Moving to Spain from Somalia

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Somalia to Spain, and you’d need to navigate life in Basque, Catalan, Galician and Spanish. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Madrid averages 68°F vs 86°F in Mogadishu, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Somalia to Spain.

Moved in 2019
65 ↑ 282% vs 2018

people moved from Somalia to Spain · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Spain?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Spain compared to Somalia.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SO
20.2
ES
3.5

Spain performs significantly better than Somalia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

SO
$52
ES
$4,935
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

SO
0.2
ES
44.8

Spain 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

SO
64.0
ES
10.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SO
0.0t
ES
4.5t

Somalia generally does better on environment, though Spain leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

SO
0.7
ES
36.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SO
24.5%
ES
43.2%

Spain 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

SO
19.0%
ES
12.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SO
$1,500
ES
$46,400

Spain performs significantly 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

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

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SO
86.5
ES
2.5

Spain performs significantly 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.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Madrid Rain: 16.6 in/yr (421 mm)
68° / 50°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Mogadishu Madrid
Jan–Mar 86°/74°F (30°/24°C) 55°/40°F (13°/4°C)
Apr–Jun 88°/76°F (31°/25°C) 73°/53°F (23°/12°C)
Jul–Sep 84°/73°F (29°/23°C) 86°/64°F (30°/18°C)
Oct–Dec 87°/75°F (30°/24°C) 58°/44°F (14°/7°C)
View all months
Month Mogadishu Madrid
Jan 86°/73°F (30.1°/23.0°C) 50°/37°F (9.8°/2.7°C)
Feb 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.2°C) 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.7°C)
Mar 87°/76°F (30.7°/24.7°C) 61°/43°F (16.3°/6.2°C)
Apr 90°/78°F (32.0°/25.5°C) 65°/46°F (18.2°/7.7°C)
May 88°/76°F (31.1°/24.7°C) 72°/52°F (22.2°/11.3°C)
Jun 85°/74°F (29.5°/23.6°C) 83°/61°F (28.2°/16.1°C)
Jul 83°/73°F (28.5°/23.0°C) 90°/66°F (32.1°/19.0°C)
Aug 83°/73°F (28.5°/23.0°C) 88°/66°F (31.3°/18.8°C)
Sep 85°/74°F (29.2°/23.2°C) 80°/60°F (26.4°/15.4°C)
Oct 86°/76°F (30.1°/24.2°C) 67°/51°F (19.4°/10.7°C)
Nov 87°/75°F (30.5°/24.1°C) 56°/43°F (13.5°/6.2°C)
Dec 87°/74°F (30.6°/23.5°C) 50°/38°F (10.0°/3.6°C)

Data: Agencia Estatal de Meteorología Agencia Estatal de Meteorología

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Somalia passport

Somalia passport holder visiting Spain

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

Spain passport holder visiting Somalia

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Spain?

Connectivity is usually fine (Spain: 36.0 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Spain offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Spain safe for expats?

Spain performs significantly better than Somalia across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Spain compared to Somalia?

Spain generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Somalia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 44.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Spain, compared to 0.2 in Somalia. Spain scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Somalia: 27).

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

The average high temperature in Madrid is 68°F, compared to 86°F in Mogadishu. Madrid receives around 16.6 in of rainfall per year, while Mogadishu gets 18.7 in.

What language do they speak in Spain?

The official languages in Spain are Basque, Catalan, Galician and Spanish. In Somalia, the official languages are Arabic and Somali.

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At a Glance

SO ES
Population 12,386,248 47,163,418
Currency Somali Shilling (SOS) Euro (€)
Languages Arabic, Somali Basque, Catalan, Galician, Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +252 +34
Time zones 1 2
Emergency number 112