How many people should an MP and senator represent in Somalia

[Chaseyourdreamzz]

In you guys opinion how many constituents should a member of parliament represent

I did some calculations and Somalias current population is roughly 18 million with 275 members of parliament each member represents roughly 65k people and with 54 senators each senator represents 333k people

is this threshold to high in you guys opinion ?

 

[Gemstone]

I think it should be around.

• 50 thousand per mp
• 200 thousand per senator

For a population of 18million

• We would have 360 MPs
• With 90 Senators.
• With a total of 450 representatives.

If I'm not mistaken the annual salary of federal representative is 72 thousand USD, we would have a congress costing us tax payers annually 32 400 000 USD. Is it worth the cost? What do you think @Chaseyourdreamzz

Nice round numbers, that's why I believe the amount of representatives should stay fixed for a decade or two. An Increase should only happen after a broad census every 15 years.

 

[Chaseyourdreamzz]

I think it should be around.

• 50 thousand per mp
• 200 thousand per senator

For a population of 18million

• We would have 360 MPs
• With 90 Senators.
• With a total of 450 representatives.

If I'm not mistaken the annual salary of federal representative is 72 thousand USD, we would have a congress costing us tax payers annually 32 400 000 USD. Is it worth the cost? What do you think @Chaseyourdreamzz

Nice round numbers, that's why I believe the amount of representatives should stay fixed for a decade or two. An Increase should only happen after a broad census every 15 years.

Your right I think representation should stay at the current level cost is definitely a factor although we have had the current number of mps for over a decade even if we where to increase mps would it be clan based allocation or district/gobol based allocation ?

 

[Gemstone]

Your right I think representation should stay at the current level cost is definitely a factor although we have had the current number of mps for over a decade even if we where to increase mps would it be clan based allocation or district/gobol based allocation ? That could cause issues

Well I have no preference, I think we should come to an agreement on how the allocation happens. Both have their advantages and setbacks.

But if it is going to be based on clans then we definitely need a system upheaval and creative out of the box thinking. I believe we would atleast need a federal institution demarcating clan boundaries and another conducting the census. Both will be controversial and bound to cause conflict. So another federal institution for mediation would be needed.

District based voting is tried and tested. The only major problems I can think of is, how districts will be demarcated? What is the Criterion for forming a district? What about gerrymandering, how will that be countered?

Do you have any preferences?

 

[𐒋𐒖𐒆𐒔𐒖𐒕𐒈]

Here is a tally for the world parliaments, pay close attention to populous nations i.e. India, China, EU, US, Indonesia, Russia (9).

List of legislatures by number of members - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

World population barometer

Population by Country (2025) - Worldometer

List of countries and dependencies in the world ranked by population, from the most populated. Growth rate, median age, fertility rate, area, density, population density, urbanization, urban population, share of world population.

www.worldometers.info

 

[Gemstone]

Here is a tally for the world parliaments, pay close attention to populous nations i.e. India, China, EU, US, Indonesia, Russia (9).

List of legislatures by number of members - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

World population barometer

Population by Country (2025) - Worldometer

List of countries and dependencies in the world ranked by population, from the most populated. Growth rate, median age, fertility rate, area, density, population density, urbanization, urban population, share of world population.

www.worldometers.info

Indian politics must be a hard nut to crack. 2.6 million votes per seat is a mind-boggling. One person has to drive the interests of 2.6 million people. No wonder China left them in the dust.

I'd say Nordic countries have some of the lowest corruption rates and high accountability. And it seems Nordic countries have around 25-35k ppl per MP. But some had the same number of representatives a century ago. And this was when their population was half of what is now.

Norway 1920

• Population: 2.6 million
• Members of the Parliament: 160
• Per MP: 16 000 ppl

Today

• Population: 5.4 million
• Members of the Parliament: 160
• Per MP: 33 000 ppl

Finland 1920

• Population 3 million
• Members of the Parliament: 200
• Per MP: 15 000 ppl

Today

• Population: 5.5 million
• Members of the Parliament: 200
• Per MP: 27 000 ppl

Denmark 1920

• Population: 3.2 million
• Members of the Parliament: 179
• Per MP: 18 000 ppl

Tiday

• Population : 5.8 million
• Members of the Parliament: 179
• Per MP: 32 000 ppl

@𐒋𐒖𐒆𐒔𐒖𐒕𐒈 do you think we should have more representatives and does it increase accountability?

 

[Gemstone]

Also going through these parliaments I realised they have these splendid archaic names like.

• Denmark's Folketing(peoples thing)
• Norway's Storting(the great thing)
• Sweden's Riksdag(diet of the realm)

The history of these parliaments dates back to 9th century Tribal councils or Folksmoot. It was basically their Xeer. Which made me ponder, should we call our parliament Xeergoleedka hoose iyo Xeergoleedka sare?

 

[𐒋𐒖𐒆𐒔𐒖𐒕𐒈]

Indian politics must be a hard nut to crack. 2.6 million votes per seat is a mind-boggling. One person has to drive the interests of 2.6 million people. No wonder China left them in the dust.

I'd say Nordic countries have some of the lowest corruption rates and high accountability. And it seems Nordic countries have around 25-35k ppl per MP. But some had the same number of representatives a century ago. And this was when their population was half of what is now.

Norway 1920

• Population: 2.6 million
• Members of the Parliament: 160
• Per MP: 16 000 ppl

Today

• Population: 5.4 million
• Members of the Parliament: 160
• Per MP: 33 000 ppl

Finland 1920

• Population 3 million
• Members of the Parliament: 200
• Per MP: 15 000 ppl

Today

• Population: 5.5 million
• Members of the Parliament: 200
• Per MP: 27 000 ppl

Denmark 1920

• Population: 3.2 million
• Members of the Parliament: 179
• Per MP: 18 000 ppl

Tiday

• Population : 5.8 million
• Members of the Parliament: 179
• Per MP: 32 000 ppl

@𐒋𐒖𐒆𐒔𐒖𐒕𐒈 do you think we should have more representatives and does it increase accountability?

In the Federal context, perhaps we want to consider the role of District Councils, which truly represent their respective locals at the District level, the 3rd level of governance whearas MPs at the Federal level are at the 1st ring.

 

[Gemstone]

In the Federal context, perhaps we want to consider the role of District Councils, which truly represent their respective locals at the District level, the 3rd level of governance.

Why? All the said countries do have district level representation, for example Stockholm district has 101 seat municipality counsil. And it is represented by 29 MPs in the Riksdag. Why would we discuss the role of the District Counsils or are you saying we should tie MP allocation to District Counsil seats which are tied to population figures?

 

[𐒋𐒖𐒆𐒔𐒖𐒕𐒈]

Why? All the said countries do have district level representation, for example Stockholm district has 101 seat municipality counsil. And it is represented by 29 MPs in the Riksdag. Why would we discuss the role of the District Counsils or are you saying we should tie MP allocation to District Counsil seats which are tied to population figures?

Because that is where population size and density determine representation, which guide district demarcations whereas MPs at the Federal level is more arbitrary. A good example is Congressional Districts at the State & District levels in the US. Do not you think?

 

[𐒋𐒖𐒆𐒔𐒖𐒕𐒈]

Why would we discuss the role of the District Counsils or are you saying we should tie MP allocation to District Counsil seats which are tied to population figures?

Correct, government functions at three levels with the level, which matters the most being at the District level based upon boundaries, service delivery, societal needs etc all of which are contingent upon population size. Size consideration at the Congressional level, whilst relevant, is less critical.

 

[AbrahamFreedom]

1 per 100,000

So 150 MPs.

Pay them only triple the median income in Somalia.

 

[Gemstone]

Because that is where population size and density determine representation, which guide district demarcations whereas MPs are the Federal level is more arbitrary. A good example is Congressional Districts in the US. Do not you think?

I see 746 571 people per congressional district. Some districts have multiple counties. While other counties have multiple congressional districts. For example Los Angeles county has 10 million people but it has 17 congressional districts. Am I right in the presumption that states decide the responsibilities of the local governments? Does the Federal government have any say how these counties are formed or the services they should provide?

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[Chaseyourdreamzz]

1 per 100,000

So 150 MPs.

Pay them only triple the median income in Somalia.

What about some of the minority tribes who aren’t able to field 100k constituents what’s the solution for them

 

[AbrahamFreedom]

What about some of the minority tribes who aren’t able to field 100k constituents what’s the solution for them

Unelected senate that approves bills passed by Parliament. All senators must be from minority and persecuted clans.