United States immigration statistics
The 1850 United States census was the first federal U.S. census to query respondents about their "nativity"—i.e, where they were born, whether in the United States or outside of it—and is thus the first point at which solid statistics become available. The following chart, based on statistics from the U.S. Census from 1850 on,[1] shows the numbers of non-native residents according to place of birth. Because an immigrant is counted in each census during his or her lifetime, the numbers reflect the cumulative population of living non-native residents.
Region and country or area | 2000 | 1990 | 1980 | 1970 | 1960 | 1930 | 1920 | 1910 | 1900 | 1890 | 1880 | 1870 | 1860 | 1850 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | 31,107,889 | 19,767,316 | 14,079,906 | 9,619,302 | 9,738,091 | 14,204,149 | 13,920,692 | 13,515,886 | 10,341,276 | 9,249,547 | 6,679,943 | 5,567,229 | 4,295,510 | 2,244,602 |
Reported by region and/or country | 31,107,573 | 18,959,158 | 13,192,563 | 9,303,570 | 9,678,201 | 14,197,553 | 13,911,767 | 13,506,272 | 10,330,534 | 9,243,535 | 6,675,875 | 5,563,637 | 4,134,809 | 2,202,625 |
Europe | 4,915,557 | 4,350,403 | 5,149,572 | 5,740,891 | 7,256,311 | 11,784,010 | 11,916,048 | 11,810,115 | 8,881,548 | 8,030,347 | 5,751,823 | 4,941,049 | 3,807,062 | 2,031,867 |
Northern and Western Europe | 2,070,446 | 2,058,853 | 2,384,257 | 2,629,200 | 3,334,971 | 5,850,256 | 6,241,916 | 7,306,325 | 7,204,649 | 7,288,917 | 5,499,889 | 4,845,679 | 3,773,347 | 2,022,195 |
Northern Europe | 974,619 | 968,271 | 1,083,499 | 1,271,591 | 1,694,430 | 3,415,551 | 3,501,149 | 3,953,947 | 3,917,815 | 4,056,160 | 3,212,431 | 2,867,926 | 2,271,661 | 1,358,887 |
British Isles | 834,225 | 809,972 | 866,966 | 937,474 | 1,171,777 | 2,147,733 | 2,172,723 | 2,573,534 | 2,783,082 | 3,122,911 | 2,772,169 | 2,626,241 | 2,199,079 | 1,340,812 |
United Kingdom (total) | 677,715 | 640,145 | 669,149 | 686,099 | 833,055 | 1,402,923 | (X) | (X) | (X) | (X) | (X) | (X) | (X) | (X) |
Great Britain (total) | 677,751 | 623,614 | 649,318 | 645,262 | 764,893 | 1,224,091 | 1,135,489 | 1,221,283 | 1,167,623 | 1,251,402 | 917,598 | 770,414 | 587,775 | 379,093 |
England | 423,609 | 405,588 | 442,499 | 458,114 | 528,205 | 809,563 | 813,853 | 877,719 | 840,513 | 908,141 | 662,676 | 550,924 | 431,692 | 278,675 |
Scotland | 88,445 | 104,168 | 142,001 | 170,134 | 213,219 | 354,323 | 254,570 | 261,076 | 233,524 | 242,231 | 170,136 | 140,835 | 108,518 | 70,550 |
Wales | 10,948 | 10,638 | 13,528 | 17,014 | 23,469 | 60,205 | 67,066 | 82,488 | 93,586 | 100,079 | 83,302 | 74,533 | 45,763 | 29,868 |
Great Britain n.e.c. | 141,572 | 100,000 | 51,290 | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | 951 | 1,484 | 4,122 | 1,802 | (NA) |
Northern Ireland | 13,177 | 16,531 | 19,831 | 40,837 | 68,162 | 178,832 | (X) | (X) | (X) | (X) | (X) | (X) | (X) | (X) |
Ireland | 156,474 | 169,827 | 197,817 | 251,375 | 338,722 | 744,810 | 1,037,234 | 1,352,251 | 1,615,459 | 1,871,509 | 1,854,571 | 1,855,827 | 1,611,304 | 961,719 |
Scandinavia | 140,394 | 158,299 | 216,533 | 334,117 | 522,653 | 1,267,818 | 1,328,426 | 1,380,413 | 1,134,733 | 933,249 | 440,262 | 241,685 | 72,582 | 18,075 |
Denmark | 31,422 | 34,999 | 42,732 | 61,410 | 85,060 | 179,474 | 189,154 | 181,649 | 153,690 | 132,543 | 64,196 | 30,107 | 9,962 | 1,838 |
Finland | 21,408 | 22,313 | 29,172 | 45,499 | 67,624 | 142,478 | 149,824 | 129,680 | 62,641 | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) |
Iceland | 5,553 | 5,071 | 4,156 | 2,895 | 2,780 | 2,764 | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) |
Norway | 32,207 | 42,240 | 63,316 | 97,243 | 152,698 | 347,852 | 363,863 | 403,877 | 336,388 | 322,665 | 181,729 | 114,246 | 43,995 | 12,678 |
Sweden | 49,724 | 53,676 | 77,157 | 127,070 | 214,491 | 595,250 | 625,585 | 665,207 | 582,014 | 478,041 | 194,337 | 97,332 | 18,625 | 3,559 |
Western Europe | 1,095,847 | 1,090,582 | 1,300,758 | 1,357,609 | 1,640,541 | 2,434,705 | 2,740,767 | 3,352,378 | 3,286,834 | 3,232,757 | 2,287,458 | 1,977,753 | 1,501,686 | 663,308 |
Low Countries | 130,615 | 132,617 | 142,748 | 155,513 | 173,069 | 206,375 | 207,038 | 172,534 | 127,719 | 107,349 | 86,461 | 65,157 | 37,353 | 11,161 |
Belgium | 33,895 | 34,366 | 36,487 | 41,412 | 50,294 | 64,194 | 62,687 | 49,400 | 29,757 | 22,639 | 15,535 | 12,553 | 9,072 | 1,313 |
Luxembourg | 2,150 | 2,053 | 3,125 | 3,531 | 4,360 | 9,048 | 12,585 | 3,071 | 3,031 | 2,882 | 12,836 | 5,802 | (NA) | (NA) |
Netherlands | 94,570 | 96,198 | 103,136 | 110,570 | 118,415 | 133,133 | 131,766 | 120,063 | 94,931 | 81,828 | 58,090 | 46,802 | 28,281 | 9,848 |
Austria | 63,648 | 87,673 | 145,607 | 214,014 | 304,507 | 370,914 | 575,627 | 626,341 | 275,907 | 123,271 | 38,663 | 30,508 | 25,061 | 946 |
France | 151,154 | 119,233 | 120,215 | 105,385 | 111,582 | 135,592 | 153,072 | 117,418 | 104,197 | 113,174 | 106,971 | 116,402 | 109,870 | 54,069 |
Germany | 706,704 | 711,929 | 849,384 | 832,965 | 989,815 | 1,608,814 | 1,686,108 | 2,311,237 | 2,663,418 | 2,784,894 | 1,966,742 | 1,690,533 | 1,276,075 | 583,774 |
Switzerland | 43,106 | 39,130 | 42,804 | 49,732 | 61,568 | 113,010 | 118,659 | 124,848 | 115,593 | 104,069 | 88,621 | 75,153 | 53,327 | 13,358 |
Other Western Europe | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | 263 | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) |
Southern and Eastern Europe | 2,840,721 | 2,285,513 | 2,748,547 | 3,090,991 | 3,907,020 | 5,918,982 | 5,670,927 | 4,500,932 | 1,674,648 | 728,851 | 248,620 | 93,824 | 32,312 | 9,672 |
Southern Europe | 934,665 | 1,054,141 | 1,336,805 | 1,363,195 | 1,541,441 | 2,133,092 | 1,939,600 | 1,544,149 | 539,968 | 216,387 | 66,249 | 30,416 | 21,726 | 8,152 |
Greece | 165,750 | 177,398 | 210,998 | 177,275 | 159,167 | 174,526 | 175,976 | 101,282 | 8,515 | 1,887 | 776 | 390 | 328 | 86 |
Italy | 473,338 | 580,592 | 831,922 | 1,008,533 | 1,256,999 | 1,790,429 | 1,610,113 | 1,343,125 | 484,027 | 182,580 | 44,230 | 17,157 | 11,677 | 3,679 |
Portugal (total) | 203,119 | 210,122 | 209,968 | 119,899 | 80,276 | 108,775 | 103,976 | 77,634 | 40,376 | 25,735 | 15,650 | 8,973 | 5,477 | 1,274 |
Azores | 26,559 | 29,656 | 32,531 | 28,865 | 22,586 | 35,611 | 33,995 | 18,274 | 9,768 | 9,739 | 7,512 | 4,431 | 1,361 | (NA) |
Portugal (main) | 175,571 | 180,466 | 177,437 | 91,034 | 57,690 | 73,164 | 69,981 | 59,360 | 30,608 | 15,996 | 8,138 | 4,542 | 4,116 | 1,274 |
Spain | 82,858 | 76,415 | 73,735 | 57,488 | 44,999 | 59,362 | 49,535 | 22,108 | 7,050 | 6,185 | 5,121 | 3,764 | 4,244 | 3,113 |
Other Southern Europe | (NA) | 9,614 | 10,182 | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | 472 | 132 | (NA) | (NA) |
Eastern Europe | 1,906,056 | 1,231,372 | 1,411,742 | 1,727,796 | 2,365,579 | 3,785,890 | 3,731,327 | 2,956,783 | 1,134,680 | 512,464 | 182,371 | 63,408 | 10,586 | 1,520 |
Albania | 38,663 | 5,627 | 7,381 | 9,180 | 9,618 | 8,814 | 5,608 | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) |
Bulgaria | 35,090 | 8,579 | 8,463 | 8,609 | 8,223 | 9,399 | 10,477 | 11,498 | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) |
Czechoslovakia (former) | 83,081 | 87,020 | 112,707 | 160,899 | 227,618 | 491,638 | 362,438 | 219,214 | 156,891 | 118,106 | 85,361 | 40,289 | (NA) | (NA) |
Estonia | 9,785 | 9,210 | 12,169 | 12,163 | 13,991 | 3,550 | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) |
Hungary | 92,071 | 110,337 | 144,368 | 183,236 | 245,252 | 274,450 | 397,283 | 495,609 | 145,714 | 62,435 | 11,526 | 3,737 | (NA) | (NA) |
Latvia | 27,232 | 26,179 | 34,349 | 41,707 | 50,681 | 20,673 | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) |
Lithuania | 28,490 | 29,745 | 48,194 | 76,001 | 121,475 | 193,606 | 135,068 | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) |
Poland | 466,742 | 388,328 | 418,128 | 548,107 | 747,750 | 1,268,583 | 1,139,979 | 937,884 | 383,407 | 147,440 | 48,557 | 14,436 | 7,298 | (NA) |
Romania | 135,966 | 91,106 | 66,994 | 70,687 | 84,575 | 146,393 | 102,823 | 65,923 | 15,032 | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) |
Soviet Union (former, total) | 838,809 | 333,725 | 406,022 | 463,462 | 690,598 | 1,153,628 | 1,400,495 | 1,184,412 | 423,726 | 182,644 | 35,722 | 4,644 | 3,160 | 1,414 |
Turkey in Europe | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | 2,257 | 5,284 | 32,230 | 9,910 | 1,839 | 1,205 | 302 | 128 | 106 |
Yugoslavia (former, total) | 278,314 | 141,516 | 152,967 | 153,745 | 165,798 | 211,416 | 169,439 | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) |
Other Eastern Europe | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | 1,483 | 2,433 | 10,013 | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) |
Europe n.e.c. | 4,370 | 6,037 | 16,768 | 20,700 | 14,320 | 14,772 | 3,205 | 2,858 | 2,251 | 12,579 | 3,314 | 1,546 | 1,403 | (NA) |
Asia | 8,226,254 | 4,979,037 | 2,539,777 | 824,887 | 490,996 | 275,665 | 237,950 | 191,484 | 120,248 | 113,383 | 107,630 | 64,565 | 36,796 | 1,135 |
Armenia | 65,280 | (X) | (X) | (X) | (X) | 32,166 | 36,628 | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) |
China | 988,857 | 529,837 | 286,120 | 172,132 | 99,735 | 46,129 | 43,560 | 56,756 | 81,534 | 106,688 | 104,468 | 63,042 | 35,565 | 758 |
India | 1,022,552 | 450,406 | 206,087 | 51,000 | 12,296 | 5,850 | 4,901 | 4,664 | 2,031 | 2,143 | 1,707 | 586 | (NA) | (NA) |
Japan | 347,539 | 290,128 | 221,794 | 120,235 | 109,175 | 70,993 | 81,502 | 67,744 | 24,788 | 2,292 | 401 | 73 | (NA) | (NA) |
Israel | (NA) | 21,070 | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | 6,137 | 3,203 | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) |
Syria | 54,561 | 36,782 | 22,081 | 14,962 | 16,717 | 57,227 | 51,901 | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) |
Turkey in Asia | 78,378 | 55,087 | 51,915 | 48,085 | 52,228 | 46,654 | 11,019 | 59,729 | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) |
Other Asia | (NA) | 3,595,727 | 1,751,780 | 418,473 | 200,845 | 10,509 | 5,236 | 2,591 | 11,895 | 2,260 | 1,054 | 864 | 1,231 | 377 |
Africa | 881,300 | 363,819 | 199,723 | 80,143 | 35,355 | 18,326 | 16,126 | 3,992 | 2,538 | 2,207 | 2,204 | 2,657 | 526 | 551 |
Africa excl. Atlantic Islands | (NA) | 349,451 | 189,266 | 61,463 | 27,053 | 8,859 | 5,781 | 3,992 | 2,538 | 2,207 | 2,204 | 2,657 | 526 | 551 |
Atlantic Islands | (NA) | 14,368 | 10,457 | 18,680 | 8,302 | 9,467 | 10,345 | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) |
Oceania | 168,046 | 104,145 | 77,577 | 41,258 | 34,730 | 17,343 | 14,626 | 11,450 | 8,820 | 9,353 | 6,859 | 4,028 | 2,140 | 588 |
Australia | 60,965 | 42,267 | 36,120 | 24,271 | 22,209 | 12,816 | 10,914 | 9,035 | 6,807 | 5,984 | 4,906 | 3,118 | 1,419 | (NA) |
Sandwich Islands (Hawaii) | (X) | (X) | (X) | (X) | (X) | (X) | (X) | (X) | (X) | 1,304 | 1,147 | 584 | 435 | 588 |
Other Oceania | 61,878 | 41,457 | 16,987 | 12,521 | 4,527 | 3,712 | 2,415 | 2,013 | 2,065 | 806 | 326 | 286 | (NA) | |
Latin America | 16,086,974 | 8,407,837 | 4,372,487 | 1,803,970 | 908,309 | 791,840 | 588,843 | 279,514 | 137,458 | 107,307 | 90,073 | 57,871 | 38,315 | 20,773 |
Caribbean | 2,953,066 | 1,938,348 | 1,258,363 | 675,108 | 193,922 | 106,241 | 78,962 | 47,635 | 25,435 | 23,256 | 16,401 | 11,570 | 7,353 | 5,772 |
Cuba | 872,716 | 736,971 | 607,814 | 439,048 | 79,150 | 18,493 | 14,872 | 15,133 | 11,081 | (NA) | 6,917 | 5,319 | (NA) | (NA) |
Other Caribbean | (NA) | 1,201,377 | 650,549 | 236,060 | 114,772 | 87,748 | 64,090 | 32,502 | 14,354 | (NA) | 9,484 | 6,251 | (NA) | (NA) |
Central America | 11,203,673 | 5,431,992 | 2,553,113 | 873,624 | 624,851 | 651,976 | 491,330 | 223,651 | 107,290 | 79,045 | 69,106 | 42,736 | 27,699 | 13,458 |
Mexico | 9,177,487 | 4,298,014 | 2,199,221 | 759,711 | 575,902 | 641,462 | 486,418 | 221,915 | 103,393 | 77,853 | 68,399 | 42,435 | 27,466 | 13,317 |
Other Central America | 2,026,150 | 1,133,978 | 353,892 | 113,913 | 48,949 | 10,514 | 4,912 | 1,736 | 3,897 | 1,192 | 707 | 301 | 233 | 141 |
South America | 1,930,271 | 1,037,497 | 561,011 | 255,238 | 89,536 | 33,623 | 18,551 | 8,228 | 4,733 | 5,006 | 4,566 | 3,565 | 3,263 | 1,543 |
Northern America | 829,442 | 753,917 | 853,427 | 812,421 | 952,500 | 1,310,369 | 1,138,174 | 1,209,717 | 1,179,922 | 980,938 | 717,286 | 493,467 | 249,970 | 147,711 |
Canada | 820,771 | 744,830 | 842,859 | 812,421 | 952,500 | 1,310,369 | 1,138,174 | 1,209,717 | 1,179,922 | 980,938 | 717,157 | 493,464 | 249,970 | 147,711 |
Canada-French | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | 370,852 | 307,786 | 385,083 | 395,126 | 302,496 | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) |
Canada-Other | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | 915,537 | 817,139 | 819,554 | 784,796 | 678,442 | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) |
Newfoundland | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | 23,980 | 13,249 | 5,080 | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) |
Other Northern America | 8,671 | 9,087 | 10,568 | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | 129 | 3 | (NA) | (NA) |
Region or country not reported | 316 | 808,158 | 887,343 | 315,732 | 59,890 | 6,596 | 8,925 | 9,614 | 10,742 | 6,012 | 4,068 | 3,592 | 3,888 | 41,977 |
Born at sea | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | 5,008 | 5,336 | 6,927 | 8,196 | 5,533 | 4,068 | 2,638 | 2,522 | (NA) |
Not reported | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | (NA) | 1,588 | 3,589 | 2,687 | 2,546 | 479 | (NA) | 954 | 1,366 | 41,977 |
(NA) Not available.
n.e.c. Not elsewhere classified.
1/ Prior to 1980, Taiwan included with China.
References
- ^ The statistics through 1990 are taken from Table 4, "Region and Country or Area of Birth of the Foreign-Born Population, With Geographic Detail Shown in Decennial Census Publications of 1930 or Earlier: 1850 to 1930 and 1960 to 1990", in: Gibson, Campbell J.; Lennon, Emily (February 1999). "Historical Census Statistics on the Foreign-born Population of the United States: 1850-1990". Population Division, US Bureau of the Census, Washington, DC. Retrieved 2017-06-11.
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