Expert 1:1 Care

Individual Therapy for Somalia, Delivered Online in English.

Grouport connects adults across Somalia with licensed therapists for private, one-on-one weekly video sessions starting this week. With roughly 3 mental health workers per 100,000 people and no functioning national insurance scheme, most Somalis have no realistic pathway to sustained talk therapy inside the country. Individual therapy in Somalia through Grouport removes that barrier: 45 minute sessions over HIPAA-compliant video with a matched clinician, priced at $103 per session weekly ($448 per month) or $224 per month for every-other-week. Whether you are in Mogadishu, Hargeisa, Garowe, or a smaller regional town, online therapy Somalia clients can start now means no queue, no travel to a distant capital-city clinic, and continuity with the same therapist across the full course of care.

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Mental Health Access in Somalia by the Numbers.

Understanding the landscape of mental health care access and the challenges
residents face.

Mental Illness Prevalence

11.5% of Somali adults live with a mental health condition each year, reflecting the ongoing need for accessible therapy options.

Wait Time

16 weeks the average wait to secure a first mental health appointment in Somalia's public system, an interval during which symptoms often deepen.

Median Household Income

$1,620 median household income in Somalia, shaping what households can allocate to private mental health care.

Percentage Who Need Therapy

92.0% of Somali adults with a mental health condition do not receive formal specialist treatment.

Provider Shortage

94% of Somalia's mental health workforce falls short of what is needed to fully meet population demand for specialist care.

Mental Health Providers per 100k Residents

3.16 per 100,000 mental health workers in Somalia, a density that shapes availability, wait times, and access across the country.

The numbers behind Somalia's mental health picture argue for exactly the model Grouport delivers. A workforce of roughly 3 mental health workers per 100,000 people is among the lowest ratios in the world, and a widely cited WHO estimate holds that about one in three Somalis has been affected by some form of mental health condition, tied to prolonged conflict, drought, displacement, and khat use. With formal care concentrated in a handful of urban facilities, no functioning national insurance, and average waits on the order of 16 weeks, most affected adults never reach sustained one-on-one therapy. Grouport's one-on-one weekly video model, licensed clinicians, immediate start, and USD subscription pricing are built to close exactly that gap for Somalia.

UNDERSTANDING THE CHALLENGE

Why Somalia's Mental Health System Leaves Gaps.

The Problem

Somalia's formal mental health infrastructure was heavily damaged during the civil war and has never fully rebuilt. Figures put the total mental health workforce at 3.16 per 100,000 people, which translates to fewer than 550 workers of any kind (psychiatrists, psychologists, mental health nurses, social workers combined) for a population above 17 million. Facilities are concentrated in Mogadishu, Hargeisa, and a handful of regional capitals, leaving the majority of the country's 18 official regions without a resident mental health professional.

The Impact

For a working adult in Mogadishu or Hargeisa, Somalia's access gap translates into months of untreated anxiety, depression, or trauma symptoms while daily responsibilities continue. A 16-week wait for formal care means missed work days, strained family relationships, and worsening sleep and concentration through an entire quarter. With roughly 3 mental health workers per 100,000 people, even reaching that queue often requires travel to a capital-city ward, taking a full day away from a job or business. A widely cited WHO estimate holds that about one in three Somalis is affected by some form of mental health condition, yet most never see a licensed clinician. Grouport removes that friction: a Somalia client can complete a short intake today, be matched right away, and start weekly sessions with the same licensed therapist this week.

The Solution

Somalia's formal mental health system is concentrated in a handful of public psychiatric wards and NGO-funded clinics, and it is structured almost entirely around inpatient care, medication, and short crisis contact. Ongoing weekly one-on-one therapy in a private, confidential setting is rarely available, and stigma discourages many adults from being seen entering a ward. Grouport eases those pressures by delivering online individual therapy directly to a phone or laptop at home. Each Somalia client is matched with a licensed clinician who becomes their consistent point of contact week after week, so the work builds on itself instead of restarting with a new provider each visit. Sessions are private, take place from anywhere with an internet connection, and follow a tailored treatment plan rather than a generic protocol.

94% of Somalia's mental health workforce falls short of what is needed to fully meet population demand for specialist care.

Grouport loosens three specific frictions that keep Somali adults out of care. First, the queue: instead of waiting the roughly 16 weeks that formal mental health contact often requires when it is available at all, Grouport clients are matched with a licensed therapist and can book a first session this week. Second, geography: with specialists concentrated in Mogadishu, Hargeisa, Berbera, and Bosaso, people in pastoralist regions and secondary cities have effectively no in-country option, and Grouport reaches any location in Somalia with a stable internet connection. Third, the English-fluent professional segment in Mogadishu, Hargeisa, and Garowe: diaspora returnees, NGO and UN staff, university students, and business professionals often prefer an English-language clinical setting that Somalia's small local workforce cannot reliably provide.

Access and Availability of Care in Somalia.

Somalia's formal mental health care is delivered primarily through a small number of public psychiatric wards in Mogadishu, Hargeisa, Berbera, and Bosaso, alongside NGO- and diaspora-funded clinics and the WHO-supported mhGAP integration into primary care. There is no functioning national health insurance scheme, so almost everything is paid out-of-pocket or subsidized by donors. Private practice is minimal, employer assistance programs are rare outside international organizations, and university counseling is limited to a handful of institutions. Grouport fills the missing layer: licensed one-on-one weekly video therapy in English, available right away to any Somalia resident with an internet connection, at a transparent USD subscription rate rather than an unpredictable per-visit charge in a strained public facility.

Geographic Barriers

Care concentration in Somalia is stark. The country's small pool of psychiatrists and mental health workers sits in Mogadishu and a handful of regional capitals such as Hargeisa, Berbera, Bosaso, and Garowe, while roughly 45 percent of the population lives in rural and pastoralist areas that have no realistic access to formal mental health services. For someone in a smaller regional town or a nomadic community, reaching a licensed clinician can mean days of travel over difficult roads at real cost and personal risk. National online reach matters here in a way it does not in more evenly served countries. Grouport delivers the same licensed therapist and the same 45 minute session to a client in Mogadishu, Hargeisa, or a remote district, as long as they can get online.

Extended Wait Times

Even where formal mental health services exist in Somalia, throughput is severely limited by a workforce of roughly 3 mental health workers per 100,000 people. When contact is available, an adult seeking non-crisis talk therapy can wait on the order of 16 weeks before an initial appointment, if any consistent option surfaces at all. For a working parent or a returnee professional dealing with anxiety, depression, or grief, that is nearly four months of daily impairment before care begins. Instead of waiting 16 weeks for an uncertain slot at a capital-city facility, a Grouport client in Somalia can complete intake today, be matched with a licensed clinician right away, and hold a first 45 minute session on HIPAA-compliant video this week.

Systemic Challenges

Somalia's mental health system carries several structural challenges that Grouport is designed to work around. The clinical workforce is one of the smallest in the world relative to population, and training pipelines for psychologists and social workers are extremely limited. There is no national health insurance scheme, so care is either paid out-of-pocket at variable rates or subsidized by NGOs on donor-dependent budgets. Stigma remains a significant barrier, with Human Rights Watch and WHO documenting chaining and physical restraint of people with mental illness in both homes and some facilities, reflecting severe unmet need. Grouport bypasses these constraints by delivering licensed care from outside the domestic workforce, at a predictable USD subscription rate, in a private home setting where no one has to be seen entering a ward.

Urban-Rural Divide

Even within Mogadishu, access to mental health care is uneven, and outside the capital and a few regional hubs it thins out quickly. Roughly 54.6 percent of Somalis live in urban areas, but psychiatric and psychological services cluster in a very small number of facilities in Mogadishu, Hargeisa, Berbera, Bosaso, and Garowe. Adults in secondary cities, small towns, and pastoralist regions have almost no in-country option for weekly one-on-one therapy. Grouport equalizes access: a client in central Mogadishu and a client in a remote district receive the same licensed clinician, the same 45 minute session, and the same weekly continuity, provided they can connect to the internet on a phone or laptop.

For Somali adults ready to start talk therapy now, Grouport is a direct, sustainable path. There is no waitlist and no travel to a distant ward: intake takes minutes, matching happens right away, and a licensed clinician can hold a first 45 minute session this week over HIPAA-compliant video. Pricing is transparent and denominated in USD at $103 per session weekly ($448 per month) or $224 per month for every-other-week, so a Somalia client can plan a full course of care month by month rather than negotiating unpredictable per-visit fees. Sessions are private, confidential, and delivered by the same therapist week after week, which is exactly the continuity that Somalia's fragmented formal system rarely provides.

Cost and Value of Individual Therapy for Somalia.

Grouport gives Somalia residents immediate access to individual therapy at $103 per session on average (billed at $448 per month), 50 to 60 percent below the global average of $150 to $250 per session for licensed one-on-one talk therapy. The every-other-week option runs $224 per month for adults who prefer a lighter cadence. Both are paid as a predictable monthly USD subscription rather than a variable per-visit fee, which is particularly useful in a country where private mental health care is almost entirely out-of-pocket and pricing is often opaque.

Affordability and Income

Somalia is classified as a low-income country, with GNI per capita of about $620 (Atlas) and roughly $1,640 in purchasing-power terms, so any therapy spend is a real household decision. Grouport's model is built to be planable across a full course of care: a weekly subscription of $448 per month or an every-other-week subscription of $224 per month is set in USD, billed monthly, and covers 45 minute sessions with the same licensed clinician. For urban professional households in Mogadishu, Hargeisa, and Garowe, remittance-supported families, and diaspora returnees earning in USD or foreign currencies, that predictability is often the difference between starting therapy and postponing it indefinitely.

Hidden Cost and Barriers

In-person care in Somalia carries costs that do not appear on a session receipt. Reaching a licensed clinician often means travel from a secondary city or rural district to Mogadishu, Hargeisa, Berbera, Bosaso, or Garowe, with transport, accommodation, and lost work hours attached. Even inside the capital, congestion and security considerations can turn a single appointment into a half-day commitment. Per-visit billing at private clinics is unpredictable, and finding a licensed English-speaking clinician with weekly availability is itself a significant search. Grouport removes those layers: one predictable USD subscription, sessions from home or office over HIPAA-compliant video, and the option to cancel anytime. There is no commute, no daily rate at a hotel near a ward, and no currency conversion surprise at the point of care.

Immediate Availability

Where Somalia's formal system often means a 16-week wait for a non-crisis appointment, Grouport is designed for immediate start. Intake is a short online questionnaire, matching to a licensed clinician happens right away, and the first 45 minute session can be scheduled within the same week. For Somalia clients ready to start now, a licensed Grouport therapist is available this week over HIPAA-compliant video, with the same therapist held for weekly continuity across the full course of care.

How it Works

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Explore Virtual Mental Health Services

With plans tailored to you, it's easy to choose the right mental health care plan. Simply sign up today!

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Personalized match

We’ll get in touch with you to get brief context to make sure we match you with the therapist that best fits your needs & schedule. (Typically match in 24-72 hours)

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Start Online Therapy

Meet weekly with a licensed mental health professional for 45-minute video sessions. With consistent online therapy services, you can start seeing meaningful results.

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Mental Health Conditions We Treat in

Somalia

Beyond individual therapy, Grouport offers licensed therapists who specialize across the full spectrum of mental health needs and evidence-based approaches. Whatever you're looking for, we have a therapist for your needs.

Meaningful Results

Check out how our online therapy services have helped our members see life-changing results

Stephanie

“Grouport is time flexible and affordable and if it didn’t exist, I don’t know where I would go. I had looked into other places before Grouport and there really wasn’t any option like it.”

Michael

“I highly recommend this to anyone who is struggling with anxiety or depression. The therapists are top notch and have made me feel really comfortable and my anxiety has improved tremendously in only a few sessions!”

Isabel

"I joined Grouport to work on myself and to heal. I’m learning so much at every session! The change I see not only in myself but in my fellow group members is abundantly encouraging and profoundly fulfilling. Group therapy with Grouport is a powerful healing tool."

Sheldon

“I was feeling very down at the end of 2020 and I was ready to do something drastic that I know I'd likely regret. The group definitely helped show me that there are people who feel the same way as I do.”

Nancy

“The therapy from Grouport is high quality and convenient. I am becoming much more self aware and am liking myself more. My relationships at work are better and I’m much happier.”

Emily

“I like the connection you can make with total strangers and the confidentiality it comes with.”

Olivia

“My weekly group helps me get through the week. Best experience ever!”

Danielle

"Grouport can help you with your issues. Their therapists are well trained to work with you on your issues. I felt my anxiety greatly improve after only a few sessions. I highly recommend it!"

Glenn

"Grouport's approach to DBT is a real strength. This approach provides tools and methods for working with difficult emotions and getting a handle on them. It has given me hope where other approaches have failed."

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Meet Our Therapists

Our therapists represent a wide range of clinical specialties & diverse backgrounds. They all undergo the most stringent credentialing process. Grouport therapists are caring, expert mental health professionals with years of experience helping people get the tools they need to see long-lasting change.

Grouport's clinical team is made up of licensed psychologists, LCSWs, LMFTs, LMHCs, LPCs, PsyDs, and PhDs, each credentialed in the jurisdiction where they practice. Sessions with Somalia clients are conducted in English, which suits diaspora returnees, NGO and UN staff, university students, and business professionals who are comfortable with an English-language clinical setting. Grouport clinicians work with clients from many countries and cultural backgrounds and are experienced meeting each client where they are, without assumptions about religion, family structure, or life history. All sessions are HIPAA-compliant and fully confidential.

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Affordable Individual Therapy & Care Options in Somalia.

Group, individual, couples, family, IOP, and teen therapy — all online, all therapist-led. Mix and match care options to fit your needs — and get discounted pricing when you bundle.

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Individual Therapy

$112/session
billed at $448/month

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Group Therapy

$35/session
billed at $140/month

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Partnership

Couples Therapy

$123/session
billed at $492/month

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Family Therapy

$160/session
billed at $640/month

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IOP Therapy

$337/week
billed at $1,348/month

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Teen Therapy

$112/session
billed at $448/month

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Common Questions from Somalia Members.

Can you prescribe medication?

No, Grouport therapists cannot prescribe medication as they are licensed therapists (LCSW, LMFT, LMHC, PhD, PsyD, LPC), who are focused on psychological care only and are not psychiatrists or medical doctors. However, many clients see both a therapist and a prescriber (psychiatrist, psychiatric nurse practitioner, or primary care doctor) for combined treatment - research shows therapy plus medication is often an effective combination for conditions like depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. Your therapist can coordinate care with your prescriber if you're taking medication, and can help you find a prescriber if needed. We focus on the therapy component of your mental health care whether online group therapy, online individual therapy, online couples therapy, online family therapy, online teen therapy, or virtual intensive outpatient program (IOP).

Do you treat children or only adults?

Grouport serves teens/adolescents (ages 11+), adults, couples, and families. Our teen therapy program consists of group therapy, individual therapy, and family therapy, or a combination based on what’s appropriate and the level of care your teen needs. So teens often combine group therapy + individual therapy at the level that meets their needs or they do our intensive outpatient program for more acute needs.

Can therapy help with relationship issues?

Yes, therapy is highly effective for relationship issues or for navigating the lack of relationships or desire to build more meaningful relationships. Our couples therapy helps partners improve communication, resolve conflicts, rebuild trust, navigate life transitions, and strengthen their connection. Family therapy addresses parent-child conflicts, sibling issues, blended family challenges, and communication breakdowns. Even individual therapy can significantly improve relationships by helping you understand patterns, set boundaries, communicate effectively, and address personal issues affecting your relationships. Our relationship issues groups, focus on navigating the challenges in relationships, specific relationships you’d like to personally focus on, or navigating the lack of relationships and the desire to strengthen certain relationships. We also provide couples groups where couples can work in a therapist-led group setting with other couples to navigate couples dynamics together. Many clients find that relationship issues improve relatively quickly once they learn and practice new communication skills with therapeutic support.

Can individual therapy address trauma?

Absolutely, we have specific individual sessions geared to Trauma & PTSD. So for trauma we would recommend a trauma group. We also find that Dialectical Behavior Therapy “DBT” individual sessions are often also helpful for trauma & PTSD. The shared experience among trauma survivors is healing and realizing you're not alone in what happened or how it affected you is essential for progress. Trauma individual sessions are usually structured carefully so that you can process trauma effectively, and they can include specific trauma techniques like EMDR or rooted in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

What if I feel worse after therapy sessions?

Temporary discomfort after group can happen, especially initially or after intense sessions. Sometimes processing difficult stuff is uncomfortable initially. Emotions can get elevated. If you consistently feel worse, discuss with the group therapist, perhaps they can adjust the approach, or you may need additional individual support which we can help you with, or assess whether this group is the right fit. Most people find initial discomfort decreases as individual sessions become familiar. The goal is growth through challenge and the therapist monitors carefully to ensure group is therapeutic and not harmful. Therapy shouldn't leave you consistently feeling worse, but sometimes hard work is in fact a sign of healing and it can come before you feel better.

Can I be in multiple therapy individual sessions simultaneously?

Absolutely, it’s common that people are partaking in multiple therapy individual sessions at once. This can be if they want to work on different things as different individual sessions can focus on different areas, or they want to have extra focus on important relevant skills, or they want to benefit from different therapist approaches, or they need more intensive care. It’s common that people are doing 2-4 individual sessions per week and if they need something more intensive, our IOP can be helpful since it includes 9 individual sessions per week. It’s totally based on what feels right for you, so trust your gut. You can always increase the amount of individual sessions you’re doing or decrease at any time.

Can I leave a therapy if it's not working for me?

Yes, but planned endings benefit both you and the group. If the group isn't helping after 6-8 sessions, discuss concerns with the therapist first as well as a care coordinator and sometimes the therapist can ultimately make adjustments that will result in a major difference for you. If you're certain the group isn't the right fit, you can always switch individual sessions as fit is important and dictates the quality of your experience in group. This is why we provide the flexibility to switch individual sessions at any time, and our care coordinators will work with you to make sure you’re satisfied with whichever group fit you’re in.

How do time zones work for international clients?

Our therapists are located all over the world and work various hours to accommodate different time zones. Depending on where you live, sessions might be in your morning, afternoon, evening, or night. We'll work with you to find times that fit your schedule and our therapists' availability.

Does Grouport accept international insurance?

We don't directly accept insurance from any country currently. You pay out-of-pocket and can request a receipt to submit to your insurance if they offer reimbursement for mental health services. Coverage varies widely by country and insurance provider so you’d have to check with them about reimbursement.

Can student loans be used for therapy?

Student loans are for educational expenses. Therapy isn't typically covered unless it's required as part of your degree program. Using student loan money for therapy (if not program-required) might violate loan terms.

What should I expect during my first Grouport session from Mogadishu or Hargeisa?

Before your first session, you'll receive a HIPAA-secure video link that opens in any modern browser on a laptop or phone, so no clinic visit is needed anywhere in Somalia. Log in from a private room with stable Wi-Fi or mobile data, and you'll meet a licensed therapist plus one-on-one members. The therapist opens with grounding and confidentiality norms, then invites brief introductions. You listen as much as you like, share when ready, and leave with a small practice for the week. Weekly sessions cost $32, and you can join right away.

Are Grouport sessions available on weekends or after work hours in East Africa Time?

Yes. Somalia sits in East Africa Time (UTC+3) year-round, and Grouport runs weekly one-on-ones across evenings and weekends that map cleanly to your local schedule. Professionals in Mogadishu, Garowe, or Bosaso can pick a slot after the workday, and returnees balancing family obligations often prefer Saturday or Sunday groups. Each group meets at the same weekly time with the same licensed therapist and one-on-one members, giving you a consistent, private hour at home for $103 per session. You can join right away.

Where Grouport Serves in Somalia.

Regions

Grouport serves members across all 18 administrative regions of Somalia, including Banadir, Woqooyi Galbeed, Bari, Nugaal, Mudug, Galguduud, Hiraan, Middle Shabelle, Lower Shabelle, Bay, Bakool, Gedo, Middle Juba, Lower Juba, Awdal, Togdheer, Sanaag, and Sool.

Cities

Members join from Mogadishu, Hargeisa, Bosaso, Kismayo, Baidoa, Garowe, Berbera, Beledweyne, Jowhar, Merca, Burao, Galkayo, Afgooye, Borama, Erigavo, Las Anod, and smaller towns across the interior and coast.

Zip Codes

Grouport serves all zip codes across Somalia. If you have an address in Somalia, Grouport can serve you regardless of your zip code.

Online Individual Therapy Available Worldwide

Grouport offers online individual therapy available globally for people in 200+ countries. Find a licensed therapist that fits your needs for weekly one-on-one sessions.

Afghanistan Aland Islands Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil British Virgin Islands Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Colombia Comoros Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Curacao Cyprus Czech Republic Côte d'Ivoire Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands Netherlands Antilles New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Macedonia Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestine Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Republic of the Congo Reunion Romania Russia Rwanda Saint Barthélemy Saint Helena Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Sint Maarten Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu U.S. Virgin Islands Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Vatican City Venezuela Vietnam Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe
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