Marka Population 2026

Marka has a population of 230,100, making it the #6 biggest city in 🇸🇴 Somalia, located in Lower Shabeelle. Roughly 1.1% of Somalia's population lives here. It is about 11× smaller than Mogadishu, the country's biggest city.

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

Population (city proper)

230,100

Rank in Somalia

Coordinates

1.72°N, 44.77°E

~12 m elevation · Africa/Mogadishu

Distance to capital (Mogadishu)

73 km

45 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Lower Shabeelle

City	Population	Rank in Somalia
Afgooye	65,461	#17
Qoryooley	51,720	#22
Wanlaweyn	22,022	#35

Cities near Marka

Qoryooley51,720 people · ~28 km away
Afgooye65,461 people · ~61 km away
Mogadishu2,587,183 people · ~73 km away
Wanlaweyn22,022 people · ~101 km away
Buurhakaba27,792 people · ~143 km away
Jawhar47,086 people · ~143 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Marka?

Marka has a population of 230,100 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #6 biggest city in Somalia.

What region is Marka in?

Marka is located in Lower Shabeelle, Somalia.

Is Marka the capital of Somalia?

No, the capital of Somalia is Mogadishu, about 73 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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