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

US states by foreign-born share of the population

California had the highest foreign-born share of the population of 51 states in 2023, at 26.7%. West Virginia had the lowest, at 1.7%. The median was 7.7% and the figure for the United States was 13.9%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest26.7California
Lowest1.7West Virginia
Median7.751 states
United States13.9History

All states, 2023

CSVChart (SVG)

CaliforniaCalifornia: 26.7 %26.7New JerseyNew Jersey: 23.5 %23.5New YorkNew York: 22.6 %22.6FloridaFlorida: 21.4 %21.4NevadaNevada: 19 %19HawaiiHawaii: 18.1 %18.1MassachusettsMassachusetts: 17.7 %17.7TexasTexas: 17.2 %17.2MarylandMaryland: 16.3 %16.3ConnecticutConnecticut: 15.4 %15.4WashingtonWashington: 15.1 %15.1Rhode IslandRhode Island: 14.8 %14.8IllinoisIllinois: 14.5 %14.5District of ColumbiaDistrict of Columbia: 13.3 %13.3VirginiaVirginia: 12.9 %12.9ArizonaArizona: 12.9 %12.9GeorgiaGeorgia: 10.8 %10.8DelawareDelaware: 10.4 %10.4OregonOregon: 9.7 %9.7ColoradoColorado: 9.6 %9.6New MexicoNew Mexico: 9.2 %9.2North CarolinaNorth Carolina: 8.7 %8.7MinnesotaMinnesota: 8.6 %8.6UtahUtah: 8.6 %8.6AlaskaAlaska: 7.8 %7.8NebraskaNebraska: 7.7 %7.7PennsylvaniaPennsylvania: 7.4 %7.4KansasKansas: 7.2 %7.2MichiganMichigan: 7 %7OklahomaOklahoma: 6.3 %6.3New HampshireNew Hampshire: 6.2 %6.2IndianaIndiana: 5.9 %5.9TennesseeTennessee: 5.9 %5.9IdahoIdaho: 5.7 %5.7IowaIowa: 5.7 %5.7South CarolinaSouth Carolina: 5.6 %5.6ArkansasArkansas: 5.2 %5.2WisconsinWisconsin: 5.1 %5.1OhioOhio: 5 %5LouisianaLouisiana: 4.7 %4.7North DakotaNorth Dakota: 4.5 %4.5KentuckyKentucky: 4.4 %4.4MissouriMissouri: 4.4 %4.4VermontVermont: 4.3 %4.3South DakotaSouth Dakota: 3.9 %3.9MaineMaine: 3.9 %3.9AlabamaAlabama: 3.8 %3.8WyomingWyoming: 3.5 %3.5MississippiMississippi: 2.4 %2.4MontanaMontana: 2.3 %2.3West VirginiaWest Virginia: 1.7 %1.7
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-09.

Full ranking

RankStates2023 (%)Change on 2022
1California26.7+0.2 pts
2New Jersey23.5+0.3 pts
3New York22.6+0.1 pts
4Florida21.4+0.3 pts
5Nevada19-0.1 pts
6Hawaii18.10 pts
7Massachusetts17.7+0.1 pts
8Texas17.2+0.1 pts
9Maryland16.3+0.6 pts
10Connecticut15.4+0.4 pts
11Washington15.1+0.3 pts
12Rhode Island14.8+0.4 pts
13Illinois14.5+0.3 pts
14District of Columbia13.3-0.1 pts
15Virginia12.9+0.3 pts
16Arizona12.9-0.2 pts
17Georgia10.8+0.4 pts
18Delaware10.4+0.6 pts
19Oregon9.7-0.1 pts
20Colorado9.6+0.1 pts
21New Mexico9.20 pts
22North Carolina8.7+0.4 pts
23Minnesota8.6+0.1 pts
23Utah8.6+0.2 pts
25Alaska7.8-0.1 pts
26Nebraska7.7+0.2 pts
27Pennsylvania7.4+0.2 pts
28Kansas7.2+0.1 pts
29Michigan7+0.1 pts
30Oklahoma6.3+0.1 pts
31New Hampshire6.2+0.2 pts
32Indiana5.9+0.4 pts
33Tennessee5.9+0.5 pts
34Idaho5.70 pts
35Iowa5.7+0.1 pts
36South Carolina5.6+0.4 pts
37Arkansas5.2+0.2 pts
38Wisconsin5.1+0.1 pts
39Ohio5+0.2 pts
40Louisiana4.7+0.5 pts
41North Dakota4.5-0.2 pts
42Kentucky4.4+0.3 pts
43Missouri4.4+0.2 pts
44Vermont4.3-0 pts
45South Dakota3.9+0.1 pts
46Maine3.9+0.1 pts
47Alabama3.8+0.3 pts
48Wyoming3.5+0.1 pts
49Mississippi2.4+0.1 pts
50Montana2.30 pts
51West Virginia1.7+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/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b05002.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-09.

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Questions

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

California, with 26.7% in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

West Virginia, with 1.7% in 2023.

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