American Community Survey Briefs

U.S. Department of Commerce

Economics and Statistics Administration

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU

U S C E N S U S B U R E A U

Helping You Make Informed Decisions

Place of Birth of the Foreign-Born 

Population: 2009

Introduction

This report presents data on the foreignborn population at the national and 

state levels based on the 2009 American 

Community Survey (ACS). During the last 

four decades, the foreign-born population of the United States has continued 

to increase in size and as a percent of 

the total population: from 9.6 million 

or 4.7 percent in 1970, to 14.1 million 

or 6.2 percent in 1980, 19.8 million or 

7.9 percent in 1990, and 31.1 million 

or 11.1 percent in 2000.1 According to 

the 2009 ACS, there were 38.5 million 

foreign-born residents, representing 

12.5 percent of the total population.2

While the number of foreign born represents a historical high, the proportion of 

the total population is lower than during 

the great migration of the late 1800s and 

early 1900s, when it fluctuated between 

13 percent and 15 percent.3 But more 

notable than the growth of the foreignborn population is the change in the 

distribution of origin countries over time. 

1 Gibson, Campbell and Kay Jung. 2006. 

“Historical Census Statistics on the Foreign-Born 

Population in the United States: 1850 to 2000.” U.S. 

Census Bureau: Population Division Working Paper, 

Number 81 available on the U.S. Census Bureau’s Web 

site at <www.census.gov/population/www/techpap

.html>. 2 In addition, since 1970, as the foreign-born 

population increased in size, it also became, on 

average, a younger population. In 1970, the median 

age of the foreign-born population was 52 years; 

by 2009, it was 41 years (Campbell and Jung, 2006; 

2009 American Community Survey). 3 The foreign-born population represented 

13.3 percent of the total population in 1880, 

14.8 percent in 1890, 13.6 percent in 1900, 

14.7 percent in 1910, and 13.2 percent in 1920. 

See Campbell and Jung, 2006.

In 1960, 75 percent of the foreign born 

were from countries in Europe. By 2009, 

over 80 percent of the foreign born were 

from countries in Latin America and Asia. 

Also since 1960, the foreign born increasingly have settled in states beyond the 

traditional gateway states of New York, 

California, Texas, Florida, and Illinois. 

This report will discuss the size, country 

of origin, and distribution of the foreignborn population in 2009.

Issued October 2010

ACSBR/09-15

By

Elizabeth M. Grieco 

Edward N. Trevelyan

Defining Nativity Status: 

Who Is Foreign Born? 

Nativity status refers to whether 

a person is native or foreign 

born. The native-born population 

includes anyone who was a U.S. 

citizen at birth. Respondents who 

were born in the United States, 

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

Virgin Islands, Guam, American 

Samoa, or the Commonwealth of 

the Northern Mariana Islands), or 

abroad of a U.S. citizen parent or 

parents, are defined as native. The 

foreign-born population includes 

anyone who was not a U.S. citizen 

at birth, including those who have 

become U.S. citizens through 

naturalization.
2 U.S. Census Bureau

Size, Country of Birth, 

and Distribution of 

the Foreign-Born 

Population

In 2009, there were 307 million 

people living in the United States, 

including 38.5 million foreign born 

representing 1 in 8 residents. 

Between 2000 and 2009, the 

foreign-born population increased 

by 7.4 million persons, or by about 

24 percent.

Over half (53 percent) of all foreign born were from Latin America 

(see Figure 1). Another 28 percent 

were from Asia. The next largest 

region-of-origin group—the foreign 

born from Europe—represented 

13 percent of all foreign born, less 

than half the size of the foreign 

born from Asia. About 4 percent of 

the foreign born were from Africa, 

followed by about 3 percent from 

other regions, including Oceania 

and Northern America.

Mexico was the largest of all 

country-of-birth groups (see 

Figure 2). There were 11.5 million foreign born from Mexico in 

the United States, representing 

30 percent of the total foreign-born 

population. Mexico was also the 

predominant country in the Latin 

America region-of-origin group. Of 

the 20.5 million foreign born from 

Latin America, 56 percent were 

born in Mexico. The next largest 

country-of-birth group, the foreign 

born from China, was considerably 

smaller than the foreign-born population from Mexico. There were 

2 million foreign born from China, 

comprising over 5 percent of the 

total foreign-born population. 

The remaining largest country-ofbirth groups, with about 1 million 

foreign born each, included 

the Philippines, India, Vietnam, 

El Salvador, Korea, and Cuba.4

4 The estimates for Vietnam and El 

Salvador are not statistically different. The 

estimates for Korea and Cuba are not statistically different.

Figure 1. 

Total Population by Nativity and Foreign-Born

Population by Region of Birth: 2009

(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 include Oceania and Northern America.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2009. 

Native

87.5 Foreign born

12.5

Asia

27.7

Latin America

53.1

Europe

12.7

Africa

3.9

Other regions1

2.7

Figure 2. 

Foreign-Born Population by Country of Birth for 

Countries With 750,000 or More Foreign Born: 2009

(Data based on sample. For information on confidentiality protection, 

sampling error, nonsampling error, and definitions, 

see www.census.gov/acs/www)

1 Includes respondents who reported their country of birth as China, Hong Kong, 

Macau, Paracel Islands, or Taiwan. 2 Includes respondents who reported their country of birth as Korea, North Korea, 

or South Korea.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2009. 

As a percent of 

the total foreignborn population

Millions

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16

All other countries

Dominican Republic

Guatemala

Canada

Cuba

Korea2

Vietnam

El Salvador

India

Philippines

China1

Mexico 29.8

5.2

4.5

4.3

3.0

3.0

2.6

2.6

2.1

2.1

2.1

38.8
U.S. Census Bureau 3

California had the largest number of foreign-born residents 

(9.9 million), followed by New 

York (4.2 million), Texas (4.0 million), and Florida (3.5 million) 

(see Figure 3). When combined, 

21.6 million foreign born—or more 

than half (56 percent) of the total 

foreign-born population—lived in 

just these four states. California’s 

foreign born alone represented 

over one-fourth of all foreign born.

California also had the largest 

proportion of foreign born in its 

total population (see Figure 4). 

Over one-fourth (27 percent) of all 

residents of California were foreign born. Approximately 1 in 5 

residents were foreign born in two 

other states—New York (21 percent) and New Jersey (20 percent). 

An additional nine states had proportions of foreign born that were 

higher than the national average 

(12.5 percent): Nevada, Florida, 

Hawaii, Texas, Massachusetts, 

Arizona, Illinois, Connecticut, and 

Maryland.5

The composition of the foreignborn population by region of birth 

varied among states. The foreign 

born from Latin America represented over 65 percent of the 

state foreign-born population in 

New Mexico (78 percent), Florida 

(75 percent), Texas (73 percent), 

and Arizona (69 percent) (see 

Table 1). In addition to these 

4 states, there were 13 other 

states where over 50 percent of 

the foreign-born population was 

from Latin America. The foreign 

born from Asia comprised more 

than 50 percent of the total foreign-born population in one state: 

Hawaii (78 percent). An additional 

10 states had more than one-third 

5 The estimates for Nevada and Florida are 

not statistically different. The estimates for 

Massachusetts and Arizona are not statistically different. The estimates for Connecticut 

and Maryland are not statistically different.

of their foreign-born populations 

from Asia. In three states, the foreign born from Africa represented 

more than 15 percent of the foreign-born population: North Dakota 

(22 percent), Minnesota (18 percent), and Maryland (16 percent).6

One of the states with the highest 

proportion of foreign born from 

Europe in its total foreign-born population was Vermont (39 percent).7

Source and Accuracy

Data presented in this report are 

based on people and households 

that responded to the ACS in 2009. 

The resulting estimates are representative of the entire population. 

All comparisons presented in this 

report have taken sampling error 

into account and are significant 

6 The estimates for North Dakota and 

Minnesota are not statistically different. The 

estimates for Minnesota and Maryland are not 

statistically different. 7 The estimates for Vermont and Montana 

are not statistically different.

at the 90-percent confidence level 

unless otherwise noted. Due to 

rounding, some details may not 

sum to totals. For information on 

sampling and estimation methods, 

confidentiality protection, and 

sampling and nonsampling errors, 

please see the “ACS Accuracy of the 

Data (2009)” document located at 

<www.census.gov/acs/www

/Downloads/data_documentation

/Accuracy/ACS_Accuracy_of

_Data_2009.pdf>. 

Additional information about the 

foreign-born population is available 

on the Census Bureau’s Web site at 

<www.census.gov/population

/www/socdemo/foreign/index.

html>.

Figure 3. 

Foreign-Born Population by State for States With 

750,000 or More Foreign Born: 2009

(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, American Community Survey, 2009. 

As a percent of

the total foreignborn population

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16

All other states

Virginia

Washington

Georgia

Arizona

Massachusetts

Illinois

New Jersey

Florida

Texas

New York

California

Millions

25.8

10.8

10.3

9.0

4.6

4.5

2.4

2.4

2.4

2.1

2.1

23.4
4 U.S. Census Bureau

What is the American 

Community Survey?

The American Community 

Survey (ACS) is a nationwide survey 

designed to provide communities 

with reliable and timely demographic, social, economic, and 

housing data for the nation, states, 

congressional districts, counties, 

places, and other localities every 

year. It has an annual sample size 

of about 3 million addresses across 

the United States and Puerto Rico 

and includes both housing units 

and group quarters (e.g., nursing 

facilities and prisons). The ACS is 

conducted in every county throughout the nation, and every municipio 

in Puerto Rico, where it is called 

the Puerto Rico Community Survey. 

Beginning in 2006, ACS data for 

2005 were released for geographic 

areas with populations of 65,000 

and greater. For information on the 

ACS sample design and other topics, visit <www.census.gov/acs

/www>.

MT

AK

NM

OR MN

KS

SD

ND

MO

WA

FL

IL IN

WI NY

PA

MI

OH

IA

ME

MA

PR HI

CT 

AZ

NV

TX

CA CO

WY

UT

ID

NE

OK

GA

AR

AL

NC

MS

LA

TN

KY VA

SC

WV

RI 

DE 

MD 

DC 

NJ 

Figure 4.

Foreign-Born Population by State and Puerto Rico: 2009

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

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

VT NH

United States = 12.5

Percentage of 

the state’s total 

population

20.0 or more

15.0 to 19.9

10.0 to 14.9

6.0 to 9.9

Less than 6.0

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2009, Puerto Rico Community Survey, 2009. 
U.S. Census Bureau 5

Table 1.

The Foreign-Born Population, Showing Percentage of the Population by Region of Birth 

and by State and Puerto Rico: 2009

(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

Foreign born Africa Asia Europe Latin America Other regions1

Total

Margin 

of error2

(±)

Percent 

of total

Margin 

of error2

(±)

Percent 

of total

Margin 

of error2

(±)

Percent 

of total

Margin 

of error2

(±)

Percent 

of total

Margin 

of error2

(±)

Percent 

of total

Margin 

of error2

(±)

 United States . . 38,517 116 3.9 0.1 27.7 0.1 12.7 0.1 53.1 0.1 2.7 –

Alabama . . . . . . . . . . 147 4 5.2 1.5 28.3 1.6 12.5 1.4 51.0 2.1 3.1 0.8

Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 3 3.4 2.0 51.6 3.7 13.3 2.3 23.7 3.9 8.0 1.9

Arizona . . . . . . . . . . . 925 20 2.2 0.4 15.0 0.7 8.9 0.6 69.4 0.9 4.5 0.4

Arkansas . . . . . . . . . . 120 5 1.7 0.8 20.2 2.2 9.6 1.7 65.5 2.3 3.0 0.8

California . . . . . . . . . . 9,947 47 1.4 0.1 35.1 0.2 6.7 0.2 54.8 0.3 2.1 0.1

Colorado . . . . . . . . . . 487 15 3.8 0.7 21.5 1.1 13.5 0.9 58.0 1.4 3.2 0.5

Connecticut . . . . . . . . 460 12 3.8 0.7 21.5 0.7 28.1 1.2 42.7 1.3 3.9 0.4

Delaware . . . . . . . . . . 74 5 9.6 2.7 31.0 3.5 14.6 2.8 41.9 4.2 2.9 1.5

District of Columbia . . 72 5 13.1 3.2 17.3 2.0 16.9 2.6 49.0 3.1 3.7 1.2

Florida . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,484 37 1.4 0.1 10.0 0.2 10.5 0.3 74.8 0.4 3.3 0.2

Georgia . . . . . . . . . . . 920 17 8.2 0.8 25.0 0.8 10.0 0.7 54.6 0.8 2.2 0.3

Hawaii . . . . . . . . . . . . 224 9 0.8 0.4 78.2 2.2 5.5 0.9 4.8 0.9 10.8 1.7

Idaho . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98 6 3.0 1.3 15.3 2.2 17.1 2.5 59.1 3.0 5.5 1.3

Illinois . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,741 24 2.6 0.3 25.8 0.5 22.7 0.7 47.6 0.7 1.3 0.1

Indiana . . . . . . . . . . . . 281 9 4.7 1.1 27.6 1.4 16.4 1.7 47.8 1.6 3.5 0.5

Iowa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 4 6.5 1.6 33.8 2.0 15.2 2.1 42.0 2.2 2.5 0.6

Kansas . . . . . . . . . . . . 171 6 4.3 0.9 26.8 1.3 8.8 1.3 57.8 1.8 2.4 1.0

Kentucky . . . . . . . . . . 128 6 7.3 1.8 30.7 2.5 18.0 2.5 40.4 2.6 3.5 0.9

Louisiana . . . . . . . . . . 152 7 4.5 1.8 32.4 1.9 10.7 1.4 49.5 2.2 2.9 0.8

Maine . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 4 15.3 5.0 22.6 2.6 24.9 3.4 8.1 2.2 29.0 4.0

Maryland . . . . . . . . . . 730 14 16.1 1.1 32.8 0.9 12.2 0.7 37.6 1.0 1.3 0.2

Massachusetts . . . . . . 943 19 8.1 0.9 27.6 0.8 25.9 0.9 34.8 1.1 3.5 0.3

Michigan . . . . . . . . . . 614 15 3.6 0.6 45.5 1.3 25.0 1.2 19.3 1.0 6.6 0.5

Minnesota . . . . . . . . . 358 10 17.9 1.5 36.3 1.2 12.9 1.2 29.2 1.3 3.8 0.6

Mississippi . . . . . . . . . 60 5 3.2 1.4 31.1 3.6 12.5 2.7 49.5 4.0 3.6 1.7

Missouri . . . . . . . . . . . 213 8 7.4 1.3 35.7 1.8 23.6 1.8 30.1 1.7 3.1 0.6

Montana . . . . . . . . . . . 19 2 2.0 2.0 28.1 5.6 33.1 6.5 16.2 4.1 20.6 4.6

Nebraska . . . . . . . . . . 106 4 7.8 1.7 26.2 2.1 5.9 1.1 57.4 2.6 2.7 1.0

Nevada . . . . . . . . . . . 507 11 2.9 0.6 26.8 0.9 8.7 0.9 58.7 1.0 2.9 0.5

New Hampshire . . . . . 68 5 8.1 1.9 29.8 2.7 25.7 2.8 22.9 3.3 13.6 2.5

New Jersey . . . . . . . . 1,759 24 4.5 0.4 31.1 0.6 18.1 0.5 45.2 0.7 1.0 0.1

New Mexico . . . . . . . . 196 10 1.7 0.6 9.5 0.8 7.9 1.0 78.3 1.4 2.6 0.6

New York . . . . . . . . . . 4,178 36 4.0 0.3 26.4 0.3 19.2 0.4 48.8 0.5 1.6 0.1

North Carolina . . . . . . 665 14 5.7 0.8 22.2 0.8 11.7 0.7 57.3 1.0 3.2 0.4

North Dakota . . . . . . . 15 2 21.6 4.1 25.7 4.9 16.1 4.2 11.5 4.6 25.1 5.1

Ohio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 433 11 11.3 1.3 36.6 1.3 27.7 1.3 20.5 1.0 4.0 0.5

Oklahoma . . . . . . . . . 190 7 4.3 1.1 23.4 1.4 7.9 0.9 60.4 1.9 4.0 1.2

Oregon . . . . . . . . . . . . 367 12 2.3 0.5 27.7 1.2 16.4 1.3 48.0 1.3 5.6 0.7

Pennsylvania . . . . . . . 691 16 7.7 0.9 36.4 1.0 26.4 1.1 26.9 1.2 2.6 0.3

Rhode Island . . . . . . . 133 7 12.5 2.0 16.6 1.5 23.6 2.3 43.4 2.5 3.9 1.1

South Carolina . . . . . . 205 8 3.0 1.1 24.1 1.6 16.6 1.6 52.3 1.8 4.1 0.9

South Dakota . . . . . . . 22 3 17.4 4.4 31.4 5.3 23.2 8.7 22.4 5.0 5.6 1.9

Tennessee . . . . . . . . . 266 10 7.7 1.6 29.6 1.9 12.0 1.3 46.9 1.5 3.8 0.7

Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,985 37 3.1 0.2 17.6 0.3 4.6 0.2 73.4 0.4 1.3 0.1

Utah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218 7 2.3 0.9 18.5 1.6 11.1 1.3 59.6 1.8 8.6 1.1

Vermont . . . . . . . . . . . 21 2 4.5 2.5 24.3 4.5 38.7 5.6 6.1 2.1 26.4 4.2

Virginia . . . . . . . . . . . . 806 15 8.7 0.8 41.4 0.9 11.7 0.7 35.7 0.8 2.5 0.3

Washington . . . . . . . . 811 15 5.2 0.6 39.0 0.8 18.4 1.0 30.2 0.9 7.1 0.5

West Virginia . . . . . . . 23 2 8.4 4.1 51.6 6.3 16.5 4.2 19.8 5.0 3.6 1.9

Wisconsin . . . . . . . . . 256 9 3.8 0.9 31.2 1.4 20.3 1.7 41.2 1.8 3.4 0.7

Wyoming . . . . . . . . . . 17 2 3.2 3.1 16.4 6.2 13.2 4.4 59.0 6.8 8.2 3.1

Puerto Rico . . . . . . . . 108 7 0.1 0.2 2.7 1.3 3.8 1.0 92.9 1.7 0.4 0.3

– Represents or rounds to zero.

1

Other regions include 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 

in relation to the size of the estimates, 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, American Community Survey, 2009.