Kismayo Population 2026

Kismayo has a population of 234,852, making it the #5 biggest city in 🇸🇴 Somalia, located in Lower Juba. Roughly 1.2% of Somalia's population lives here. It is about 11× smaller than Mogadishu, the country's biggest city.

Location of Kismayo (capital Mogadishu shown for reference). Boundaries: Natural Earth.

Population (city proper)

234,852

Rank in Somalia

Coordinates

0.36°S, 42.55°E

~11 m elevation · Africa/Mogadishu

Distance to capital (Mogadishu)

410 km

255 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Lower Juba

City	Population	Rank in Somalia
Kaambooni	79,000	#12
Jamaame	42,270	#25

Cities near Kismayo

Jamaame42,270 people · ~52 km away
Jilib43,694 people · ~98 km away
Bu’aale17,475 people · ~160 km away
Kaambooni79,000 people · ~178 km away
Baardheere42,240 people · ~302 km away
Diinsoor20,000 people · ~311 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Kismayo?

Kismayo has a population of 234,852 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #5 biggest city in Somalia.

What region is Kismayo in?

Kismayo is located in Lower Juba, Somalia.

Is Kismayo the capital of Somalia?

No, the capital of Somalia is Mogadishu, about 410 km away.

Sources & notes

Population refers to the city proper (municipal boundaries), not the metropolitan area. Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0), retrieved 2026-07-07. Country data: UN World Population Prospects 2024.

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