Land, farming and livestock
Pastoralism in Somalia: how herding works
Most rural Somalis are pastoralists: they live from camels, cattle, sheep and goats and move with them to find grass and water. The FAO estimates about seven million herders and agro-pastoralists earn about USD 3 billion a year from their animals, two-thirds of it from milk. Livestock made up about 60 percent of GDP in 2013 to 2016 and 80 percent of export earnings. In the 2016/17 drought about 1 million people gave up herding.
Who herds
The FAO estimates about seven million pastoralists and agro-pastoralists in Somalia. Agro-pastoralists farm as well as keep animals (FAO Statistics Working Paper 23-37, Otte and others, 2023). In 2016 the Somali Chamber of Commerce said more than half of the country's people relied on livestock for food and income (Gulf Times, 26 November 2016). In 2020 the UN said livestock involved up to 60 percent of the workforce (UN Somalia, 19 June 2020).
What herding earns
- Herders earn about USD 3 billion a year: two-thirds from milk, one-third from meat, mostly sold as live animals. That is roughly USD 430 per person a year (FAO, 2023).
- Livestock made up about 60 percent of GDP in 2013 to 2016 and 80 percent of export earnings in normal years (same source, citing the World Bank and FAO, 2018).
- Poorer herding families also earn from firewood, charcoal, loans, gifts and money sent from relatives abroad (same source).
For herd sizes, see How many livestock does Somalia have?.
Seasons and movement
The Somali year has four seasons: the main Gu rains (April to June), the dry Xagaa (hagaa), the short Deyr rains (October to December) and the long dry Jilaal (FAO GIEWS, Country Brief Somalia, 2026 for Gu and Deyr; Herren, ODI Pastoral Development Network, 1990 for jilaal and hagaa). A camel may give as little as 1 litre of milk a day in jilaal and about 5 litres in the late Gu (Herren, 1990).
Families split their herds. Cattle and camels are often sent with herders to distant grazing areas where there is thought to be more pasture (FAO, 2023).
Risks
Drought is the largest risk. Cattle die first, sheep and goats next, camels last. In 2016/17 about 4 million extra animals died, 2.2 million people were displaced, and about 1 million people left herding after selling their breeding animals for food (FAO, 2023). See Drought and livestock losses.
Disease is the second: outbreaks have led Gulf buyers to ban Somali animals several times. See Gulf bans on Somali livestock and Livestock vaccination.
Related pages
Sources
- FAO Statistics Working Paper 23-37, Otte and others, 2023 · doi.org
- Gulf Times, 26 November 2016 · gulf-times.com
- UN Somalia, 19 June 2020 · somalia.un.org
- FAO GIEWS, Country Brief Somalia, 2026 · fao.org
- Herren, ODI Pastoral Development Network, 1990 · cdn-odi-production.s3.amazonaws.com
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Where this matters
- Burco (Burao) and TogdheerTogdheer is the northern region around Burco (Burao), with about 894,874 people including Buuhoodle.
- Laascaanood (Las Anod) and SoolSool is a region in the north with Las Anod (Laascaanood) as its capital and about 571,000 people.
- Ceerigaabo (Erigavo) and SanaagSanaag is a region on the northern coast with Erigavo (Ceerigaabo) as its capital and about 446,000 people.
- Boosaaso (Bosaso) and BariBari is Puntland's north-east region, with the port city of Bosaso (Boosaaso) as its capital and about 1.28 million people.
- Garoowe (Garowe) and NugaalNugaal is the region around Garoowe (Garowe), Puntland's capital, with about 656,910 people in three districts.
- Gaalkacyo (Galkayo) and MudugMudug is a region of central Somalia with about 1.5 million people, split between Puntland in the north and Galmudug in the south.
- Dhuusamarreeb (Dhusamareb) and GalgaduudGalgaduud is a region of central Somalia in Galmudug State, with Dhusamareb (Dhuusamarreeb) as its capital and about 845,000 people.
- Beledweyne (Belet Weyne) and HiiraanHiiraan is a region of Hirshabelle State on the Shabelle river, with Beledweyne as its capital and about 505,000 to 598,000 people.
- Baydhabo (Baidoa) and BayBay is a farming region in South West State, with Baidoa (Baydhabo) as its main city and about 1.25 to 1.8 million people.
- Garbahaarrey (Garbaharey) and GedoGedo is the south-western region on the borders with Kenya and Ethiopia, with Garbahaarrey as its capital and about 1 million people.
Same era
- Australia18,401 people of Somali ancestry and 8,101 born in Somalia lived in Australia at the 2021 Census, more than half in Victoria. History, work, issues.
- Birmingham (Somali diaspora)About 17,000 to 21,600 Somalis live in Birmingham (Census 2021), mostly in Nechells, Newtown, Small Heath and Alum Rock. History, work, health and ties home.
- Bristol (Somali diaspora)9,167 people in Bristol identified as Somali or Somalilander in Census 2021, the city's largest minority group. Where they live, work, housing, leaders and ties home.
- Calgary, Alberta, Canada2,845 people of Somali origin lived in Calgary at the 2021 Census, plus 890 in Brooks. How they came, who serves them and what they face.
- Denmark (Somali diaspora)21,885 people of Somali origin lived in Denmark in 2026, half born there. Numbers, history, work, permit reviews, and ties home.
- DjiboutiAbout 13,900 refugees from Somalia live in Djibouti (Aug 2026): numbers since 1990, Ali Addeh, Holl-Holl, the 2017 refugee law, Arta 2000 and 2025 returns.
Keep reading
- How many livestock does Somalia have?Somalia's livestock in numbers: herd size by species, what the animals produce, how many die each year, exports, and why sources disagree.
- Camels in Somalia: the world's largest herdCamels in Somalia in facts: herd size, share of the world's camels, camel milk, exports to the Gulf, the 2016 to 2018 export fall at Berbera, and the first camel milk yoghurt factory.
- Blackheaded Somali sheep: the breed behind the livestock tradeThe Blackheaded Somali sheep: what it looks like, where it is kept, why it suits dry land, its role in exports through Berbera and Bosaso, and the breeds descended from it.
- Cattle in Somalia: Boran and the Somali breedsCattle in Somalia: numbers, where they are kept, the Boran breed and the Somali Boran, the large red cattle traded to Kenya, cattle exports and milk.
- The Somali goat: breed, milk and tradeThe Somali goat in facts: what it looks like, where it is kept, milk yield in drought, meat exports with sheep, and what DAD-IS records about the breed.
- The camel milk trade: from herds to city marketsCamel milk in Somalia: how much is produced and what it is worth, the abakaar women traders who supply Mogadishu, seasons and prices, milk 'tourism', and new dairies and yoghurt.