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Thursday, 06 March 2008 |
- Formal Name: Somali Democratic Republic.
- Short Form: Somalia.
- Term for Citizen: Somali (pl., Somalis).
- Capital: Capital: Mogadishu.
- Independence: 1 July 1960 (from a merger of British Somaliland, which became independent from the UK on 26 June 1960, and Italian Somaliland, which became independent from the Italian-administered UN trusteeship on 1 July 1960, to form the Somali Republic).
- Foundation of the Somali Republic: 1 July (1960); note - 26 June (1960) in Somaliland.
- Constitution: 25 August 1979, presidential approval 23 September 1979.
- Area: 640565 square kilometers with 3,025 kilometers coastline.
- Topography: Flat plateau surfaces and plains predominate; principal exception rugged east-west ranges in far north that include Shimbir Berris, highest point at 2,407 meters.
- Population: 8.7 million (UN, 2007)
- Languages: Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English & Indigenous languages include various dialects of Afar and Boni.
Religion: Islam mainly Sunni Muslim - Flag: Light blue with a large white five-pointed star in the center; blue field influenced by the flag of the UN.
- Anthem: Soomaaliyeey Toosoow, Somalia, Wake Up.
- Ethnic Groups: Overwhelming majority of nationals ethnic Somalis; and two agricultural clan-families (Digil and Rahanwayn).
- Currency: Currency: Somali shilling (No central bank so various currencies are used, including the Somaliland shilling).
- Climate: Principally desert; northeast monsoon (December to February), moderate temperatures in north and hot in south; southwest monsoon (May to October), torrid in the north and hot in the south, irregular rainfall.
- Education and Literacy: United Nations estimate shows 24 percent literacy rate in 1990.
- Exports: $300 million f.o.b. (2006), main export commodities are-livestock, bananas, hides, fish, charcoal, scrap metal.
- Imports: $798 million f.o.b. (2006) mainl import commodities are- manufactures, petroleum products, foodstuffs, construction materials, qat.
- Ports and terminals: Berbera, Kismaayo
- Time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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About Somali