Which Minnesota counties have the highest Somali-born population in 2025 according to ACS and state data?
This fact-check may be outdated. Consider refreshing it to get the most current information.
Executive summary
ACS-based county estimates for 2025 show Hennepin County by far the largest Somali‑born/Somali‑descent community in Minnesota, with other leading counties — Ramsey, Dakota and Anoka — trailing by wide margins; one county-level ACS compilation lists Hennepin at 28,053, Ramsey 7,847 and Dakota 4,901 (Neilsberg’s county ranking) [1]. Statewide ACS tallies vary across outlets: Neilsberg and World Population Review cite statewide Somali totals around 61,000–64,000 from ACS-derived estimates while local reporting and media summaries using Census Bureau products report about 107,000–108,000 people of Somali descent in Minnesota [1] [2] [3] [4].
1. Hennepin dominates county rankings — ACS county table and how it was reported
County‑level ACS summaries assembled by Neilsberg rank Hennepin County first with 28,053 people identified as Somali, followed by Ramsey , Dakota and Anoka in lesser numbers; that Neilsberg breakdown is presented as a direct tabulation of the latest ACS county estimates [1]. Neilsberg’s methodology note and its county list make clear these are ACS‑based estimates, which are sample-driven and can differ from other state or media tallies [1].
2. Conflicting statewide totals: ACS compilations vs. media and other sources
Multiple sources draw different statewide conclusions from Census products. Neilsberg and World Population Review report Minnesota Somali totals in the low 60,000s (Neilsberg: 61,353; World Population Review: 64,354), reflecting specific ACS measures and definitions [1] [2]. By contrast, Minnesota local media and aggregation of Census Bureau releases report roughly 107,000–108,000 people “of Somali descent” statewide — a larger figure that likely incorporates ancestry, place‑of‑birth, language‑at‑home and broader descent measures rather than a narrow foreign‑born count [3] [4].
3. Why the numbers diverge: definitions, geography and sampling matter
Available sources show that different products capture different populations: ACS sample estimates can be presented as Somali‑born, Somali ancestry, or people who speak Somali at home; Neilsberg’s county table uses a specific ACS construct that yields ~61k statewide while media summaries citing Census Bureau ancestry or descent tables present ~107–108k [1] [3] [4]. The difference reflects definitional choices (foreign‑born vs. ancestry/descent vs. language) and sampling variability inherent to the ACS [1].
4. Citizenship and nativity context tied to ACS reporting
ACS analyses cited by Minnesota Reformer and others emphasize that a majority of people of Somali descent in Minnesota are U.S. citizens and an increasing share are U.S.‑born; the ACS estimate used in that reporting put non‑citizen Somalis in Minnesota at roughly 5,000 and shows rising U.S.‑born shares over recent decades [5]. Those nativity and citizenship breakdowns are part of why some outlets focus on “people of Somali descent” rather than only Somali‑born counts [5].
5. How to interpret county rankings for policy and reporting
For county‑level planning or reporting, the Neilsberg ACS county ranking (Hennepin, Ramsey, Dakota, etc.) gives a specific, reproducible snapshot of where ACS assigns Somali population concentrations — useful for services tied to county geography — but it is only one lens among several Census products [1]. Local narratives and statewide totals that cite ~107k reflect broader ancestry definitions and suggest a much larger community footprint across Minnesota [3] [4].
6. What reporting does not settle — limits of current sources
Available sources do not mention a single authoritative 2025 county list jointly endorsed by the state demographer and Census Bureau that reconciles these discrepant totals; they also do not provide ACS margins of error for each county figure in Neilsberg’s table within the snippets provided, which matters for smaller counties [1]. The precise ranking beyond the top few counties can shift depending on which ACS variable (ancestry, birthplace, language, or self‑identified race/ethnicity) is used [1] [3] [4].
7. Bottom line for your question
If you want a direct ACS county ranking for 2025, use the Neilsberg county listing that places Hennepin first , then Ramsey , Dakota , with other counties trailing — all drawn from ACS county estimates [1]. If you prefer the broader “people of Somali descent” frame used in local press and some Census summaries, expect a much larger statewide total (≈107,000–108,000) concentrated primarily in the Twin Cities metro — especially Hennepin County [3] [4].
Sources cited: Neilsberg county ACS compilation [1]; local media/Census summaries and state reporting [3] [4]; Minnesota Reformer citizenship/ACS context [5]; World Population Review statewide ACA summary [2].