Data / Rankings / Foreign-born population share / US states

US states by foreign-born share of the population, 2024

California had the highest foreign-born share of the population of 51 states in 2024, at 27%. West Virginia had the lowest, at 1.8%. The median was 7.7% and the figure for the United States was 14.1%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest27California
Lowest1.8West Virginia
Median7.751 states
United States14.1History

All states, 2024

CSVChart (SVG)

CaliforniaCalifornia: 27 %27New JerseyNew Jersey: 23.9 %23.9New YorkNew York: 22.8 %22.8FloridaFlorida: 21.9 %21.9NevadaNevada: 19.1 %19.1MassachusettsMassachusetts: 18.1 %18.1HawaiiHawaii: 17.9 %17.9TexasTexas: 17.6 %17.6MarylandMaryland: 16.6 %16.6ConnecticutConnecticut: 15.7 %15.7WashingtonWashington: 15.4 %15.4Rhode IslandRhode Island: 15.3 %15.3IllinoisIllinois: 14.8 %14.8District of ColumbiaDistrict of Columbia: 14.3 %14.3VirginiaVirginia: 13.1 %13.1ArizonaArizona: 13 %13GeorgiaGeorgia: 11.2 %11.2DelawareDelaware: 10.7 %10.7ColoradoColorado: 9.8 %9.8OregonOregon: 9.8 %9.8New MexicoNew Mexico: 9.4 %9.4North CarolinaNorth Carolina: 9.1 %9.1UtahUtah: 8.9 %8.9MinnesotaMinnesota: 8.7 %8.7NebraskaNebraska: 8 %8PennsylvaniaPennsylvania: 7.7 %7.7AlaskaAlaska: 7.7 %7.7KansasKansas: 7.4 %7.4MichiganMichigan: 7.2 %7.2OklahomaOklahoma: 6.4 %6.4IndianaIndiana: 6.3 %6.3New HampshireNew Hampshire: 6.1 %6.1TennesseeTennessee: 6.1 %6.1IdahoIdaho: 5.9 %5.9IowaIowa: 5.9 %5.9South CarolinaSouth Carolina: 5.8 %5.8ArkansasArkansas: 5.4 %5.4OhioOhio: 5.2 %5.2WisconsinWisconsin: 5.2 %5.2LouisianaLouisiana: 4.9 %4.9North DakotaNorth Dakota: 4.7 %4.7KentuckyKentucky: 4.7 %4.7MissouriMissouri: 4.5 %4.5VermontVermont: 4.3 %4.3MaineMaine: 4.1 %4.1AlabamaAlabama: 4 %4South DakotaSouth Dakota: 4 %4WyomingWyoming: 3.5 %3.5MississippiMississippi: 2.4 %2.4MontanaMontana: 2.3 %2.3West VirginiaWest Virginia: 1.8 %1.8
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-09.

Full ranking

RankStates2024 (%)Change on 2023
1California27+0.3 pts
2New Jersey23.9+0.4 pts
3New York22.8+0.2 pts
4Florida21.9+0.5 pts
5Nevada19.1+0.2 pts
6Massachusetts18.1+0.4 pts
7Hawaii17.9-0.1 pts
8Texas17.6+0.4 pts
9Maryland16.6+0.3 pts
10Connecticut15.7+0.3 pts
11Washington15.4+0.3 pts
12Rhode Island15.3+0.5 pts
13Illinois14.8+0.3 pts
14District of Columbia14.3+1 pts
15Virginia13.1+0.2 pts
16Arizona13+0.1 pts
17Georgia11.2+0.3 pts
18Delaware10.7+0.3 pts
19Colorado9.8+0.3 pts
20Oregon9.8+0.1 pts
21New Mexico9.4+0.2 pts
22North Carolina9.1+0.3 pts
23Utah8.9+0.4 pts
24Minnesota8.7+0.1 pts
25Nebraska8+0.3 pts
26Pennsylvania7.7+0.3 pts
27Alaska7.7-0.1 pts
28Kansas7.4+0.2 pts
29Michigan7.2+0.2 pts
30Oklahoma6.4+0.1 pts
31Indiana6.3+0.3 pts
32New Hampshire6.1-0.1 pts
33Tennessee6.1+0.2 pts
34Idaho5.9+0.2 pts
35Iowa5.9+0.2 pts
36South Carolina5.8+0.1 pts
37Arkansas5.4+0.2 pts
38Ohio5.2+0.2 pts
39Wisconsin5.2+0.1 pts
40Louisiana4.9+0.1 pts
41North Dakota4.7+0.2 pts
42Kentucky4.7+0.2 pts
43Missouri4.5+0.1 pts
44Vermont4.3-0 pts
45Maine4.1+0.2 pts
46Alabama4+0.2 pts
47South Dakota4+0.1 pts
48Wyoming3.50 pts
49Mississippi2.40 pts
50Montana2.30 pts
51West Virginia1.8+0.1 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

People who were not US citizens at birth, as a percentage of the total population. Includes naturalized citizens, lawful permanent residents, temporary migrants and unauthorized immigrants. United States: American Community Survey five-year estimate, where the period shown is the last year of the five-year span.

Based on place of birth, not nationality: a naturalized citizen counts as foreign born, and people born in Puerto Rico, the US island areas or abroad to American parents count as native. Not comparable with foreign_population_share, which counts foreign nationals in Spain and the EU. Calculated from counts in ACS table B05002, which are stored as inputs.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the states are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B05002: foreign-born population as a percentage of the total population, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b05002.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-09.

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Questions

Which state has the highest foreign-born share of the population?

California, with 27% in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which state has the lowest foreign-born share of the population?

West Virginia, with 1.8% in 2024.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B05002: foreign-born population as a percentage of the total population, calculated with stored inputs. Retrieved 2026-10-09.

Foreign-born population share: other rankings

US states: more rankings