Anchor sector
Livestock & meat processing
Abattoirs, quarantine facilities and chilled export capacity to move up from live animal exports.
Country Profile — Arab-America International Expo 2027
Profile content in preparationFederal Republic of Somalia
Africa's longest coastline, a trading nation.
The longest mainland coastline in Africa, the world's largest livestock export trade to the Gulf, and one of the most mobile-money-advanced economies on the continent.
Country at a glance
- GDP
- ≈ $12 billion (nominal)
- Population
- ≈ 18.1 million
- Currency
- Somali Shilling (SOS); USD widely used
- Capital
- Mogadishu
- Economic growth
- ≈ 4.0% real GDP growth
Statistics year: 2024 (latest full-year estimates)
Somali national accounts are estimates produced with international institutions rather than complete audited statistics.
Overview
A trading economy built on livestock, ports and diaspora capital
Somalia exports millions of live animals a year to Gulf markets, one of the largest livestock trades in the world and the backbone of rural livelihoods.
Its 3,300 km Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden coastline holds substantial and largely under-exploited fisheries, alongside ports at Mogadishu, Bosaso and Berbera that serve Somalia and the Ethiopian hinterland.
The economy is unusually cash-light: mobile money is used for the majority of transactions, and diaspora remittances are a defining source of household income and business capital.
- Capital
- Mogadishu
- Population
- ≈ 18.1 million (2024 estimate)
- Language
- Somali and Arabic; English in business
- Currency
- Somali Shilling (SOS); USD widely circulated
- Coastline
- 3,333 km — the longest in mainland Africa
- Main ports
- Mogadishu, Bosaso, Kismayo
- Remittances
- A major share of household income
- Membership
- Arab League, African Union, EAC
Economy
Livestock, trade and mobile money
Somalia's economy is driven by pastoral exports, port trade, telecoms and remittance-funded consumption.
0 km
Coastline
Longest in mainland Africa
0M+
Live animals exported per year
Mainly to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf
0%
Adults using mobile money
Among the highest rates in Africa
0%
Population under 30
A very young population
Livestock & meat exportsThe dominant export sector
Telecoms & mobile moneyFast, low-cost digital payments
Ports & trade servicesMogadishu, Bosaso, Kismayo
FisheriesLarge, under-exploited resource
AgricultureBananas, sesame, sorghum
ConstructionDiaspora-funded urban building
Priority sectors
Sectors open to international partnership
Where Somali businesses and federal institutions seek investment, equipment and expertise.
Untapped
Fisheries
Tuna and demersal stocks along one of Africa's longest coastlines, with minimal domestic processing capacity.
Digital
Telecoms & fintech
Highly developed mobile money platforms seeking interoperability, banking integration and international payment rails.
Growth
Energy
Off-grid and hybrid solar generation replacing expensive diesel across cities and towns.
Infrastructure
Ports & logistics
Terminal concessions and handling equipment at Mogadishu, Bosaso and Kismayo.
Diaspora capital
Construction & real estate
Diaspora-financed housing, hotels and commercial building in the main cities.
National development
Rebuilding institutions and productive capacity
Somalia's development plan prioritises economic institutions, infrastructure, livestock and fisheries value chains, and access to international finance.
- 2012
Federal government established
A new federal constitution and government structure adopted.
- 2020
Mobile money regulation
A regulatory framework introduced for the country's dominant payment channel.
- 2023
Debt relief completed
Somalia reaches the HIPC completion point, restoring access to concessional finance.
- 2030
Target horizon
Expanded export processing, reliable power and functioning financial institutions.
Major development projects
Development priorities
Programmes that unlock Somalia's export and service potential.
Port modernisation
Terminal upgrades and equipment at Mogadishu and regional ports to raise throughput.
Livestock export infrastructure
Quarantine stations, abattoirs and cold chain serving Gulf demand.
Fisheries development
Landing sites, ice plants and processing to convert catch into export value.
Solar and hybrid power
Replacing diesel generation with lower-cost solar hybrids in urban grids.
US – Somalia trade
Gulf-facing exports, diaspora-linked American trade
Somalia's export trade is overwhelmingly with the Gulf, while its American commercial links run largely through one of the largest Somali diaspora communities in the world.
Top exports to the world
Live animalsSheep, goats, camels, cattle
Charcoal & forestry products
Fish & seafood
Sesame & bananas
Top imports
Food & staples
Fuel & refined products
Construction materials
Vehicles & machinery
Leading products to the United States
- Sesame seed
- Frankincense and myrrh
- Handicrafts
Leading products from the United States
- Food commodities
- Machinery and vehicles
- Medical supplies
- Telecom equipment
- One of the largest Somali diaspora populations in the world lives in the United States
- Minneapolis, Columbus and Seattle host substantial Somali-American business communities
- Mobile money makes cross-border commerce unusually fast and low-cost
Bilateral goods trade — 2024
Trade with the United States
Verified full-year bilateral merchandise trade between Somalia and the United States, reported from Somalia's perspective.
Latest verified data available
Total U.S. goods trade
$90.0M
2024
Exports to the United States
$30.0M
2024
Imports from the United States
$60.0M
2024
Trade balance
$30.0M
Deficit for Somalia
2024
Exports vs. imports — 2024
Somalia exports to the United States$30.0M
Somalia imports from the United States$60.0M
Exports to the US Imports from the US
Recorded bilateral goods trade is small, with American food and equipment exports outweighing Somali shipments of aromatic gums, hides and agricultural products.
Scope of these figures
Latest verified data available; statistical reporting is incomplete. These figures represent merchandise trade only and do not include services.
Data source
- U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Division — country trade data (full year 2024)
- UN Comtrade Database
Statistical year: 2024
Leading exports to the United States
- Frankincense, myrrh and gums
- Hides and skins
- Handicrafts
Leading imports from the United States
- Food aid and cereals
- Vehicles and parts
- Machinery
- Medical supplies
Culture & tourism
Indian Ocean coastline and ancient trade towns
Long white beaches, historic Swahili-coast ports and interior rock art.
Banaadir
Mogadishu waterfront
Lido beach, the old port and Italian-era architecture.
Northwest
Laas Geel
Some of the best-preserved Neolithic rock art in Africa.
Gulf of Aden
Berbera coast
Beaches and a historic trading port on the Gulf of Aden.
Southern coast
Barawa
A historic Swahili-coast town with coral-stone architecture.
Why invest
Why international companies look at Somalia
A young, trade-oriented population with strong diaspora capital and an open commercial culture.
01
Entrepreneurial economy
Private business has driven telecoms, aviation and trade with minimal state involvement.
02
Diaspora capital
Remittances and diaspora investment fund a large share of construction and new enterprise.
03
Coastline & fisheries
Africa's longest mainland coastline with substantially under-exploited stocks.
04
Digital payments
Mobile money penetration among the highest in the world, easing transaction costs.
At the Expo
Somalia at AAIX 2027
The Somalia pavilion connects Somali businesses and the large Somali-American community with trade partners.
- Livestock and food supply-chain meetings
- Somali-American business network sessions
- Fisheries and processing investment introductions
- Fintech and mobile money partnership briefings
Business opportunities
Opportunities for Arab and American companies
How companies from different markets can engage with Somalia through the Expo.
For American companies
Partner with Somali-American entrepreneurs on trade, telecoms and food supply, or supply equipment for ports, energy and processing.
For Arab companies
Secure livestock and meat supply chains for Gulf food security and invest in port and logistics capacity.
For international investors
Fisheries processing, renewable power and telecom infrastructure with development-finance support.
Represent Somalia at Arab-America International Expo 2027
Present your country's economy, industries, products, investment opportunities, tourism destinations and culture to the American and North American markets.
Reserve space in the Somali pavilion, or register as an American company to meet Somali exporters and diaspora enterprises.
Sources & data
- Somalia National Bureau of Statistics
- Central Bank of Somalia
- World Bank Somalia Economic Update
- World Bank World Development Indicators
- IMF World Economic Outlook
- U.S. Census Bureau / USTR trade statistics
- UN Comtrade
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Last updated: August 2026