Contents
Largest cities or towns in Somalia . | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Name | Region | Pop. | Rank | Name | Region | Pop. | ||
 Mogadishu  Hargeisa | 1 | Mogadishu | Banaadir | 2,330,708 [1] [2] | 11 | Belad Weyne | Hiraan | 278,118 [1] |  Bossaso |
| 2 | Hargeisa | Woqooyi Galbeed | 1,346,651 [1] | 12 | Hudun | Sool | 271,199 [1] | ||
| 3 | Bossaso | Bari | 615,067 [1] | 13 | Afgooye | Lower Shabelle | 265,684 [1] | ||
| 4 | Borama | Awdal | 597,842 [1] | 14 | Balcad | Middle Shabelle | 255,291 [1] | ||
| 5 | Burco | Togdheer | 589,975 [1] | 15 | Berbera | Woqooyi Galbeed | 251,189 [1] | ||
| 6 | Baidoa | Bay | 546,957 [1] | 16 | Laas Caanood | Sool | 246,020 [1] | ||
| 7 | Gaalkacyo | Mudug | 501,542 [1] | 17 | Kismayo | Lower Juba | 243,043 [1] | ||
| 8 | Laasqoray | Sanaag | 343,101 [1] | 18 | Afmadow | Lower Juba | 231,017 [1] | ||
| 9 | Garowe | Nugaal | 289,103 [1] | 19 | Jowhar | Middle Shabelle | 221,044 [1] | ||
| 10 | Qoriyoley | Lower Shabelle | 286,402 [1] | 20 | Saacow | Middle Juba | 211,369 [1] | ||
Below is a list of districts in Somalia by population. As of January 2024 [update] , the country has an estimated population of 19,290,783 inhabitants. [3] [4] According to the Central Intelligence Agency, the total population count in Somalia is complicated by internal movements of nomads and individuals displaced during the civil war. [5] CIA estimates are extrapolated from the Somali national census of February 1975. [5] As of 1992 [update] , towns are defined as all communities with 5,000 or more persons, as well as any regional or district headquarters, regardless of size. [6] There is little reliable statistical information on urbanization in Somalia. However, rough estimates have been made indicating a rate of urbanization of 7.2% per annum (2016–10 est.), with many towns quickly growing into cities. [5]