Which U.S. states and metropolitan areas have the largest Somali populations in 2025?
Executive summary
Minnesota is consistently reported as the U.S. state with the largest Somali population (World Population Review and multiple analyses show Minnesota at about 61,000–64,000 Somali residents in recent estimates) [1] [2]. Major metropolitan hubs cited across sources are the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metro (largest Somali diaspora in the U.S.), Columbus, Ohio, and the Seattle/Tacoma area — with community and census-based estimates placing those three metros at the top of national lists [3] [4] [5].
1. Minnesota dominates the state rankings — and the Twin Cities are the central hub
Reporting across demographic sites and local histories places Minnesota first: World Population Review lists Minnesota with roughly 64,354 Somalis and other compilations place the state in the low‑60,000s [1] [2]. Local history and health profiles emphasize that the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area contains the densest concentration of Somali residents in the U.S.; Hennepin and Ramsey counties are repeatedly named as core counties for the community [3] [6] [7].
2. Columbus, Ohio, and Seattle rank as top metropolitan hubs
Multiple sources identify Columbus, Ohio, and the Seattle area as among the next-largest Somali population centers after the Twin Cities. ZipAtlas and other city-level listings put Columbus high on city rankings (ZipAtlas names Columbus as the largest city community in a city-by-city list), and Joshua Project and public‑health profiles list Columbus and Seattle alongside Minneapolis as primary U.S. Somali metro areas [4] [5] [7].
3. Statewide snapshots vary by data source and definition
Different compilations use different definitions — “Somali alone,” “Somali alone or in combination,” or community estimates — producing divergent totals. For example, Neilsberg’s summary cites a U.S. Somali total of about 163,769 with Minnesota ~61,353, while World Population Review reports Minnesota higher at ~64,354 [2] [1]. These methodological differences explain much of the variation among state rankings.
4. National totals are contested; community estimates exceed census counts
Public and private tallies diverge widely: some sources aggregate U.S. Somali ancestry or birthplace data into six‑figure totals (ranging in cited sources from roughly 116,000 up to community estimates near 200,000 or more), while organizations such as Joshua Project present even larger figures [1] [8] [5]. Census and American Community Survey (ACS) limits — including undercounting of refugee and immigrant communities — mean community leaders and advocacy groups often report higher numbers than official datasets [9].
5. Historical context explains geographic patterns
The concentration in Minnesota and growth of Columbus and Seattle trace to refugee resettlement patterns from the 1990s onward; many Somalis arrived via refugee agencies, chain migration, and secondary migration to established diasporic communities [3] [10]. State health and historical guides document that Minnesota’s Somali community grew rapidly after the Somali civil war and has since built dense social, religious and economic networks that attract newcomers [10] [7].
6. What the sources don’t settle — and why caution is required
Available sources do not provide a single definitive 2025 federal census total broken out identically across all states and metros; rather, numbers depend on year, dataset (ACS vs. local estimates), and whether “Somali ancestry,” “Somalia‑born,” or mixed‑race categories are counted [2] [1]. Community leaders’ higher estimates and third‑party aggregators (e.g., Joshua Project, local NGOs) signal likely undercounts in official surveys, but those higher figures are not uniformly documented by the cited data sources [5] [9].
7. Competing narratives: numbers, policy and politics
Data about Somali populations are being used in competing political narratives. Journalists and public‑health reports highlight Minnesota’s central role and the community’s civic and economic contributions [3] [7], while recent political coverage shows Somali population figures invoked in federal immigration debates and policy moves that target Somali‑origin statuses [11]. Readers should note advocacy organizations, local governments and political outlets may emphasize different totals depending on their aims [11] [12].
8. Practical takeaway and where to look next
For a concise, source‑backed answer: Minnesota (Minneapolis–Saint Paul metro) is the largest Somali population center, followed by Columbus, Ohio, and Seattle; state totals cluster in the 60k range for Minnesota in several datasets, but national totals and rankings shift by methodology [1] [2] [4] [3]. To refine estimates for a specific metro or policy question, consult the ACS “place of birth” and “ancestry” tables, local public‑health or immigrant‑services reports, and community organizations that publish their own counts (available sources list these types but do not provide a single reconciled 2025 federal table) [2] [7].