E.g., 07/22/2026
E.g., 07/22/2026
U.S. Data

U.S. Data

More than 43 million people living in the United States—whether as naturalized citizen, legal permanent resident, temporary resident, or unauthorized immigrant—were born in another country, representing 13 percent of the U.S. population. Immigration has ebbed and flowed throughout U.S. history, peaking at nearly 15 percent of the population in 1890 and plummeting to 5 percent in 1970. The data-rich research offered here traces the U.S. immigrant population by size, educational and workforce characteristics, English language proficiency, and more.

For information on U.S. immigrants by state, check out the State Immigration Data Profiles tool. And for detailed profiles on unauthorized immigrants nationally and by state, visit this tool.

Recent Activity

A young woman with the Syrian flag painted on her cheek
Articles
People hold Brazilian flags
Articles
Cover image for Rooted in the Valley
Reports
May 2026
By  Valerie Lacarte, Michael Fix and Allison Rutland
A family takes a photo in Washington, DC.
Articles
Immigrants take the oath of allegiance during a naturalization ceremony.
Cover image for A Profile of the Growing Black Immigrant Population in the United States
Fact Sheets
February 2026
By  Valerie Lacarte
Girls in traditional Ukrainian attire.
Articles
Cover image for Rooted in the Valley
Reports
May 2026
By  Valerie Lacarte, Michael Fix and Allison Rutland
Cover image for A Profile of the Growing Black Immigrant Population in the United States
Fact Sheets
February 2026
By  Valerie Lacarte
Cover image for Maine’s Immigrant Communities
Reports
October 2025
By  Valerie Lacarte and Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh
Fact sheet thumbnail for 2025 unauthorized immigrants research
Fact Sheets
October 2025
By  Julia Gelatt, Ariel G. Ruiz Soto and James D. Bachmeier
Cover image for All in for a Thriving Connecticut
Reports
September 2025
By  Margie McHugh, Julia Gelatt, Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh, Katherine Habben, Jacob Hofstetter and Julie Sugarman
Cover image for A Data Profile of Young Dual Language Learners
Fact Sheets
August 2025
By  Katherine Habben and Victoria Kim
Cover image for U.S. Legal Pathways for Mexican and Central American Immigrants
Fact Sheets
August 2024
By  Ariel G. Ruiz Soto and Andrew Selee
A young woman with the Syrian flag painted on her cheek

Although the Syrian immigrant population in the United States roughly doubled following the outbreak of Syria's civil war, it remains relatively small compared to both the overall U.S. immigrant population and Syrian emigration globally. This article compiles key statistics about this group.

People hold Brazilian flags

The United States is home to the largest Brazilian community outside Brazil. Still, Brazilians account for only about 1 percent of all U.S. immigrants. This population has grown rapidly in recent years, with nearly two-thirds of Brazilian immigrants arriving since 2010, as this article details.

A family takes a photo in Washington, DC.

Indian immigrants comprise the second largest foreign-born group in the United States, even though they tend to have arrived more recently. Immigrants from India tend to have considerably more education than other groups and roughly one-fifth live in California. This article offers a range of information about this diverse group. 

Immigrants take the oath of allegiance during a naturalization ceremony.

This essential resource offers top statistics about immigration, immigrants, and the immigration system in the United States, drawing on authoritative sources and the latest data available. The article offers insights on the size and characteristics of the immigrant population, the scope of temporary and permanent immigration via all pathways, enforcement actions, and much more.

Girls in traditional Ukrainian attire.

The Ukrainian immigrant population in the United States grew significantly in the immediate aftermath of Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Compared to the overall immigrant population, Ukrainians are more likely to be U.S. citizens and have higher levels of education. This article provides wide-ranging statistics on the size, U.S. settlement, and socioeconomic characteristics of this group. 

Image of a newborn baby's feet
Short Reads
May 2025
By  Jennifer Van Hook, Michael Fix and Julia Gelatt
Photo of migrants in line at port of entry in Brownsville awaiting possible entry
Short Reads
February 2025
By  Jennifer Van Hook, Ariel G. Ruiz Soto and Julia Gelatt
Image of parents posing with daughter
Short Reads
November 2024
By  Jeanne Batalova, Michael Fix and Julia Gelatt
A DACA recipient speaks at a DACA 12th anniversary event at the White House
Short Reads
July 2024
By  Ariel G. Ruiz Soto, Julia Gelatt and Jennifer Van Hook
CBP personnel process and screen migrants for possible entry into the U.S.
Short Reads
October 2023
By  Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh and Ariel G. Ruiz Soto
Vice President Kamala Harris participates in a DACA roundtable
Short Reads
September 2023
By  Jennifer Van Hook, Julia Gelatt and Ariel G. Ruiz Soto
President Biden meets with DACA recipients
Short Reads
September 2023
By  Ariel G. Ruiz Soto and Julia Gelatt
Short Reads
February 2021
By  Jeanne Batalova and Michael Fix
Colorful illustration of people of many different backgrounds
Explainers
October 2024

With immigration a central focus in U.S. public and policy conversations, it is useful to have a solid understanding of the foreign-born population. This explainer offers statistics on the immigrant population’s size, origins, places of U.S. settlement, and pathways of arrival. It also looks at legal statuses, which have been a topic of significant public interest and confusion. More than three-quarters of all immigrants in United States are here legally.

Explainer IllegalImmigration Art
Explainers
April 2019

How has the size of the unauthorized population in the United States changed over time? How is illegal immigration changing, and where do unauthorized immigrants come from? This explainer answers basic questions about illegal immigration, the changing patterns from Mexico, and more.

Explainer WhoIsAnImmigrant Rotator
Explainers
February 2019

Who is an immigrant? Does that status change if, for example, a foreigner marries a native-born resident or serves in his or her adopted country's military? This explainer answers basic questions about international migrants—who they are, their top destinations, where they come from, how they are counted, and more.

Video, Audio
August 26, 2020

This conversation, featuring a former U.S. Census Bureau director and other top experts, examines how the many challenges facing the 2020 Census could affect the count and representation of immigrant communities, the difficulties inherent in data matching to determine legal status, and the legal and constitutional issues surrounding the administration’s actions.

Video, Audio
June 12, 2018

This webinar highlights findings from an MPI report examining the potential impacts of expected changes to the public charge rule by the Trump administration. Leaked draft versions suggest the rule could sharply expand the number of legally present noncitizens facing difficulty getting a green card or extending a visa as a result of their family's use of public benefits. The rule likely would discourage millions from accessing health, nutrition, and social services for which they or their U.S.-citizen dependents are eligible.

Video, Expert Q&A
June 6, 2018

Where can you find the most accurate statistics on some of the top immigration issues—ranging from the size of immigrant and emigrant populations, to humanitarian and labor flows, naturalization rates, enforcement statistics, remittances, and more?

Video, Audio
March 19, 2018

With immigration increasingly visible in the news and the political space in the United States and internationally, getting access to accurate, high-quality data is essential to understand immigration’s demographic effects and impacts on the economy, education and labor systems, and communities. This event marks the release of the Immigration Data Matters guide.

Video, Audio
January 13, 2016

This webinar offers a discussion of the economic, linguistic and educational disadvantage experienced by U.S. children with unauthorized immigrant parents. The MPI researchers discuss their finding that 86 percent of the 5.1 million such children in the United States have a parent who could potentially benefit from the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) program.

Recent Activity

Articles

Although the Syrian immigrant population in the United States roughly doubled following the outbreak of Syria's civil war, it remains relatively small compared to both the overall U.S. immigrant population and Syrian emigration globally. This article compiles key statistics about this group.

Articles

The United States is home to the largest Brazilian community outside Brazil. Still, Brazilians account for only about 1 percent of all U.S. immigrants. This population has grown rapidly in recent years, with nearly two-thirds of Brazilian immigrants arriving since 2010, as this article details.

Reports
May 2026

In Napa Valley, a world-famous wine-growing region, agriculture and manufacturing are major aspects of the regional economy. They are also sectors that have long relied on immigrant labor. This report examines the characteristics and economic contributions of Napa County’s immigrant residents and workers.

Articles

Indian immigrants comprise the second largest foreign-born group in the United States, even though they tend to have arrived more recently. Immigrants from India tend to have considerably more education than other groups and roughly one-fifth live in California. This article offers a range of information about this diverse group. 

Articles

This essential resource offers top statistics about immigration, immigrants, and the immigration system in the United States, drawing on authoritative sources and the latest data available. The article offers insights on the size and characteristics of the immigrant population, the scope of temporary and permanent immigration via all pathways, enforcement actions, and much more.

Fact Sheets
February 2026

The Black immigrant population in the United States has both grown considerably since 1990 and become more diverse, with the one-time heavily Caribbean and Latin American origins now more evenly mixed with arrivals from Africa. This fact sheet uses U.S. Census Bureau data to explore the demographic, workforce, and household characteristics of this group, which makes up 9 percent of the country’s overall immigrant population.

Articles

The Ukrainian immigrant population in the United States grew significantly in the immediate aftermath of Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Compared to the overall immigrant population, Ukrainians are more likely to be U.S. citizens and have higher levels of education. This article provides wide-ranging statistics on the size, U.S. settlement, and socioeconomic characteristics of this group. 

Fact Sheets
February 2026

All high school students face important questions about what comes next after graduation. Those who are unauthorized immigrants face additional challenges—from heightened immigration enforcement to states walking back in-state tuition policies for these students. This fact sheet provides estimates of the number and characteristics of unauthorized immigrant children who are reaching the end of high school and graduating from K-12 schools across the United States each year.