Community
Birmingham (Somali diaspora)
16,971 Birmingham residents gave Somali as their ethnic group in Census 2021 (1.5% of the city), and 10,812 were born in Somalia; the council says the true number is higher because the question was optional.
Who lives there
16,971 Birmingham residents gave Somali as their ethnic group in Census 2021 (1.5% of the city), and 10,812 were born in Somalia; the council says the true number is higher because the question was optional Birmingham City Council health profile. On the wider ONS count, Birmingham holds 11.3% of all Somalis in England and Wales, the largest share outside London ONS. Top wards: Alum Rock 7.8%, Newtown 7.6%, Sparkbrook and Balsall Heath East 7.4%, Bordesley and Highgate 7.2%, Small Heath 7.2%. Only 5% are 65+ Birmingham census infographic.
Work and money
National figures for people born in Somalia: 55% economically active; 26% of Somali women inactive looking after home or family (5% nationally); 23% in elementary jobs and 23% in caring, leisure and service jobs; 12% professional. 72% social renters, 4% owners, 49% of households overcrowded. 33% have no qualifications; 21% of people with Somali-only identity cannot speak English well or at all Birmingham census infographic.
Who serves the community
Birmingham City Council (housing, schools, public health; its Public Health team wrote a Somali health profile, updated 8 April 2024) BCC; West Midlands Combined Authority and Mayor; city MPs; West Midlands Police. No armed-group presence. UK law bans funds to al-Shabaab.
What the community faces now
- Census 2021: about half of Somalia-born households overcrowded; nearly three in four in social housing infographic.
- Census 2021: one in four Somali women outside work caring for home and family; one in five with Somali identity weak in English (same source).
- April 2024: the council still says local Somali data is limited and its full health report lacks 2021 census analysis BCC.
Top needs
- Paid work and skills, especially for women. 2. A trusted, transparent way to send help home. 3. Being counted and recorded properly. 4. English and Somali language for two generations. 5. Youth identity and futures.
Sources
- Birmingham City Council health profile · birmingham.gov.uk
- ONS · ons.gov.uk
- Birmingham census infographic · birmingham.gov.uk
Gathered in our research record “Community profiles”. Wikipedia is used only as a backup.
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