Photo: AMISOM · CC0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 06 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Somalia: Development & Human Capital
Is a country turning its resources into better lives?
Somalia is placed joint 194th of 196 countries on development & human capital in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics. Readings behind it: Social Protection Coverage 0 (2025); Maternal Mortality Ratio 562.58 (2023).
Share
Development & Human Capital
joint194th
of 196 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 3 key statistics
01The evidence
The 3 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Somalia on development & human capital — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 2 of 3
Maternal Mortality Ratio
UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG)
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
562.58
Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births
Lower is better
Somalia: 562.58. Across the 195 countries in this edition, values run from 0.11 (Cook Islands) to 992.83 (Nigeria); the world median is 46.65.
- World median
- 46.65
- Best in Eastern Africa
- 41.89 Seychelles
- Land neighbours
- Ethiopia 194.94 · Kenya 378.8
Key 3 of 3
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report Office
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
0.404
HDI score (0–1)
Higher is better
Ranked 192nd of 193 by UNDP Human Development Report Office
Somalia: 0.404. Across the 193 countries in this edition, values run from 0.388 (South Sudan) to 0.972 (Iceland); the world median is 0.762.
- World median
- 0.762
- Best in Eastern Africa
- 0.848 Seychelles
- Land neighbours
- Ethiopia 0.497 · Kenya 0.628
02Over time
Which way Somalia is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Maternal Mortality Ratio
Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births · lower is better
SomaliaWorld median
Somalia fell from 1,150 in 2000 to 562.58 in 2023; the world median went from 70.99 to 46.65.
Every year’s figures
Year Somalia World median 2023 563 46.7 2022 622 53.0 2021 726 76.6 2020 655 56.0 2019 656 48.4 2018 727 49.3 2017 716 47.2 2016 754 50.6 2015 784 51.9 2014 816 52.8 2013 855 53.3 2012 894 54.6 2011 972 55.0 2010 1,062 56.1 2009 995 56.3 2008 1,035 55.8 2007 1,074 56.8 2006 1,085 58.1 2005 1,086 60.1 2004 1,104 63.0 2003 1,111 66.8 2002 1,121 66.0 2001 1,129 68.1 2000 1,150 71.0
03In context
Somalia beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 196 countries on development & human capital, never a place within the region.
Somalia and the countries it borders
Standing among all 196; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Social Protection CoveragePopulation covered by at least one social protection benefit (%) | Maternal Mortality RatioMaternal deaths per 100,000 live births | Human Development IndexHDI score (0–1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Kenya | 167th | 9 | 378.8 | 0.628 |
 Ethiopia | 174th | 11.5 | 194.94 | 0.497 |
| Somalia | =194th | 0 | 562.58 | 0.404 |
| Somaliland | not placed | — | — | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Eastern Africa
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 196.
Placed either side on development & human capital
The countries immediately above and below Somalia in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Somalia is ahead of the world, and behind
37 more statistics filed under development & human capital, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median1
Statistics on which Somalia does better than the middle country measured.
Malaria Incidence (P. vivax)MAP · 2025 · world median 1.3820.5321.382▲ Improved since 2015
Somalia: 0.532 · world median 1.382 · New P. vivax malaria cases per 1,000 people per year. Malaria Atlas Project (MAP), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.001 to 184.62; lower is better.
Behind the world median33
Statistics on which Somalia does worse than the middle country measured.
Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum)MAP · 2024 · world median 8.1068.5668.106▲ Improved since 2014
Somalia: 8.566 · world median 8.106 · Deaths from P. falciparum malaria per 100,000 people per year. Malaria Atlas Project (MAP), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 133.27; lower is better.
Exclusive Breastfeeding Under Six MonthsUNICEF · 2024 · world median 40.7433.740.74No earlier reading
Somalia: 33.7 · world median 40.74 · Infants under 6 months exclusively breastfed (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3.497 to 83.3; higher is better.
Position 89th of 136 · derived.
Stunting Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 13.825.313.8No earlier reading
Somalia: 25.3 · world median 13.8 · Children under 5 who are stunted (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.518 to 52.8; lower is better.
Position 43rd of 162 · derived, 1st = worst.
Statistical Performance IndicatorsWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 69.351.7169.3▲ Improved since 2017
Somalia: 51.71 · world median 69.3 · SPI overall score (0–100). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 27.12 to 94.14; higher is better.
Position 158th of 188 · derived.
Immunisation Coverage, DTP3WUENIC · 2025 · world median 917291▲ Improved since 2015
Somalia: 72 · world median 91 · Infants given a third dose of DTP vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 39 to 99; higher is better.
Access to ElectricityWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 10054.4100▼ Worsened since 2014
Somalia: 54.4 · world median 100 · Population with electricity access (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 5.4 to 100; higher is better.
Country Policy and Institutional AssessmentWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 3.2462.2423.246▲ Improved since 2017
Somalia: 2.242 · world median 3.246 · IDA Resource Allocation Index (1 = low to 6 = high). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.617 to 4.225; higher is better.
Position 71st of 78 · derived.
Immunisation Coverage, Measles First Dose (MCV1)WUENIC · 2025 · world median 906190▲ Improved since 2015
Somalia: 61 · world median 90 · Infants given a first dose of measles vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 13 to 99; higher is better.
Access to Electricity, RuralWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 10024.4100▼ Worsened since 2014
Somalia: 24.4 · world median 100 · Rural population with electricity access (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.7 to 100; higher is better.
Child MarriageUNICEF · 2025 · world median 17.145.317.1No earlier reading
Somalia: 45.3 · world median 17.1 · Women 20–24 married before 18 (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 76.3; lower is better.
Position 10th of 143 · derived, 1st = worst.
Wasting Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 3.54614.323.546No earlier reading
Somalia: 14.32 · world median 3.546 · Children under 5 who are wasted (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.1 to 22.74; lower is better.
Position 7th of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Expected Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 13.347.48613.34No real change since 2022
Somalia: 7.486 · world median 13.34 · Expected years of schooling. UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 5.635 to 21.69; higher is better.
Position 189th of 195 · derived.
GNI per Capita (PPP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 14,2731,41814,273No real change since 2015
Somalia: 1,418 · world median 14,273 · GNI per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1,181 to 116,633; higher is better.
Position 99th of 102 · derived.
Gender Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.9710.7930.971No real change since 2022
Somalia: 0.793 · world median 0.971 · Gender Development Index (1.000 = parity). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.407 to 1.038; higher is better.
Position 179th of 184 · derived.
Life Expectancy at BirthUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 74.6358.8274.63No real change since 2013
Somalia: 58.82 · world median 74.63 · Years a newborn would live at current death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 54.46 to 86.37; higher is better.
Position 217th of 222 · derived.
Cereal YieldFAO · 2023 · world median 3,072503.53,072▼ Worsened since 2013
Somalia: 503.5 · world median 3,072 · Cereal yield (kg per hectare). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 23 to 29,147; higher is better.
Position 175th of 179 · derived.
Child and Family Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 23.75023.75No earlier reading
Somalia: 0 · world median 23.75 · Children or households with children receiving child or family cash benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Infant Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 12.2665.412.26No real change since 2014
Somalia: 65.4 · world median 12.26 · Deaths before age one (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.214 to 71.87; lower is better.
Position 4th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Mortality Rate, Ages 5–14UN IGME · 2024 · world median 2.85822.472.858No real change since 2014
Somalia: 22.47 · world median 2.858 · Deaths between ages 5 and 14 (per 1,000 children aged 5). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.392 to 59.04; lower is better.
Position 4th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Neonatal Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 8.13434.248.134No real change since 2014
Somalia: 34.24 · world median 8.134 · Deaths in the first 28 days (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.544 to 39.47; lower is better.
Position 4th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Disability Benefit CoverageILO · 2025 · world median 43.9043.9No earlier reading
Somalia: 0 · world median 43.9 · People with severe disabilities receiving disability benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Planetary pressures-adjusted HDIUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.6780.3960.678No real change since 2022
Somalia: 0.396 · world median 0.678 · PHDI (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.276 to 0.827; higher is better.
Position 154th of 156 · derived.
Gender Inequality IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.3510.6750.351No real change since 2022
Somalia: 0.675 · world median 0.351 · GII (0 = full equality, 1 = maximum inequality). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.003 to 0.838; lower is better.
Ranked 170th of 172 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
GDP per Capita (PPP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 17,2651,40417,265No real change since 2015
Somalia: 1,404 · world median 17,265 · GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1,067 to 139,593; higher is better.
Position 183rd of 185 · derived.
Mean Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 9.9331.99.933No real change since 2022
Somalia: 1.9 · world median 9.933 · Mean years of schooling (adults 25+). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.412 to 14.3; higher is better.
Position 191st of 193 · derived.
Under-Five Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 14.54101.0714.54No real change since 2014
Somalia: 101.07 · world median 14.54 · Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.26 to 115.65; lower is better.
Position 3rd of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Employment Injury Protection CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 45.9045.9No earlier reading
Somalia: 0 · world median 45.9 · Labour force covered in the event of a work injury (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Inequality-adjusted Human Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.6090.2290.609No real change since 2022
Somalia: 0.229 · world median 0.609 · IHDI (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.226 to 0.923; higher is better.
Position 168th of 169 · derived.
Completeness of Birth RegistrationUNICEF · 2025 · world median 98.4398.4No earlier reading
Somalia: 3 · world median 98.4 · Children under 5 whose birth is registered (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.7 to 100; higher is better.
Old-Age Pension CoverageILO · 2025 · world median 80.8080.8No earlier reading
Somalia: 0 · world median 80.8 · People above statutory pensionable age receiving an old-age pension (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Coefficient of Human InequalityUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 17.0543.0817.05No real change since 2016
Somalia: 43.08 · world median 17.05 · Coefficient of Human Inequality (%). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 4.865 to 43.08; lower is better.
Position 1st of 169 · derived, 1st = worst.
Productive Capacities IndexUNCTAD · 2022 · world median 46.6717.846.67No real change since 2012
Somalia: 17.8 · world median 46.67 · Productive Capacities Index (1–100). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 17.8 to 71.02; higher is better.
Position 195th of 195 · derived.
Stillbirth RateUN IGME · 2023 · world median 8.16334.98.163No real change since 2013
Somalia: 34.9 · world median 8.163 · Stillbirths (per 1,000 total births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.18 to 34.9; lower is better.
Position 1st of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Level with the median, or no median to compare2
Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum)MAP · 2025 · world median 52.4752.4752.47▲ Improved since 2015
Somalia: 52.47 · world median 52.47 · New P. falciparum malaria cases per 1,000 people per year. Malaria Atlas Project (MAP), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 334.75; lower is better.
Unemployment Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 000No earlier reading
Somalia: 0 · world median 0 · Unemployed people receiving unemployment benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
No better end1
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Net Official Development Assistance ReceivedOECD Development Assistance Committee · 2023 · world median 2.57920.432.579No real change since 2013
Somalia: 20.43 · world median 2.579 · Net ODA received (% of GNI). OECD Development Assistance Committee, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from -0.001 to 101.78.
Position 7th of 130 · derived, counted from the highest value.
No current reading for Somalia
Account Ownership at a Financial Institution (last 2014), Adequacy of Social Protection and Labour Benefits, Children with Functional Difficulties, Comprehensive Wealth per Capita, Foundational ID Ownership, Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (last 2018), Historical GDP per Capita (Maddison), Human Capital Index, Human Capital Wealth per Capita, Low Birthweight Prevalence, Manufacturing Value Added (% of GDP) (last 1990), Multidimensional Poverty Measure, Official Development Assistance Given (% of GNI), Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day, Poverty Headcount at $3.00 a Day, Line-up Estimates, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.00 a Day, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $4.20 a Day, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $8.30 a Day, Poverty Severity (Squared Poverty Gap) at $3.00 a Day, Prosperity Gap and Violent Discipline of Children. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Development & Human Capital among Somalia’s 15 topics
Development & Human Capital is Somalia’s 10th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Environment & Sustainability26th of 1863/4 keys
- Energy97th of 1652/3 keys
- Mobility & Trade159th of 1773/4 keys
- Gender & Equalityjoint 168th of 1834/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties182nd of 1983/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions180th of 1944/4 keys
- Digital & Technologyjoint 185th of 1983/4 keys
- Peace & Security170th of 1773/4 keys
- Work & Labour180th of 1824/4 keys
- Development & Human Capitaljoint 194th of 1963/3 keys
- Education & Knowledge197th of 1982/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing199th of 2002/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation176th of 1762/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture184th of 1843/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience193rd of 1933/4 keys
No standing on Poverty & Inequality: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on development & human capital
The three countries placed highest of 196, and the leaders Somalia can most readily be measured against.
1
Cook IslandsPolynesia
1st of 196 · 2 of 3 keys
Photo: Benedict Adam · CC BY 2.0, greyscale
2
NorwayNorthern Europe
2nd of 196 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: Ximonic , Simo Räsänen · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
DenmarkNorthern Europe
3rd of 196 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: User:Aconcagua · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Africa
Seychelles74th3/3 keysThis page
Somalia=194th3/3 keys
Positions out of 196 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Somalia and development & human capital
On development & human capital
Global Hunger Index 2025: Countries with the Most Alarming Hunger Crisis
Thirteen countries scored across four editions — 2000, 2008, 2016 and 2025 — and five the report could not score at all. DR Congo and South Sudan share 121st place on 37.5.
On development & human capital
India vs Pakistan 2025: Comparison of Hunger Index, Happiness, HDI, Rule of Law, Literacy & GDP
India and Pakistan on six published measures: hunger, happiness, human development, rule of law, literacy and GDP per capita, each from its own publisher and year.
08Questions
Somalia on development & human capital: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Somalia rank on development & human capital?
Somalia is placed joint 194th of 196 countries on Development & Human Capital in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics (Social Protection Coverage, Maternal Mortality Ratio and Human Development Index). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Social Protection Coverage figure for Somalia?
0 in 2025 (population covered by at least one social protection benefit (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 52.1.
What is the latest Maternal Mortality Ratio figure for Somalia?
562.58 in 2023 (maternal deaths per 100,000 live births), according to UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG). The world median in the same edition was 46.65.
How does Somalia compare with Ethiopia on development & human capital?
Ethiopia is placed 174th of 196, and Somalia joint 194th. Social Protection Coverage: Ethiopia 11.5, Somalia 0; Maternal Mortality Ratio: Ethiopia 194.94, Somalia 562.58; Human Development Index: Ethiopia 0.497, Somalia 0.404.
How have Somalia’s development & human capital figures changed?
Maternal Mortality Ratio fell from 1,150 in 2000 to 562.58 in 2023.
Which development & human capital statistics are missing for Somalia?
No current reading is published for Somalia on Account Ownership at a Financial Institution, Adequacy of Social Protection and Labour Benefits, Children with Functional Difficulties, Comprehensive Wealth per Capita, Foundational ID Ownership, Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, Historical GDP per Capita (Maddison), Human Capital Index, Human Capital Wealth per Capita, Low Birthweight Prevalence, Manufacturing Value Added (% of GDP), Multidimensional Poverty Measure, Official Development Assistance Given (% of GNI), Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day, Poverty Headcount at $3.00 a Day, Line-up Estimates, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.00 a Day, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $4.20 a Day, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $8.30 a Day, Poverty Severity (Squared Poverty Gap) at $3.00 a Day, Prosperity Gap and Violent Discipline of Children. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Poverty lines, inequality and aid received are published here as context rather than as keys, often because they cover fewer countries or are measured too rarely. Development is also not the same as economic size or growth, which belong to Economy & Innovation.
How the Development & Human Capital standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 3 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 3 keys to be placed.
The development & human capital method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Social Protection Coverage — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Maternal Mortality Ratio — UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Human Development Index — UNDP Human Development Report Office, CC BY 3.0 IGO
The other 37 statistics on this page come from 12 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Somalia’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Somalia (banner) — AMISOM, CC0
- Cook Islands — Benedict Adam, CC BY 2.0
- Norway — Ximonic , Simo Räsänen, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Denmark — User:Aconcagua, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Somalia: Development & Human Capital — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/somalia/development