Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the northwestern Indian Ocean, south of the Arabian Peninsula

Map references: Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World

Area:
total area: 637,660 sq km
land area: 627,340 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas

Land boundaries: total 2,366 km, Djibouti 58 km, Ethiopia 1,626 km, Kenya 682 km

Coastline: 3,025 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 200 nm

International disputes: southern half of boundary with Ethiopia is a Provisional Administrative Line; territorial dispute with Ethiopia over the Ogaden

Climate: desert; northeast monsoon (December to February), cooler southwest monsoon (May to October); irregular rainfall; hot, humid periods (tangambili) between monsoons

Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north

Natural resources: uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt

Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 46%
forest and woodland: 14%
other: 38%

Irrigated land: 1,600 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:
current issues: use of contaminated water contributes to health problems; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
natural hazards: recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plains in summer
international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Law of the Sea; signed, but not ratified - Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban

Note: strategic location on Horn of Africa along southern approaches to Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea and Suez Canal

NOTE: The information regarding Somalia on this page is re-published from the 1995 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Somalia Geography 1995 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Somalia Geography 1995 should be addressed to the CIA.