Somalis in Finland

As of 2023, 25,654 Finns had a Somali-background, making it the fourth most common foreign country of origin and the largest from Africa.

According to a 2009 report by the Police College of Finland, 8% of total victims were Somali-born, while representing only 4% of suspected offenders.

[9] Most suspected perpetrators are young Finnish men, with similarly aged Somali, Iraqi and Turkish immigrants mainly targeted.

[10] According to social workers, the pressure of living between two disparate cultures has also resulted in instances of petty crime amongst disaffected 17- to 20-year-olds in the Somali community.

The situation is compounded by the unfamiliarity of Somali parents with the various social services that are available to address similar circumstances.

[12][13] As with many other immigrant groups in Finland, Somalis have also faced some barriers to employment, due in part to the local economic recession.

[14][15] However, the situation has steadily improved over the years, as more Somali immigrants have found employment in their own community, although much of this work is unmeasured.

While some Somalis with language training have found jobs in their own field, others, like immigrants in general, have obtained short-term work positions.

According to the Finnish National newspaper, Helsingin Sanomat, the number of Somali-speaking people in Finland in 2010 rose by nearly 10% in a year.

2% of Helsinkians are Somali, the highest proportion in Finland, and the second largest foreign country of origin after Russia.

The clothing of Somali women in Finland varies from large hijabs and face covers to skinny jeans and crop tops.