Urban population growth in Somalia
Somalia: Urban population growth was 4.3% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population growth in Somalia, 1961–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban population growth in Somalia is 4.3%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 4.4% on the previous year and down 38.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population growth in Somalia peaked at 13.3% in 1979 and was at its lowest, -3.7%, in 1992.
That places Somalia 15th out of 217 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5.4% | 5.3% | 5.5% | 9 |
| 1970s | 5.6% | 3.7% | 13.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.6% | -0.6% | 9.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.9% | -3.7% | 6.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.9% | 4.3% | 5.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.0% | 2.8% | 9.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.5% | 4.1% | 5.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Somalia
- 12 Solomon Islands 4.4% compare
- 13 Malawi 4.4% compare
- 14 Central African Republic 4.3% compare
- 16 Burkina Faso 4.3% compare
- 17 Mauritania 4.2% compare
- 18 Papua New Guinea 4.1% compare
More climate change data for Somalia
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 40,869 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 11,404 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 29,465 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 43.03 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 1,052 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 530.13 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 497.3 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 32.83 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 1.88 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 1.17 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population growth in Somalia?
- Urban population growth in Somalia was 4.3% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population growth recorded in Somalia?
- The highest recorded value was 13.3% in 1979.
- What is the lowest urban population growth recorded in Somalia?
- The lowest recorded value was -3.7% in 1992.
- How does Somalia rank for urban population growth?
- Somalia ranks 15th out of 217 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban population growth rising or falling in Somalia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 38.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Somalia data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Urban population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Annual urban population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear urban population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank total population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects.