Somali Britons
| Total population | |
|---|---|
|
Somali-born residents 114,000 (2014 ONS estimate) |
|
| Regions with significant populations | |
| London · Liverpool · Cardiff · Birmingham · Bristol · Manchester · Sheffield · Leicester | |
| Languages | |
| Somali · Arabic · Chimwiini · English | |
| Religion | |
| Islam |
Somalis in the United Kingdom include British citizens and residents born in, or with ancestors from, Somalia. It is thought that the United Kingdom (UK) is home to the largest Somali community in Europe, with an estimated 114,000 Somali-born immigrants residing in the UK in 2014 according to the Office for National Statistics. The majority of these live in England, with the largest number found in London. Smaller Somali communities exist in Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, Leicester, 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, and stayed in search of employment. 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.
The Somali community represents one of the largest Muslim groups in the UK. While faced with several social challenges, community members include notable sports figures, filmmakers, activists and local politicians. It has also established business networks and media organisations.
The Somali community in the UK includes British citizens, refugees, asylum seekers, persons granted exceptional leave to remain, irregular migrants, and Somalis who have moved to Britain after being granted refugee status in other European states. Most Somalia-born residents in England and Wales hold a UK passport.
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Wikipedia