Kommunlotsen / Origin / Somalia
Somalis in Sweden: how many and where do they live?
Origin Somalia: how large the group is, where it lives and how it has changed.
About 110,000 people in Sweden have an origin in Somalia (2025). Of them, about 66,000 were born in Somalia and 44,000 were born in Sweden to at least one parent from there.
The most people born in Somalia live in Göteborg (10,212), Stockholm (8,746) and Malmö (2,507). The largest share of residents is in Borlänge (3.7%), Flen (2.8%) and Katrineholm (2.3%).
By origin in Somalia we mean people who were born in Somalia, or who were born in Sweden and have at least one parent born in Somalia.
How large is the group in Sweden?
| Born in Somalia | 65,960 |
|---|---|
| Born in Sweden, both parents from Somalia | 30,849 |
| Born in Sweden, parents from Somalia and another country | 7,457 |
| Born in Sweden, one parent from Somalia | 5,728 |
How has the number changed?
The number of people born in Somalia living in Sweden grew from about 13,000 in 2000 to a peak of about 70,000 in 2019. Since then it has fallen to about 66,000 in 2025. Including people born in Sweden to parents from Somalia, the whole group peaked in 2022 (about 114,000) and is now about 110,000.
Change in the municipalities with the most people born in Somalia
People born in Somalia living in the municipality, 2015 compared with 2025.
| Municipality | 2015 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Göteborg | 7,364 | 10,212 | +2,848 (+39%) |
| Stockholm | 7,779 | 8,746 | +967 (+12%) |
| Malmö | 2,111 | 2,507 | +396 (+19%) |
| Linköping | 2,052 | 2,342 | +290 (+14%) |
| Örebro | 1,940 | 2,210 | +270 (+14%) |
| Västerås | 1,824 | 2,040 | +216 (+12%) |
| Borlänge | 2,227 | 1,899 | −328 (−15%) |
| Borås | 1,540 | 1,860 | +320 (+21%) |
| Eskilstuna | 1,783 | 1,688 | −95 (−5%) |
| Växjö | 1,159 | 1,281 | +122 (+11%) |
Source: Statistics Sweden (SCB). The number born in Somalia is the sum over all municipalities, year by year. Everyone with roots in Somalia is only available nationally and from 2018.
Municipalities with the most people born in Somalia
Number is the people born in Somalia living in the municipality, Share is their share of the municipality's residents, and Of all in Sweden is the municipality's share of everyone born in Somalia in the country.
| Municipality | Number | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Göteborg | 10,212 | 1.7% |
| Stockholm | 8,746 | 0.9% |
| Malmö | 2,507 | 0.7% |
| Linköping | 2,342 | 1.4% |
| Örebro | 2,210 | 1.4% |
| Västerås | 2,040 | 1.3% |
| Borlänge | 1,899 | 3.7% |
| Borås | 1,860 | 1.6% |
| Eskilstuna | 1,688 | 1.6% |
| Växjö | 1,281 | 1.3% |
| Nyköping | 1,273 | 2.2% |
| Gävle | 1,246 | 1.2% |
| Norrköping | 1,241 | 0.9% |
| Jönköping | 1,193 | 0.8% |
| Uppsala | 1,165 | 0.5% |
| Järfälla | 1,116 | 1.2% |
| Trollhättan | 932 | 1.6% |
| Umeå | 873 | 0.6% |
| Katrineholm | 781 | 2.3% |
| Falköping | 728 | 2.2% |
| Sigtuna | 683 | 1.3% |
| Sundsvall | 616 | 0.6% |
| Nässjö | 588 | 1.9% |
| Vänersborg | 570 | 1.4% |
| Enköping | 505 | 1.0% |
Largest share of residents
Municipalities with at least 20 people born in Somalia, sorted by their share of the municipality's residents.
| Municipality | Number | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Borlänge | 1,899 | 3.7% |
| Flen | 420 | 2.8% |
| Katrineholm | 781 | 2.3% |
| Falköping | 728 | 2.2% |
| Nyköping | 1,273 | 2.2% |
| Gnosjö | 172 | 1.9% |
| Nässjö | 588 | 1.9% |
| Köping | 478 | 1.9% |
| Ludvika | 478 | 1.8% |
| Göteborg | 10,212 | 1.7% |
| Borås | 1,860 | 1.6% |
| Eskilstuna | 1,688 | 1.6% |
| Trollhättan | 932 | 1.6% |
| Alvesta | 307 | 1.6% |
| Vänersborg | 570 | 1.4% |
| Linköping | 2,342 | 1.4% |
| Lindesberg | 319 | 1.4% |
| Örebro | 2,210 | 1.4% |
| Fagersta | 169 | 1.3% |
| Växjö | 1,281 | 1.3% |
| Sigtuna | 683 | 1.3% |
| Västerås | 2,040 | 1.3% |
| Hällefors | 79 | 1.3% |
| Järfälla | 1,116 | 1.2% |
| Filipstad | 118 | 1.2% |
Common questions about Somalis in Sweden
- How many Somalis live in Sweden?
- About 110,000 people in Sweden have an origin in Somalia (2025). Of them, about 66,000 were born in Somalia and 44,000 were born in Sweden to at least one parent from there.
- Where in Sweden do most Somalis live?
- The most people born in Somalia live in Göteborg (10,212), Stockholm (8,746) and Malmö (2,507). Together, 33% of everyone born in Somalia lives in one of these three municipalities.
- Which municipality has the largest share of Somalis?
- Borlänge, where 3.7% of residents were born in Somalia. It is followed by Flen (2.8%) and Katrineholm (2.3%).
- Is the number of Somalis in Sweden growing or shrinking?
- The number of people born in Somalia living in Sweden grew from about 13,000 in 2000 to a peak of about 70,000 in 2019. Since then it has fallen to about 66,000 in 2025. Including people born in Sweden to parents from Somalia, the whole group peaked in 2022 (about 114,000) and is now about 110,000.
- How many were born in Sweden to parents from Somalia?
- About 44,000. Of them, about 31,000 have two parents born in Somalia.
Good to know
- The lists above only count people born in Somalia. Where people born in Sweden with parents from Somalia live is not available in Statistics Sweden's open data, only how many there are in the whole country. The real group in a municipality is therefore usually larger than the figures show.
- These are sorted lists, not grades. A large or small number is neither good nor bad.
- Source: Statistics Sweden (SCB). The municipality figures are from 2025 and the national table from 2025. Shares and rankings are Kommunlotsen's own calculations. The national figures are rounded by Statistics Sweden. Last updated .
Countries in the same region:
Largest groups in Sweden:
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