As Somalia is officially a federal republic, the country is divided into seven federal member states, 18 administrative regions (gobollo, singular gobol), and 72 districts. (plural degmooyin; singular degmo)
Overview The Federal Parliament is tasked with selecting the ultimate number and boundaries of autonomous regional states within the Federal Republic of Somalia. To this end, the legislature in December 2014 passed a law establishing the Boundary and Federalization Commission. The body is mandated with determining the boundaries of the country's constituent states, as well as arbitrating between these states.
History
In November 2014, the South West State of Somalia was established. Hirshabelle State was formed in October 2016. Khatumo State in the north central region was recognized in 2023 and superseded by North Eastern State of Somalia in 2025.
Federal member states
Somalia is officially divided into seven federal member states. Somalia considers Somaliland (who unilaterally proclaimed independence in 1991 and remains claimed but uncontrolled) to still be a part of the country as a federal member state.
Somaliland North Eastern Puntland Galmudug Hirshabelle South West Jubaland
Regional administrations Banaadir (also called the Banaadir Regional Administration, or BRA) covers the area of the capital city Mogadishu, and does not belong to any federal member states.
Regions and districts The president of Somalia Mohamed Siad Barre established the regions of Middle Juba, Lower Juba, Gedo, Bay, and Bakool between 1974 and 1975. Due to biases towards clans, Banaadir shrank to only consist of Mogadishu.Mukhtar, 2011, p.48
Region Capital city Population(2025 estimate) Location Districts Awdal Region Borama 655,894 Northwestern Bakool Region Hudur 560,267 Southern Banaadir Region Mogadishu 3,262,129 Central Bari Region Bosaso 1,270,552 Northeastern Bay Region Baidoa 1,286,787 Southern Galguduud Region Dusmareb 837,916 Central Gedo Region Garbahare 1,005,924 Southern Hiran Region Beledweyne 520,517 Central Lower Juba Region Kismayo 1,194,276 Southern Lower Shabelle Region Merca 1,642,667 Central Middle Juba Region Bu'ale 443,507 Southern Middle Shabelle Region Jowhar 1,044,872 Central Mudug Region Galkayo 1,516,035 Southern Nugal Region Garoowe 651,464 North Eastern Sanaag Region Erigavo 442,034 Northern Sool Region Las Anod 566,053 Northern Togdheer Region Burao 887,450 Northern Maroodi Jeex Region Hargeisa 1,492,506 Northwestern
Former divisions Pre-independence In 1931, Italian Somaliland consisted of seven commissariats."Regions of Somalia" . Statoids. Retrieved 20 February 2011. Alto Giuba Alto Uebi-Scebeli Basso Giuba Basso Uebi-Scebeli Migiurtinia Mogadiscio Mudugh
Following the 1935–36 Second Italo-Abyssinian War, Italian Somaliland became part of Italian East Africa with Abyssinia (Ethiopia) and Eritrea. Italian Somaliland was one of six governorates of the new colony, the Somalia Governorate, and incorporated Somali-inhabited parts of the former Abyssinia. The governorate was subdivided into 10 commissariats, which were themselves divided into residencies.
Alto Giuba (English: Upper Juba) (capital: Baidoa) Alto Scebeli (Upper Shabele) (Bulo Burti) Basso Scebeli (Lower Shabele) (Merca) Migiurtinia (Migiurtinia) (Dante) Mogadiscio (Mogadishu) (Mogadiscio) Mudugh (Mudug) (Rocca Littorio) Ogaden (Ogaden) (Uarder) Uebi Gestro (Gestro River) (Callafo) Basso Giuba (Lower Juba) (Chisimaio) Nogal (Nugaal) (Eil)
Following World War II, the Italian-administered Trust Territory of Somalia consisted of six Regions. Alto Giuba Basso Giuba Benadir Hiiraan Migiurtinia Mudugh
The British Somaliland protectorate also consisted of two Regions.
Burao Hargeisa
Somalia
Upon independence in 1960, the Somali Republic maintained the 12 districts of the former Italian Somaliland and British Somaliland that merged to form the new country. In 1964, a new Northeastern (Burao) Province was established by merging Burao, Erigavo, and Las Anod and a Northwestern (Hargeisa) Province was formed from Berbera, Borama, and Hargeisa districts. In 1968, the capital of Basso Giuba was moved from Kismayo to Jamame. The 8 provinces at this time were:
Province Area(km2) Capital Benadir 45,004 Mogadishu Burao 128,000 Burao Hargeisa 48,000 Hargeisa Hiran 25,647 Beled Weyne Lower Juba 49,917 Jamame Bosaso 90,744 Bosaso (Bender Cassim) Mudug 118,737 Galkayo Upper Juba 131,492 Baidoa
In 1982, Somalia reorganized from eight provinces into 16 regions. In June 1984, Awdal was split from Woqooyi Galbeed and Sool was split from Nugaal to form the current 18 regions.
After the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia was instillated, some divisions of Somalia tried to be either a state or region. These said divisions were as follows:
Azania (2011–2013) Central Regions State Himan and Heeb (2008–2015) Maakhir (2007–2009)
See also
List of regions of Somalia by Human Development Index ISO 3166-2:SO
Notes
References