Map Shows States With the Most Immigrants

The United States has historically been a prime destination for immigrants because of its economic opportunities. According to the United Nations, the country is home to the highest number of immigrants in the world.

Data from the World Population Review showing each state’s foreign-born population in 2021 indicates that California, Texas and Florida have the largest immigrant populations in the U.S. New York and New Jersey round out the top five states with the highest number of immigrants.

Newsweek has created a map to show the U.S. states with the most immigrants.

Immigrants constitute 26.6 percent of California’s overall population, as the state is home to 10.5 million foreign-born residents. The state’s diverse economy—including technology in Silicon Valley, agriculture in the Central Valley and entertainment in Hollywood—provides numerous opportunities that attract immigrants from across the globe.

Texas follows California with an immigrant population of 5.1 million, which represents 17.2 percent of its total population. The figures reflect the ongoing trends in migration and settlement patterns across the country.

The Lone Star State’s booming economy—driven by sectors that include energy, technology and health care—attracts immigrants seeking job opportunities and a lower cost of living compared to states such as California and New York.

Texas is a major hub for immigration, and it has a large immigrant population from Latin America, particularly Mexico, because of its proximity to the U.S.-Mexico border.

Florida ranks third with 4.6 million immigrants, which makes up 21.2 percent of the state’s population. The state has a large immigrant population from countries such as Cuba, Haiti and Venezuela. Florida’s economy is dependent on tourism, agriculture and international trade.

Julia Gelatt, the associate director of the U.S. Immigration Policy Program at the Migration Policy Institute, told Newsweek that positive aspects of immigration include allowing families to reunite and helping people find work.

She said: “Immigration will be vital for growing our working-age population and our labor force. Immigrants fill important labor shortages in certain communities and industries. And many U.S. citizens have family members abroad that they want to reunify with—immigration allows families to reunite and live together.

“There are downsides, particularly when immigrants first arrive to the United States. New immigrants sometimes bring costs for local governments if they need help with housing, health care, and other basic needs.

“There can be tensions between longer-standing populations and new immigrants when unfamiliar cultures and traditions raise a sense of uncomfortable change. Immigration can affect the wages of U.S. workers, particularly U.S. workers without a high school diploma. These wage effects are relatively small.”

Brad Jones, a professor of political science at the University of California, told Newsweek: “Recent changes in immigration policy have made it more difficult to actually enter the country as an asylum seeker, and so asylum seekers in order to enter the country are taking greater risks.”

The U.S. has a total population of 341,937,832, according to the World Population Review.

Proponents of immigration argue that it provides a positive effect on local economies, contributing to the labor force and helping businesses grow by bringing cultural diversity that enriches communities.

States with large immigrant populations often pride themselves on having a rich tapestry of multiculturalism through cultural vibrancy, culinary traditions and artistic expression.

While, to some, the influx of immigrants may present numerous opportunities, others argue that it can bring challenges, including putting pressure on public services and creating issues related to overpopulation.

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