Ruqi Population 2026

Ruqi has a population of 148,702, making it the #8 biggest city in 🇸🇴 Somalia, located in Awdal. Roughly 0.7% of Somalia's population lives here. It is about 17× smaller than Mogadishu, the country's biggest city.

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

Population (city proper)

148,702

Rank in Somalia

Coordinates

9.97°N, 43.43°E

~1,113 m elevation · Africa/Mogadishu

Distance to capital (Mogadishu)

907 km

563 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Awdal

City	Population	Rank in Somalia
Borama	597,842	#2
Baki	20,000	#37
Saylac	18,600	#40

Cities near Ruqi

Baki20,000 people · ~10 km away
Borama597,842 people · ~27 km away
Gebiley77,320 people · ~37 km away
Tog Wajaale22,700 people · ~43 km away
Hargeysa477,876 people · ~84 km away
Saylac18,600 people · ~154 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Ruqi?

Ruqi has a population of 148,702 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #8 biggest city in Somalia.

What region is Ruqi in?

Ruqi is located in Awdal, Somalia.

Is Ruqi the capital of Somalia?

No, the capital of Somalia is Mogadishu, about 907 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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