Moving to Somalia from Japan

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Japan to Somalia? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Japan to Somalia, and you’d need to navigate life in Arabic and Somali. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Mogadishu averages 86°F vs 69°F in Tokyo, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Somalia compared to Japan.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

JP
2.7
SO
20.2

Japan 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

JP
$5,365
SO
$52
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

affects wait times and access to care

JP
26.1
SO
0.2

Japan 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

JP
12.0
SO
64.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

JP
7.8t
SO
0.0t

Japan 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

JP
37.2
SO
0.7
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

JP
36.0%
SO
24.5%

Japan generally does better on infrastructure, though Somalia leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

JP
2.6%
SO
19.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

JP
$46,300
SO
$1,500

Japan 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

JP
84.8 yrs
SO
55.7 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

JP
1.9
SO
86.5

Japan 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.

Tokyo Rain: 62.9 in/yr (1598 mm)
69° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Tokyo Mogadishu
Jan–Mar 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) 86°/74°F (30°/24°C)
Apr–Jun 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) 88°/76°F (31°/25°C)
Jul–Sep 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) 84°/73°F (29°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) 87°/75°F (30°/24°C)
View all months
Month Tokyo Mogadishu
Jan 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) 86°/73°F (30.1°/23.0°C)
Feb 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.2°C)
Mar 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) 87°/76°F (30.7°/24.7°C)
Apr 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) 90°/78°F (32.0°/25.5°C)
May 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) 88°/76°F (31.1°/24.7°C)
Jun 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) 85°/74°F (29.5°/23.6°C)
Jul 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) 83°/73°F (28.5°/23.0°C)
Aug 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) 83°/73°F (28.5°/23.0°C)
Sep 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) 85°/74°F (29.2°/23.2°C)
Oct 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) 86°/76°F (30.1°/24.2°C)
Nov 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) 87°/75°F (30.5°/24.1°C)
Dec 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) 87°/74°F (30.6°/23.5°C)

Data: Japan Meteorological Agency Japan Meteorological Agency

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Japan 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.

Japan passport

Japan passport holder visiting Somalia

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

Somalia passport holder visiting Japan

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

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?

Connectivity is usually fine (Somalia: 0.7 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Somalia offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Somalia safe for expats?

Japan performs better than Somalia across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Somalia compared to Japan?

Japan 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 26.1 in Japan. Somalia scores 27 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Japan: 83).

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

The average high temperature in Mogadishu is 86°F, compared to 69°F in Tokyo. Mogadishu receives around 18.7 in of rainfall per year, while Tokyo gets 62.9 in.

What language do they speak in Somalia?

The official languages in Somalia are Arabic and Somali. In Japan, the official language is Japanese.

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At a Glance

JP SO
Population 124,214,766 12,386,248
Currency Japanese Yen (¥) Somali Shilling (SOS)
Languages Japanese Arabic, Somali
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +81 +252
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 110