Country Profile: Somalia

Last reviewed: 2 March 2007

Country information

Map of Somalia

Full Country Name: Somali Democratic Republic (official name until 1991) or Somali Republic (name adopted by TFG – see below).
Area: 637,657sq km
Population: 8.86 million (2006 estimate)
Capital City: Mogadishu Mogadishu (currently controlled by the Islamic Courts Union; the Transitional Federal Government – see below – sits in Baidoa)
People: Somali (85%), Bantu, Arabs
Languages: Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English
Religion: Sunni Muslim
Currency: Somali shilling (No central bank so various currencies are used, including the Somaliland shilling)
Government: No central government since 1991 but a Transitional Federal Government (TFG) formed in January 2005. Regional governments in Somaliland (NW) and Puntland (NE)
International Organisations: Although there has been no effective government since 1991, the TFG and its predecessor, the Transitional National Government (TNG) have represented Somalia in the UN, the League of Arab States and the African Union.