# Finland (Somali diaspora)

> About 28,200 people in Finland spoke Somali as their first language in 2025, and more than half live in Helsinki.

Source page: https://calankii.com/en/diaspora/finland/
Last checked: 2026-11-12
Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com)

## Who lives there

In 2025 Finland had 28,167 Somali speakers, 15,362 people born in Somalia and about 6,934 Somali citizens. Most people of Somali background are now Finnish citizens ([Somalis in Finland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somalis_in_Finland), citing Statistics Finland).

**Cities (Somali speakers, 2024):** Helsinki 14,910, Espoo 3,410, Vantaa 3,386, Turku 1,839. More than half live in Helsinki.

The number of Somali speakers is still growing, but more slowly than before.

## Work and money

The first arrivals came in the early 1990s, during a deep recession, which made finding work very hard. Things have improved over time, and many people now work, often on short-term contracts. In one survey, 90% of Somali speakers said they had faced discrimination at work ([Somalis in Finland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somalis_in_Finland)).

## Who serves the community

The Eduskunta (parliament) and the government. Municipalities and wellbeing services counties run social and health care, and Kela pays benefits.

## A strong civic voice

- **Parliament:** Suldaan Said Ahmed, born in Somalia in 1993, came to Finland in 2008. He became the first Somali-born member of parliament in September 2021 and served until 2023. In 2022 he was named the Foreign Minister's special representative for peace mediation in the Horn of Africa ([Al Jazeera, 2021](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/6/from-child-refugee-to-politician-finlands-first-somali-born-mp)).
- **Helsinki:** a Somali-born member sat on Helsinki City Council from 1997 to 2017.
- **Taking part:** Somalis had the highest turnout (39%) of any group of non-Finnish background in the 2017 municipal elections ([Somalis in Finland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somalis_in_Finland)).

## What the community faces now

- Discrimination at work, reported by nine in ten in one survey.
- Racist assaults reported in Helsinki in 2020.

## Top needs

1. Paid work, free of discrimination.
2. A trusted, open channel to send help home.
3. A civic voice that keeps growing.
4. A confident identity for young people and a positive link home.
5. Records and documents for families.

## What we don't know yet

Wages, costs, Helsinki neighbourhoods, and the names of community groups. If you know, use "Fix this page".

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