Flash Card Videos
Every SRA flash card as a 15-second video: one fact about Somalia, ready to watch, download or share on WhatsApp and social media. Each video has a written description underneath, so screen readers can read it aloud. See the cards themselves on the Flash Cards page.
Somalia: Population Growth vs Real GDP Growth (2025)
Somalia’s population grew 3.34% in 2025, faster than real GDP growth of 3.1% (World Bank and SNBS).
Most Somali Adults Do Not Save Money
Only 14 out of every 100 Somali adults save money: 86% of adults aged 15+ do not save (Central Bank of Somalia, Financial Access Survey 2026).
From SRA Data to Parliament: Hon. Faaisa Jeyte Raises the Ministry Salary Gap
An MP raised in Parliament the salary gap between the Ministry of Finance and the three production ministries, first highlighted in an SRA flash card.
Somalia’s National ID Registration: Men vs Women
More than 1.4 million people had registered for Somalia’s national ID by March 2026: 53% men and 47% women.
Mogadishu Electricity Prices Rise by 12.2%
Electricity in Mogadishu now costs $0.46 per kWh, up 12.2% from the $0.41 SRA reported earlier.
Health Insurance Coverage in East Africa
Only 3.5% of people in Somalia have health insurance, compared with 85.3% in Rwanda.
Somalia Has the World’s Highest Fertility Rate
Somali women have on average 6.13 children each, the highest fertility rate in the world.
Customer Deposits in East African Banks: Somalia vs Its Neighbours (2025)
Somali banks held $1.63 billion in customer deposits in 2025. Kenya’s banks held about 29 times as much.
Security Deposit Required to Open a Bank in Somalia
Anyone opening a bank in Somalia must lodge a security deposit with the Central Bank. Foreign-owned banks have to put up twice as much as Somali-owned banks.
Minimum Capital Required to Open a Bank in Somalia
A new bank in Somalia must prove its capital before it is licensed. This minimum capital is separate from the security deposit held at the Central Bank.
How Much Do Somali Banks Add to Murabaha Financing?
Somali banks lend mainly through murabaha. An SRA check in October 2026 found an annual profit margin of 6% to 12%. Rates vary by bank, amount financed…
Licensed Commercial Banks: Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia (2026)
Somalia has 15 licensed commercial banks, fewer than half as many as Kenya.
Remittances vs Food Imports: Somalia Spends More on Food Than It Receives
Somalia receives $2.0 billion a year in remittances from Somalis abroad but spends $2.2 billion importing food.
2026 GDP Growth: Somalia vs Ethiopia and Kenya
The IMF projects Somalia’s economy to grow 2.6% in 2026, the slowest of the three countries compared.
Approved Government Budget for 2026: Somalia vs Kenya and Ethiopia
Somalia’s approved budget for 2026 is $1.38 billion. Kenya’s is almost 27 times larger.
2026 Annual Budgets Across Somali Administrations
Somaliland has the largest 2026 budget of any Somali administration, followed by Puntland and Banadir.
Somalia Government Spending on Water and Electricity Rose 19.3% in 2025
The federal government spent $1.11 million more on water, electricity and related services in 2025 than in 2024.
Salary Spending: Ministry of Finance vs Three Productive Ministries (2025)
In 2025 the Ministry of Finance paid more in salaries than the ministries of livestock, fisheries and agriculture combined. Figures are wages and salaries…
Government Revenue from Mogadishu Port Fees Rose 27.2% in 2025
The government collected $9.59 million more from Mogadishu port fees in 2025. The figures combine harbour fees (Albayrak) and customs harbour fees.
Ship Arrivals at Mogadishu Port: January–June 2025 vs 2026
More ships arrived at Mogadishu port in the first half of 2026. Heavy reliance on imported goods means a lot of money leaves the country.
Government Revenue from Passport Fees (2024–2025)
Passport fees brought in $381,468 more in 2025 than in 2024.
Government Revenue from Visa Fees (2024–2025)
Somalia collected $263,000 more from visa fees in 2025 than in 2024.
Government Revenue from Driving Licence Fees Rose 46.5%
Driving licence fees, new and renewed, brought in $460,000 more in 2025.
Government Revenue from Agricultural Export Taxes Fell 62%
The government collected $269,362 less from agricultural export taxes in 2025.
Government Revenue from Livestock Export Taxes Fell 64.9%
Livestock export taxes brought in about $100,000 less in 2025 than in 2024. Amounts are rounded; the percentage is as reported by the Ministry of Finance.
Government Revenue from Seafood Export Taxes (2024–2025)
Somalia’s government collected $30,000 from seafood export taxes in 2025, up from $20,000 in 2024.
Government Revenue from Aircraft Using Somali Airspace Fell 10%
Fees paid by aircraft flying through Somali airspace brought in $2.2 million less in 2025.
Somalia vs Ethiopia: Reported Airspace Revenue (2025)
Ethiopia reported about $4.6 million more airspace revenue than Somalia. Somalia’s figure covers calendar year 2025; Ethiopia’s covers the financial year…
Somalia–Türkiye Trade 2025: A $315 Million Deficit
Somalia imported $315 million more from Türkiye than it exported there in 2025.
U.S.–Somalia Trade in 2025
The United States sold $50.2 million of goods to Somalia in 2025 and bought only $700,000 in return, leaving Somalia with a $49.5 million trade gap.
70 Billion Somali Shillings Out of the Market
About 70 billion Somali shillings have gone out of use. The notes have no value, no backing and no legal tender status, which means lost value and lost…
A Look Inside Somalia’s Government Salaries
How much do Somalia’s public servants earn each month?
Can a Grade A Government Salary Cover a Basic Life in Mogadishu?
A Grade A government employee earns $700 a month. An SRA market survey found basic monthly costs in Mogadishu use up the whole salary, leaving nothing for…
How Much Do University Lecturers Earn per Teaching Hour in Somalia?
Pay per teaching hour at Somali universities rises with the lecturer’s qualification. A full-time lecturer earns $500–$700 a month.
Maternity Leave in Somalia: Who Gets More Time Off?
How much maternity leave a woman gets in Somalia depends on where she works. International NGOs give three times as much as the private sector.
Cost of Bottled Water (Dasani 500ml) in East Africa
A 500ml bottle of Dasani costs about the same in Mogadishu as in other East African capitals.
Household Tap Water Prices by City (per Cubic Metre)
Tap water is cheapest in Dhusamareb and most expensive in Lasanod, where it costs more than twice as much.
Electricity Prices: Mogadishu vs Nairobi and Addis Ababa
Households in Mogadishu pay about 17 times more for electricity than households in Addis Ababa.
Electricity Prices in Selected Somali Cities
Electricity in Dhusamareb costs more than twice as much per kWh as in Mogadishu.
Cooking Gas (13kg) Prices in Major Somali Cities
A 13kg cylinder of cooking gas costs between $20 and $30, depending on the city. Prices are indicative and vary with season, availability and supplier.
Charcoal vs Cooking Gas in Mogadishu
In Mogadishu a bag of charcoal costs $9 less than a 13kg gas cylinder.
Sugar Prices by City (per Kg)
A kilo of sugar costs $0.80 to $1 across Somali cities.
Cost of Eating Out Across Somali Cities
A basic meal of rice, meat (suqaar) and a soft drink costs most in Mogadishu and least in Jowhar. Prices are average estimates from ordinary restaurants.
How Much Does a Hotel Night Cost in Mogadishu?
A night in a Mogadishu hotel costs from $20 to $170, depending on location and hotel standard.
Mogadishu Apartment Rent by Zone
Monthly apartment rent in Mogadishu varies widely by district.
Government-Acquired Land in Mogadishu: 3 Most Expensive and 3 Cheapest
Example prices of land taken over by the government in low-income settlements of Mogadishu. Prices depend on location, access and demand.
What Does $1 of Mobile Data Buy in Somalia? (2026)
A $1 data bundle gets you between 2GB and 6GB, depending on the provider.
Transport Vehicle Prices in Mogadishu
A new bajaj auto-rickshaw in Mogadishu costs nearly six times as much as a delivery motorbike. Estimates are based on market observations and dealer reports.
Flight Ticket Prices from Mogadishu to Major Somali Cities
An average one-way ticket from Mogadishu costs $115 to $230. Prices are indicative and vary by season, availability and airline.
Passenger Service Charges at Aden Adde International Airport
Departure fees at Mogadishu’s airport are included in the ticket price. No cash payment is needed at the gate.
How Much Does a Passport Cost? Somalia vs Neighbouring Countries
A Somali passport costs almost four times as much as an Ethiopian one.
Education Document Verification Costs in Somalia
The authentication stamp (tasdiiqin) from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs costs four times the secondary school certificate fee.
Government Revenue from Court Filing Fees Fell 4.1%
Fees paid when cases or legal documents are filed in court brought in about $40,000 less in 2025.
Funeral Service Prices in Mogadishu
What a funeral (aaska) costs in Mogadishu, by service.
Mortuary Refrigeration Costs per Day: Mogadishu vs Djibouti and Nairobi
Keeping a body in a Mogadishu mortuary costs $100 a day, more than six times the price in Nairobi.
The Price of Khat (Jaad) in Mogadishu (March 2026)
What each unit of khat (jaad) cost in Mogadishu in March 2026.
Rising Khat (Jaad) Prices in Mogadishu
Khat prices in Mogadishu have gone up by 25% to 60% across all units since March 2026.
Price of Guns and Bullets in Mogadishu
SRA recorded what guns and bullets sell for in Mogadishu. Knowing the price is a first step to ending the violence.
Circumcision Service Costs in Somalia
Average reported cost of circumcision services. This information is for research and public awareness only. SRA does not promote or encourage female…
Child Vaccination: Somalia vs Neighbouring Countries
72% of Somali children receive all three doses of the DTP vaccine (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis), the lowest rate among its neighbours.
Child Mortality: Somalia vs Neighbours
About 1 in 10 Somali children die before their fifth birthday. Figures are deaths before age 5 per 1,000 live births.
Maternal Mortality: Somalia vs Neighbours
Somalia’s maternal death rate is almost three times Ethiopia’s. Figures are estimated maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.
Birth Registration in Somalia: The Children Missing from Official Records
Only about 4 in every 100 births in Somalia are officially registered.
Doctor-to-Population Ratio: Somalia vs Neighbours
Somalia has one doctor for every 30,000 people, about seven times fewer doctors per person than Kenya.
Health Workforce in Somalia
Somalia has very few health workers for the size of its population.
People Living with HIV in Somalia
An estimated 11,000 people in Somalia live with HIV, and about 800 new infections occur every year. Early testing saves lives and treatment works.
Somalia’s Kidney Dialysis Services
About 1,100 patients rely on just eight dialysis centres for life-sustaining treatment.
Hospital Bed Costs per Night in Mogadishu
A night in an intensive care bed in Mogadishu costs four times as much as a shared ward.
Outpatient Consultation Fees in Mogadishu
What it costs to see a doctor depends on where you go. Public hospitals and MCH centres are free.
Child Delivery Costs in Somalia
A caesarean section costs more than four times as much as a normal delivery, and many hospitals prefer and push C-sections. The price gap may create…
Bachelor’s Degree Duration in East Africa (Business Administration)
A bachelor’s degree in business administration takes 3 to 5 years in East Africa. Somalia’s takes the longest.
Government Revenue from Education Service Fees Rose 55.3%
The government collected about $130,000 more from education service fees in 2025.
Primary School Completion in Somalia
Only about 2 in 10 Somali children complete primary school.
How Many Hours Do Secondary Students Learn Each Year?
Somalia allocates more instructional time to secondary students than Djibouti or Ethiopia.
Primary School Textbook Prices: Mogadishu vs Nairobi and Addis Ababa
A complete Grade 4 textbook set for one student costs $14 in Mogadishu, a third of the price in Nairobi.
Cost of School Textbooks by Grade in Somalia
Textbook costs rise from $12 in the first grades to $30 in secondary school.
Monthly School Fees in Somalia
What schools charge each month (lacagta iskuulka), by level.
Form 4 National Exam 2026: Planned, Attended and Absent
97.1% of students registered for the 2026 Form 4 national exam sat it.
Form 4 Pass Rates Under the Hassan Sheikh Administration (2022–2026)
Form 4 pass rates have stayed above 92% every year since 2022.
Form 4 Pass Rates Under the Farmaajo Administration (2017–2021)
Form 4 pass rates fell from 2017 to 2020, then rose to 86.7% in 2021.
Girls in Grade 8 in Banadir: More Taking Part, Higher Pass Rate
Between 2024/25 and 2025/26 more girls sat the Grade 8 exam in Banadir, and a larger share of them passed.
Secondary School Exam Candidates in Somalia: 2025 vs 2026
6,832 more students sat the secondary school exams in 2026 than in 2025.
Cabinet Size: Somalia vs Its Neighbours
Somalia has three more cabinet ministers than Kenya or Ethiopia.
Parliament Size Across Somali Administrations
Number of members in each Somali administration’s parliament.
Will the 12th Parliament Reach the 30% Women’s Quota?
None of Somalia’s last three parliaments reached the 30% quota for women.
Votes Won by Somalia’s Elected Presidents (2000–2022)
How many votes each of Somalia’s last six presidents won when elected.
Facebook Followers of the 2022 Presidential Candidates
How many people followed each leading 2022 presidential candidate on Facebook.
How Somali Youth Use Social Media Reactions
For Somali youth, a like or reaction often means more than just a click.
Refugees in Somalia
Somalia hosts 18,924 refugees. Most come from Yemen.
Organized Crime Index 2025: Somalia vs Neighbouring Countries
Somalia scores 6.55 out of 10 for criminality, second only to Kenya in the region. Higher scores mean more organized-crime activity and influence.
Growth of Moto Bajaj in Mogadishu
Mogadishu’s bajaj fleet grew by 18,000 after the city split them into Group A and Group B. Each group has 24,000 vehicles.
Bajaj Drivers in Mogadishu: Key Findings (2026)
Mogadishu’s bajaj drivers work long days for modest pay, and more than one in five has a university degree.
How Did Drivers Buy Their Bajaj?
Most bajaj drivers bought their vehicle with their own savings or help from family. Few used a bank loan.
Cost of Living in Mogadishu: Wedding Hall Prices (October 2026)
Planning a wedding in Mogadishu? The meal is usually the biggest cost. An SRA market check in October 2026 found that wedding halls charge between $10 and $18 per guest. Wedding hall meal prices per person Lower-priced halls: $10–$11 per Read More …
Somalia’s Presidential Elections: Number of Candidates and Registration Fees (2012–2022)
Somalia’s presidential elections have attracted more candidates over time, while the fee to register as a candidate has risen four times since 2012. Here are the numbers from the last three elections. How many candidates ran for president? 2012: 25 Read More …
Somalia’s Presidential Candidate Registration Fees (2012–2027)
Presidential candidate registration fees rose from $10,000 in 2012 to $40,000 in 2022, a fourfold increase. The 2027 fee is not yet set.
Press Conferences and Statements Among Somalia’s Opposition
Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed recorded the highest number of documented public communications during the six-month period, with 10, followed by Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo with 9.
2026 Form 4 National Examination: Attendance
Nearly 97% of the planned candidates attended, while 1,302 students were absent.
The 10% Education Cohort Gap in Banadir
Approximately 2,687 fewer students, or 10% of the original cohort, reached the Form 4 examination four years later.
Presidential Election Results in Somalia (2000–2022)
The number of votes required to elect Somalia’s president has varied considerably across the six presidential elections from 2000 to 2022.
Most Expensive University Degree Programmes in Somalia
Medicine and Surgery is the most expensive programme, costing more than four times as much as Information Technology.
Facebook Posts: Wasiir Fiqi vs OPM and Villa Somalia
Wasiir Fiqi published 25 Facebook posts during the 10-day period, compared with 16 posts combined by the Office of the Prime Minister and Villa Somalia. This means Fiqi posted 56.3% more than the two official accounts combined.
Food Prices Before Ramadan vs During Ramadan
Food prices rose during Ramadan: onions doubled, meat rose 40% and camel milk 50%.