Somalis in the United Kingdom

Somalis in the United Kingdom
Total population
Somali-born residents
109,567 (England, Wales and Northern Ireland, 2021 census)
1,313 (Scotland, 2022 census)
Somali ethnic or national identity
176,645 (England and Wales only, 2021 census)[1]
Regions with significant populations
London · Liverpool · Cardiff · Birmingham · Bristol · Manchester · Sheffield · Leicester
Languages
Majority: Somali and English
Minority: Arabic and Chimwiini
Religion
Predominantly Islam (Sunni and Sufism)
Related ethnic groups
British Ethiopians, British Eritreans and British Sudanese

Somalis in the United Kingdom include British citizens and residents born in or with ancestors from Somalia. The United Kingdom (UK) is home to the largest Somali community in Europe, with 109,567 Somali-born immigrants residing in England, Wales and Northern Ireland at the time of the 2021 census and 1,313 in Scotland at the time of its 2022 census. The majority of these live in England, with the largest number found in London. Smaller Somali communities exist in Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, Liverpool, Leicester, Milton Keynes, Sheffield and Cardiff.

The earliest Somali immigrants in the UK were lascars and merchants who arrived in the 19th century. A second small group of seamen came during the Second World War with the Royal Navy from the British Somaliland (present-day Somaliland). During the 1980s and 1990s, the civil war in Somalia led to a large number of Somali immigrants, comprising the majority of the current Somali population in the UK.

British Somalis are one of the largest Muslim communities in the UK.

Notable British Somalis include notable sports figures, filmmakers, activists and local politicians. They have also established business networks and media organisations.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference ONS Somali populations was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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