American Community Survey Briefs

Noncitizens Under Age 35: 2010–2012

According to the 2010–2012 American Community Survey, 10.3 million noncitizens under age 35 lived in the 

United States, representing less than 4 percent of the 

total U.S. population. Most of these immigrants—80 

percent—were young adults between the ages of 18 

and 34. About three in five have lived in this country 

for 5 years or longer, and over half arrived when they 

were under age 18. About one-third of noncitizens 

aged 18 to 24 were enrolled in college. When considering educational attainment, about two-thirds of 

noncitizens aged 25 to 34 had attained at least a high 

school degree, with one-fourth having earned at least a 

bachelor’s degree.

While a small proportion of the total population, 

noncitizens under age 35 represent a unique immigrant group that is notably different from comparable 

groups, such as citizens under age 35. This difference is due, in part, to the legal status composition of 

younger noncitizens.1 While some are legal permanent 

residents (“green card” holders), others are temporary 

migrants—such as international students or temporary 

workers—who may stay for several years and then 

return home. Noncitizens also include humanitarian 

migrants, such as refugees and asylees, and unauthorized immigrants residing in the United States. By virtue 

of their various legal statuses, noncitizens under age 

35 exhibit key characteristic differences that contribute 

to the ever-changing profile of the American people.

1 In this report, the terms “younger noncitizens,” “young noncitizens,” and the “young noncitizen population” all refer to noncitizens 

under age 35.

This report uses multi-year data from the 2010–2012 

American Community Survey (ACS) to present demographic and socioeconomic information about the 

noncitizen population under age 35. Because the ACS 

Issued February 2014

ACSBR/12-06

By Yesenia D. Acosta, Luke J. Larsen, 

and Elizabeth M. Grieco

U.S. Department of Commerce

Economics and Statistics Administration

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU

census.gov

NATIVITY AND CITIZENSHIP

Nativity status: Whether a United States resident is native born or foreign born.

Native born: Anyone who is a U.S. citizen at 

birth. This includes people born in the United 

States, Puerto Rico, or a U.S. Island Area (U.S. 

Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and 

the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 

Islands) or born abroad of a U.S. citizen parent 

or parents. In this report, the terms “native” and 

“native born” are used interchangeably.

Foreign born: Anyone who is not a U.S. citizen 

at birth, including those who have become U.S. 

citizens through naturalization.

U.S. citizen: Respondents who are either 

1) native born or 2) foreign born who indicated that they became U.S. citizens through 

naturalization.

Noncitizen: Respondents who indicated that 

they were not U.S. citizens at the time of the 

survey. In this report, the terms “not a U.S. citizen” and “noncitizen” are used interchangeably.
2 U.S. Census Bureau

does not include a question on 

legal status, this report compares 

only the characteristics of citizens—including both native born 

and naturalized foreign born—with 

noncitizens. It begins by discussing 

the distribution of the total population by citizenship status and 

age, then reviews the geographic 

distribution of noncitizens under 

age 35 by state and metropolitan 

statistical area. The labor force 

participation, employment status, 

and occupation distribution of both 

citizens and noncitizens aged 25 to 

34 are then compared. The report 

closes with a discussion of selected 

demographic and educational characteristics of noncitizens under age 

35, which includes median age, age 

at arrival to the United States, years 

since entering the United States, 

college enrollment, and educational 

attainment.

Figure 1. 

Nativity and Citizenship Status by Selected Age Group: 2010–2012 

(Percent distribution. Data based on sample. For information on confidentiality protection, sampling error, 

nonsampling error, and definitions, see www.census.gov/acs/www/)

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010-2012 American Community Survey.

Under 35 years

(146.7 million)

35 years and over 

(164.9 million)

Native born

90.5

Native born

83.9

Naturalized

citizen

2.4

Naturalized

citizen

8.8

Noncitizen

7.1

Noncitizen

7.3

Table 1. 

Population by Age, Citizenship Status, and Nativity: 

2010–2012

(Numbers in thousands. Data based on sample. For information on confidentiality protection, 

sampling error, nonsampling error, and definitions, see www.census.gov/acs/www/)

Age, citizenship status, and 

nativity Number

Margin of 

error (±)1 Percent

Margin of 

error (±)1

 All ages . . . . . . . . . . . 311,609 X 100.0 X

Citizen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289,272 73 92.8 Z

Native . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271,159 74 87.0 Z

Naturalized citizen . . . . . . . 18,113 48 5.8 Z

Noncitizen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22,338 73 7.2 Z

 Under 35 years . . . . . 146,702 20 47.1 Z

Citizen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136,355 39 43.8 Z

Native . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132,810 46 42.6 Z

Naturalized citizen . . . . . . . 3,545 25 1.1 Z

Noncitizen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,347 46 3.3 Z

35 years and over . . . 164,907 20 52.9 Z

Citizen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152,917 55 49.1 Z

Native . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138,349 55 44.4 Z

Naturalized citizen . . . . . . . 14,568 35 4.7 Z

Noncitizen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11,991 42 3.8 Z

Z Rounds to zero.

X Not applicable. 1

 Data are based on a sample and are subject to sampling variability. A margin of error is a measure 

of an estimate’s variability. The larger the margin of error is in relation to the size of the estimate, the less 

reliable the estimate. When added to and subtracted from the estimate, the margin of error forms the 90 

percent confidence interval.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010–2012 American Community Survey.
U.S. Census Bureau 3

NATIVITY, CITIZENSHIP 

STATUS, AND AGE

In 2010–2012, 311.6 million people 

lived in the United States, including 289.3 million citizens and 22.3 

million noncitizens (Table 1). Citizens—including both native born 

and naturalized foreign born—represented 93 percent of the total 

population, while noncitizens 

represented 7 percent. Additionally, 

146.7 million people—less than 

half (47 percent) of the total population—were under age 35, 10.3 

million of whom were noncitizens. 

By comparison, 12.0 million of the 

164.9 million people aged 35 and 

older were noncitizens. Noncitizen residents of the United States 

under age 35 and those aged 35 

and older made up 3 percent and 

4 percent of the total population, 

respectively. 

Within the two broad age groups, 

the native born were the majority—91 percent of people under 

age 35 and 84 percent of people 

aged 35 and older (Figure 1). The 

population under age 35 was less 

likely to be naturalized citizens 

(2 percent) than the population 

Figure 2. 

Age Distribution of Population Under Age 35 by Citizenship Status: 2010-–2012

(Percent distribution. Data based on sample. For information on confidentiality protection, sampling error, 

nonsampling error, and definitions, see www.census.gov/acs/www/)

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010–2012 American Community Survey.

Citizen

(136.4 million)

Age Age

Noncitizen

(10.3 million)

30 to 34

25 to 29

20 to 24

15 to 19

10 to 14

5 to 9

0 to 4

30 to 34

25 to 29

20 to 24

15 to 19

10 to 14

5 to 9

0 to 4

12.8

13.6

14.7

15.1

14.6

14.6

14.6

29.0

26.3

19.5

11.4

7.7

4.2

1.9

0 to 17

52.7

0 to 17

19.9

18 to 24

20.9

18 to 24

24.8

25 to 34

26.4

25 to 34

55.3
4 U.S. Census Bureau

aged 35 and older (9 percent), while 

noncitizens composed about 7 percent in each age group.

Also, the age distribution of the 

population under 35 varied substantially by citizenship status. While citizens under age 35 were generally 

evenly distributed across five-year 

age groups, the distribution of noncitizens under age 35 demonstrated 

an upward pattern, where each fiveyear age group was larger than the 

previous one (Figure 2).2 Less than 

half (47 percent) of citizens under 

age 35 were between the ages of 

18 and 34, compared with 80 percent of noncitizens under age 35. 

Furthermore, noncitizens under age 

35 were more than twice as likely as 

citizens under age 35 to be aged 25 

to 34 (55 percent and 26 percent, 

respectively). However, citizens 

under age 35 were more likely to 

be children than noncitizens under 

age 35. Over half (53 percent) of 

citizens were less than 18 years 

old, compared with about 1 in every 

5 (20 percent) noncitizens. This 

difference is most apparent in the 

youngest age groups: 29 percent of 

citizens under age 35 were less than 

10 years old, compared with 6 percent of noncitizens under age 35. 

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION 

OF NONCITIZENS UNDER 

AGE 35 

Although noncitizens under age 35 

resided in all states across the country, higher concentrations were found 

in some states. The states with the 

largest foreign-born populations—

California, Florida, New York, and 

Texas—were also the states with the 

highest number of younger noncitizens (Table 2, Figure 3).

Collectively, over half of the foreignborn population and the noncitizen 

2 The difference in age structure between the 

citizens under age 35 and the noncitizens under 

age 35 can be partly explained by the fact that all 

children born in the United States are native born, 

regardless of parental nativity.

population under age 35—56 

percent and 51 percent, respectively—resided in these four states 

in 2010–2012. In fact, one out of 

three (35 percent) younger noncitizens lived in either California (22 

percent) or Texas (13 percent), both 

of which had over 1 million noncitizens under age 35. An additional 

one-quarter of this population (25 

percent) lived in four other states: 

Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, and 

New York. 

As a percent of the state’s total 

population, California (6.1 percent) had the highest proportion of 

noncitizens under age 35, followed 

by Texas (5.1 percent), Nevada (4.8 

percent), New Jersey (4.8 percent), 

New York (4.7 percent), and the 

District of Columbia (4.2 percent).3 

An additional six states—Arizona, 

3 The percentages for Nevada, New Jersey, 

and New York were not significantly different 

from each other, nor were the percentages for 

Florida and the District of Columbia.

Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Washington—had 

proportions higher than the national 

average of 3.3 percent. The proportion of younger noncitizens was 

lowest in five states—Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Vermont, and West 

Virginia—all of which had less than 

1 percent.4

Nationwide, noncitizens under age 

35 represented about one-fourth

(26 percent) of the total foreignborn population. At the state level, 

this proportion varied from about 

one out of five (18 percent) to two 

out of five (41 percent). In 17 states, 

one-third or more of their foreignborn population were noncitizens 

under age 35. By comparison, in

17 other states, one-fourth or less 

of their foreign-born population 

were noncitizens under age 35. 

4 The percentages for Maine, Mississippi, 

and Vermont were not significantly different 

from each other, nor were the percentages for 

West Virginia and Montana.

Figure 3. 

Noncitizens Under Age 35 by State: 2010-2012

(Percent distribution. Data based on sample. For information on 

confidentiality protection, sampling error, nonsampling error, and 

definitions, see www.census.gov/acs/www/)

Percentages do not sum to 100.0 due to rounding.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010-2012 American Community Survey.

Illinois

4.3

California

22.1

New York

8.9

Texas

12.7

Florida

7.2

New Jersey

4.1

All other states

40.6
U.S. Census Bureau 5

Table 2. 

Total, Foreign-Born, and Young Noncitizen Population by State: 2010–2012

(Numbers in thousands. Data based on sample. For information on confidentiality protection, sampling error, nonsampling error, and definitions, see 

www.census.gov/acs/www/)

Area

Total 

population

Foreign-born population Noncitizen population under 35 years

Number

Margin of 

error (±)1 Number

Margin of 

error (±)1

Percent of 

total 

population

Margin of 

error (±)1

Percent of 

foreign-born 

population

Margin of 

error (±)1

 United States . . . 311,609 40,451 74 10,347 46 3.3 Z 25.6 0.1

Alabama . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,803 169 4 67 3 1.4 0.1 39.6 1.2

Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 723 50 2 11 1 1.5 0.2 21.4 2.1

Arizona . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,477 867 9 235 6 3.6 0.1 27.1 0.6

Arkansas . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,937 133 3 55 3 1.9 0.1 41.2 1.3

California . . . . . . . . . . . . 37,687 10,211 30 2,290 16 6.1 Z 22.4 0.1

Colorado . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,117 497 7 155 5 3.0 0.1 31.3 0.8

Connecticut . . . . . . . . . . 3,585 487 7 118 3 3.3 0.1 24.2 0.5

Delaware . . . . . . . . . . . . 908 76 3 22 1 2.4 0.2 29.4 1.5

District of Columbia . . . . 619 85 3 26 2 4.2 0.3 30.6 1.7

Florida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19,082 3,713 22 747 12 3.9 0.1 20.1 0.3

Georgia . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,816 944 10 309 6 3.1 0.1 32.7 0.4

Hawaii . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,378 249 5 44 3 3.2 0.2 17.5 1.0

Idaho . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,583 93 3 31 2 2.0 0.1 33.5 1.6

Illinois . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,858 1,783 13 450 7 3.5 0.1 25.2 0.3

Indiana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,515 304 5 113 3 1.7 0.1 37.3 0.7

Iowa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,063 139 3 50 2 1.6 0.1 35.9 1.3

Kansas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,872 193 4 67 3 2.3 0.1 34.9 1.1

Kentucky . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,365 141 3 53 2 1.2 0.1 37.2 1.3

Louisiana . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,574 175 4 56 3 1.2 0.1 32.0 1.1

Maine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,328 46 2 8 1 0.6 0.1 18.1 1.9

Maryland . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,837 819 8 223 5 3.8 0.1 27.2 0.4

Massachusetts . . . . . . . . 6,605 991 9 241 6 3.7 0.1 24.3 0.5

Michigan . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,879 600 8 148 4 1.5 Z 24.6 0.6

Minnesota . . . . . . . . . . . 5,346 390 6 123 4 2.3 0.1 31.5 0.7

Mississippi . . . . . . . . . . . 2,977 64 3 25 2 0.8 0.1 38.2 2.2

Missouri . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,009 236 5 75 3 1.2 0.1 31.7 1.0

Montana . . . . . . . . . . . . . 998 20 1 4 1 0.4 0.1 21.5 3.0

Nebraska . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,842 117 3 42 2 2.3 0.1 35.9 1.1

Nevada . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,728 520 6 131 4 4.8 0.1 25.3 0.6

New Hampshire . . . . . . . 1,318 71 3 15 1 1.2 0.1 21.5 1.7

New Jersey . . . . . . . . . . 8,834 1,879 12 423 7 4.8 0.1 22.5 0.3

New Mexico . . . . . . . . . . 2,076 204 6 60 3 2.9 0.2 29.3 1.3

New York . . . . . . . . . . . . 19,490 4,348 20 916 12 4.7 0.1 21.1 0.2

North Carolina . . . . . . . . 9,654 730 8 274 5 2.8 0.1 37.5 0.5

North Dakota . . . . . . . . . 686 18 1 7 1 1.1 0.1 40.6 3.0

Ohio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11,541 459 7 127 4 1.1 Z 27.7 0.7

Oklahoma . . . . . . . . . . . 3,786 210 3 79 3 2.1 0.1 37.7 0.9

Oregon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,869 378 6 117 4 3.0 0.1 31.0 0.8

Pennsylvania . . . . . . . . . 12,740 757 8 183 4 1.4 Z 24.2 0.5

Rhode Island . . . . . . . . . 1,051 138 3 33 2 3.1 0.2 23.8 1.2

South Carolina . . . . . . . . 4,678 223 5 81 3 1.7 0.1 36.1 1.1

South Dakota . . . . . . . . . 824 23 1 9 1 1.1 0.1 38.9 3.7

Tennessee . . . . . . . . . . . 6,404 296 5 111 3 1.7 0.1 37.4 0.9

Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25,645 4,198 20 1,316 12 5.1 Z 31.3 0.2

Utah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,815 235 5 82 3 2.9 0.1 34.8 0.9

Vermont . . . . . . . . . . . . . 626 26 1 5 1 0.7 0.1 18.0 2.3

Virginia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,105 925 10 249 7 3.1 0.1 26.9 0.5

Washington . . . . . . . . . . 6,821 905 9 246 6 3.6 0.1 27.2 0.5

West Virginia . . . . . . . . . 1,855 26 2 8 1 0.4 0.1 30.5 2.8

Wisconsin . . . . . . . . . . . 5,709 267 5 82 3 1.4 Z 30.7 0.8

Wyoming . . . . . . . . . . . . 569 19 2 7 1 1.2 0.2 35.4 4.0

Z Rounds to zero. 1

Data are based on a sample and are subject to sampling variability. A margin of error is a measure of an estimate’s variability. The larger the margin of error is 

in relation to the size of the estimate, the less reliable the estimate. When added to and subtracted from the estimate, the margin of error forms the 90 percent confidence interval.

Note: “Young noncitizen population” refers to noncitizens under age 35.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010–2012 American Community Survey.
6 U.S. Census Bureau

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 

2010–2012 American Community Survey.

0 500 Miles

0 100 Miles

0 100 Miles

Note: Metropolitan Statistical Areas defined 

by the Office of Management and Budget 

as of December 2009.

Percent of Total Population That Are Noncitizens Under Age 35

by Metropolitan Statistical Area: 2010–2012

Figure 4.

(Data based on sample. For information on confidentiality protection, sampling error, nonsampling error, and definitions, 

see www.census.gov/acs/www/)

Percent

4.0 to 5.9

2.0 to 3.9

Less than 2.0

U.S. percent is 3.3

8.0 or more

6.0 to 7.9

Source: U.S. Census Bureau,

2010–2012 American Community Survey.

0 500 Miles

0 100 Miles

0 100 Miles

Percent

30.0 to 39.9

20.0 to 29.9

Less than 20.0

U.S. percent is 25.6

Note: Metropolitan Statistical Areas defined

by the Office of Management and Budget

as of December 2009.

50.0 or more

40.0 to 49.9

Percent of Foreign-Born Population that are Noncitizens Under Age 35

by Metropolitan Statistical Area: 2010–2012

Figure 5.

(Data based on sample. For information on confidentiality protection, sampling error, nonsampling error, and definitions,

see www.census.gov/acs/www/)

Fewer than 2,500

foreign born

Source: U.S. Census Bureau,

2010–2012 American Community Survey.

0 500 Miles

0 100 Miles

0 100 Miles

Note: Metropolitan Statistical Areas defined

by the Office of Management and Budget

as of December 2009.

Percent of Total Population That Are Noncitizens Under Age 35

by Metropolitan Statistical Area: 2010–2012

Figure 4.

(Data based on sample. For information on confidentiality protection, sampling error, nonsampling error, and definitions,

see www.census.gov/acs/www/)

Percent

4.0 to 5.9

2.0 to 3.9

Less than 2.0

U.S. percent is 3.3

8.0 or more

6.0 to 7.9

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 

2010–2012 American Community Survey.

0 500 Miles

0 100 Miles

0 100 Miles

Percent

30.0 to 39.9

20.0 to 29.9

Less than 20.0

U.S. percent is 25.6

Note: Metropolitan Statistical Areas defined 

by the Office of Management and Budget 

as of December 2009.

50.0 or more

40.0 to 49.9

Percent of Foreign-Born Population That Are Noncitizens Under Age 35

by Metropolitan Statistical Area: 2010–2012

Figure 5.

(Data based on sample. For information on confidentiality protection, sampling error, nonsampling error, and definitions, 

see www.census.gov/acs/www/)

Fewer than 2,500

foreign born
U.S. Census Bureau 7

The metropolitan areas with the 

largest number of noncitizens under 

age 35 were New York (1.2 million) 

and Los Angeles (0.9 million), followed by Houston, Miami, Chicago, 

and Dallas (each with 0.4 million).5,6 

As a percent of the total population, the proportion of noncitizens 

under age 35 in 13 metropolitan 

areas was about two or more times 

the national proportion (3.3 percent; Figure 4). In five metropolitan 

areas—including Salinas, CA (11 percent); McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX 

(9 percent); Laredo, TX (8 percent); 

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 

(8 percent); and Santa Barbara-Santa 

Maria-Goleta, CA (8 percent)—the 

proportion of noncitizens under age 

35 was about 8 percent or more of 

the total population.7 

In 11 metropolitan areas, noncitizens under age 35 represented 

about half or more of the total 

foreign-born population (Figure 5). 

This included several metropolitan 

areas with large universities, such 

as Ames, IA (Iowa State University); 

Bloomington, IN (Indiana University); 

College Station-Bryan, TX (Texas 

A&M University); Ithaca, NY (Cornell 

University); Lafayette, IN (Purdue 

University); and State College, PA 

(Pennsylvania State University). 

When considering the geographic 

distribution of noncitizens under 

age 35, two patterns emerge. First, 

relative to the total population, large 

population centers and immigration 

gateways, both traditional (such 

as southern California, southern 

Florida, Chicago-area Illinois, New 

5 The New York Metropolitan Statistical 

Area includes several counties from the states 

of New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. 

The Chicago Metropolitan Statistical Area 

includes several counties from the states of 

Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. 6 The number for the Miami metropolitan 

area is not significantly different from the 

numbers for the Chicago metropolitan area 

and the Houston metropolitan area. 7 The Laredo, McAllen, San Jose, and Santa 

Barbara metropolitan areas are not significantly different from each other.

York City, Texas, and Washington) and recent (such as Georgia, 

Nevada, North Carolina, and northern Virginia), tend to have higher 

proportions of noncitizens under 

age 35 in their total populations. 

Second, relative to the foreign-born 

population, higher concentrations 

of noncitizens under age 35 are 

found in less populous metropolitan 

areas, particularly those located east 

of the Mississippi River and west 

of the New England states. These 

areas were typically the sites of colleges and universities, as previously 

noted.

LABOR FORCE, 

EMPLOYMENT STATUS, 

AND OCCUPATION BY 

CITIZENSHIP STATUS

When citizens and noncitizens aged 

25 to 34 are compared, citizens 

are more likely to be in the civilian labor force, to have full-time 

employment, and to be working in 

management, business, science, 

and arts occupations or sales and 

office occupations.8 In 2010–2012, 

there were 35.6 million citizens and 

5.7 million noncitizens aged 25 to 

34 in the civilian population (Figure 

6).9 Of those, 83 percent of citizens 

and 75 percent of noncitizens were 

in the civilian labor force. Citizens 

aged 25 to 34 in the civilian labor 

force were also more likely than 

their noncitizen counterparts to be 

employed full-time: 65 percent and 

60 percent, respectively. However, 

among those in the labor force aged 

25 to 34, over one-third (35 percent) 

of noncitizens were employed parttime, compared with under onethird (30 percent) of citizens.

8 In this report, full-time employment refers 

to those working at least 35 hours a week and 

at least 50 weeks per year. Part-time employment includes those who worked less than 

full-time and year-round. 9 The civilian population refers to the 

portion of the resident population not in the 

active duty military.

Among employed civilians aged 25 

to 34, occupation patterns differed 

by citizenship status (Figure 7). 

Employed noncitizens were most 

likely to work in service occupations (27 percent), followed by 

management, business, science, 

and arts occupations (25 percent) 

and natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations 

(20 percent). Meanwhile, employed 

citizens were most likely to work in 

management, business, science, and 

arts occupations (39 percent), sales 

and office occupations (25 percent), 

and service occupations (18 percent). Comparatively, noncitizens 

were about 50 percent more likely 

than their citizen counterparts to 

work in either service occupations 

(27 percent and 18 percent, respectively) or production, transportation, 

and material moving occupations 

(15 percent and 10 percent, respectively), while citizens were 50 percent more likely than their noncitizen counterparts to work in either 

management, business, science, and 

arts occupations (39 percent and 25 

percent, respectively) or sales and 

office occupations (25 percent and 

14 percent, respectively). Notably, 

noncitizens in this age group were 

over twice as likely as citizens to 

work in natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations (20 percent and 9 percent, 

respectively).

DEMOGRAPHIC 

AND EDUCATIONAL 

CHARACTERISTICS BY 

REGION OF BIRTH

Of the 40.5 million foreign born 

(both citizens and noncitizens) 

living in the United States in 

2010–2012, the majority were born 

in Latin America and the Caribbean (53 percent), followed by Asia 

(29 percent), Europe (12 percent), 

Africa (4 percent), and other regions 
8 U.S. Census Bureau

(3 percent; Figure 8).10 The 10.3 

million noncitizens under age 35 

represented about one-fourth (26 

percent) of the total foreign-born 

population, and they were similarly 

distributed by region, though the 

proportion from Latin America and 

the Caribbean (64 percent) was 

higher, while the shares from Asia 

(23 percent) and Europe (6 percent) 

were lower.

10 The term “other regions” includes Northern America and Oceania.

Looking at the proportion by world 

region of birth (Table 3), 31 percent of the foreign born from Latin 

America and the Caribbean were 

noncitizens under age 35, making it the highest region-of-birth 

proportion. Conversely, the foreign 

born from Europe, with 13 percent 

noncitizens under age 35, had the 

lowest proportion, meaning that 

the foreign born from Latin America 

and the Caribbean were over twice 

as likely as the European foreign 

born to be younger noncitizens. The 

same can be said for the African 

foreign born—over one in four (28 

percent) were noncitizens under age 

35. 

The median age of all noncitizens 

under age 35 was 26 years; by 

region of birth, the median age varied slightly, ranging between 24 and 

26 years. However, there were differences among the regions in the 

proportion that entered the United 

Figure 6. 

Labor Force Participation and Employment Status of the Civilian Population 

Aged 25-34 by Citizenship Status: 2010-2012

(Percent distribution. Data based on sample. For information on confidentiality protection, sampling error, 

nonsampling error, and definitions, see www.census.gov/acs/www/)

1 "Employed part-time" refers to those who are employed but are working less than full-time, year-round (which is defined as 

those working at least 35 hours a week and at least 50 weeks per year).

Note: The civilian population refers to the portion of the resident population not in the active-duty military. 

Some percentages do not sum to 100.0 due to rounding. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010–2012 American Community Survey.

Citizen

(35.6 million)

Noncitizen

(5.7 million)

Employed

full-time,

year round

64.9

Employed

full-time,

year round

60.1

Employed 

part-time1

30.1 Employed 

part-time1

35.3

In labor force Not in labor force

83.2 16.8 75.1 24.9

Unemployed

4.9

Unemployed

4.7
U.S. Census Bureau 9

States before age 18.11 Overall, over 

half (52 percent) of all noncitizens 

under age 35 came to live in this 

country when they were less than 

18 years old. Noncitizens under age 

35 from Asia had the lowest proportion that arrived before age 18 (39 

percent), while those from Latin 

America and the Caribbean had the 

highest (58 percent). This suggests 

that noncitizens under age 35 from 

Asia tend to come to live in the 

11 Age at arrival is approximated through 

a two-step process. First, the number of years 

since entry to the United States is approximated by subtracting year of entry (e.g., 2000) 

from the year the survey was administered 

(e.g., 2011). Then, this result is subtracted 

from the person’s age. Using this method to 

derive the percentage of noncitizens under 

age 35 entering before age 18 excludes some 

people who actually entered at 17 but turned 

age 18 in the survey year.

United States later in life than those 

born elsewhere, while those from 

Latin America and the Caribbean 

tend to come earlier in life than 

those born elsewhere. 

Three out of five noncitizens under 

age 35 (61 percent) entered the 

United States 5 years or more prior 

to participation in the survey.12 This 

proportion varied greatly by region 

of birth—noncitizens under age 35 

born in Asia had the lowest percentage, while those born in Latin 

12 Years since entry to the United States 

is approximated (see footnote 11). To derive 

the percentage of noncitizens under age 35 

that entered 5 years ago or more, calculated 

differences of 6 or more were included, while 

those of 5 or less were excluded. People with 

differences equal to 5 were excluded since 

about half of those people actually would have 

entered 4 years ago.

America and the Caribbean had the 

highest percentage (36 percent and 

72 percent, respectively). Therefore, 

noncitizens under age 35 from Asia 

were more likely to be recent arrivals to the United States than those 

born elsewhere, while those born 

in Latin America and the Caribbean 

were less likely to be recent arrivals.

Among the 2.6 million noncitizens 

aged 18 to 24, one out of three (33 

percent) were enrolled in college.13 

College enrollment rates varied by 

region of birth. About two-thirds 

of noncitizens aged 18 to 24 from 

Asia (65 percent) and over half from 

Europe (54 percent) and Africa (54 

percent) were enrolled in college.14

By comparison, fewer than one in 

five (18 percent) of noncitizens aged 

18 to 24 from Latin America and the 

Caribbean were enrolled in college. 

Among the 5.7 million noncitizens 

aged 25 to 34, about two-thirds 

(65 percent) had attained a high 

school or higher educational degree, 

including 25 percent with at least 

a bachelor’s degree. Overall, educational attainment levels varied 

among the region of birth groups. 

Notably, about half (49 percent) 

of noncitizens aged 25 to 34 from 

Latin America had not graduated 

from high school, while over half 

of the foreign born from Asia and 

Europe had attained a bachelor’s 

degree or higher (68 percent and 

54 percent, respectively).

SOURCE AND ACCURACY

The data presented in this report are 

based on the ACS sample interviewed from January 2010 through 

December 2012. The estimates 

based on this sample describe the 

actual average values of person, 

13 College enrollment can refer to enrollment at the undergraduate, graduate, or 

professional levels; no distinction is made 

between full-, part-, or less than part-time 

enrollment. 14 The college enrollment rates for Europe 

and Africa were not significantly different.

Figure 7. 

Occupation of the Employed Civilian Population 

Aged 25-34 by Citizenship Status: 2010-2012

(Percent distribution. Data based on sample. For information on 

confidentiality protection, sampling error, nonsampling error, 

and definitions, see www.census.gov/acs/www/)

Note: The civilian population refers to the portion of the resident population not 

in the active-duty military. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010–2012 American Community Survey.

Citizen (26.5 million)

Noncitizen (3.9 million)

Management, business, science, and arts

Service

Sales and office

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance

Production, transportation, and material moving

39.1 17.6 10.1

14.9

8.6

19.7

24.6

24.5 27.2 13.7
10 U.S. Census Bureau

household, and housing unit characteristics over this period of collection. Sampling error is the uncertainty between an estimate based 

on a sample and the corresponding 

value that would be obtained if the 

estimate were based on the entire 

population (as from a census). Measures of sampling error are provided 

in the form of margins of error 

for key estimates included in this 

report. All comparative statements 

in this report have undergone statistical testing, and comparisons are 

significant at the 90 percent level 

unless otherwise noted. In addition to sampling error, nonsampling 

error may be introduced during any 

of the operations used to collect 

and process survey data such as 

editing, reviewing, or keying data 

from questionnaires. For more information on sampling and estimation 

methods, confidentiality protection, 

and sampling and nonsampling 

errors, please see the ACS Multiyear 

Accuracy of the Data document 

located at <www.census

.gov/acs/www/Downloads

/data_documentation/Accuracy

/MultiyearACSAccuracyofData2012

.pdf>.

Figure 8. 

Foreign-Born and Young Noncitizen Populations by World Region of Birth: 

2010–2012

(Percent distribution. Data based on sample. For information on confidentiality protection, sampling error, 

nonsampling error, and definitions, see www.census.gov/acs/www/)

1Other regions includes Oceania and Northern America. 

Note: “Young noncitizen population” refers to noncitizens under age 35.

Some percentages do not sum to 100.0 due to rounding. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010-2012 American Community Survey.

Foreign born 

(40.5 million)

Noncitizens under age 35

(10.3 million)

Europe

12.0

Europe

6.1

Asia

28.8

Asia

23.1

Latin America

and the

Caribbean

52.6

Latin America

and the

Caribbean

64.3

Other 

regions1

2.6

Other 

regions1

2.0

Africa

4.1

Africa

4.5
U.S. Census Bureau 11

Table 3.

Demographic and Educational Characteristics of Young Noncitizens: 2010–2012

(Estimates in thousands. Data based on sample. For information on confidentiality protection, sampling error, nonsampling error, and definitions, 

see www.census.gov/acs/www/)

Characteristic

Total

World region of birth

Africa Asia Europe

Latin America 

and the 

Caribbean

Other regions1

Estimate

Margin 

of error 

(±)2

Estimate

Margin 

of error 

(±)2

Estimate

Margin 

of error 

(±)2

Estimate

Margin 

of error 

(±)2

Estimate

Margin 

of error 

(±)2

Estimate

Margin 

of error 

(±)2

Noncitizens under age 35 . . . . . . . . . . 10,347 46 471 10 2,387 18 633 9 6,654 36 203 4

Percent of foreign-born population . . . . 25.6 0.1 28.3 0.4 20.5 0.1 13.1 0.2 31.3 0.1 19.6 0.4

Median age (in years) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26.0 Z 24.9 0.2 25.8 0.1 25.8 0.2 26.2 Z 24.0 0.3

Percent entered United States 

5 years ago or more . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60.5 0.2 41.5 1.0 35.9 0.4 49.2 0.7 72.1 0.3 48.6 1.1

At age under 18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51.9 0.2 46.7 1.0 38.6 0.4 45.9 0.8 57.5 0.2 53.9 1.3

Noncitizens aged 18 to 24........... 2,568 21 115 4 590 9 148 5 1,666 15 49 2

Percent enrolled in college3 . . . . . . . . . . 33.1 0.3 53.6 1.6 65.4 0.7 54.5 1.6 17.6 0.3 59.4 2.5

Noncitizens aged 25 to 34........... 5,722 26 234 6 1,282 11 340 6 3,772 21 94 3

Percent less than high school graduate . 35.1 0.2 11.6 0.8 7.6 0.3 4.5 0.3 49.4 0.3 5.5 0.7

Percent high school graduate . . . . . . . . 24.1 0.2 20.0 0.9 10.6 0.3 17.6 0.6 29.7 0.3 15.4 1.3

Percent some college or associate’s 

degree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15.6 0.2 34.6 1.1 14.3 0.3 24.0 0.8 13.8 0.2 26.1 1.4

Percent bachelor’s degree or higher . . . 25.2 0.2 33.8 1.2 67.5 0.5 53.8 0.9 7.0 0.2 53.1 1.7

Z Rounds to zero. 1

Other regions includes Oceania and Northern America. 2

Data are based on a sample and are subject to sampling variability. A margin of error is a measure of an estimate’s variability. The larger the margin of error 

is in relation to the size of the estimate, the less reliable the estimate. When added to and subtracted from the estimate, the margin of error forms the 90 percent 

confidence interval. 3

Includes enrollment at the undergraduate, graduate, or professional levels.

Note: Age at arrival is approximated through a two-step process. First, the number of years since entry to the United States is approximated by subtracting 

year of entry (e.g., 2000) from the year the survey was administered (e.g., 2011). Then, this result is subtracted from the person’s age. To derive the percentage of 

noncitizens under age 35 that entered 5 years ago or more, calculated differences between year of survey and year of entry of 6 or more were included, while those 

of 5 or less were excluded. People with differences equal to 5 were excluded since about half of those people actually would have entered 4 years ago. Additionally, 

using this method to derive the percentage of noncitizens under age 35 entering before age 18 excludes some people who actually entered at 17 but turned age 18 

in the survey year.

Some percentages do not sum to 100.0 due to rounding.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010–2012 American Community Survey.