Somalia: housing

How do people in Somalia live and own their homes?

Home ownership in Somalia is most common in rural areas, at 63.3% of households, according to the Somalia National Bureau of Statistics' Integrated Household Budget Survey 2022. Urban homes most often have two or three rooms, while most nomads live in single-room structures.

Iron sheets are the main roofing material for 89.9% of urban and 81.6% of rural households, and 45.3% of urban homes have cement floors. No official house price or rent index for Somalia was found on the Bureau's website, checked on 15 October 2026.

Official sources: Integrated Household Budget Survey 2022

How many people in Somalia live in cities?

According to the UN Population Division, the share of people living in urban areas in Somalia was 55.1% in 2025. No year since 2005 has been higher. It is 16th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 44.9%. Of 193 countries with 2025 data, 124th highest.

How common are informal settlements in Somalia?

48.7%: that is the share of city dwellers living in slums in Somalia for 2022, according to UN-Habitat. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2006. It is 24th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 48.7%. Of 170 countries with 2022 data, 33rd highest.

What is the electricity access rate in Somalia?

The latest figure from the World Bank, for 2024, is 54.4%. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 57.8%, and Somalia placed 29th highest of 48. Worldwide: 172nd of 193.

What share of people in Somalia have safe sanitation?

The latest figure from WHO and UNICEF, for 2024, is 16.4%. No year since 2005 has been higher. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 23.6%, and Somalia placed 21st highest of 29. Of 134 countries with 2024 data, 123rd highest.

What share of homes in Somalia cook with clean fuels?

In 2024, the share of people using clean cooking fuels in Somalia was 5.0%, according to the WHO. No year since 2005 has been higher. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 13.0%, and Somalia placed 35th highest of 48. World rank, highest first: 179th of 192.