Moving to Somalia from Eritrea

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Eritrea to Somalia — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Eritrea to Somalia. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Mogadishu averages 86°F vs 74°F in Asmara, making it significantly warmer.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Get free moving quotes to Somalia

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from Eritrea to Somalia, and how the trend has changed.

Living there in 2020
36 ↑ 6% vs 2015

people born in Eritrea live in Somalia · UN DESA

Who's moving to Somalia?

Top countries of origin for Somalia's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

How Eritrea and Somalia stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

ER
17.7
SO
20.2

Eritrea performs better than Somalia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

ER
$87
SO
$52
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

ER
0.7
SO
0.2

Eritrea generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Somalia leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

ER
78.0
SO
64.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

ER
0.2t
SO
0.0t

Somalia performs significantly better than Eritrea across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

ER
0.2
SO
0.7
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

ER
11.2%
SO
24.5%

Eritrea generally does better on infrastructure, though Somalia leads in broadband per 100 people.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

ER
5.9%
SO
19.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

ER
$1,600
SO
$1,500

Eritrea performs better than Somalia across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

ER
66.8 yrs
SO
55.7 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

ER
41.5
SO
86.5

Eritrea performs better than Somalia across all family life metrics.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Asmara Rain: 20.9 in/yr (532 mm)
74° / 48°F

Avg. annual high / low

Mogadishu Rain: 18.7 in/yr (474 mm)
86° / 75°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Asmara Mogadishu
Jan–Mar 75°/44°F (24°/7°C) 86°/74°F (30°/24°C)
Apr–Jun 77°/51°F (25°/11°C) 88°/76°F (31°/25°C)
Jul–Sep 72°/51°F (22°/10°C) 84°/73°F (29°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 71°/46°F (22°/8°C) 87°/75°F (30°/24°C)
View all months
Month Asmara Mogadishu
Jan 73°/42°F (22.6°/5.6°C) 86°/73°F (30.1°/23.0°C)
Feb 75°/44°F (23.9°/6.7°C) 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.2°C)
Mar 77°/47°F (25.1°/8.5°C) 87°/76°F (30.7°/24.7°C)
Apr 76°/50°F (24.5°/9.9°C) 90°/78°F (32.0°/25.5°C)
May 77°/52°F (25.2°/10.9°C) 88°/76°F (31.1°/24.7°C)
Jun 77°/52°F (25.1°/11.2°C) 85°/74°F (29.5°/23.6°C)
Jul 71°/53°F (21.8°/11.4°C) 83°/73°F (28.5°/23.0°C)
Aug 71°/53°F (21.6°/11.4°C) 83°/73°F (28.5°/23.0°C)
Sep 74°/48°F (23.2°/8.7°C) 85°/74°F (29.2°/23.2°C)
Oct 71°/48°F (21.8°/8.8°C) 86°/76°F (30.1°/24.2°C)
Nov 71°/46°F (21.6°/7.5°C) 87°/75°F (30.5°/24.1°C)
Dec 71°/43°F (21.7°/6.2°C) 87°/74°F (30.6°/23.5°C)

Data: Civil Aviation Authority Civil Aviation Authority

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Eritrea and Somalia. To live, work, or study long-term in Somalia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Somalia's immigration authority.

Eritrea passport

Eritrea passport holder visiting Somalia

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Eritrea passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Somalia.
Somalia passport

Somalia passport holder visiting Eritrea

Visa Required
Somalia passport holders need a visa to enter Eritrea.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Somalia?

With 0.7 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Somalia can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Eritrea and Somalia.

Is Somalia safe for expats?

Eritrea performs better than Somalia across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Somalia compared to Eritrea?

Eritrea generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Somalia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 0.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Somalia, compared to 0.7 in Eritrea. Somalia scores 27 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Eritrea: 45).

What's the weather like in Somalia compared to Eritrea?

The average high temperature in Mogadishu is 86°F, compared to 74°F in Asmara. Mogadishu receives around 18.7 in of rainfall per year, while Asmara gets 20.9 in.

What language do they speak in Somalia?

The official languages in Somalia are Arabic and Somali. In Eritrea, the official languages are Arabic, English and Tigrinya.

Share this

At a Glance

ER SO
Population 6,209,262 12,386,248
Currency Eritrean Nakfa (ERN) Somali Shilling (SOS)
Languages Arabic, English, Tigrinya Arabic, Somali
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +291 +252
Time zones 1 1