission has expanded to fight poverty by means... Berbera (Somali Berbera) (coordinates:) is a city in the newly established Saaxil region of Somalia, and is currently part of the internationally unrecognized Republic of Somaliland. ...

On January 17, 2007, new port and airport directors were appointed by the TFG.^[12] January 17 is the 17th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ...

Telecommunications

Radiotelephone service is available to both to regional and international locations. The public telecommunications system has been destroyed or dismantled, however it has been rebuilt privately and is superior to what existed before. Somalia is linked to the outside world via ship-to-shore communications (INMARSAT) as well as links to overseas satellite operators by private telecommunications operators in major towns. Wireless/mobile communications has also become an economic force in Somalia. Telecommunication involves the transmission of signals over a distance for the purpose of communication. ...

Radio broadcasting stations operate at Mogadishu, Hargeisa, and Galkayo, with programs in Somali and some other languages. There are two television broadcast stations in Mogadishu and one in Hargeisa. Mogadishu (Somali: Muqdisho, popularly Xamar; Arabic: ; Italian: ), is the largest city in Somalia, and its capital. ... Hargeisa (Somali: Hargeysa, Arabic: هرجيسا) is a city in Northwestern Somalia and the second largest city in Somalia. ... Gaalkacyo is the second largest city in Puntland, Somalia, with an estimated population of 190,000. ...

Sanctions by the US in 2001 in the wake of the 9/11 attacks due to suspicions of terrorist funding set back Somali Internet development.^[13] Internet usage still continues to climb due to Internet cafés. From 200 users in all of Somalia in 1999^[14], the number of users has grown to an estimated 90,000, or 11 persons per 1,000 in 2005, according to the ITU. The shared use of computers can be inferred by the lower estimate of 50,000 PCs in the country, for a ratio of about two users on average for every computer.^[15] 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The date that commonly refers to the attacks on United States citizens on September 11, 2001 (see the September 11, 2001 Attacks). ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... This article is about the location. ...

Financial sector

Remittance services has become a large industry in Somalia. Successful people from the world-wide diaspora who fled because of the war contribute to the economy around $1 billion annually.^[16] In the absence of a formal banking sector, money exchange services have sprouted throughout the country, handling between $500 million and $1 billion in remittances annually. Due to the war, the actual size and growth rate of the economy is unknown.

Construction

The building of new homes in Mogadishu.

Construction is sporadic, and at times heavily subsidized from foreign aid agencies. Projects, such as the UN WFP program to to repair the air strip in Bardheere, are resuscitating infrastructure, homes and commercial sites that have laid in ruins for years or decades.^[17] Image File history File links Newhomes. ... Image File history File links Newhomes. ... The World Food Programme (WFP) is an agency of the United Nations which distributes food commodities to support development projects, to long-term refugees and displaced persons and as emergency food assistance in situations of natural and man-made disasters. ... Bardera Street Cleaning by Bardera Water and Sanitation Authority Bardera City (Somali Baardheere) is an important agricultural and academic city in the Gedo region of Somalia. ...

Some construction projects were begun under the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) in 2006, including re-opening the Mogadishu port and airport.^[18] Motto: none Anthem: none Capital formerly Mogadishu and Kismayu Largest city n/a Official languages Somali and Arabic Government Sharia Krytocracy  - Executive Chairman Sharif Sheikh Ahmed  - Shura Chairman Hassan Dahir Aweys Civil War Faction Has not declared autonomy or independence   - Established June 6th 2006 in Mogadishu  Area  - Total not finalized...

Energy and utilities

Electricity is furnished by entrepreneurs, who have purchased generators and divided cities into manageable sectors. Lightning strikes during a night-time thunderstorm. ...

Petroleum exploration efforts, at one time under way, have ceased due to insecurity and instability. There are no proven oil reserves, but there are prospects to explore for oil in Puntland. Due to political instability and the protests of the Transitional Federal Government foreign investors are warned to not make deals until stability is restored.^[19] Illegal production in the south of charcoal (as a biomass fuel) for export has led to widespread deforestation. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Motto None Anthem Puntland Somali National Anthem Capital Garowe (Administrative), Bosaso (Commercial) Largest city Bosaso Official languages Somali and Arabic Government  -  President Mohamud Muse Hersi  -  Vice-President Hassan Dahir Mohamud Autonomy Inside Somalia   -  Declared 1998   -  Recognition   Area  -  Total 212,510 km km² (84th) n/a sq mi   -  Water (%) Negl. ... The Transitional Federal Parliament is an interim parliament of Somalia formed in neighbouring Kenya in 2004. ... Switchgrass, a hardy plant used in the biofuel industry in the United States Rice chaff. ...

The private sector also supplies water. A report by WHO/UNICEF indicated that in 2004 only 29% of the population had access to safe drinking water.^[20] Who can refer to: WHO, World Health Organization The Who, a British rock band The Guess Who, a Canadian rock band who (pronoun), an English language interrogative pronoun. ... UNICEF Logo The United Nations Childrens Fund or UNICEF (Arabic: ; French: ; Spanish: ) was established by the United Nations General Assembly on December 11, 1946. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Corruption

The owner of Daallo Airlines says, "Sometimes it's difficult without a government and sometimes it's a plus", but "Corruption is not a problem, because there is no government."^[11]

However, based on reports and statistics gathered by Transparency International, Somalia was ranked 144 for the perceived most-corrupt economies in the world. Only 9 nations ranked lower in the study. No data was available from Somalia for the 2006 study.^[21] Transparency International (TI) is an international organisation addressing corruption, including, but not limited to, political corruption. ...

Statistics

Given the lack of central government, banking and commercial controls, these statistics should be viewed as best estimates:

GDP: purchasing power parity - $4.809 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: 2.4% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $600 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 65%
industry: 10%
services: 25% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): note - businesses print their own money, so inflation rates cannot be sensibly determined (2003 est.)

Labor force: 3.7 million (very few are skilled laborers)(1993 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture (mostly pastoral nomadism) 71%, industry and services 29%

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Industries: a few light industries, including sugar refining, textiles, petroleum refining (mostly shut down), wireless communication

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity - production: 235.6 GWh (2003)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1998)

Electricity - consumption: 219.1 GWh (2003)

Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)

Agriculture - products: bananas, sorghum, maize, rice, sugar cane, mangoes, coconuts, sesame seeds, beans; cattle, sheep, goats; fish This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Species About 30 species, see text Sorghum is a genus of about 30 species of grasses raised for grain, native to tropical and subtropical regions of Eastern Africa, with one species native to Mexico. ... “Corn” redirects here. ... Species Oryza glaberrima Oryza sativa The planting of rice is often a labour-intensive process Terrace of paddy fields in Yunnan Province, southern China. ... Species Ref: ITIS 42058 as of 2004-05-05 Sugarcane is one of six species of a tall tropical southeast Asian grass (Family Poaceae) having stout fibrous jointed stalks whose sap at one time was the primary source of sugar. ... Species About 35 species, including: Mangifera altissima Mangifera applanata Mangifera caesia Mangifera camptosperma Mangifera casturi Mangifera decandra Mangifera foetida Mangifera gedebe Mangifera griffithii Mangifera indica Mangifera kemanga Mangifera laurina Mangifera longipes Mangifera macrocarpa Mangifera mekongensis Mangifera odorata Mangifera pajang Mangifera pentandra Mangifera persiciformis Mangifera quadrifida Mangifera siamensis Mangifera similis Mangifera... Binomial name Cocos nucifera L. For other uses, see Coconut (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Sesamum indicum Sesame (Sesamum indicum) is a crop grown primarily for its oil-rich seeds. ... Green beans Bean is a common name for large plant seeds of several genera of Fabaceae (formerly Leguminosae) used for food or feed. ... Binomial name Bos taurus Linnaeus, 1758 Cattle (often called cows in vernacular and contemporary usage, or kye as the Scots plural of cou) are domesticated ungulates, a member of the subfamily Bovinae of the family Bovidae. ... “Lamb” redirects here. ... For other uses of the term, see goat (disambiguation). ... A giant grouper at the Georgia Aquarium Fish are aquatic vertebrates that are typically cold-blooded; covered with scales, and equipped with two sets of paired fins and several unpaired fins. ...

Exports: $79 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities: livestock, bananas, hides, fish, charcoal, scrap metal Charcoal is the blackish residue consisting of impure carbon obtained by removing water and other volatile constituents from animal and vegetation substances. ... Categories: Stub | Waste ...

Exports - partners: UAE 37.2%, Yemen 22.3%, Oman 10.1%, China 6%, Kuwait 4.4%, Nigeria 4% (2003) This article does not cite its references or sources. ...

Imports: $344 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities: manufactures, petroleum products, foodstuffs, construction materials, khat Binomial name Catha edulis (Vahl) Forssk. ...

Imports - partners: Djibouti 33.9%, Kenya 15.5%, Brazil 6.6%, UAE 5.1%, Thailand 4.2% (2003) UAE redirects here; for other uses of that term, see UAE (disambiguation) The United Arab Emirates is an oil-rich country situated in the south-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Southwest Asia, comprising seven emirates: Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm al-Quwain. ...

Debt - external: $2.6 billion (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient: $60 million (1999 est.)

Currency: Somali shilling (SOS)

Exchange rates: Somali shillings (So. Sh.) per US$1 - 2,620 (January 1999), 7,500 (November 1997 est.), 7,000 (January 1996 est.), 5,000 (1 January 1995), 2,616 (1 July 1993), 4,200 (December 1992)
note: the Republic of Somaliland, a self-declared independent country not recognized by any foreign government, issues its own currency, the Somaliland shilling (So. Sh.) January 1 is the first day of the calendar year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... July 1 is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 183 days remaining. ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... Somaliland (Somali: Soomaaliland) is a former British territory located in the northwest region of Somalia in the Horn of Africa. ...

Fiscal year: NA

External links

• CIA World Factbook: Somalia
• Somalia Reuters Alertnet country profile

References