Moving to Somalia from United Kingdom

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from United Kingdom 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 60°F in London, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from United Kingdom to Somalia.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

GB
2.4
SO
20.2

United Kingdom 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

GB
$6,606
SO
$52
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

GB
31.7
SO
0.2

United Kingdom 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

GB
13.0
SO
64.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

GB
4.2t
SO
0.0t

United Kingdom 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

GB
41.4
SO
0.7
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

GB
14.3%
SO
24.5%

United Kingdom 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

GB
4.1%
SO
19.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

GB
$54,100
SO
$1,500

United Kingdom 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

GB
81.9 yrs
SO
55.7 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

GB
3.8
SO
86.5

United Kingdom 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.

London Rain: 22.0 in/yr (558 mm)
60° / 46°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months London Mogadishu
Jan–Mar 49°/38°F (9°/3°C) 86°/74°F (30°/24°C)
Apr–Jun 64°/48°F (18°/9°C) 88°/76°F (31°/25°C)
Jul–Sep 72°/56°F (22°/13°C) 84°/73°F (29°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 53°/43°F (12°/6°C) 87°/75°F (30°/24°C)
View all months
Month London Mogadishu
Jan 47°/38°F (8.1°/3.1°C) 86°/73°F (30.1°/23.0°C)
Feb 47°/37°F (8.6°/2.7°C) 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.2°C)
Mar 53°/40°F (11.6°/4.6°C) 87°/76°F (30.7°/24.7°C)
Apr 58°/43°F (14.6°/5.9°C) 90°/78°F (32.0°/25.5°C)
May 65°/48°F (18.1°/8.9°C) 88°/76°F (31.1°/24.7°C)
Jun 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) 85°/74°F (29.5°/23.6°C)
Jul 74°/57°F (23.4°/13.7°C) 83°/73°F (28.5°/23.0°C)
Aug 74°/57°F (23.1°/13.8°C) 83°/73°F (28.5°/23.0°C)
Sep 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.4°C) 85°/74°F (29.2°/23.2°C)
Oct 60°/48°F (15.5°/8.8°C) 86°/76°F (30.1°/24.2°C)
Nov 52°/42°F (11.3°/5.8°C) 87°/75°F (30.5°/24.1°C)
Dec 47°/38°F (8.4°/3.4°C) 87°/74°F (30.6°/23.5°C)

Data: Met Office Met Office

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United Kingdom 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.

United Kingdom passport

United Kingdom passport holder visiting Somalia

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

Somalia passport holder visiting United Kingdom

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

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?

United Kingdom performs better than Somalia across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Somalia compared to United Kingdom?

United Kingdom 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 31.7 in United Kingdom. Somalia scores 27 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United Kingdom: 88).

What's the weather like in Somalia compared to United Kingdom?

The average high temperature in Mogadishu is 86°F, compared to 60°F in London. Mogadishu receives around 18.7 in of rainfall per year, while London gets 22.0 in.

What language do they speak in Somalia?

The official languages in Somalia are Arabic and Somali. In United Kingdom, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

GB SO
Population 67,791,400 12,386,248
Currency British Pound Sterling (£) Somali Shilling (SOS)
Languages English Arabic, Somali
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +44 +252
Time zones 9 1
Emergency number 999