Somalia Somali Democratic Republic

Capital Mogadishu Area 246,199 sq mi 637,657 sq km Population 8,025,190 est 2003 Largest city Mogadishu pop. 1,208,800 Languages Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English Peoples Somali 85%, Bantu, Arabs Religion Islam (Sunni) Life Expectancy total population: 47.71 years male: 46.02 years female: 49.46 years (2004 est.) Literacy total population: 37.8% male: 49.7% female: 25.8% (2001 est.) Suffrage 18 years of age; universal Government No permanent national government; transitional, parliamentary national government back to Africa Map