Religion in Somalia

More than 99% of Somalia's population is estimated to be Sunni Muslim, although no reliable current national census provides a precise religious breakdown. Small Sufi and Shia communities exist alongside very small Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish and non-religious groups. Sunni practices commonly include the declaration of faith, daily prayer, fasting during Ramadan, zakat, Friday mosque attendance, Quran memorization and pilgrimage to Mecca. Sufi traditions remain present, while public non-Islamic worship is extremely restricted. A 2023 report found no public non-Muslim worship sites outside an international airport compound. The Federal Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs, called Wasaaradda Awqaafta iyo Arrimaha Islaamka in Somali, oversees national religious matters. The Ministry of Education, Culture and Higher Education works with it on Islamic education, Quranic schools, teacher training and quality or accreditation standards. Local authorities, federal member states and, in Somaliland, the de facto Ministry of Religion also affect access and approvals. Control and implementation vary significantly because state authority, security conditions and local administration differ across Somalia. Quranic schools, known locally as Dugsiyada Quraanka, provide important early religious education. Madrasas and Islamic institutes operate alongside general schools. Islamic education is taught in public and private schools, and non-Muslim pupils can apply for an exemption, although no such applications were reported in 2023. Parents commonly finance Quranic education, while fees and teaching arrangements are not standardized nationwide. The Constitution protects the practice of religion and equality before the law regardless of religion, but it also prohibits the propagation of other religions and requires the president to be Muslim. The Penal Code provides up to two years of imprisonment for blasphemy or defamation of Islam. The Constitution does not expressly prohibit conversion from Islam, yet conversion can bring severe religious, family, community and physical risks. In Somaliland, Islam is the official religion and conversion or propagation of other religions is prohibited. Formal religious organizations, prayer facilities and religious schools may require approval from the relevant national, regional or local authority. Mosques, imams, khadiib, Islamic scholars known as culimo, fatwa and religious counselling provide everyday guidance. Religious authority is divided among government bodies, scholars, communities, customary xeer, Shariah-based forums, formal courts and, in some areas, armed actors. Al-Shabaab and ISIS use religious claims to justify violence, coercion, alternative courts and militant instruction; these activities must not be confused with ordinary Islamic worship or scholarship. Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, the Islamic New Year, Ashura, Mawlid Nabi and Mi'raaj Nabi are officially observed Islamic occasions. Their dates follow the Hijri calendar and may depend on moon sighting or a government announcement. Closures and service availability vary by region and institution. Hajj and Umrah generally involve registration, travel authorization, advance instruction and provider or ministry support. Costs depend on the provider, season and available quota. A Nikah certificate is available as an official ministry service, while fees for mosques, fatwas, Quranic schools and religious services are not consolidated nationwide. Zakat, also called saka, and awqaf, meaning religious endowments, support community welfare and religious administration in some settings. Access to official services is most reliable in areas under government control and is less predictable where authority or security is disputed. The practical situation therefore depends on the region, the responsible authority, the person's religious identity and whether the activity is private, community-based or public.