Somalia is divided into several parts

Somalia is officially divided into seven federal member states, 18 administrative regions, and 72 districts.

Federal Member States

Somalia is a federal republic consisting of seven federal member states: Galmudug, Hirshabelle, Jubaland, Puntland, South West, SSC-Khaatumo, and Somaliland (which unilaterally declared independence in 1991 but is still claimed by Somalia) . The Banaadir region, which includes the capital city Mogadishu, is not part of any federal state and is administered separately as the Banaadir Regional Administration .

Administrative Regions

The country is subdivided into 18 administrative regions (gobollo, singular gobol). These regions are: Awdal, Bakool, Banaadir, Bari, Bay, Galguduud, Gedo, Hiran, Jubbada Dhexe (Middle Juba), Jubbada Hoose (Lower Juba), Mudug, Nugaal, Sanaag, Shabeellaha Dhexe (Middle Shabelle), Shabeellaha Hoose (Lower Shabelle), Sool, Togdheer, and Woqooyi Galbeed . Each region is further divided into districts.

Districts

Somalia has 72 districts (degmooyin, singular degmo), which serve as the local administrative units within the regions. For example, the Banaadir region alone is divided into 17 districts, including Abdiaziz, Bondhere, Daynile, Hodan, and Karan . Other regions have varying numbers of districts depending on their size and population.

Special Considerations

• Somaliland operates de facto independently, controlling five northern regions without international recognition, but Somalia officially considers it part of the country .
• The SSC-Khaatumo state, recognized in 2025, covers contested territories previously claimed by Somaliland and Puntland .
• The federal system is designed to accommodate Somalia's clan-based structure, giving substantial autonomy to each state while maintaining a central government in Mogadishu . In summary, Somalia's administrative structure is seven federal states, 18 regions, and 72 districts, with special arrangements for the capital and disputed territories.