Somalia is a country in Africa, in East Africa, with about 19.7 million people (2025) and an area of 637,660 square kilometres. Its capital is Mogadishu, and it shares land borders with 3 countries.
By Team Geography·Last reviewed
Flag of SomaliaSomalia in solid, land neighbours outlined, capital marked.
The app teaches each country through short hand written lenses: PLACE for physical geography, STORY for history and identity, NOW for the news, and THREAD for the ties between countries. Here is one of Somalia's 5, in full.
PLACELens 1 of 5
What defines Somalia's geographic position?
Somalia forms the tip of the Horn of Africa, commanding the longest coastline on the African mainland at over 3,000 kilometers, stretching from the Gulf of Aden in the north to the Indian Ocean in the east. The northern coast rises sharply into the Cal Madow mountains, reaching 2,416 meters at Shimbiris peak. Much of the interior consists of the Ogaden-like semi-arid Haud plateau, while the only two permanent rivers, the Jubba and the Shabelle, flow through the fertile interriverine region in the south.
More on Horn of Africa
The easternmost projection of the African continent, encompassing Somalia, Djibouti, Eritrea, and Ethiopia. Its position at the junction of the Red Sea and Indian Ocean has made it a crossroads of trade, migration, and geopolitical competition for millennia.
4 more lenses on Somalia in the app
STORY What holds Somali identity together?
NOW Where does Somalia stand after decades of conflict?
THREAD A diaspora that outspends foreign aid
PLACE What ancient heritage does Somalia's coast hold?
Titles only. The app brings each lens back on a spaced repetition schedule set by how well you knew it: New, Hazy or Clear.
Compare Somalia with another country
Opens the country comparison tool with population, area, income and more side by side, every figure dated.
Common questions
What is the capital of Somalia?
The capital of Somalia is Mogadishu. Mogadishu lies at about 2.1 degrees north and 45.4 degrees east. Somalia is in Africa, in the region often called East Africa. It is home to about 19.7 million people. The world capitals quiz on this site tests every capital, and the printable capitals sheets cover each continent.
What is the population of Somalia?
About 19.7 million people live in Somalia, according to the World Bank figures for 2025. That makes it the 66th most populous of the 195 countries. With an area of 637,660 square kilometres, that is about 31 people per square kilometre.
What countries border Somalia?
Somalia shares land borders with 3 countries: Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya. The map on this page outlines each of them around Somalia. The count includes only borders on land, not neighbours across a sea or a lake. Borders here follow Natural Earth at the 1:50 million scale, with Crimea shown as part of Ukraine and Western Sahara as a separate territory.
How big is Somalia?
Somalia covers 637,660 square kilometres, or about 246,202 square miles. That makes it the 42nd largest of the 195 countries. The figure is total surface area, which includes inland water such as lakes and rivers. Its population of about 19.7 million gives a density of 31 people per square kilometre.
Somalia is a country in Africa, in East Africa, with about 19.7 million people (2025) and an area of 637,660 square kilometres. Its capital is Mogadishu, and it shares land borders with 3 countries.
Capital
Mogadishu
Continent
Africa
Region
East Africa
Population
19,654,739 2025, World Bank. 66th of 195.
Area
637,660 km² (246,202 sq mi) World Bank, surface area. 42nd largest of 195.
Population density
31 people per km²
Land neighbours
3: Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya
Official name
Federal Republic of Somalia
UN status
Member state
PLACE · from the Geography app
What defines Somalia's geographic position?
Somalia forms the tip of the Horn of Africa, commanding the longest coastline on the African mainland at over 3,000 kilometers, stretching from the Gulf of Aden in the north to the Indian Ocean in the east. The northern coast rises sharply into the Cal Madow mountains, reaching 2,416 meters at Shimbiris peak. Much of the interior consists of the Ogaden-like semi-arid Haud plateau, while the only two permanent rivers, the Jubba and the Shabelle, flow through the fertile interriverine region in the south.
Keep going on your iPhone. Scan for Geography: the world, one country at a time, about five minutes a day. No quizzes and no streaks. playgeography.app/countries/somalia/ · Map data: Natural Earth. Figures: World Bank and national sources, as listed on the page.
Geography · Country report
Somalia
NameDate
Draw the flag
Colour Somalia on the map, then fill in what you find.
Capital
Continent
Population
Area
Languages
Currency
Neighbours
Landmarks
Rivers or mountains
Three things I learned
1
2
3
One question I still have
?
Keep going on your iPhone. Scan for Geography: the world, one country at a time, about five minutes a day. No quizzes and no streaks. playgeography.app/countries/somalia/ · Map data: Natural Earth. Figures: World Bank and national sources, as listed on the page.
