Demographics of Somalia
Population pyramid of Somalia in 2020
Population	18,100,000 (2023 est.)[1]
Growth rate	2.42% (2022 est.)
Birth rate	37.98 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate	11.62 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Life expectancy	55.72 years
• male	53.39 years
• female	58.12 years
Fertility rate	6.90 children born/woman (2020)[2]
Infant mortality rate	86.53 deaths/1,000 live births
Net migration rate	-2.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Age structure
0–14 years	42.38%
65 and over	2.27%
Nationality
Nationality	Somali
Major ethnic	Somali (98%)

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Demographic features of Somalia's inhabitants include ethnicity, language, population density, education level, health, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population. Somalia is believed to be one of the most homogeneous countries in Africa.^[3][4]

2020 survey

Child marriages, known to deprive women of opportunities to reach their full potential, have among women aged 20–24, 36 percent of total population.^[2]

The April 2020 SHDS report further unveils that fertility rates remain very high, the total fertility rate for Somalia is 6.9 children per woman, the highest in the world, which would impact planning for the next years.^[2] In addition, 99 percent of women have still been genitally circumcised.^[2]

Ethnic groups

According to The Economist, at independence Somalia was "arguably in ethnic terms the most homogeneous country in Africa" however, the publication also notes;

"..its ethnic homogeneity is misleading. Despite also sharing a single language and religion, it is divided into more than 500 clans and sub-clans."^[5]

Somalis

Somalis constitute the largest ethnic group in Somalia, at approximately 98% of the nation's inhabitants.^[6] They are organized into clan groupings, which are important social units; clan membership plays a central part in Somali culture and politics. Clans are patrilineal and are typically divided into sub-clans, sometimes with many sub-divisions. Through the xeer system (customary law), the advanced clan structure has served governmental roles in many rural Somali communities.^[7]

Somali society is traditionally ethnically endogamous. So to extend ties of alliance, marriage is often to another ethnic Somali from a different clan. Thus, for example, a recent study observed that in 89 marriages contracted by men of the Dhulbahante clan, 55 (62%) were with women of Dhulbahante sub-clans other than those of their husbands; 30 (33.7%) were with women of surrounding clans of other clan families (Isaaq, 28; Gadabuursi, 3); and 3 (4.3%) were with women of other clans of the Darod clan family (Marehan 2, Ogaden 1).^[8]

Clan structure

Certain clans are traditionally classed as noble clans, referring to their pastoral lifestyle in contrast to the sedentary "Sab".^[10] The noble clans are the Dir, Darod, Hawiye and Isaaq.^[11][12] Out of these clans, Dir and Hawiye are regarded as descended from Samaale, the likely source of the ethnonym Somali (soomaali).^[13] Darod and Isaaq have separate agnatic (paternal) traditions of descent from Abdirahman bin Isma'il al-Jabarti (Sheikh Darod) and Ishaaq bin Ahmed (Sheikh Isaaq) respectively.^[14] Sheikh Darod and Sheikh Isaaq are asserted to have married women from the Dir clan, thus establishing matrilateral ties with the Samaale main stem.^[13] "Sab" is a term used to refer to the agricultural clans such as the Rahanweyn, in contrast to "Samaale".^[15] Both Samaale and Sab are the children of the father "Hiil" who is the common ancestor of all Somali clans.^[16]

A few clans in the southern part of Greater Somalia do not belong to the major clans, but came to be associated with them and were eventually adopted into one of the confederations.

The Garre clan in Ethiopia (Somali Region) and Kenya (North Eastern Province) is divided into two branches: The Tuuf who claim descent from Garre Gardheere Samaale,^[17][18][19] and Quranyow who married Tuuf's daughter, who is of the lineage Mahamed Hiniftir Mahe Dir.^[18][20][21] Likewise, the Gaalje'el in Hirshabelle and elsewhere in central Somalia also trace paternal descent to Gardheere Samaale.^[22][23]

The Degoodi in the Somali Region and North Eastern Province are related to Gaalje'el as the Saransoor trace patrilineage to Gardheere Samaale.^[22][23] The Ajuran claim descent from Maqaarre Samaale^[17] whilst the Hawadle in Hiran belong to Meyle Samaale.^[22][23] Thus, the Garre, Gaalje'el, Degoodi, Ajuran and Hawadle are all said to have patrilateral ties with the Dir and Hawiye through Samaale to Aqil ibn Abi Talib (a cousin of Muhammad and a brother of Ali).

The Sheekhaal acknowledge descent from Sheikh Abadir Umar Ar-Rida, also known as Fiqi Umar.^[24] The Sheekhaal clan (Arabic: شيخال), is a Somali clan and a group member of the confederation (Martiile Hiraab) inhabiting Somalia, Ethiopia and with considerable numbers also found in the Northern Frontier District (NFD).^[25]

The Digil and Mirifle (Rahanweyn) are agro-pastoral clans in the areas between Bay and Bakool. Many do not follow a nomadic lifestyle, live further south, and speak Maay. Although in the past frequently classified as a Somali dialect, more recent research by the linguist Mohamed Diriye Abdullahi suggests that Maay constitutes a separate but closely related Afro-Asiatic language of the Cushitic branch.^[26]

A third group, the occupational clans, are treated as outcasts. They can only marry among themselves. They live in their settlements among the nomadic populations in the north and used to perform specialized occupations such as metalworking, tanning and hunting.^[15] These minority Somali clans include the Gaboye (Madhiban), Tumaal, Yibir, Jaji and Yahar.

Clans and sub-clans

There is no clear agreement on the clan and sub-clan structures. The divisions and subdivisions as given here are partial and simplified. Many lineages are omitted.

Major clans

• Dir (Aji Irir son of Samaale),
  • Quranyow-Garre,^[18][20] Surre,^[22] Barsug,^[22] Madigan, Gurre, Bimaal, Gurgura, Gadabuursi, Issa^[22][28]
• Isaaq
  • Arap, Ayuub, Garhajis, Habar Awal, Habar Jeclo, Tol Jecle, Sanbuur, Habar Yonis and ‘Ibraan
• Darod
  • Awrtable, Harti, Majeerteen, Dhulbahante, Warsangeli, Deshiishe, Jidwaq, Leelkase, Marehan, Ogaden, Geri Koombe, Facaaye
• Hawiye (Irir son of Samaale)
  • Abgal, Mudulood clan (s), Gugundhabe, Xawaadle, Sheekhaal loobage, Baadi Cade, Jajeele, Geel-Jecel, Duduble, Habar Gidir, Murusade, Karanle, Gorgate^[29]
• Rahanweyn
  • Digil (Non-Mirifle)
    • Dabarre, Iroole, Jiido, Garre, Tunni, Geledi, Shanta Aleemo
  • Mirifle
    • Sagaal: Geeladle, Jilible, Gasaargude, Gawaweeyn, Luwaay, Hadame, Yantaar, Hubeer
    • Siyeed: Elaay. Leysaan, Eemid, Diisow, Yalaale, Qoomaal, Maalin Wiing, Harin, Jiron, Reer Dumaal, Garwaale and Haraw
• Saransor
  • Isse, Masare, Gaaljecel, Degodia^[22]
• Mayle
  • Hawadle^[23]
• Gardheere Samaale
  • Cowrmale known as Coormale Ibraahim

Minor clans

• Asharaf, Barawani, Benadiri, Carab Salaax, Gaboye (Madhiban), Muse clan, Tumaal, Yibir^[30]

Other ethnic groups

Non-Somali ethnic minority groups make up about 5% of the nation's population.^[6] They include Arabs, Bantus & Bajunis.

Languages

Somali is the official language of Somalia. It is the mother tongue of Somalis, the nation's most populous ethnic group.^[31] The language is a member of the Cushitic branch of the Afroasiatic family.^[32]

In addition to Somali, Arabic, which is also an Afroasiatic tongue,^[33] is another official language in Somalia. Many speak it due to centuries-old ties with the Arab world, the far-reaching influence of the Arabic media, and religious education.^[33][34][35]

English is widely used and taught. Other minority languages include Bravanese, a variant of the Bantu Swahili language that is spoken along the southern coast by the Bravanese people, as well as Bajuni, another Swahili dialect that is the mother tongue of the Bajuni ethnic minority group.

Population

According to the 2022 revision of the World Population Prospects^[36][37], the total population was 17,065,581 in 2021, compared to 2,264,000 in 1950. The proportion of children below the age of 15 in 2010 was 44.9%, 52.3% was between 15 and 65 years of age, while 2.7% was 65 years or older.^[38]

Vital statistics

Registration of vital events in Somalia is incomplete. The Population Department of the United Nations prepared the following estimates:^[39]