E.g., 07/24/2026
E.g., 07/24/2026
State Demographics Data - TN
 

Tennessee

Demographics & Social
2024
2000
1990
Demographics Foreign Born
Number 472,751
% Foreign Born 6.5%
Population Change over Time  
% change: 2000-2024 197.3%
% change: 1990-2000 169.0%
Race (%)  
One race 76.6%
White
22.9%
Black or African American
9.5%
American Indian and Alaska Native
2.6%
Asian
20.6%
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander
0.1%
Other race
20.8%
Two or more races 23.4%
Latino Origin (of any race)  
Number 237,547
% Latino 50.2%
Age Groups (%)  
Under 5 1.4%
5-17 10.2%
18-64 78.7%
65 and older 9.7%
Median Age 40.3
Gender (% female) 50.5%
Marital Status (15 and older) (%)  
Never married 28.4%
Married 57.5%
Separated, divorced, or widowed 14.1%
U.S. Born
Number 6,754,999
% Foreign Born  
Population Change over Time  
% change: 2000-2011 22.1%
% change: 1990-2000 14.8%
Race (%)  
One race 93.4%
White 75.4%
Black or African American 15.4%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.2%
Asian 0.7%
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander 0.0%
Other race 1.7%
Two or more races 6.6%
Latino Origin (of any race)  
Number 329,292
% Latino 4.9%
Age Groups (%)  
Under 5 6.0%
5-17 16.5%
18-64 59.3%
65 and older 18.2%
Median Age 38.9
Gender (% female) 51.0%
Marital Status (15 and older) (%)  
Never married 31.6%
Married 48.4%
Separated, divorced, or widowed 20.0%
Foreign Born
Number 159,004
% Foreign Born 2.8%
Population Change over Time  
% change: 2000-2011  
 
Race (%)  
Latino Origin (of any race)  
Age Groups (%)  
Marital Status (15 and older) (%)  
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U.S. Born
Number 5,530,279
Population Change over Time  
% change: 2000-2011  
1990-2000  
Race (%)  
Latino Origin (of any race)  
Age Groups (%)  
Marital Status (15 and older) (%)  
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Foreign Born
Number 59,114
% Foreign Born 1.2%
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
U.S. Born
Number 4,818,071
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
Foreign Born
Foreign Born
Foreign Born
Place of Birth Number
Region of Birth (excluding born at sea) 472,751
Born in Africa 50,231
Born in Asia 115,627
Born in Europe 43,806
Born in Latin America (South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean) 249,474
Born in Northern America (Canada, Bermuda, Greenland, and St. Pierre and Miquelon) 11,409
Born in Oceania 2,204
Top 3 Countries of Birth  
Country #1
Country #2
Country #3
Detailed Region/Country of Birth 472,751
Europe 43,806
Northern Europe 8,355
United Kingdom
7,198
Ireland
296
Other Northern Europe
861
Western Europe 14,082
France
1,782
Germany
10,319
Other Western Europe
1,981
Southern Europe 2,962
Italy
1,448
Portugal
79
Other Southern Europe
1,435
Eastern Europe 18,335
Poland
1,324
Russia
2,414
Other Eastern Europe
14,597
Other Europe (no country specified) 72
Asia 115,627
Eastern Asia 28,357
China
14,793

China, excluding Taiwan

12,879

Taiwan

1,914
Japan
3,216
Korea
10,003
Other Eastern Asia
345
South Central Asia 37,708
India
26,797
Iran
2,140
Other South Central Asia
8,771
Southeastern Asia 36,165
Philippines
14,957
Vietnam
11,741
Other Southeastern Asia
9,467
Western Asia 12,359
Israel
1,193
Lebanon
1,963
Other Western Asia
9,203
Other Asia (no country specified) 1,038
Africa 50,231
Eastern Africa 11,470
Northern Africa 16,699
Western Africa 9,380
Middle and Southern Africa 11,207
Other Africa (no country specified) 1,475
Oceania 2,204
Australia and New Zealand subregion 1,554
Oceania (no country specified) 650
Americas 260,883
Latin America 249,474
Caribbean
23,341

Cuba

11,105

Jamaica

5,213

Other Caribbean

7,023
Central America
186,295

Mexico

98,568

El Salvador

11,666

Other Central America

76,061
South America
39,838

Brazil

3,658

Colombia

7,373

Other South America

28,807
Northern America 11,409
Canada
11,092
Other Northern America
317
Period of Entry into U.S.  
Before 1990 61,989
1990-1999 69,934
2000-2009 111,349
Since 2010 229,479
%
Region of Birth (excluding born at the sea)* 100%
Born in Africa 10.6%
Born in Asia 24.5%
Born in Europe 9.3%
Born in Latin America (South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean) 52.8%
Born in Northern America (Canada, Bermuda, Greenland, and St. Pierre and Miquelon) 2.4%
Born in Oceania 0.5%
Top 3 Countries of Birth*  
Country #1
Country #2
Country #3
Detailed Region/Country of Birth* 100%
Europe 9.3%
Northern Europe 1.8%
United Kingdom 1.5%
Ireland 0.1%
Other Northern Europe 0.2%
Western Europe 3.0%
France 0.4%
Germany 2.2%
Other Western Europe 0.4%
Southern Europe 0.6%
Italy 0.3%
Portugal N
Other Southern Europe 0.3%
Eastern Europe 3.9%
Poland 0.3%
Russia 0.5%
Other Eastern Europe 3.1%
Other Europe (no country specified) N
Asia 24.5%
Eastern Asia 6.0%
China 3.1%
China, excluding Taiwan 2.7%
Taiwan 0.4%
Japan 0.7%
Korea 2.1%
Other Eastern Asia 0.1%
South Central Asia 8.0%
India 5.7%
Iran 0.5%
Other South Central Asia 1.9%
Southeastern Asia 7.6%
Philippines 3.2%
Vietnam 2.5%
Other Southeastern Asia 2.0%
Western Asia 2.6%
Israel 0.3%
Lebanon 0.4%
Other Western Asia 1.9%
Other Asia (no country specified) 0.2%
Africa 10.6%
Eastern Africa 2.4%
Northern Africa 3.5%
Western Africa 2.0%
Middle and Southern Africa 2.4%
Other Africa (no country specified) 0.3%
Oceania 0.5%
Australia and New Zealand subregion 0.3%
Oceania (no country specified) 0.1%
Americas 55.2%
Latin America 52.8%
Caribbean 4.9%
Cuba 2.3%
Jamaica 1.1%
Other Caribbean 1.5%
Central America 39.4%
Mexico 20.8%
El Salvador 2.5%
Other Central America 16.1%
South America 8.4%
Brazil 0.8%
Colombia 1.6%
Other South America 6.1%
Northern America 2.4%
Canada 2.3%
Other Northern America 0.1%
Period of Entry into U.S.  
Before 1980 13.1%
1980-1989 14.8%
1990-1999 23.6%
Since 2000 48.5%
Number
Region of Birth (excluding born at the sea)* 159,004
Born in Africa 8,696
Born in Asia 50,584
Born in Europe 28,117
Born in Latin America (South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean) 63,484
Born in Northern America (Canada, Bermuda, Greenland, and St. Pierre and Miquelon) 7,194
Cat28 929
Top 3 Countries of Birth*  
Country #1
Country #2
Country #3
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
%
Region of birth 100%
Born in Africa 5.5%
Born in Asia 31.8%
Born in Europe 17.7%
Born in Latin America 39.9%
Born in Northern America 4.5%
Born in Oceania 0.6%
Top 3 Countries of Birth*  
Country #1
Country #2
Country #3
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Number
Region of Birth (excluding born at the sea)* 56,960
Born in Africa 2,690
Born in Asia 24,938
Born in Europe 17,611
Born in Latin America (South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean) 6,859
Born in Northern America (Canada, Bermuda, Greenland, and St. Pierre and Miquelon) 4,296
Cat21 566
Top 3 Countries of Birth*  
Country #1
Country #2
Country #3
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
%
Region of birth 100%
Born in Africa 4.7%
Born in Asia 43.8%
Born in Europe 30.9%
Born in Latin America 12.0%
Born in Northern America 7.5%
Born in Oceania 1.0%
Top 3 Countries of Birth*  
Country #1
Country #2
Country #3
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
Foreign Born
Foreign Born
Foreign Born
Naturalization Number
Foreign Born by U.S. Citizenship Status 472,751
Naturalized citizens 187,088
Noncitizens 285,663
Naturalized Citizens by Period of Naturalization 187,088
Before 1990 22,494
1990-1999 21,528
2000-2009 45,069
2010-2014 27,998
Since 2015 69,999
%
Foreign Born by U.S. Citizenship Status 100%
Naturalized citizens 39.6%
Noncitizens 60.4%
Naturalized Citizens by Period of Naturalization 100%
Before 1980 12.0%
1980-1989 11.5%
1990-1999 24.1%
2000-2009 15.0%
Since 2010 37.4%
Number
Foreign Born by U.S. Citizenship Status 159,004
Naturalized citizens 53,185
Noncitizens 105,819
   
   
   
   
   
   
%
Foreign Born by U.S. Citizenship Status 100%
Naturalized citizens 33.4%
Noncitizens 66.6%
   
   
   
   
   
   
Number
Foreign Born by U.S. Citizenship Status 59,114
Naturalized citizens 26,591
Noncitizens 32,523
   
   
   
   
   
   
%
Foreign Born by U.S. Citizenship Status 100%
Naturalized citizens 45.0%
Noncitizens 55.0%
   
   
   
   
   
   
Fertility Foreign Born
Female Population (ages 15-50) 148,867
Women (ages 15-50) who gave birth in the last 12 months 10,209
% married among women who gave birth
75.3%
% unmarried (never married, divorced, or widowed) among women who gave birth
24.7%
U.S. Born
Female Population (ages 15-50) 1,551,333
Women (ages 15-50) who gave birth in the last 12 months 75,542
% married among women who gave birth 70.7%
% unmarried (never married, divorced, or widowed) among women who gave birth 29.3%
Foreign Born
   
   
   
   
U.S. Born
   
   
   
   
Foreign Born
   
   
   
   
U.S. Born
   
   
   
   
Household and Family Size Foreign Born
Average household size 3.08
Average family size 3.58
U.S. Born
Average household size 2.37
Average family size 2.96
Foreign Born
   
   
U.S. Born
   
   
Foreign Born
   
   
U.S. Born
   
   
 
Population
Population
Population
Children under 18 Number
Children with Foreign- and Native-Born Parents  
Children under age 18 with 1,458,777
Only native parent(s)
1,238,474
One or more foreign-born parents
220,303

Child is native

174,153

Child is foreign born

46,150
Children under age 6 with 466,729
Only native parent(s)
398,085
One or more foreign-born parents
68,644

Child is native

61,096

Child is foreign born

7,548
Children between ages 6 and 17 with 992,048
Only native parent(s)
840,389
One or more foreign-born parents
151,659

Child is native

113,057

Child is foreign born

38,602
Children in Low-Income Families 578,938
Only native parents 453,968
One or more foreign-born parents 124,970
%
Children with Foreign- and Native-Born Parents*  
Children under age 18 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 84.9%
One or more foreign-born parents 15.1%
Child is native 11.9%
Child is foreign born 3.2%
Children under age 6 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 85.3%
One or more foreign-born parents 14.7%
Child is native 13.1%
Child is foreign born 1.6%
Children between ages 6 and 17 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 84.7%
One or more foreign-born parents 15.3%
Child is native 11.4%
Child is foreign born 3.9%
Children in Low-Income Families* 100%
Only native parents 78.4%
One or more foreign-born parents 21.6%
Number
Children with Foreign- and Native-Born Parents  
Children under age 18 with 1,322,766
Only native parent(s) 1,261,925
One or more foreign-born parents 60,841
Child is native 45,864
Child is foreign born 14,977
Children under age 6 with 425,520
Only native parent(s) 402,583
One or more foreign-born parents 22,937
Child is native 20,656
Child is foreign born 2,281
Children between ages 6 and 17 with 897,246
Only native parent(s) 859,342
One or more foreign-born parents 37,904
Child is native 25,208
Child is foreign born 12,696
Children in Low-Income Families* 529,120
Only native parents 503,623
One or more foreign-born parents 25,497
%
Children with Foreign- and Native-Born Parents  
Children under age 18 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 95.4%
One or more foreign-born parents 4.6%
Child is native 3.5%
Child is foreign born 1.1%
Children under age 6 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 94.6%
One or more foreign-born parents 5.4%
Child is native 4.9%
Child is foreign born 0.5%
Children between ages 6 and 17 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 95.8%
One or more foreign-born parents 4.2%
Child is native 2.8%
Child is foreign born 1.4%
Children in Low-Income Families* 100%
Only native parents 95.2%
One or more foreign-born parents 4.8%
Number
Children with Foreign- and Native-Born Parents  
Children under age 18 with 1,159,734
Only native parent(s) 1,132,779
One or more foreign-born parents 26,955
Child is native 21,573
Child is foreign born 5,382
Children under age 6 with 385,053
Only native parent(s) 376,143
One or more foreign-born parents 8,910
Child is native 8,109
Child is foreign born 801
Children between ages 6 and 17 with 774,681
Only native parent(s) 756,636
One or more foreign-born parents 18,045
Child is native 13,464
Child is foreign born 4,581
Children in Low-Income Families* 513,462
Only native parents 503,715
One or more foreign-born parents 9,747
%
Children with Foreign- and Native-Born Parents  
Children under age 18 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 97.7%
One or more foreign-born parents 2.3%
Child is native 1.9%
Child is foreign born 0.5%
Children under age 6 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 97.7%
One or more foreign-born parents 2.3%
Child is native 2.1%
Child is foreign born 0.2%
Children between ages 6 and 17 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 97.7%
One or more foreign-born parents 2.3%
Child is native 1.7%
Child is foreign born 0.6%
Children in Low-Income Families* 100%
Only native parents 98.1%
One or more foreign-born parents 1.9%

Sources: Migration Policy Institute tabulations of the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) and Decennial Census. Unless stated otherwise, 2024 data are from the one-year ACS file. For information about ACS definitions, click here. For ACS methodology, sampling error, and nonsampling error, click here. Estimates from 1990 and 2000 Decennial Census data as well as ACS microdata are from Steven Ruggles, Sarah Flood, Matthew Sobek, Daniel Backman, Grace Cooper, Julia A. Rivera Drew, Stephanie Richards, Renae Rodgers, Jonathan Schroeder, and Kari C.W. Williams. IPUMS USA: Version 16.0 [dataset]. Minneapolis, MN: IPUMS, 2025. https://doi.org/10.18128/D010.V16.0.

Definitions

  • The term "foreign born" refers to people residing in the United States at the time of the population survey who were not U.S. citizens at birth. The foreign-born population includes naturalized U.S. citizens, lawful permanent immigrants (or green-card holders), refugees and asylees, certain legal nonimmigrants (including those on student, work, or some other temporary visas), and persons residing in the country without authorization.
  • The term "U.S. born" refers to people residing in the United States who were U.S. citizens in one of three categories: people born in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia; people born in U.S. Insular Areas such as Puerto Rico or Guam; or people who were born abroad to at least one U.S. citizen parent.
  • The term "low-income families" refers to families with annual incomes below 200 percent of the federal poverty threshold.

Data-related notes

  • The letter N indicates that an estimate could not be provided by the Census Bureau because the number of sample cases was too small for this state.
  • Race and Hispanic origin: In preparation for the 2020 Decennial Census, the Census Bureau made some improvements and changes in how respondents were asked about their race and Hispanic origin on the 2020 decennial Census form. The goal was to achieve a more accurate portrait of how U.S. residents self-identify. The same changes in the questionnaire design were implemented in the subsequent ACS as well. Note that the racial composition of the U.S. population in the current ACS looks different from pre-2020 data. For instance, the proportion of people who reported “two or more races” has increased, while the proportion of “white alone” decreased, reflecting both the growth of a more racially diverse population and the changes in the questionnaire design. Race and Hispanic origin comparisons between the current ACS and pre-2020 data should be made with caution, taking into account the changes in the questionnaire design. For more details, visit the Census Bureau’s Resource Library.
  • “Median Age” and “Household Size”: Data for Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming are from the U.S. Census Bureau's pooled 2020-2024 American Community Survey (ACS). Data for the United States overall and for the remaining states are from the 2024 ACS.
  • Region of birth: For 1990, 2000, and current ACS year, the total for the region of birth of the foreign born is different from the total foreign born. This is because the 1990 total excludes those who did not report a country of birth and those born at sea, while the 2000 census and the current ACS year totals exclude those born at sea.
  • Countries of birth: These are the largest countries of birth reported by the Census Bureau. Some countries are only listed as part of a larger geographic region. For example, those born in Somalia are included only among those born in Eastern Africa. Therefore, a few states may have larger populations of foreign-born persons born in countries not listed individually in census data. For each of the three years, countries of birth reflect geographic boundaries as of that year.
  • Children: The data here include children between ages 0 and 17 (regardless of their nativity) who reside with at least one parent. This means that the number of children shown here is smaller than the overall number of U.S. children under 18. Since 2013, the U.S. Census Bureau has included children of same-sex married couples in its count of children in families and subfamilies.