Urbanized Areas in Somalia

The Federal Republic of Somalia, located in the Horn of Africa, is bordered by Ethiopia to the West, Djibouti to the Northwest, the Gulf of Aden to the North, the Indian Ocean to the East, and Kenya to the Southwest.

Somalia is one of the fastest urbanizing countries in the world. Somalia’s urban population is estimated at around 6.45 million people, making up 45% of the national population and growing at an average rate of around 4.2 percent per annum. The World Bank estimates that if the current trend continues, by 2030, Somalia will add another 4.5 million urban residents to its already constrained urban environment.

The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs projects that by 2026 Somalia will be predominantly urban. Still, “urban” in Somalia is defined by any human settlement with more than 1.500 inhabitants, which is quite low for international and East African standards (Source:  UN Somalia DSI Towards Sustainable Development , 2019).

Major cities benefitting from improving security, employment opportunities and the availability of aid have become centers of rapid inward migration.

Below is a look at some of the most populous cities to the south of Somalia, with a view of the amenities, attractions and leisure areas that are common in urbanized areas. Expand the maps to further explore each city.