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How many Somali immigrants and Somali Americans live in Minnesota as of 2025?
Executive summary
Estimates for the Somali population in Minnesota in 2025 vary widely depending on the source and method: recent U.S. Census–based analyses put the Somali count near 61,000–64,000 (e.g., 61,353 and 64,354) while community or older estimates have ranged much higher, up to about 80,000 [1] [2] [3]. Official American Community Survey (ACS)–based compilations claim roughly 61,353 Somalis in Minnesota and place that as about 1.1% of the state population [1] [4].
1. Census-based picture: “About 61k by ACS estimates”
The most recent ACS-derived compilations cited in the results report Minnesota’s Somali population around 61,353, representing roughly 1.1% of the state’s roughly 5.7 million people; these counts are presented as the latest U.S. Census estimates used by data aggregators [1] [4] [5]. Neilsberg’s October 2025 analysis explicitly lists 61,353 and breaks that down by counties and cities, naming Minneapolis, St. Paul and St. Cloud as leading anchors [1] [4].
2. Alternative aggregator and percentage figures: “64k and 1.12%”
Other demographic aggregators give slightly different point estimates: World Population Review lists Minnesota with 64,354 Somalis and reports that figure as 1.12% of the state population [2] [6]. Zip Atlas and other sites repeat similar percentage figures (1.12%) and state totals in the low‑to‑mid 60,000s [6] [7].
3. Community and historical estimates: “Some say up to ~80k”
Community organizations, historical accounts and some media or local reports have long suggested larger totals. For example, community estimates cited in various places—for instance a community‑oriented post and older local compilations—place the Somali population in Minnesota as high as about 80,000; a Minnesota Historical Society guide also documents much earlier, larger estimates in past years (e.g., an 87,853 figure cited for 2008) [3] [8]. These higher figures reflect broader definitions (including U.S.-born Somali Americans, multigenerational households, and undercounts) and local community knowledge rather than strict ACS sampling alone [3] [8].
4. Why estimates differ: methods, definitions, and undercount risks
Differences come from methodology: ACS and Census datasets rely on survey sampling and self‑identification (counting “people who identified as Somali alone or in combination”), which can undercount immigrants and rapidly changing populations; meanwhile community estimates often aim to include U.S.-born Somali Americans, recent arrivals, and people missed by surveys, producing higher totals [5] [3]. Some sources explicitly note that the ACS is the basis for their ranking and numbers [5], while others stress community-based counts and organizational estimates [3].
5. What’s known about Somali immigrants specifically (foreign‑born vs. ancestry)
Reports distinguish between foreign‑born Somalis and people of Somali ancestry: one statewide business/advocacy summary lists Minnesota’s foreign‑born Somali population at about 36,495 (a 2019‑era snapshot used in 2025 commentary), while ACS-derived totals (61k–64k) generally count people who identify as Somali whether born abroad or in the U.S. [9] [1]. Older national surveys note that in previous decades a substantial share of Somalis in Minnesota were foreign‑born, but available sources do not provide a single 2025 figure that cleanly separates the foreign‑born Somali immigrant count from total Somali ancestry in Minnesota [10] [9].
6. Reconciling the range: practical takeaway for 2025
Based on the provided sources, a defensible headline for 2025 is: Minnesota’s Somali population is commonly reported in the low‑to‑mid 60,000s by ACS/Census‑based aggregators (around 61,353–64,354, ~1.1–1.12% of the state), while community estimates and some historical tallies place the population higher—commonly cited around 80,000—reflecting different definitions and concerns about population undercount [1] [2] [3].
7. Caveats, limitations and how to get a firmer number
All sources note limitations: ACS/Census estimates are subject to sampling error and possible undercounting of immigrant communities, and community counts can lack standardized methodology [5] [3]. For a firmer, traceable 2025 figure you should consult the U.S. Census Bureau’s ACS public tables for the specific year, local demographic offices (e.g., Minnesota demographers), and Somali community organizations that publish population studies—each will show differing definitions [1] [8].
If you want, I can pull the exact ACS table identifiers and county‑level breakdowns cited by Neilsberg or compile a short comparison table of the specific 2025 figures from each aggregator cited above.