# Somalia's economy at a glance > Somalia's economy in numbers: GDP, growth, spending, trade, money from abroad, the budget and debt, with sources from the Central Bank and IMF. Source page: https://calankii.com/en/economy/economy-at-a-glance/ Last checked: 2026-11-12 Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com) ## How big the economy is Somalia's economy (GDP at market prices) was about **$13.2 billion in 2025** ([Central Bank of Somalia, Annual Report 2025](https://centralbank.gov.so/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Annual-Report_2025.pdf)). Measured in 2025 prices, it grew from $10.0 billion in 2021 to $11.5 billion in 2025, a steady rise of about 3 to 4 percent a year ([Central Bank of Somalia, Annual Report 2025, Table 2](https://centralbank.gov.so/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Annual-Report_2025.pdf)). Growth is expected to slow in 2026. The IMF projects **2.3 percent in 2026**, 2.7 percent in 2027 and about 4 percent over the medium term, with inflation of 6.5 percent in 2026 ([IMF, 5 October 2026](https://www.imf.org/en/news/articles/2026/10/05/pr26319-somalia-imf-staff-concludes-2026-article-iv-consultation-mission)). The World Bank projects 2.8 percent for 2026 ([World Bank, 13 May 2026](https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2026/05/13/somalia-growth-continues-but-shocks-and-aid-cuts-intensify-risks-to-jobs-and-livelihoods)). Both name drought and falling aid as the main reasons. ## Where the money goes - **Families spend more than the whole economy produces.** Household spending equalled about 124 percent of GDP in 2025 ([Central Bank of Somalia, Annual Report 2025](https://centralbank.gov.so/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Annual-Report_2025.pdf)). This is possible because money from relatives abroad and aid pays for much of what families buy. - **Investment is rising.** Spending on buildings, machines and equipment reached about 26 percent of GDP and grew 6 percent in 2025, led by imports of machinery and by construction (same source). - **Government is small.** Federal government spending was about 7.3 percent of GDP in 2025 (same source). - **Imports are large.** Imports of goods and services equalled about 80 percent of GDP. Food is the single largest item (same source). ## Money from outside Total money sent into Somalia reached a record **$6.79 billion in 2025**. Of this, $3.13 billion was sent by individuals to their families, about 24 percent of GDP ([Central Bank of Somalia, Annual Report 2025](https://centralbank.gov.so/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Annual-Report_2025.pdf)). Foreign direct investment rose to $880 million, mainly in telecoms, finance, energy and property (same source). See [Money sent home](/en/economy/remittances-in-numbers/). ## Trade Somalia sold $1.26 billion of goods abroad in 2025 and bought $7.30 billion. Live animals were about 73 percent of goods exports ([Central Bank of Somalia, Annual Report 2025](https://centralbank.gov.so/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Annual-Report_2025.pdf)). See [Trade, exports and imports](/en/economy/trade-exports-and-imports/). ## The state's money The federal government collected $404 million of its own revenue in 2025 and received $516 million in grants. It spent $971 million ([Central Bank of Somalia, Annual Report 2025](https://centralbank.gov.so/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Annual-Report_2025.pdf)). External debt fell from $5.2 billion in 2018 to $1.5 billion in 2025 after debt relief (same source). See [The federal budget and taxes](/en/economy/budget-and-taxes/) and [Debt relief](/en/economy/debt-and-debt-relief/). ## People and work In the 2022 national household survey, **54.4 percent** of people lived below the national poverty line. Only about a quarter of adults were working or looking for work, and youth unemployment was 30.1 percent ([Somali National Bureau of Statistics, SIHBS 2022](https://nbs.gov.so/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/SOMALIA-INTEGRATED-HOUSEHOLD-BUDGET-SURVEY.pdf)). See [Jobs, work and poverty](/en/economy/jobs-and-poverty/). ## Somalia's main numbers, 2025 - GDP: about $13.2 billion - Real growth: about 3 percent - Inflation (average): 3.7 percent - Shilling: 30,103 per US dollar on average (street notes) - Money sent in from abroad: $6.79 billion (individuals: $3.13 billion) - Goods exports: $1.26 billion; goods imports: $7.30 billion - Bank assets: $2.30 billion - Federal domestic revenue: $404 million - External debt: $1.48 billion (11 percent of GDP) All figures: [Central Bank of Somalia, Annual Report 2025](https://centralbank.gov.so/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Annual-Report_2025.pdf). ## Somaliland Somaliland keeps its own budget and currency. Its cabinet approved a 2026 budget of about $424.5 million (4.58 trillion Somaliland shillings) ([Horn Diplomat, 29 November 2025](https://www.horndiplomat.com/somaliland-cabinet-endorses-record-424-million-budget-for-2026-citing-strong-revenue-outlook/)). Federal figures above do not fully cover Somaliland's own accounts. ## Sources disagree The size of GDP depends on who measures it. The Central Bank uses $13.2 billion for 2025. Older World Bank figures used lower numbers. Remittance figures also differ: $3.1 billion counts only money sent by individuals, while $6.8 billion counts all transfers, including business and aid money. --- I want to help with this: email hello@calankii.com. Fix this page: email hello@calankii.com with the page link and your source.