U.S. immigrants from Africa, Caribbean more than twice as likely as immigrants overall to have refugee status

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January 11, 2022

One-in-Ten Black People Living in the U.S. Are Immigrants

U.S. immigrants from Africa, Caribbean more than twice as likely as immigrants overall to have refugee status

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U.S. immigrants from Africa, Caribbean more than twice as likely as immigrants overall to have refugee status

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One-in-Ten Black People Living in the U.S. Are Immigrants
Black immigrant population climbs to 4.6 million and is projected to reach 9.5 million by 2060
Roughly one-in-five Black people in the U.S. are immigrants or children of Black immigrants
Black immigrants differ from U.S.-born Black population, immigrants overall on income and educational attainment
Among Black immigrants in 2019, those who were born in an African country are the least likely to have lived in the U.S. for more than two decades
Number of Black immigrants from Africa living in the U.S. more than tripled from 2000 to 2019
Top birthplaces for Black immigrants in U.S., 2000 and 2019
Black immigrants more likely than immigrants overall to be U.S. citizens
African immigrants represented the largest share of recent Black immigrant arrivals in the U.S. in 2019
Black immigrants have highest median age among the U.S. Black population
Over half of Black immigrants live in a household headed by a married couple
Share of Black foreign-born bachelor’s and advanced degree holders has grown by 10 percentage points since 2000
Educational attainment varies among U.S. Black immigrants
Most Black immigrants live in Northeast and South
Top 10 states of residence for U.S. Black immigrants
Colorado, Nevada and Washington are the fastest growing states for Black immigrants
Black immigrant household incomes lower than that of the overall U.S. immigrant population but vary among different origin groups, 2019
Fewer than one-in-five Black immigrants lived below the poverty line in 2019
Black immigrants are less likely than U.S. population or overall immigrant population to be homeowners
Among Black immigrants and U.S.-born Black adults, more identify as Protestants than as any other religion
Countries in Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean

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One-in-Ten Black People Living in the U.S. Are Immigrants

U.S. immigrants from Africa, Caribbean more than twice as likely as immigrants overall to have refugee status

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