Moving to Somalia from New Zealand

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from New Zealand 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 62°F in Wellington, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Somalia compared to New Zealand.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

NZ
6.6
SO
20.2

New Zealand 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

NZ
$5,576
SO
$52
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

NZ
35.7
SO
0.2

New Zealand 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

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

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

NZ
6.0t
SO
0.0t

New Zealand 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

NZ
35.9
SO
0.7
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

NZ
8.1%
SO
24.5%

New Zealand 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

NZ
3.7%
SO
19.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

NZ
$48,800
SO
$1,500

New Zealand 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

NZ
82.5 yrs
SO
55.7 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

NZ
3.4
SO
86.5

New Zealand 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.

Wellington Rain: 37.7 in/yr (957 mm)
62° / 51°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Wellington Mogadishu
Jan–Mar 69°/58°F (21°/14°C) 86°/74°F (30°/24°C)
Apr–Jun 59°/49°F (15°/10°C) 88°/76°F (31°/25°C)
Jul–Sep 56°/46°F (13°/8°C) 84°/73°F (29°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 64°/53°F (18°/12°C) 87°/75°F (30°/24°C)
View all months
Month Wellington Mogadishu
Jan 70°/58°F (21.2°/14.7°C) 86°/73°F (30.1°/23.0°C)
Feb 70°/59°F (21.3°/14.8°C) 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.2°C)
Mar 68°/56°F (19.8°/13.5°C) 87°/76°F (30.7°/24.7°C)
Apr 63°/53°F (17.4°/11.5°C) 90°/78°F (32.0°/25.5°C)
May 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.7°C) 88°/76°F (31.1°/24.7°C)
Jun 56°/46°F (13.1°/7.9°C) 85°/74°F (29.5°/23.6°C)
Jul 54°/44°F (12.3°/6.9°C) 83°/73°F (28.5°/23.0°C)
Aug 55°/45°F (12.9°/7.4°C) 83°/73°F (28.5°/23.0°C)
Sep 58°/48°F (14.5°/8.8°C) 85°/74°F (29.2°/23.2°C)
Oct 60°/50°F (15.8°/10.0°C) 86°/76°F (30.1°/24.2°C)
Nov 64°/53°F (17.5°/11.4°C) 87°/75°F (30.5°/24.1°C)
Dec 67°/56°F (19.6°/13.5°C) 87°/74°F (30.6°/23.5°C)

Data: New Zealand National Meteorological Service New Zealand National Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between New Zealand 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.

New Zealand passport

New Zealand passport holder visiting Somalia

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

Somalia passport holder visiting New Zealand

Visa Required
Somalia passport holders need a visa to enter New Zealand.

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?

New Zealand performs better than Somalia across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Somalia compared to New Zealand?

New Zealand 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 35.7 in New Zealand. Somalia scores 27 on the WHO universal health coverage index (New Zealand: 85).

What's the weather like in Somalia compared to New Zealand?

The average high temperature in Mogadishu is 86°F, compared to 62°F in Wellington. Mogadishu receives around 18.7 in of rainfall per year, while Wellington gets 37.7 in.

What language do they speak in Somalia?

The official languages in Somalia are Arabic and Somali. In New Zealand, the official languages are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language.

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At a Glance

NZ SO
Population 5,053,004 12,386,248
Currency New Zealand Dollar (NZ$) Somali Shilling (SOS)
Languages English, Māori, New Zealand Sign Language Arabic, Somali
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +64 +252
Time zones 5 1
Emergency number 111