Moving to Somalia from Iceland

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Iceland to Somalia — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Iceland to Somalia, and you’d need to navigate life in Arabic and Somali. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Mogadishu averages 86°F vs 45°F in Reykjavik, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Iceland to Somalia.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

IS
2.4
SO
20.2

Iceland performs better than Somalia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

IS
$6,927
SO
$52
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

IS
45.2
SO
0.2

Somalia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iceland leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

IS
8.0
SO
64.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

IS
8.5t
SO
0.0t

Iceland generally does better on environment, though Somalia leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

IS
38.2
SO
0.7
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

IS
0.4%
SO
24.5%

Iceland performs better than Somalia across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

IS
3.6%
SO
19.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

IS
$66,500
SO
$1,500

Iceland 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

IS
83.6 yrs
SO
55.7 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

IS
1.6
SO
86.5

Iceland 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.

Reykjavik Rain: 31.4 in/yr (798 mm)
45° / 35°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Reykjavik Mogadishu
Jan–Mar 37°/28°F (3°/-2°C) 86°/74°F (30°/24°C)
Apr–Jun 48°/38°F (9°/4°C) 88°/76°F (31°/25°C)
Jul–Sep 54°/45°F (12°/7°C) 84°/73°F (29°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 39°/31°F (4°/-1°C) 87°/75°F (30°/24°C)
View all months
Month Reykjavik Mogadishu
Jan 35°/27°F (1.9°/-3.0°C) 86°/73°F (30.1°/23.0°C)
Feb 37°/28°F (2.8°/-2.1°C) 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.2°C)
Mar 38°/28°F (3.2°/-2.0°C) 87°/76°F (30.7°/24.7°C)
Apr 42°/33°F (5.7°/0.4°C) 90°/78°F (32.0°/25.5°C)
May 49°/38°F (9.4°/3.6°C) 88°/76°F (31.1°/24.7°C)
Jun 53°/44°F (11.7°/6.7°C) 85°/74°F (29.5°/23.6°C)
Jul 56°/47°F (13.3°/8.3°C) 83°/73°F (28.5°/23.0°C)
Aug 55°/46°F (13.0°/7.9°C) 83°/73°F (28.5°/23.0°C)
Sep 50°/41°F (10.1°/5.0°C) 85°/74°F (29.2°/23.2°C)
Oct 44°/36°F (6.8°/2.2°C) 86°/76°F (30.1°/24.2°C)
Nov 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.3°C) 87°/75°F (30.5°/24.1°C)
Dec 36°/27°F (2.2°/-2.8°C) 87°/74°F (30.6°/23.5°C)

Data: Icelandic Meteorological Office Icelandic Meteorological Office

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Iceland 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.

Iceland passport

Iceland passport holder visiting Somalia

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

Somalia passport holder visiting Iceland

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

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?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Somalia has 0.7 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Somalia safe for expats?

Iceland performs better than Somalia across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Somalia compared to Iceland?

Somalia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iceland leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 0.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Somalia, compared to 45.2 in Iceland. Somalia scores 27 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Iceland: 89).

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

The average high temperature in Mogadishu is 86°F, compared to 45°F in Reykjavik. Mogadishu receives around 18.7 in of rainfall per year, while Reykjavik gets 31.4 in.

What language do they speak in Somalia?

The official languages in Somalia are Arabic and Somali. In Iceland, the official language is Icelandic.

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At a Glance

IS SO
Population 357,603 12,386,248
Currency Icelandic Króna (ISK) Somali Shilling (SOS)
Languages Icelandic Arabic, Somali
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +354 +252
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112