The Somalis, a Cushitic people, share the same language, religion and culture but are divided into groups by a deeply ingrained clan structure, such as the Dir, Iqsaq and Digil.
Somalis share many cultural traits, such as the same language, the same religion and the same complex oral tradition. Despite these common characteristics, Somalia remains a distinctly divided society. Most Somalis belong to one of six clans found throughout the land. The biggest of the clans are the Ishaaq, the Darood, and the Hawiye. Clans themselves are divided into smaller and sub-clans, which are distinguished by high and low social classes.
Men often publicly play the game of shax, a board game requiring careful attention to strategy. Asked why no women played shax, one man replied that the women were too busy working.
There is a small minority of Bantu-speaking people in the south. Other minority groups include Arabs, Indians, Italians and some Pakistanis. However, the indigenous population is nomadic or traditional pastoralists. The rest are either crop farmers, fishermen, or urban dwellers.
With a population of nearly 9 million, Somalia has an average population density of 10 people per sq. km. The population of the capital, Mogadishu, is estimated at around 0.75 million.
Population
7,253,137
This figure is based on a July 2000 estimation, which is based, in turn, on an official government census taken in 1975. Population counting in Somalia is complicated due to the large number of nomads and refugee movements as a result of famine and clan conflicts.
Age structure
0-14 years: 44%
15-64 years: 53%
65 years and over: 3%
Population growth rate
2.9%
Birth rate
47.7 births/1,000 population
Death rate
18.69 deaths/1,000 population
Infant mortality rate
125.77 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 46.23 years
male: 44.66 years
female: 47.85 years
Total fertility rate
7.18 children born/woman