Urban area over the long-term in Somalia
Somalia: Urban area over the long-term was 597.81 km² per grid cell in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
597.81 km² per grid cell
Change on year
up 3.0%
World rank
118th
of 202 countries
All-time high
597.81 km² per grid cell
in 2025
All-time low
0.0001 km² per grid cell
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Urban area over the long-term in Somalia, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in km² per grid cell.
Analysis
Somalia recorded 597.81 km² per grid cell for urban area over the long-term in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
The figure is up 3.0% on the previous year and up 40.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban area over the long-term in Somalia peaked at 597.81 km² per grid cell in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0001 km² per grid cell, in 1000.
That places Somalia 118th out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban area over the long-term in Somalia, year by year
| Year | km² per grid cell | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0.0001 km² per grid cell | — |
| 1100 | 0.0004 km² per grid cell | +260.0% |
| 1200 | 0.0012 km² per grid cell | +250.0% |
| 1300 | 0.0043 km² per grid cell | +242.9% |
| 1400 | 0.0143 km² per grid cell | +237.5% |
| 1500 | 0.0478 km² per grid cell | +233.3% |
| 1600 | 0.1524 km² per grid cell | +218.8% |
| 1700 | 0.4841 km² per grid cell | +217.6% |
| 1710 | 0.4052 km² per grid cell | -16.3% |
| 1720 | 0.5075 km² per grid cell | +25.2% |
| 1730 | 0.6345 km² per grid cell | +25.0% |
| 1740 | 0.7919 km² per grid cell | +24.8% |
| 1750 | 0.987 km² per grid cell | +24.6% |
| 1760 | 1.23 km² per grid cell | +24.5% |
| 1770 | 1.53 km² per grid cell | +24.3% |
| 1780 | 1.9 km² per grid cell | +24.2% |
| 1790 | 2.35 km² per grid cell | +24.0% |
| 1800 | 2.91 km² per grid cell | +23.9% |
| 1810 | 3.6 km² per grid cell | +23.8% |
| 1820 | 4.46 km² per grid cell | +23.6% |
| 1830 | 5.51 km² per grid cell | +23.5% |
| 1840 | 6.8 km² per grid cell | +23.4% |
| 1850 | 8.38 km² per grid cell | +23.3% |
| 1860 | 10.06 km² per grid cell | +20.0% |
| 1870 | 12.07 km² per grid cell | +20.0% |
| 1880 | 14.62 km² per grid cell | +21.1% |
| 1890 | 17.66 km² per grid cell | +20.8% |
| 1900 | 21.53 km² per grid cell | +21.9% |
| 1910 | 25.35 km² per grid cell | +17.8% |
| 1920 | 27.43 km² per grid cell | +8.2% |
| 1930 | 29.02 km² per grid cell | +5.8% |
| 1940 | 29.02 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 29.9 km² per grid cell | +3.0% |
| 1951 | 30.81 km² per grid cell | +3.1% |
| 1952 | 31.78 km² per grid cell | +3.1% |
| 1953 | 32.8 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 1954 | 33.9 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 1955 | 35.07 km² per grid cell | +3.5% |
| 1956 | 36.33 km² per grid cell | +3.6% |
| 1957 | 37.68 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 1958 | 39.14 km² per grid cell | +3.9% |
| 1959 | 40.7 km² per grid cell | +4.0% |
| 1960 | 42.39 km² per grid cell | +4.1% |
| 1961 | 44.2 km² per grid cell | +4.3% |
| 1962 | 46.16 km² per grid cell | +4.4% |
| 1963 | 48.28 km² per grid cell | +4.6% |
| 1964 | 50.5 km² per grid cell | +4.6% |
| 1965 | 52.83 km² per grid cell | +4.6% |
| 1966 | 55.44 km² per grid cell | +4.9% |
| 1967 | 58.38 km² per grid cell | +5.3% |
| 1968 | 61.53 km² per grid cell | +5.4% |
| 1969 | 64.69 km² per grid cell | +5.1% |
| 1970 | 67.74 km² per grid cell | +4.7% |
| 1971 | 68.23 km² per grid cell | +0.7% |
| 1972 | 68.06 km² per grid cell | -0.3% |
| 1973 | 68.95 km² per grid cell | +1.3% |
| 1974 | 73.31 km² per grid cell | +6.3% |
| 1975 | 82.57 km² per grid cell | +12.6% |
| 1976 | 91.14 km² per grid cell | +10.4% |
| 1977 | 105.15 km² per grid cell | +15.4% |
| 1978 | 121.59 km² per grid cell | +15.6% |
| 1979 | 135.71 km² per grid cell | +11.6% |
| 1980 | 143.87 km² per grid cell | +6.0% |
| 1981 | 155.53 km² per grid cell | +8.1% |
| 1982 | 160.85 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1983 | 161.79 km² per grid cell | +0.6% |
| 1984 | 161.98 km² per grid cell | +0.1% |
| 1985 | 164.19 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 1986 | 167.81 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 1987 | 173.76 km² per grid cell | +3.5% |
| 1988 | 181.25 km² per grid cell | +4.3% |
| 1989 | 188.26 km² per grid cell | +3.9% |
| 1990 | 193.51 km² per grid cell | +2.8% |
| 1991 | 198.41 km² per grid cell | +2.5% |
| 1992 | 201.88 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 1993 | 205.26 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 1994 | 210.62 km² per grid cell | +2.6% |
| 1995 | 219.56 km² per grid cell | +4.2% |
| 1996 | 226.41 km² per grid cell | +3.1% |
| 1997 | 237 km² per grid cell | +4.7% |
| 1998 | 250.45 km² per grid cell | +5.7% |
| 1999 | 265.21 km² per grid cell | +5.9% |
| 2000 | 280.06 km² per grid cell | +5.6% |
| 2001 | 294.25 km² per grid cell | +5.1% |
| 2002 | 308.65 km² per grid cell | +4.9% |
| 2003 | 323.41 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 2004 | 338.83 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 2005 | 355.13 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 2006 | 372.38 km² per grid cell | +4.9% |
| 2007 | 390.5 km² per grid cell | +4.9% |
| 2008 | 409.47 km² per grid cell | +4.9% |
| 2009 | 429.21 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 2010 | 348.13 km² per grid cell | -18.9% |
| 2011 | 363.06 km² per grid cell | +4.3% |
| 2012 | 378.35 km² per grid cell | +4.2% |
| 2013 | 394.03 km² per grid cell | +4.1% |
| 2014 | 410.07 km² per grid cell | +4.1% |
| 2015 | 426.48 km² per grid cell | +4.0% |
| 2016 | 443.26 km² per grid cell | +3.9% |
| 2017 | 460.41 km² per grid cell | +3.9% |
| 2018 | 477.92 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 2019 | 495.79 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 2020 | 512.58 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 2021 | 529.03 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 2022 | 545.78 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 2023 | 562.83 km² per grid cell | +3.1% |
| 2024 | 580.17 km² per grid cell | +3.1% |
| 2025 | 597.81 km² per grid cell | +3.0% |
Somalia compared with similar countries
- Somalia's 597.81 km² per grid cell is below the median for low income countries, which is 889.43 km² per grid cell, 67% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Somalia's 597.81 km² per grid cell is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 733.88 km² per grid cell, 81% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban area over the long-term in Somalia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1100 | +260.0% | 0.0001 km² per grid cell | 0.0004 km² per grid cell |
| 1200 | +250.0% | 0.0004 km² per grid cell | 0.0012 km² per grid cell |
| 1300 | +242.9% | 0.0012 km² per grid cell | 0.0043 km² per grid cell |
| 1400 | +237.5% | 0.0043 km² per grid cell | 0.0143 km² per grid cell |
| 1500 | +233.3% | 0.0143 km² per grid cell | 0.0478 km² per grid cell |
| 1600 | +218.8% | 0.0478 km² per grid cell | 0.1524 km² per grid cell |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.0001 km² per grid cell | 0.0001 km² per grid cell | 0.0001 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.0004 km² per grid cell | 0.0004 km² per grid cell | 0.0004 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.0012 km² per grid cell | 0.0012 km² per grid cell | 0.0012 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.0043 km² per grid cell | 0.0043 km² per grid cell | 0.0043 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.0143 km² per grid cell | 0.0143 km² per grid cell | 0.0143 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.0478 km² per grid cell | 0.0478 km² per grid cell | 0.0478 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1600s | 0.1524 km² per grid cell | 0.1524 km² per grid cell | 0.1524 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1700s | 0.4841 km² per grid cell | 0.4841 km² per grid cell | 0.4841 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1710s | 0.4052 km² per grid cell | 0.4052 km² per grid cell | 0.4052 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1720s | 0.5075 km² per grid cell | 0.5075 km² per grid cell | 0.5075 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1730s | 0.6345 km² per grid cell | 0.6345 km² per grid cell | 0.6345 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1740s | 0.7919 km² per grid cell | 0.7919 km² per grid cell | 0.7919 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1750s | 0.987 km² per grid cell | 0.987 km² per grid cell | 0.987 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1760s | 1.23 km² per grid cell | 1.23 km² per grid cell | 1.23 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1770s | 1.53 km² per grid cell | 1.53 km² per grid cell | 1.53 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1780s | 1.9 km² per grid cell | 1.9 km² per grid cell | 1.9 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1790s | 2.35 km² per grid cell | 2.35 km² per grid cell | 2.35 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1800s | 2.91 km² per grid cell | 2.91 km² per grid cell | 2.91 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1810s | 3.6 km² per grid cell | 3.6 km² per grid cell | 3.6 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1820s | 4.46 km² per grid cell | 4.46 km² per grid cell | 4.46 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1830s | 5.51 km² per grid cell | 5.51 km² per grid cell | 5.51 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1840s | 6.8 km² per grid cell | 6.8 km² per grid cell | 6.8 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1850s | 8.38 km² per grid cell | 8.38 km² per grid cell | 8.38 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1860s | 10.06 km² per grid cell | 10.06 km² per grid cell | 10.06 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1870s | 12.07 km² per grid cell | 12.07 km² per grid cell | 12.07 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1880s | 14.62 km² per grid cell | 14.62 km² per grid cell | 14.62 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1890s | 17.66 km² per grid cell | 17.66 km² per grid cell | 17.66 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1900s | 21.53 km² per grid cell | 21.53 km² per grid cell | 21.53 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1910s | 25.35 km² per grid cell | 25.35 km² per grid cell | 25.35 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1920s | 27.43 km² per grid cell | 27.43 km² per grid cell | 27.43 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1930s | 29.02 km² per grid cell | 29.02 km² per grid cell | 29.02 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1940s | 29.02 km² per grid cell | 29.02 km² per grid cell | 29.02 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1950s | 34.81 km² per grid cell | 29.9 km² per grid cell | 40.7 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1960s | 52.44 km² per grid cell | 42.39 km² per grid cell | 64.69 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1970s | 88.25 km² per grid cell | 67.74 km² per grid cell | 135.71 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1980s | 165.93 km² per grid cell | 143.87 km² per grid cell | 188.26 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1990s | 220.83 km² per grid cell | 193.51 km² per grid cell | 265.21 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2000s | 350.19 km² per grid cell | 280.06 km² per grid cell | 429.21 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2010s | 419.75 km² per grid cell | 348.13 km² per grid cell | 495.79 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2020s | 554.7 km² per grid cell | 512.58 km² per grid cell | 597.81 km² per grid cell | 6 |
Countries ranked near Somalia
More reference data data for Somalia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2637 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 10.39 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 10.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0493 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 10.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.8842 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.3652 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 41.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 43.31 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2685 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban area over the long-term in Somalia?
- Urban area over the long-term in Somalia was 597.81 km² per grid cell in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban area over the long-term recorded in Somalia?
- The highest recorded value was 597.81 km² per grid cell in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban area over the long-term recorded in Somalia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0001 km² per grid cell in 1000.
- How does Somalia rank for urban area over the long-term?
- Somalia ranks 118th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban area over the long-term rising or falling in Somalia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 40.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Somalia data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban area over the long-term. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 108 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total built-up area of a country over time.