Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population:
24%
male:
36%
female:
14%
Labor force:
2.2 million (very few are skilled laborers)
by occupation:
pastoral nomad 70%, agriculture, government, trading, fishing,
handicrafts, and other 30%
note:
53% of population of working age (1985)

@Somalia, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Somalia
former:
Somali Republic
Digraph:
SO
Type:
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)
National holiday:
NA
Constitution:
25 August 1979, presidential approval 23 September 1979
Legal system:
NA
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Somalia has no functioning government; presidential elections last
held 23 December 1986 (next to be held NA); results - President SIAD
was reelected without opposition
Legislative branch:
unicameral People's Assembly
People's Assembly (Golaha Shacbiga):
elections last held 31 December 1984 (next to be held NA); results -
SRSP was the only party; seats - (177 total, 171 elected) SRSP 171;
note - the United Somali Congress (USC) ousted the regime of Maj. Gen.
Mohamed SIAD Barre on 27 January 1991; the provisional government has
promised that a democratically elected government will be established
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (non-functioning)
Political parties and leaders:
the United Somali Congress (USC) ousted the former regime on 27
January 1991; formerly the only party was the Somali Revolutionary
Socialist Party (SRSP), headed by former President and Commander in
Chief of the Army Maj. Gen. Mohamed SIAD Barre
Other political or pressure groups:
numerous clan and subclan factions are currently vying for power
Member of:
ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB,
IFAD, IFC, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELS