Somalia Demographics: Median age, Gender, Religion

Median age in Somalia, 1960–2100

In 1960, the median age in Somalia was 18.1 years compared to the world's average of 22.5 years. As of 2024, the median age had decreased to 16.6 years, compared with the average of 31.6 years in other countries. Ranked 143rd for median age 64 years ago (old to young), Somalia ranks 194th currently.

According to the United Nations projections, the median age in Somalia is expected to increase to 33.4 years by 2100. The aging demographics forecast is based on previous years' birth rates and increasing life expectancy.

Demographic pyramid: age and gender distribution

Chart Table

Somalia

Male

Female

Age range	Share of population
	Somalia
	Male	Female
80+	0.11%	0.16%
75-79	0.18%	0.23%
70-74	0.35%	0.43%
65-69	0.52%	0.62%
60-64	0.71%	0.81%
55-59	0.92%	1.02%
50-54	1.18%	1.26%
45-49	1.52%	1.57%
40-44	1.95%	2%
35-39	2.39%	2.42%
30-34	2.77%	2.79%
25-29	3.8%	3.78%
20-24	4.6%	4.54%
15-19	5.45%	5.32%
10-14	6.39%	6.22%
5-9	7.89%	7.68%
0-4	9.36%	9.06%

The chart above is a variation of the population pyramid and represents the age and gender structure. Somalia has high demographic potential with 79.6% of people in the 0-34 age group (ranked 5/196).

Working-age demographic by year

Chart Table

Somalia

Factual

UN forecast

World

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Working age share
	Somalia	World
2100	66.3%	59.6%
2099	66.3%	59.6%
2098	66.3%	59.7%
2097	66.3%	59.7%
2096	66.3%	59.7%
2095	66.3%	59.7%
2094	66.3%	59.7%
2093	66.3%	59.8%
2092	66.3%	59.8%
2091	66.3%	59.8%
2090	66.3%	59.8%
2089	66.2%	59.8%
2088	66.2%	59.8%
2087	66.2%	59.8%
2086	66.2%	59.8%
2085	66.1%	59.9%
2084	66.1%	59.9%
2083	66%	60%
2082	66%	60.1%
2081	65.9%	60.3%
2080	65.8%	60.4%
2079	65.7%	60.6%
2078	65.6%	60.7%
2077	65.5%	60.9%
2076	65.3%	61%
2075	65.1%	61.1%
2074	64.9%	61.3%
2073	64.7%	61.4%
2072	64.5%	61.5%
2071	64.4%	61.6%
2070	64.2%	61.7%
2069	64%	61.8%
2068	63.8%	61.9%
2067	63.6%	62%
2066	63.4%	62%
2065	63.2%	62.1%
2064	63%	62.1%
2063	62.8%	62.1%
2062	62.6%	62.2%
2061	62.4%	62.2%
2060	62.2%	62.3%
2059	62%	62.3%
2058	61.8%	62.4%
2057	61.5%	62.4%
2056	61.2%	62.5%
2055	60.8%	62.7%
2054	60.5%	62.8%
2053	60.2%	62.9%
2052	59.9%	63.1%
2051	59.6%	63.2%
2050	59.3%	63.4%
2049	59%	63.5%
2048	58.7%	63.6%
2047	58.3%	63.8%
2046	58%	63.9%
2045	57.6%	64%
2044	57.2%	64.1%
2043	56.9%	64.2%
2042	56.5%	64.3%
2041	56%	64.4%
2040	55.6%	64.5%
2039	55.2%	64.7%
2038	54.7%	64.8%
2037	54.3%	64.9%
2036	53.9%	65.1%
2035	53.5%	65.2%
2034	53.1%	65.3%
2033	52.7%	65.4%
2032	52.4%	65.4%
2031	52%	65.4%
2030	51.7%	65.4%
2029	51.4%	65.4%
2028	51.1%	65.4%
2027	50.9%	65.4%
2026	50.8%	65.2%
2025	50.8%	65.1%
2024	50.8%	65.1%
2023	50.8%	65%
2022	50.6%	64.9%
2021	50.5%	64.9%
2020	50.4%	64.8%
2019	50.3%	64.9%
2018	50.2%	64.9%
2017	50.1%	65%
2016	50%	65.1%
2015	50%	65.1%
2014	49.9%	65.2%
2013	49.9%	65.2%
2012	49.7%	65.2%
2011	49.3%	65.2%
2010	48.9%	65.1%
2009	48.7%	65%
2008	48.6%	64.9%
2007	48.6%	64.7%
2006	48.9%	64.5%
2005	49.3%	64.3%
2004	49.6%	64%
2003	49.7%	63.7%
2002	49.9%	63.4%
2001	50%	63.1%
2000	50%	62.8%
1999	50.1%	62.5%
1998	50.2%	62.2%
1997	50.3%	61.9%
1996	50.4%	61.7%
1995	50.6%	61.5%
1994	50.7%	61.3%
1993	50.9%	61.2%
1992	50.7%	61.1%
1991	50.1%	61%
1990	49.9%	60.9%
1989	50.2%	60.8%
1988	50.5%	60.7%
1987	50.8%	60.5%
1986	51%	60.4%
1985	51.2%	60.1%
1984	51.4%	59.9%
1983	51.6%	59.6%
1982	51.7%	59.3%
1981	51.9%	59%
1980	52%	58.7%
1979	52.1%	58.4%
1978	52.2%	58%
1977	52.3%	57.7%
1976	52.3%	57.5%
1975	52.3%	57.4%
1974	52.2%	57.3%
1973	52.2%	57.3%
1972	52.2%	57.2%
1971	52.1%	57.1%
1970	52.1%	57%
1969	52%	56.9%
1968	51.9%	56.9%
1967	51.9%	56.9%
1966	51.8%	56.8%
1965	51.6%	56.9%
1964	51.6%	57%
1963	51.7%	57.2%
1962	51.9%	57.4%
1961	52.1%	57.5%
1960	52.4%	57.6%

The share of working-age demographics aged 15-64 in Somalia changed from 49.6% to 50.8% between 2004 and 2024.

Age dependency by year

Age dependency is the ratio of people not in the labor force (children under 15 and adults 64+) to people aged 15 to 64. Age dependency in Somalia decreased from 101.7% to 96.8% between 2004 and 2024 with a decreased share of children and an increased proportion of people aged 65+

Share of young demographic (0-14 years) by year

Chart Table

Somalia

Factual

UN forecast

World

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Share of 0-14
	Somalia	World
2100	23.1%	16.5%
2099	23.3%	16.6%
2098	23.4%	16.6%
2097	23.6%	16.7%
2096	23.8%	16.8%
2095	24%	16.8%
2094	24.2%	16.9%
2093	24.4%	17%
2092	24.6%	17%
2091	24.8%	17.1%
2090	25%	17.2%
2089	25.2%	17.2%
2088	25.5%	17.3%
2087	25.7%	17.4%
2086	25.9%	17.4%
2085	26.1%	17.5%
2084	26.4%	17.5%
2083	26.6%	17.6%
2082	26.8%	17.7%
2081	27.1%	17.7%
2080	27.3%	17.8%
2079	27.6%	17.8%
2078	27.9%	17.9%
2077	28.1%	17.9%
2076	28.4%	18%
2075	28.7%	18%
2074	29%	18.1%
2073	29.3%	18.2%
2072	29.6%	18.2%
2071	29.9%	18.3%
2070	30.2%	18.3%
2069	30.6%	18.4%
2068	30.9%	18.5%
2067	31.2%	18.6%
2066	31.5%	18.6%
2065	31.9%	18.7%
2064	32.2%	18.8%
2063	32.5%	18.9%
2062	32.9%	19.1%
2061	33.2%	19.2%
2060	33.6%	19.3%
2059	33.9%	19.4%
2058	34.2%	19.5%
2057	34.6%	19.6%
2056	34.9%	19.8%
2055	35.3%	19.9%
2054	35.7%	20%
2053	36.1%	20.1%
2052	36.4%	20.2%
2051	36.8%	20.3%
2050	37.2%	20.4%
2049	37.6%	20.5%
2048	38%	20.6%
2047	38.4%	20.7%
2046	38.8%	20.8%
2045	39.2%	20.9%
2044	39.7%	20.9%
2043	40.1%	21%
2042	40.5%	21.1%
2041	41%	21.2%
2040	41.5%	21.2%
2039	41.9%	21.3%
2038	42.4%	21.4%
2037	42.8%	21.5%
2036	43.3%	21.6%
2035	43.7%	21.8%
2034	44.1%	22%
2033	44.5%	22.2%
2032	44.9%	22.4%
2031	45.2%	22.7%
2030	45.6%	23%
2029	46%	23.3%
2028	46.2%	23.6%
2027	46.5%	23.9%
2026	46.6%	24.2%
2025	46.6%	24.6%
2024	46.6%	24.7%
2023	46.7%	25%
2022	46.8%	25.3%
2021	47%	25.6%
2020	47%	25.8%
2019	47.1%	26%
2018	47.3%	26.2%
2017	47.4%	26.4%
2016	47.5%	26.5%
2015	47.6%	26.6%
2014	47.7%	26.8%
2013	47.8%	26.9%
2012	47.9%	27%
2011	48.3%	27.1%
2010	48.7%	27.3%
2009	48.8%	27.5%
2008	48.9%	27.6%
2007	48.9%	27.9%
2006	48.6%	28.1%
2005	48.2%	28.5%
2004	47.9%	28.8%
2003	47.7%	29.2%
2002	47.6%	29.6%
2001	47.5%	30%
2000	47.4%	30.4%
1999	47.2%	30.8%
1998	47.1%	31.1%
1997	47%	31.5%
1996	46.9%	31.8%
1995	46.7%	32.1%
1994	46.5%	32.3%
1993	46.4%	32.5%
1992	46.5%	32.7%
1991	47%	32.9%
1990	47%	33%
1989	46.7%	33.2%
1988	46.3%	33.4%
1987	46%	33.6%
1986	45.8%	33.8%
1985	45.6%	34%
1984	45.4%	34.3%
1983	45.2%	34.6%
1982	45%	34.9%
1981	44.8%	35.2%
1980	44.6%	35.5%
1979	44.5%	35.9%
1978	44.4%	36.3%
1977	44.3%	36.7%
1976	44.3%	36.9%
1975	44.3%	37.1%
1974	44.4%	37.2%
1973	44.4%	37.3%
1972	44.4%	37.5%
1971	44.5%	37.6%
1970	44.5%	37.7%
1969	44.6%	37.8%
1968	44.7%	37.9%
1967	44.8%	38%
1966	44.9%	38%
1965	45.1%	38%
1964	45.1%	38%
1963	45%	37.8%
1962	44.8%	37.6%
1961	44.7%	37.5%
1960	44.4%	37.4%

The share of children aged 0-14 in Somalia decreased from 47.9% to 46.6% between 2004 and 2024 due to changes in birth rates.

Share of old population (65+) by year

Chart Table

Somalia

Factual

UN forecast

World

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Share of 65+ years old
	Somalia	World
2100	10.7%	23.9%
2099	10.5%	23.8%
2098	10.3%	23.7%
2097	10.1%	23.6%
2096	9.92%	23.5%
2095	9.73%	23.4%
2094	9.53%	23.4%
2093	9.33%	23.3%
2092	9.13%	23.2%
2091	8.93%	23.1%
2090	8.73%	23.1%
2089	8.52%	23%
2088	8.31%	22.9%
2087	8.12%	22.8%
2086	7.93%	22.7%
2085	7.74%	22.6%
2084	7.55%	22.5%
2083	7.37%	22.4%
2082	7.19%	22.2%
2081	7.02%	22%
2080	6.85%	21.8%
2079	6.68%	21.6%
2078	6.52%	21.4%
2077	6.37%	21.2%
2076	6.28%	21%
2075	6.19%	20.8%
2074	6.09%	20.6%
2073	5.97%	20.4%
2072	5.86%	20.3%
2071	5.74%	20.1%
2070	5.61%	19.9%
2069	5.48%	19.8%
2068	5.35%	19.6%
2067	5.21%	19.5%
2066	5.07%	19.3%
2065	4.93%	19.2%
2064	4.78%	19.1%
2063	4.64%	18.9%
2062	4.5%	18.8%
2061	4.36%	18.6%
2060	4.23%	18.5%
2059	4.11%	18.3%
2058	3.98%	18.1%
2057	3.91%	17.9%
2056	3.87%	17.7%
2055	3.84%	17.5%
2054	3.77%	17.2%
2053	3.7%	17%
2052	3.62%	16.7%
2051	3.55%	16.4%
2050	3.47%	16.2%
2049	3.4%	16%
2048	3.34%	15.8%
2047	3.27%	15.5%
2046	3.21%	15.3%
2045	3.15%	15.1%
2044	3.1%	14.9%
2043	3.05%	14.8%
2042	3.01%	14.6%
2041	2.97%	14.4%
2040	2.94%	14.2%
2039	2.91%	14%
2038	2.89%	13.8%
2037	2.86%	13.5%
2036	2.84%	13.3%
2035	2.81%	13%
2034	2.79%	12.7%
2033	2.77%	12.4%
2032	2.75%	12.2%
2031	2.73%	11.9%
2030	2.71%	11.6%
2029	2.69%	11.3%
2028	2.67%	11%
2027	2.65%	10.7%
2026	2.63%	10.5%
2025	2.61%	10.3%
2024	2.59%	10.2%
2023	2.56%	9.98%
2022	2.54%	9.74%
2021	2.54%	9.53%
2020	2.54%	9.33%
2019	2.52%	9.1%
2018	2.49%	8.88%
2017	2.46%	8.65%
2016	2.43%	8.45%
2015	2.39%	8.26%
2014	2.36%	8.08%
2013	2.35%	7.92%
2012	2.35%	7.78%
2011	2.38%	7.66%
2010	2.43%	7.58%
2009	2.45%	7.52%
2008	2.47%	7.47%
2007	2.49%	7.41%
2006	2.51%	7.34%
2005	2.53%	7.26%
2004	2.55%	7.18%
2003	2.57%	7.1%
2002	2.58%	7.01%
2001	2.59%	6.92%
2000	2.6%	6.84%
1999	2.62%	6.76%
1998	2.65%	6.68%
1997	2.67%	6.61%
1996	2.7%	6.53%
1995	2.73%	6.45%
1994	2.75%	6.37%
1993	2.77%	6.29%
1992	2.84%	6.21%
1991	2.98%	6.14%
1990	3.06%	6.07%
1989	3.09%	6.01%
1988	3.13%	5.95%
1987	3.17%	5.91%
1986	3.2%	5.86%
1985	3.22%	5.82%
1984	3.25%	5.8%
1983	3.27%	5.79%
1982	3.29%	5.8%
1981	3.31%	5.81%
1980	3.32%	5.81%
1979	3.34%	5.77%
1978	3.34%	5.71%
1977	3.35%	5.65%
1976	3.36%	5.59%
1975	3.37%	5.53%
1974	3.38%	5.47%
1973	3.38%	5.42%
1972	3.38%	5.37%
1971	3.38%	5.32%
1970	3.37%	5.28%
1969	3.36%	5.24%
1968	3.35%	5.2%
1967	3.34%	5.16%
1966	3.32%	5.12%
1965	3.3%	5.08%
1964	3.28%	5.04%
1963	3.26%	5.02%
1962	3.23%	5.01%
1961	3.2%	4.99%
1960	3.16%	4.97%

The share of older people aged 65 and over in Somalia increased from 2.55% to 2.59% between 2004 and 2024.

Median age map

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1x