Intermittent civil war has been a fact of life in Somalia since 1977. In 1991, the northern portion of the country declared its independence as Somaliland; although de facto independent and relatively stable compared to the tumultuous south, it has not been recognized by any foreign government. Beginning in 1993, a two-year UN humanitarian effort (primarily in the south) was able to alleviate famine conditions, but when the UN withdrew in 1995, having suffered significant casualties, order still had not been restored.

Economy - overview  One of the world's poorest and least developed countries, Somalia has few resources. Moreover, much of the economy has been devastated by the civil war. Agriculture is the most important sector, with livestock accounting for about 40% of GDP and about 65% of export earnings. Nomads and semi-nomads, who are dependent upon livestock for their livelihood, make up a large portion of the population. After livestock, bananas are the principal export; sugar, sorghum, corn, and fish are products for the domestic market. The small industrial sector, based on the processing of agricultural products, accounts for 10% of GDP; most facilities have been shut down because of the civil strife. Moreover, in 1999, ongoing civil disturbances in Mogadishu and outlying areas interfered with any substantial economic advance and with international aid arrangements.

GDP  purchasing power parity - $4.3 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate  NA%

GDP - per capita  purchasing power parity - $600 (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector  agriculture:59%

industry:10%

services:31% (1995 est.)

Population below poverty line  NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share  lowest 10%:NA%

highest 10%:NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices)  NA%

Labor force  3.7 million (very few are skilled laborers)(1993 est.)

Labor force - by occupation  agriculture (mostly pastoral nomadism) 71%, industry and services 29%

Unemployment rate  NA%

Budget  revenues:$NA

expenditures:$NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Industries  a few small industries, including sugar refining, textiles, petroleum refining (mostly shut down)

Industrial production growth rate  NA%

Electricity - production  265 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source  fossil fuel:100%

hydro:0%

nuclear:0%

other:0% (1998)

Electricity - consumption  246 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports  0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports  0 kWh (1998)

Agriculture - products  bananas, sorghum, corn, sugarcane, mangoes, sesame seeds, beans; cattle, sheep, goats; fish

Exports  $187 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Exports - commodities  livestock, bananas, hides, fish (1997)

Exports - partners  Saudi Arabia 57%, UAE 15%, Italy 12%, Yemen 8% (1997)

Imports  $327 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Imports - commodities  manufactures, petroleum products, foodstuffs, construction materials (1995)

Imports - partners  Djibouti 20%, Kenya 11%, Belarus 11%, India 10%, Saudi Arabia 9%, Brazil 9% (1997)

Debt - external  $2.6 billion (1997 est.)

Economic aid - recipient  $191.5 million (1995)

Currency  1 Somali shilling (So. Sh.) = 100 cents

Exchange rates  Somali shillings (So. Sh.) per US$1 - 2,620 (January 1999), 7,500 (November 1997 est.), 7,000 (January 1996 est.), 5,000 (1 January 1995), 2,616 (1 July 1993), 4,200 (December 1992)

note:the Republic of Somaliland, a self-declared independent country not recognized by any foreign government, issues its own currency, the Somaliland shilling (So. Sh.)