Religions: Sunni Muslim
Languages: Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population: 24%
male: 36%
female: 14%
Government —————
Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Somalia former: Somali Republic
Data code: SO
Type of government: none
Capital: Mogadishu
Administrative divisions: 18 regions (plural - NA, singular -
gobolka); Awdal, Bakool, Banaadir, Bari, Bay, Galguduud, Gedo,
Hiiraan, Jubbada Dhexe, Jubbada Hoose, Mudug, Nugaal, Sanaag,
Shabeellaha Dhexe, Shabeellaha Hoose, Sool, Togdheer, Woqooyi Galbeed
Independence: 1 July 1960 (from a merger of British Somaliland,
which became independent from the UK on 26 June 1960, and Italian
Somaliland, which became independent from the Italian-administered
UN trusteeship on 1 July 1960, to form the Somali Republic)