Facts on U.S. immigrants, 2018
Key statistics about immigrants in the United States from 1980 to 2018.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
Key statistics about immigrants in the United States from 1980 to 2018.
There were a record 44.8 million immigrants living in the U.S. in 2018, making up 13.7% of the nation’s population.
There were a record 44.8 million immigrants living in the U.S. in 2018, making up 13.7% of the nation’s population. This represents a more than fourfold increase since 1960.
This statistical profile of the foreign-born population in the 50 states and the District of Columbia is based on Pew Research Center tabulations of the Census Bureau’s 2010 and 2018 American Community Survey (ACS) and the 1960-2000 decennial censuses.
As of 2018, 19% of the national immigrant population lives in the top five counties: Los Angeles County, California; Miami-Dade County, Florida; Harris County, Texas; Cook County, Illinois; and Queens County, New York.
Since 2000, the size of the immigrant electorate has nearly doubled. More than 23 million U.S. immigrants will be eligible to vote in the 2020 presidential election.
Most live in Germany, the UK, Italy and France, and about half had arrived in Europe in recent years. Overall, these migrants account for less than 1% of Europe’s total population.
Across the surveyed countries, opinion varies widely about the value of diversity. But interacting with people of different backgrounds is related to more positive attitudes about the role of diversity in society.
Majorities in top migrant destination countries say immigrants strengthen their countries. Yet publics are divided on immigrants’ willingness to adopt their host country’s customs.
Many Americans support encouraging high-skilled immigration into the United States. But the U.S. trails other economically advanced nations in its share of immigrants with high skills.
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