Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Somalia instead of Mali, you would:

Health

live 1.7 years less

In Mali, the average life expectancy is 61 years (59 years for men, 62 years for women) as of 2024. In Somalia, that number is 59 years (56 years for men, 62 years for women) as of 2024.

View global rankings →

be 12.2% more likely to be obese

In Mali, 13.3% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Somalia, that number is 14.9% of people as of 2024.

View global rankings →

see 49.9% less spent on your healthcare

Mali spends $104 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Somalia spends $52 as of 2023.

View global rankings →

have 34.1% less access to essential health services

Mali scores 41 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Somalia scores 27 as of 2021.

View global rankings →

be 91.3% more likely to die by suicide

Mali has a suicide rate of 4.2 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Somalia, it is 8.0 per 100,000 as of 2021.

View global rankings →

Economy

be 6.7 times more likely to be unemployed

In Mali, 2.8% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Somalia, that number is 18.9% as of 2025.

View global rankings →

be 21.8% more likely to live below the poverty line

In Mali, 45.5% live below the poverty line as of 2021. In Somalia, however, that number is 55.4% as of 2022.

View global rankings →

make 44.6% less money

Mali has a GDP per capita of $1,193 as of 2025, while in Somalia, the GDP per capita is $661 as of 2025.

View global rankings →

Life

be 51.9% more likely to be literate

In Mali, the literacy rate is 35.6% as of 2024. In Somalia, it is 54.1% as of 2022.

View global rankings →

be 53.4% more likely to die during childbirth

In Mali, approximately 367.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Somalia, 563.0 women do as of 2023.

View global rankings →

be 37.7% more likely to die during infancy

In Mali, approximately 47.5 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Somalia, on the other hand, 65.4 children do as of 2024.

View global rankings →

Basic Needs

be 24.1% less likely to have internet access

In Mali, approximately 36.8% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Somalia, about 27.9% do as of 2024.

View global rankings →

be 12.8% less likely to have access to drinking water

In Mali, approximately 86% of people have access to drinking water (94% in urban areas, and 80% in rural areas) as of 2024. In Somalia, that number is 75% of people on average (84% in urban areas, and 68% in rural areas) as of 2024.

View global rankings →

Infrastructure

live with 3.1 times more strain on fresh water

Mali withdraws 8% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Somalia withdraws 25% as of 2022.

View global rankings →

Environment

emit 83.3% less CO2

Mali emits 0.3 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Somalia emits 0.1 tonnes as of 2024.

View global rankings →

Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), World Health Organization (2024), United Nations SDG Indicators (2021). How we calculate this

Compare further: Mali vs. Somalia

Cost of Living Comparison · 5 categories - 2026 data
Somalia is 25.4% cheaper than Mali overall
→
Size Comparison · See true size
Mali is about 1.9 times bigger than Somalia.
→
Moving from Mali to Somalia · Cost, visas & climate
Compare cost of living, salary and climate.
→

Somalia: At a glance

Somalia is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 627,337 sq km. Britain withdrew from British Somaliland in 1960 to allow its protectorate to join with Italian Somaliland and form the new nation of Somalia. In 1969, a coup headed by Mohamed SIAD Barre ushered in an authoritarian socialist rule characterized by the persecution, jailing, and torture of political opponents and dissidents. After the regime's collapse early in 1991, Somalia descended into turmoil, factional fighting, and anarchy. In May 1991, northern clans declared an independent Republic of Somaliland that now includes the administrative regions of Awdal, Woqooyi Galbeed, Togdheer, Sanaag, and Sool. Although not recognized by any government, this entity has maintained a stable existence and continues efforts to establish a constitutional democracy, including holding municipal, parliamentary, and presidential elections. The regions of Bari, Nugaal, and northern Mudug comprise a neighboring semi-autonomous state of Puntland, which has been self-governing since 1998 but does not aim at independence; it has also made strides toward reconstructing a legitimate, representative government but has suffered some civil strife. Puntland disputes its border with Somaliland as it also claims portions of eastern Sool and Sanaag. Beginning in 1993, a two-year UN humanitarian effort (primarily in the south) was able to alleviate famine conditions, but when the UN withdrew in 1995, having suffered significant casualties, order still had not been restored. In 2000, the Somalia National Peace Conference (SNPC) held in Djibouti resulted in the formation of an interim government, known as the Transitional National Government (TNG). When the TNG failed to establish adequate security or governing institutions, the Government of Kenya, under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), led a subsequent peace process that concluded in October 2004 with the election of Abdullahi YUSUF Ahmed as President of a second interim government, known as the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of the Somali Republic. The TFG included a 275-member parliamentary body, known as the Transitional Federal Parliament (TFP). President YUSUF resigned late in 2008 while United Nations-sponsored talks between the TFG and the opposition Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS) were underway in Djibouti. In January 2009, following the creation of a TFG-ARS unity government, Ethiopian military forces, which had entered Somalia in December 2006 to support the TFG in the face of advances by the opposition Islamic Courts Union (ICU), withdrew from the country. The TFP was doubled in size to 550 seats with the addition of 200 ARS and 75 civil society members of parliament. The expanded parliament elected Sheikh SHARIF Sheikh Ahmed, the former ICU and ARS chairman as president in January 2009. The creation of the TFG was based on the Transitional Federal Charter (TFC), which outlined a five-year mandate leading to the establishment of a new Somali constitution and a transition to a representative government following national elections. In 2009, the TFP amended the TFC to extend TFG's mandate until 2011 and in 2011 Somali principals agreed to institute political transition by August 2012. The transition process ended in September 2012 when clan elders replaced the TFP by appointing 275 members to a new parliament who subsequently elected a new president.
Read more

How big is Somalia compared to Mali? See an in-depth size comparison.

Share this

Ask the Elsewhere Community

Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Somalia or Mali. It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.