Somalia maintains an informal economy largely based on livestock, remittance/money-transfer companies and telecoms. Agriculture is the most important sector and livestock usually accounts for about 40% of GDP and more than 50% of export earnings. Telecoms firms provide wireless services in most major cities and offer the lowest international call rates on the continent. Mogadishu’s main market offers a variety of goods from food to electronic gadgets.

Name Federal Republic of Somalia

Capital Mogadishu

Frequency of elections N/A (President elected 10 September 2012)

Name of parliament Transitional Federal Parliament of the Somali Republic

Languages Somali, Arabic, Italian, English

Area 637 657 km²

Population 10 428 043 (July 2014 est)

Imports Manufactures, petroleum products, foodstuffs, construction materials, qat

Exports Livestock, bananas, hides, fish, charcoal, scrap metal

Currency Somali shilling

Source: CIA World Factbook
Image: Alamy