Colombian Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

Colombia lies in the north-west of South America, with coasts on both the Caribbean and the Pacific, and the Andes running through it. Spanish is the official language. Colombians in Birmingham include workers, students, professionals and families.

The community in numbers

At the 2021 Census, out of a city population of 1,144,919, 11 Birmingham residents described their ethnic group as Colombian; 2,281 people living in the city had been born in South America, a group that includes Colombia; and 976 Birmingham residents described their ethnic group as Hispanic or Latin American.

Working for Birmingham

Colombian residents work in hospitality, cleaning, care, education, healthcare and business, and Colombian professionals and students contribute to the city's universities and companies. Colombian cafes and restaurants have introduced Brummies to arepas and bandeja paisa.

Much of the work that keeps Birmingham moving happens out of sight: the night shift on a hospital ward, the early start on a building site, the plumber who fixes a boiler on a winter evening, the teaching assistant who helps a child learn to read. People from every community in the city do these jobs, and Colombian residents are part of that everyday effort to make Birmingham a better place to live.

Culture and community life

Colombia is famous for its coffee, and its music, from cumbia and salsa to vallenato, recognised by UNESCO, fills every celebration. The novels of Gabriel Garcia Marquez are loved worldwide, and Independence Day on 20 July is a time of pride.

The story of the Colombian community in Birmingham is still being written, by students, workers, parents and pensioners who call the city home. It is a story of hard work, friendship and quiet pride, and Birmingham is richer for it.