A resident of Mogadishu, a small business owner in Garowe and a pastoralist moving with livestock face different daily pressures. One may be concerned about rent, transport and the cost of goods; another depends on animals, water and access to grazing land. Farmers and fishers, meanwhile, follow rainfall, river conditions and the markets where they sell their produce. These differences are part of Somalia’s social and economic life. No single picture can represent the whole country.
A World Bank study conducted with the Somali National Bureau of Statistics interviewed households in two survey rounds between April and August 2025, covering urban areas, rural communities and nomadic households. Just over two-thirds of the households surveyed reported some form of employment income. The study also found that market work, livestock and small businesses are important sources of economic activity, although the main type of work varies by location.
Improving daily life requires more than individual effort. Passable roads, safe markets, accessible health services, good schools, reliable water and trustworthy business systems all expand people’s opportunities. When services and markets are concentrated in major towns, people in rural and remote areas face additional costs and barriers.
Somalia needs to document ordinary lives as carefully as major events: how pastoralists adapt during dry seasons, how women manage small businesses, how young people develop skills to find work, and how families plan their household budgets. When these stories are supported by evidence and context, they offer a more accurate picture of people’s lives and the services they need.
Sources of income and how livelihoods connect
Somalia’s economy is sustained by a range of livelihoods. Pastoral households depend on livestock and animal products; farming families combine crops, animals and other work; and towns support small trade, services, skilled jobs and daily labour. Many households also receive support from relatives living abroad or in other towns. These income sources can complement one another, but each faces different risks, including drought, price increases, unemployment, illness or interruptions to business activity.
A survey conducted by the World Bank with the Somali National Bureau of Statistics between April and August 2025 interviewed about 3,000 households in each wave, covering cities, rural areas and nomadic communities. Findings published in 2026 showed that just over two-thirds of surveyed households reported some form of employment income, while more than four in ten described themselves as poor. The study also found that food insecurity and lack of employment were particularly serious concerns outside urban areas. These are findings from the surveyed households, not a full census of every person in Somalia.
Livestock, farming and markets
Livestock has economic, nutritional and cultural importance. Camels, goats, sheep and cattle provide milk, meat, breeding stock and income. Markets in places such as Garowe, Galkayo and Beledweyne, together with export ports, connect pastoralists, traders and buyers. For animals to reach markets in good condition, households need animal health services, water and pasture, roads, price information and inspection facilities. The Ministry of Livestock’s market information system can help producers and traders understand prices and market activity, although sale decisions must also consider animal quality, seasonality and transport costs.
Riverine agriculture, coastal fishing and small businesses also provide food and work. Farmers need irrigation, suitable seed, technical advice and routes to market; fishers need safe equipment, cold storage and reliable buyers. Strengthening only one part of the economy can leave other livelihoods behind. Better links between farms, transport, storage and markets can reduce losses after harvest.
Household resilience and essential services
When food or fuel prices rise, an unchanged household income buys less than before. A decent standard of living therefore depends not only on jobs and income, but also on accessible health care, education, clean water, electricity, transport and functioning markets. Savings, expense records, new skills and diversified income can help households adjust to change, although they cannot replace the need for public services and effective social protection.
Writing about life in Somalia requires listening to local people and avoiding the idea that one city or way of life represents the whole country. Articles about everyday life should identify the place and period concerned, distinguish personal experience from survey findings, and reflect the diversity of Somali communities.
