Europeans in Minnesota

Non-Hispanic Whites account for nearly 76.30% of Minnesota’s population. German, Norwegian, Irish, Swedish and English Americans have made up the five largest European ancestry groups in Minnesota.

As per the Census report, German Americans made up 30.6% of the population and numbered close to 1.7 million members. Next comes Norwegian at 13.7% of the population; Irish Americans made up 9.7%; and Swedish ancestry at 7.2%.

Besides them, Europeans who make good numbers are English (5.4%), Polish (4.5%), French (3%), Italian (2.2%), Dutch (1,6%), Czech (1.6%), Scottish (1.2%) and Danish (1.1%).

African Americans in Minnesota

As of 2020, those of African ancestry accounted for 6.8% of Minnesota’s population. Minnesota has the country’s largest Somali population, with an estimated 57,000 people, the largest concentration outside of the Horn of Africa. Most Black populations live in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Outside of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Black communities developed in pockets around Duluth and Fergus Falls.

Hispanics and Latinos in Minnesota

Hispanics and Latinos are the third-largest groups in Minnesota after non-Hispanic white and African American. Around 6.1% of Minnesota’s Population claim Hispanic or Latin American ethnicity. The population grew from 250,258 (4.7%) in 2010 to 345,640 (6.1%) in 2020.

Two-thirds of Latino Minnesotans are of Mexican heritage. The main groups are  Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, and other Hispanic or Latino origin. According to the 2020 Census, two counties had a Latino population percentage over 25 percent (Nobles & Watonwan) and four others had a Latino population percentage over 10 percent (Kandiyohi, Mower, Freeborn, Rice)

Over 240,000 Latinos live in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis and St. Paul) metro area, and around two-thirds of Hispanic Minnesotans. Large Hispanic populations are also present in Greater Minnesota metropolitan and micropolitan areas in the southern half of the state (Rochester, Worthington, Faribault-Northfield, Willmar, Austin, Mankato) as well as northern metro areas bordering other states (Fargo-Moorhead, Greater Grand Forks, Duluth-Superior). 

Asian Americans in Minnesota

Asian Americans are a sizable minority group in Minnesota. Americans of Asian descent formed 5.21% of the population. Its ethnic Asian population has grown rapidly since the late 1990s; the majority are Indians, Filipinos, Vietnamese, and ethnic Chinese.

There are Asians living in every county of Minnesota with enclaves scattered throughout the state. In general, Minnesotan Asians are concentrated in the seven-county region; Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, Sterns and Washington and Olmstead, and St. Louis. Hennepin County has the largest total Asian population followed by Ramsey County.

Over half of the Asian population in Minnesota lives in these two counties. Approximately 50.2% of the Asian population identifies as Southeast Asian compared to the national average of 20.7%. Southeast Asian includes Burmese, Cambodian, Hmong, Laotian, Thai, and Vietnamese. South Asians (Bangladeshi, Pakistanis, Sri Lankans, and Asian Indians) saw the highest rates of growth in Minnesota. The Hmong population is the largest Asian population in Minnesota followed by Indians and Chinese. 

Multi-Race in Minnesota

Multiracial individuals are also a visible minority in Minnesota. People identifying as multiracial form 4.14%  of the population, and number around 236,034 people.