Columbus, Ohio (Somali community)

The US Census Bureau's 2020–2024 survey counted about 25,200 people of Somali ancestry in the city of Columbus and 27,700 in its metro area (US Census Bureau, ACS 2020–2024, B04006). It is the second-largest Somali community in the United States, and local estimates run to 70,000 (WOSU, December 2025).

How many Somalis live in Columbus?

The American Community Survey (ACS) for 2020–2024 counted 25,156 people of Somali ancestry in the city of Columbus, with a margin of error of about 2,970 (US Census Bureau, B04006). It counted 26,915 in Franklin County, 27,700 in the Columbus metro area and 28,515 in all of Ohio (US Census Bureau, B04006). Nearly all of Ohio's Somali community lives in and around Columbus.

By place of birth, 13,032 people in the Columbus metro area were born in Somalia (US Census Bureau, ACS 2020–2024, B05006). The rest were born in the United States or in other countries. In 2024, the Census Bureau's detailed race count found 30,996 Somali people in Ohio (US Census Bureau, ACS 2024, B02025).

Local estimates are much higher. WOSU reported an estimated 70,000 in December 2025, without naming a source (WOSU). The city's visitor bureau put the figure at "some 60,000" in 2018 (Experience Columbus).

The gap is old. In 2009, census data put Columbus's Somali population at about 7,000, while local leaders said it was "far higher" (MPR News, October 2009). Surveys count people who answer them and name Somali ancestry; community groups count the families they serve.

How did Somalis come to Columbus?

Very few Somalis lived in the United States before the war: about 2,500 in 1990 (Pew Research Center, 2016). The US admitted more than 90,000 Somali refugees between 2001 and 2015 (Pew Research Center).

Columbus's community grew quickly in the mid-to-late 1990s, according to the Somali Community Association of Ohio (WOSU, August 2003). By 2003, local estimates already put it at 20,000 or more (WOSU, 2003).

The first Somali shops in the International Mall off Cleveland Avenue opened in 2000 (WOSU, June 2007). In 2007, Somali buyers paid $1.3 million for the building, which had about 50 kiosks for rent (WOSU, 2007).

Work and business

Somali businesses helped revive the Northland area after Northland Mall closed in 2002 (Voice of America, September 2017). A group of Somali refugees opened the Global Mall five blocks from the old mall, and the Jubba Value Center holds more small Somali shops (VOA, 2017). A Somali travel agent on Morse Road said his business fell sharply after the June 2017 US travel order (VOA).

From 2007 to 2012, immigrant business ownership in Columbus rose 41.5%, while native-born ownership fell 1.2% (VOA, 2017). A city official said refugees of all origins had opened more than 900 businesses employing over 23,000 people (VOA).

In 2018 the visitor bureau counted more than 500 independent Somali-owned businesses and over 15 Somali restaurants (Experience Columbus). Somali owners also run home health care, child care and transport businesses across Central Ohio (WOSU, July 2026).

Money sent home is a lifeline for families. Somalis abroad sent home US$3,134 million in 2025, about 24% of Somalia's GDP (Central Bank of Somalia, Annual Report 2025). From 1 January 2026, a 1% US federal tax applies to cash sent abroad (Minnesota Reformer, March 2026).

Who speaks for the community?

Ismail Mohamed (House District 3) and Munira Abdullahi joined the 135th General Assembly in 2023 as the first Somali Americans in Ohio's legislature (Ohio House). Mohamed came to Central Ohio from Somalia as a child, went to Northland High School and Ohio State, and was the first Somali American attorney to practise in Ohio (Ohio House). Both ran in 2022 among a group of Somali American candidates for the Statehouse (Spectrum News 1, September 2022).

Both issued statements in December 2025 condemning the US president's remarks about Somalis (Ohio House, 4 December 2025; Ohio House, 5 December 2025). Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin also publicly rejected the remarks (WOSU, December 2025).

Community groups at a City Hall gathering on 6 December 2025 included the Greater Somali Community and United Somali Roots (Spectrum News 1, December 2025). The Somali Community Association of Ohio on Cleveland Avenue has served elders with daily meals and Somali-language news (WOSU, 2003). Our Helpers, a Columbus non-profit, hosted the Somali Culture Festival in 2018 (Experience Columbus).

What does the community face now?

Harsh words, and a city's reply. In early December 2025, the US president called Somali immigrants "garbage" at a cabinet meeting (Spectrum News 1). Somali families in Columbus said children were repeating those words to Somali classmates (Spectrum News 1). City leaders urged residents to support Somali businesses and report harassment (Spectrum News 1).

Fraud claims and harassment. In 2026, online influencers made unproven claims of "rampant fraud" at Somali-owned businesses in Columbus (WOSU, July 2026). Owners said harassment continued months later, and Governor Mike DeWine pushed back on the claims (WOSU). By July 2026, 14 people in Ohio had been charged with Medicaid fraud in the federal campaign, totalling about $50 million (WOSU).

The end of Temporary Protected Status. Somalia was first designated for TPS on 16 September 1991, and the termination notice was published on 14 January 2026 (USCIS). After court delays, the termination took effect on 14 August 2026 (USCIS). About 700 Somalis nationwide held TPS, and an appeal has been filed (MPR News, August 2026). A state legislator told WOSU that most Somali residents are naturalised citizens (WOSU, December 2025).

How is Columbus tied to home?

In October 2009, President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed visited Columbus and met Ohio's governor (MPR News, 2009). About 1,000 people filled a banquet hall for his evening forum, and at least 100 more could not get in (MPR News).

In 2013, the Somali Community Association said 54 people from Columbus had returned to Mogadishu to help rebuild (WOSU, June 2013). One returnee worked with the new federal government (WOSU, 2013). A Columbus community radio station broadcasts Somali-language programmes heard in other US cities (WOSU, 2013).

Across the United States, UNHCR counted 1,355 refugees and 3,945 asylum seekers from Somalia at the end of 2024 (UNHCR Refugee Data Finder). For other US cities, see Other US Somali communities.

What else has been reported?

• Community estimate: the Somali Community Access Network (SomaliCAN) puts the number of Somali Americans in Central Ohio at more than 45,000 (Ohio immigration policy brief citing SomaliCAN). Columbus Public Health also cites an estimated 45,000 Somalis in the area (City of Columbus, Minority Health), and WOSU reported the same figure in 2016 (WOSU, 2016). None gives a method, and the figure is well above the census count.

Related pages

• Other US Somali communities
• Minneapolis–St Paul
• Why and how Somalis left
• Migration routes
• Refugee camps
• Refugee papers and status
• Life after leaving
• Somali refugees by the numbers

Sources

1. US Census Bureau. American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, Table B04006 "People Reporting Ancestry" (Somali). data.census.gov. Checked 2026-11-12.
2. US Census Bureau. American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, Table B05006 "Place of Birth for the Foreign-Born Population" (Somalia). data.census.gov. Checked 2026-11-12.
3. US Census Bureau. American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, Table B02025 (Somali, alone or in any combination). data.census.gov. Checked 2026-11-12.
4. Katie Geniusz, WOSU Public Media. "City Council President Hardin rebukes Trump's racist comments against Somali community." 5 December 2025. wosu.org. Checked 2026-11-12.
5. Experience Columbus. "Massive Somali community opens surprising experiences to Columbus visitors." October 2018. experiencecolumbus.com. Checked 2026-11-12.
6. MPR News. "Somali president continues tour of US in Ohio." 7 October 2009. mprnews.org. Checked 2026-11-12.
7. Pew Research Center. "5 facts about the global Somali diaspora." 1 June 2016. pewresearch.org. Checked 2026-11-12.
8. WOSU Public Media. "Somali population grows, adapts to Central Ohio." 26 August 2003. wosu.org. Checked 2026-11-12.
9. WOSU Public Media. "Somali refugees help revitalize North Linden area." 27 June 2007. wosu.org. Checked 2026-11-12.
10. June Soh, Voice of America. "Immigrants and refugees revive depressed neighborhood in Columbus, Ohio." 14 September 2017. voanews.com. Checked 2026-11-12.
11. Katie Geniusz, WOSU Public Media (via WVXU). "Somali business owners say they are still being harassed months after viral Medicaid fraud claims." 27 July 2026. wvxu.org. Checked 2026-11-12.
12. Central Bank of Somalia. "Annual Report 2025." August 2026. centralbank.gov.so. Checked 2026-11-12.
13. Minnesota Reformer. "Feds making it harder for immigrants to send money to family." 10 March 2026. minnesotareformer.com. Checked 2026-11-12.
14. Ohio House of Representatives. "Representative Ismail Mohamed: biography." ohiohouse.gov. Checked 2026-11-12.
15. Spectrum News 1 (Columbus). "Somali-American candidates." 13 September 2022. spectrumnews1.com. Checked 2026-11-12.
16. Ohio House of Representatives. "Rep. Ismail Mohamed condemns recent comments by President Trump targeting Somali communities" (4 December 2025) and "Rep. Munira condemns recent comments by Donald Trump targeting the Somali community" (5 December 2025). ohiohouse.gov · ohiohouse.gov. Checked 2026-11-12.
17. Saima Khan, Spectrum News 1. "Columbus leaders, community stand with Somali residents." 7 December 2025. spectrumnews1.com. Checked 2026-11-12.
18. US Citizenship and Immigration Services. "Temporary Protected Status Designated Country: Somalia." uscis.gov. Checked 2026-11-12.
19. MPR News. "Judge's order allows end to TPS protections for people from Somalia." 17 August 2026. mprnews.org. Checked 2026-11-12.
20. WOSU Public Media. "Mogadishu calls for some Somalis in Columbus." 10 June 2013. wosu.org. Checked 2026-11-12.
21. UNHCR. Refugee Data Finder API, Somalia as country of origin, 2024. unhcr.org. Checked 2026-11-12.
22. Immigration policy brief. "Somali Community in Ohio". https://immigrationpolicy.org/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/Somali_Community_in_Ohio.20374400.pdf. Checked 2026-11-12.
23. City of Columbus Public Health. Minority Health publications. https://www.columbus.gov/publichealth/programs/Minority-Health/Minority-Health-Publications/. Checked 2026-11-12.
24. WOSU. "New American Voices: a Somali immigrant makes Columbus his home". 22 Feb 2016. https://wosu.org/news/2016-02-22/new-american-voices-a-somali-immigrant-makes-columbus-his-home. Checked 2026-11-12.