:Somalia Government
US:
Ambassador (vacant); Embassy at K-7, AFGOI Road, Mogadishu (mailing address
is P. O. Box 574, Mogadishu); telephone [252] (01) 39971; note - US Embassy
evacuated and closed indefinitely in January 1991
Flag:
light blue with a large white five-pointed star in the center; design based
on the flag of the UN (Italian Somaliland was a UN trust territory)
:Somalia Economy
Overview:
One of the world's poorest and least developed countries, Somalia has few
resources. Agriculture is the most important sector of the economy, with the
livestock sector accounting for about 40% of GDP and about 65% of export
earnings. Nomads and seminomads who are dependent upon livestock for their
livelihoods make up more than half of the population. Crop production
generates only 10% of GDP and employs about 20% of the work force. The main
export crop is bananas; sugar, sorghum, and corn are grown for the domestic
market. The small industrial sector is based on the processing of
agricultural products and accounts for less than 10% of GDP. Greatly
increased political turmoil in 1991-92 has resulted in a substantial drop in
output, with widespread famine a grim fact of life.
GDP:
exchange rate conversion - $1.7 billion, per capita $210; real growth rate
-1.4% (1988)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
210% (1989)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues $190 million; expenditures $195 million, including capital
expenditures of $111 million (1989 est.)
Exports:
$58.0 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
commodities:
bananas, livestock, fish, hides, skins
partners:
US 0.5%, Saudi Arabia, Italy, FRG (1986)
Imports:
$249 million (c.i.f., 1990 est.)
commodities:
petroleum products, foodstuffs, construction materials
partners:
US 13%, Italy, FRG, Kenya, UK, Saudi Arabia (1986)
External debt:
$1.9 billion (1989)
Industrial production:
growth rate -5.0% (1988); accounts for 5% of GDP
Electricity:
75,000 kW capacity; 60 million kWh produced, 10 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
a few small industries, including sugar refining, textiles, petroleum
refining
Agriculture:
dominant sector, led by livestock raising (cattle, sheep, goats); crops -
bananas, sorghum, corn, mangoes, sugarcane; not self-sufficient in food;
fishing potential largely unexploited
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $639 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $3.8 billion; OPEC
bilateral aid (1979-89), $1.1 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $336
million
Currency:
Somali shilling (plural - shillings); 1 Somali shilling (So. Sh.) = 100
centesimi
Exchange rates:
Somali shillings (So. Sh.) per US$1 - 3,800.00 (December 1990), 490.7
(1989), 170.45 (1988), 105.18 (1987), 72.00 (1986)
:Somalia Economy
Fiscal year: calendar year
:Somalia Communications
Highways:
15,215 km total; including 2,335 km paved, 2,880 km gravel, and 10,000 km
improved earth or stabilized soil (1983)
Pipelines:
crude oil 15 km
Ports:
Mogadishu, Berbera, Chisimayu, Bosaso
Merchant marine:
3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,913 GRT/8,718 DWT; includes 2 cargo,
1 refrigerated cargo
Civil air:
1 major transport aircraft
Airports:
53 total, 40 usable; 7 with permanent-surface runways; 2 with runways over
3,659 m; 6 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 15 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
minimal telephone and telegraph service; microwave and troposcatter system
centered on Mogadishu connects a few towns; 6,000 telephones; broadcast
stations - 2 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station;
scheduled to receive an ARABSAT ground station
:Somalia Defense Forces
Branches:
NA
Manpower availability:
males 15-49, 1,673,542; 942,153 fit for military service
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP