Droughts, famines and displacement
Cholera in Somalia: every reported outbreak from 1970 to 2021
Somalia first reported cholera to WHO in 1970. The largest years on record are 2017 (78,701 cases and 1,163 deaths), 2011 (77,636 cases and 1,130 deaths) and 2007 (41,643 cases and 1,182 deaths). The 2017 outbreak began in Hiiraan in January, during the drought, and peaked in May and June. Cholera is endemic, and outbreaks follow both droughts and floods.
In short
Somalia's cases and deaths from cholera have been reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) since 1970 (WHO Global Health Observatory, cholera cases and deaths, Somalia). The three deadliest years on record are 2007, 2011 and 2017, each with more than 1,100 reported deaths.
A WHO review calls cholera "endemic in the country", with outbreaks "during dry and rainy seasons". It names the protracted conflict, limited primary health care, and limited safe water and sanitation for displaced people as the main drivers (Lubogo and others, Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal 29(9), 2023).
Year by year
Cases and deaths reported to WHO. Years with no entry were not reported.
| Year | Cases | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 43 | 10 |
| 1971 | 89 | 10 |
| 1985 | 10,199 | 1,589 |
| 1986 | 15,980 | 1,945 |
| 1994 | 28,334 | 1,206 |
| 1995 | 9,255 | 191 |
| 1996 | 10,274 | 464 |
| 1997 | 6,814 | 252 |
| 1998 | 4,417 | 196 |
| 1999 | 17,757 | 693 |
| 2000 | 7,496 | 563 |
| 2001 | 2,567 | 93 |
| 2002 | 2,775 | 159 |
| 2003 | 11,020 | 56 |
| 2004 | 4,490 | 26 |
| 2007 | 41,643 | 1,182 |
| 2008 | 1,281 | 16 |
| 2009 | 208 | 3 |
| 2010 | 3,510 | 103 |
| 2011 | 77,636 | 1,130 |
| 2012 | 22,576 | 200 |
| 2013 | 6,864 | 140 |
| 2014 | 2,820 | no figure |
| 2015 | 7,536 | 84 |
| 2016 | 15,619 | 548 |
| 2017 | 78,701 | 1,163 |
| 2018 | 6,448 | 45 |
| 2019 | 3,089 | 4 |
Sources: 1970 to 2016 from the WHO Global Health Observatory (indicators CHOLERA_0000000001 and CHOLERA_0000000002, downloaded 13 November 2026). 2017 to 2019 from Lubogo and others 2023.
Death rates among those reported sick fell sharply over time. In 1985 about 16% of reported cases died; in 2017 the figure was 1.48%, in 2018 0.70% and in 2019 0.13% (WHO data; Lubogo and others 2023).
The great outbreaks
- 1985 and 1986. More than 26,000 cases and 3,500 deaths over the two years (WHO data).
- 1994. 28,334 cases and 1,206 deaths, in the years after the 1991 to 1993 famine (WHO data).
- 2007. 41,643 cases and 1,182 deaths (WHO data).
- 2011. 77,636 cases and 1,130 deaths, during the 2010 to 2012 famine. The famine mortality study records cholera and measles epidemics in nearly all affected regions (Checchi and Robinson, FAO/FSNAU and FEWS NET, 2013, p. 5).
- 2017. The worst year on record, during the 2016 to 2018 drought (below).
The 2017 to 2019 outbreaks
- January 2017. The Federal Ministry of Health confirmed cholera in Hiiraan region, Vibrio cholerae serotype Ogawa. It spread to most districts and regions and peaked in May and June 2017 (Lubogo and others 2023).
- Drought. The drought affected over 60% of the country and caused "Somalia's worst cholera outbreak in a decade" (Lubogo and others 2023).
- Vaccines. In March 2017 WHO and partners ran Somalia's first national oral cholera vaccination campaign, reaching over 450,000 people. By May 2017 cholera treatment centres were working in 40 districts (WHO, 11 May 2017).
- Floods. The Shabelle and Juba valleys flood about twice a year, which contaminates water sources (Lubogo and others 2023).
After 2019
WHO situation reports gave a running total of 20,762 suspected cases and 117 deaths, reported from eight regions, by October 2021 (WHO EMRO, Somalia situation reports). ReliefWeb lists the Somalia cholera outbreak as ongoing from 2016 to 2026 under GLIDE number EP-2016-000053-SOM (ReliefWeb, Somalia: Cholera Outbreak 2016–2026).
Sources
- World Health Organization. Global Health Observatory: number of reported cases of cholera; number of reported deaths from cholera. Data API
ghoapi.azureedge.net, Somalia (SOM). - Lubogo, M., Evans, B., Abdinasir, A. and others (2023). Responding to cholera outbreaks in Somalia in 2017–2019. Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal 29(9): 734–741. doi:10.26719/emhj.23.096.
- WHO (2017). WHO calls for immediate action to save lives in Somalia, 11 May 2017.
- WHO EMRO. Somalia situation reports.
- Checchi, F. and Robinson, W. C. (2013). Mortality among populations of southern and central Somalia affected by severe food insecurity and famine during 2010–2012.
- ReliefWeb. Somalia: Cholera Outbreak 2016–2026.
Sources
- WHO Global Health Observatory, cholera cases and deaths, Somalia · ghoapi.azureedge.net
- Lubogo and others, Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal 29(9), 2023 · emro.who.int
- Checchi and Robinson, FAO/FSNAU and FEWS NET, 2013, p. 5 · fsnau.org
- WHO, 11 May 2017 · who.int
- WHO EMRO, Somalia situation reports · emro.who.int
- ReliefWeb, Somalia: Cholera Outbreak 2016–2026 · reliefweb.int
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Where this matters
- Muqdisho (Mogadishu) and BanaadirMogadishu (Muqdisho) is Somalia's capital and makes up the Banadir region, with about 2.97 million people in 20 districts.
- Jowhar (Johar) and Middle ShabelleMiddle Shabelle is the farming region along the Shabelle river north of Mogadishu, with Jowhar as its capital and about 1 to 1.26 million people.
- Marka (Merca) and Lower ShabelleLower Shabelle is Somalia's biggest farming region, along the Shabelle river south-west of Mogadishu, with Marka (Merca) as its capital and about 835,000 to…
- 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.
- Bu'aale (Buale) and Middle JubaMiddle Juba is a farming region on the Juba river in the south, with about 447,000 people.
- Kismaayo (Kismayo) and Lower JubaLower Juba is the far southern region on the border with Kenya, with the port city of Kismayo (Kismaayo) as its capital and about 1.2 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
- Disasters in Somalia: a list from 1974 to 2026A list of every recorded disaster in Somalia from the 1974 drought to the 2026 dengue outbreak, year by year, with deaths and people affected and a link to the full page or UN record.
- Famines and droughts in Somalia: a timeline and the Somali names for themA timeline of droughts and famines in Somalia from 1913 to 2023, with the Somali names given to each, deaths where estimated, and links to the full pages.
- Rain, drought and floods in Somalia: the Gu and Deyr seasons and the great droughtsSomalia's rainy seasons (Gu and Deyr), the great droughts from 1974 to today, the death tolls, the 2023 floods, and what changed after the 2011 famine.
- The Somalia famine of 2010 to 2012: what happened and how many diedThe 2010 to 2012 famine in southern Somalia: the drought, the famine declarations region by region, the blocked aid, the death toll by region, the refugees and how it ended.
- The Somalia famine of 1991 to 1993 (Caga Barar): causes, deaths and reliefThe 1991 to 1993 famine in southern Somalia: how war and drought caused it, Baidoa and the camps, the death toll, the Red Cross and UN response, and how it ended.
- The Somalia drought of 2016 to 2018: famine warned, famine avertedThe 2016 to 2018 drought in Somalia: the poor rains, the national disaster, cholera and displacement, the cash response, the death toll and why famine was not declared.