Capital of Somalia: Mogadishu — Facts & 5-Question Quiz
The capital of Somalia is Mogadishu. Somalia sits in Africa, has a population of 17,597,511, and uses the SOS. Official languages include Somali, Arabic.
Quick facts
- Capital: Mogadishu
- Continent: Africa
- Population: ~17,597,511
- Area: 637,657 km²
- Population density: 27.6 people per km²
- Official languages: Somali, Arabic
- Currency: SOS
- ISO code: SO
How big is Somalia?
By population, Somalia ranks 70th in the world, holding roughly 0.22% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 43rd.
Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Somalia has 27.6 people per square kilometre, which is about 2.2 times below the world average of 59.4. It is more spacious than its population alone would suggest.
Within Africa, Somalia is the 24th most populous country of 54.
Countries of a similar size
The two countries closest to Somalia in population are Netherlands (17,564,014) and Chad (17,723,315).
By land area, its closest counterparts are France (643,801 km²) and South Sudan (644,329 km²).
Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.
Language and currency
Somali is listed as an official language of Somalia alone, which is unusual — most official languages are shared across borders.
Somalia uses the SOS, and it is the only country that does, which makes the currency name a reliable one-to-one clue.
How to remember Somalia
Mogadishu is on the Indian Ocean coast. The flag is one of the simplest in the world: a single white star on light blue.
The flag of Somalia: light blue and white
🇸🇴 The flag is a light blue flag with a large white five-pointed star in the centre. The blue was originally inspired by the flag of the United Nations. The five points of the star stand for the five regions where Somali people live.
Region and neighbours
Somalia is a country in the Horn of Africa, the easternmost part of mainland Africa, with coasts on the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. It shares land borders with 3 countries: Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya.
- Djibouti 🇩🇯 — capital Djibouti
- Ethiopia 🇪🇹 — capital Addis Ababa
- Kenya 🇰🇪 — capital Nairobi
Three facts about Somalia
- Somalia has the longest coastline of any country on mainland Africa.
- Ras Hafun in Somalia is the easternmost point of mainland Africa.
- The Laas Geel caves, near Hargeisa in the north, hold some of the earliest known cave paintings of cattle in the Horn of Africa, about 4,500 to 5,500 years old.
Sources: Wikipedia: Somalia, Wikipedia: Flag of Somalia, Wikipedia: Mogadishu, CIA World Factbook.
Quiz yourself on Somalia
- African capitals quiz — match Somalia to Mogadishu
- African flags quiz — spot the Somalia flag among its neighbours
Somalia capital quiz
What is the capital of Somalia 🇸🇴?
- Kampala
- Mogadishu
- Dodoma
- Maputo
Show answer
Mogadishu
What is the capital of Chad 🇹🇩?
- Algiers
- Tripoli
- N'Djamena
- Kinshasa
Show answer
N'Djamena
What is the capital of Senegal 🇸🇳?
- Harare
- Dakar
- Tunis
- Bissau
Show answer
Dakar
What is the capital of Zimbabwe 🇿🇼?
- Lusaka
- Mbabane
- N'Djamena
- Harare
Show answer
Harare
What is the capital of Zambia 🇿🇲?
- Dakar
- Lusaka
- Kinshasa
- Bissau
Show answer
Lusaka
Somalia in Africa
The largest countries by population sharing this continent are Nigeria, Ethiopia, Egypt and Democratic Republic of the Congo.
If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Africa is the block Somalia belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.
Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Somalia.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Somalia?
The capital of Somalia is Mogadishu.
What is the population of Somalia?
About 17,597,511, making it the 70th most populous country in the world.
How big is Somalia?
637,657 square kilometres, ranking 43rd by land area, at a density of 27.6 people per square kilometre.
What currency does Somalia use?
The SOS, which no other country uses.
What are the colours of the Somalia flag?
The flag of Somalia is a light blue flag with a large white five-pointed star in the centre. The blue was originally inspired by the flag of the United Nations. The five points of the star stand for the five regions where Somali people live.
Which countries border Somalia?
Somalia shares land borders with Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya.
How can I remember the capital of Somalia?
Mogadishu is on the Indian Ocean coast. The flag is one of the simplest in the world: a single white star on light blue.
More capitals to learn
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