United Kingdom ambassador to Somalia H.E. Charles King has noted that Somalia is the most urbanized country in East Africa.

Ambassador King attributed the urbanization to the current migration to urban centers that has been intensified by critical climate and environmental challenges in Somalia.
“Urbanization is occurring at a time when the impacts of climate change are being felt more acutely, and there is a need for integrating urban planning and climate-resilient development,” said Ambassador King.

He noted that the traditional planning methods that treat city growth and environmental management as separate issues are no longer viable.

Somalia currently is facing one of the most rapid urbanizations in East Africa, with the urban population reaching 48%. The 2025 report indicated that the urbanization in Somalia averaged 4.7% annually.

Key drivers to this rapid urbanization have been attributed to climate change, conflict and insecurity, and drought and hunger, which have pushed rural dwellers to urban towns to seek livelihood and services.