Somalis in Minnesota

The Office of Refugee Services of the Minnesota Department of Human Services estimates that there are 15,000 Somalis in our state, but other sources estimate 17,000­20,000 or more. The Twin Cities area has one of the largest Somali populations in the Western Hemisphere. Somalia is one of the world's poorest countries. Most Somali immigrants are refugees who fled their country's civil war, which began in 1991. Many Somalis were attracted to Minnesota because of good employment and educational opportunities. Others moved to this area because of the growing Somali community or to join relatives living here.