Key facts

Population: 7.7 million (Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), UNICEF, 2006).
Average life expectancy: 48 years (World Bank 2006). UK: 78 years (UN Statistics Division (UNSD), 2007).
Average per capita income: Not available. UK: £37,600 (World Bank development data, 2005).
Gross national income (GNI) per capita: US $130 (UNICEF, 2006).
Average annual growth rate: 2.6% (estimate) (Central Intelligence Agency, 2007).
Percentage of people not meeting daily food needs: Not available.
Women dying in childbirth: 1,044 per 100,000 live births (MICS, UNICEF, 2006). UK: 13 per 100,000 (UNSD, 2007).
Children dying before age 5: 225 per 1,000 live births (UNICEF, 2006). UK: 6 per 1,000 (UNSD, 2005).
Percentage of children receiving primary school education: 23% (MICS, UNICEF, 2006).
Percentage of people aged 15-49 living with HIV/AIDS: 1% (MICS, UNICEF, 2006). UK: 0.2% (UNSD, 2005).
Percentage of people with access to safe, clean water: 29% (MICS, UNICEF, 2006).
Total UK aid received (2008/09): 34m (Source: Statistics for International Development 2009)

Progress towards Millennium Development Goals

There is insufficient data to plot progress of Somalia’s MDGs, but the country is predicted to be seriously off track in meeting them. With the current political instability, it is unlikely that Somalia will reverse this pattern in the near future.

MDG 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

The UN estimate that 3.5 million people will be in need of food aid in 2009 (World Food Programme, 2009).

MDG 2: Achieve universal primary education

Primary school attendance has slumped to 23%.

MDG 3: Promote gender equality and empower women

Ratio of girls to boys attending primary school has risen to 80:100 but only 8% of parliamentary seats are held by women.

MDG 4: Reduce child mortality

For every 1,000 live births, 225 Somali children die before their fifth birthday (UNICEF, 2006).

MDG 5: Improve maternal health

UNICEF estimate maternal mortality at 1,044 per 100,000 live births, which puts Somali women as one of the most high-risk groups. Only 33% of all births are attended by a skilled health worker.

MDG 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases

HIV/AIDS prevalence in Somalia is estimated to be 1% of the population aged 15-49. Only 19% of infants are vaccinated against measles.

MDG 7: Ensure environmental sustainability

The percentage of people who have access to improved sanitation facilities and improved water sources has remained relatively stationary since 1995 at, respectively, 37% and 29%.

MDG 8: Develop a global partnership for development

In the middle of civil war there has been a surprising, if slow, growth in various economic indicators - e.g. an increase in mobile phone subscribers from 1.1% to 6.1% and of internet users from 0.2% to 1.1% between 2000 and 2006.

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