SOMALIA

(SOS) Currency News >>

CURRENCY:

Somali Shilling - SOS, Symbol S

DENOMINATIONS:

NOTE: S500, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5.

COIN: S1, and 50, 10 and 5 cents.

US DOLLAR ACCEPTED?

In some cases.

CREDIT/DEBIT CARDS AND ATMS:

DO NOT RELY ON THESE - credit cards are NOT ACCEPTED.

CURRENCY EXCHANGE:

This is best conducted at hotels and the easiest currency to change is the US dollar. Avoid street money changers.

TRAVELLER'S CHEQUES:

Not recommended. If necessary they are best in US dollars.

BANKING HOURS:

Sat-Thurs 0800-1130.

CURRENCY RESTRICTIONS:

Import and export of local currency is limited to SOS 200.

COUNTRY OVERVIEW:

Somalia is officially called the Republic of Somalia and is located in Africa. It is partly bordered by the Indian Ocean. Somalia was once in two parts: Italian Somaliland and British Somaliland but the two parts were made independent and united in 1960. The capital is Mogadishu and the official languages are Somali and Arabic.

POPULATION:

Around 9.5 million.

ECONOMY:

The main element of the economy of Somalia is agriculture. A large proportion of the population are nomadic and rely on livestock. Aside from livestock, major exports include bananas, sugar, maize and fish. A large proportion of the country receive food aid.