Slovenian Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

Slovenia lies between the Alps and the Adriatic, bordering Italy, Austria, Hungary and Croatia. More than half the country is forested, and Lake Bled is one of its best-known sights. Slovenians in Birmingham include professionals, academics and students.

The community in numbers

At the 2021 Census, out of a city population of 1,144,919, 57 Birmingham residents described their ethnic group as Slovenian; and 33 residents gave Slovenian as their main language. Main language figures leave out the many bilingual residents who use English day to day, so the number who speak the language at home is higher still.

Working for Birmingham

Slovenian residents work and study in fields such as engineering, research, healthcare and business. Slovenia's strong manufacturing and pharmaceutical industries mean that many Slovenians bring technical skills that fit well with Birmingham's engineering heritage.

Every community that has settled in Birmingham has helped to shape it. Newcomers have filled gaps in the workforce, opened shops and restaurants, and raised children who have gone on to become the city's doctors, teachers, engineers and entrepreneurs. The Slovenian community is part of that tradition of hard work and ambition, and of the city's own motto: Forward.

Culture and community life

Beekeeping is a proud Slovenian tradition, and the Carniolan honeybee is native to the country. Potica, a rolled nut cake, is baked for holidays, and Slovenians love hiking, skiing and the outdoors. Folk music and choirs are part of community gatherings.

In a city where scores of languages are spoken, the Slovenian community adds another voice to the conversation. Its members, old and new, are helping to make Birmingham the confident, outward-looking city it wants to be.