no permanent national government; transitional, parliamentary federal government
Independence date
Religions
Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 7%
Sunni Muslim
Languages
French (official); note - each ethnic group has its own language
Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English
Exports
External Debt
Exchange Rate
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone
Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia
Area
245,857 km sq
637,657 km sq
Coastline
320 km
3,025 km
Climate
generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds
principally desert; northeast monsoon (December to February), moderate temperatures in north and hot in south; southwest monsoon (May to October), torrid in the north and hot in the south, irregular rainfall, hot and humid periods (tangambili) between monsoons
