country profile

Somalia

Sub-Saharan AfricaLow income

Last updated May 3, 2026

FacebookTwitter/XLinkedInReddit
Fragile/Conflict-Affected Country: This country is classified as experiencing conflict.

Composite GEFRI Score

Critically unprepared

Somalia shows critically low readiness to meet the challenges and opportunities of education in a rapidly changing world (2nd percentile worldwide). Core capabilities are weak across most dimensions, and essential systems face significant constraints. Higher scores indicate a system that is better prepared to anticipate and shape the future of learning.

15.80Composite score
Global percentile
2nd
Global rank
#176
Regional rank
#45
Viewing data for
Infrastructure
22.86
8th percentileGlobal avg. 54.77
Human Capital
23.92
8th percentileGlobal avg. 47.01
Innovation
22.16
6th percentileGlobal avg. 45.21
Governance
10.06
3rd percentileGlobal avg. 47.75
Access & Parity
0.00
8th percentileGlobal avg. 49.65

Country profile

Somalia trails global peers in Human Capital (24, 8th percentile), Infrastructure (23, 8th percentile), Innovation (22, 6th percentile), GEFRI Composite (16, 2nd percentile), Governance (10, 3rd percentile), and School Access and Gender Parity (0, 8th percentile). A coordinated reform effort is needed to strengthen education futures readiness.

Uneven scores across dimensions highlight areas that need targeted coordination. Limited electricity or internet coverage still constrains classrooms, preventing large-scale digital instruction. Literacy or tertiary enrollment gaps thin the talent pipeline and limit the country’s capacity to develop future-ready skills.

Sparse R&D investment and a small research workforce slow experimentation and delay new ideas from reaching learners. Policy execution and regulatory capacity remain weak, leaving reforms fragmented and hard to sustain. Gender parity leans toward boys in secondary pathways, signalling persistent barriers for girls.

Note: Because many indicators are imputed, these findings should be treated as provisional until more reported data arrives.

Key insights

  • Falls below many peers at the 2nd percentile.
  • Places 176th worldwide.
  • Holds a regional position of 45th within Sub-Saharan Africa.
  • Scores range from Human Capital (23.9) to Access & Parity (0.0), reflecting variation across dimensions.
  • Trails regional peers most clearly in Governance.

Regional peers: Sub-Saharan Africa

Composite GEFRI Score

Global rankRegional rankCountryScore
681South Africa57.33
742Mauritius56.48
SeychellesMicrostate55.12
803Botswana54.11
1024Ghana47.72
1085Namibia44.24
1136Cabo Verde40.09
1177Eswatini38.07
1248Senegal35.40
1259Equatorial Guinea35.01
12610Gabon34.48
12911Rwanda33.75
13312Kenya33.02
13413Gambia, The32.24
13514Cote d'Ivoire32.18
Sao Tome and PrincipeFCSMicrostate31.75
14015Lesotho31.04
14116Benin29.70
14217ZimbabweFCS29.57
14418Togo29.28
14519Tanzania29.23
14620CameroonFCS28.46
14721Zambia27.96
14822Mauritania27.82
15023Angola26.39
15224ComorosFCS25.64
15325Congo, Rep.FCS25.59
15526MozambiqueFCS25.26
15627EthiopiaFCS25.24
15728Uganda24.82
15829NigeriaFCS24.64
15930Sierra Leone24.58
16031Madagascar24.32
16132Burkina FasoFCS23.86
16233MaliFCS23.71
16334Malawi23.40
16435Guinea22.78
16636Liberia22.50
16737NigerFCS20.78
16838SudanFCS20.28
16939Guinea-BissauFCS19.28
17645Somalia, Fed. Rep.FCS19.26
17141BurundiFCS18.78
17242EritreaFCS18.78
17443Congo, Dem. Rep.FCS17.87
17544ChadFCS16.32
17645SomaliaFCS15.80
17746South SudanFCS15.44
17847Central African RepublicFCS14.57