America Counts: Stories Behind the Numbers

The number of foreign-born residents in the United States has ebbed and flowed over the past 165 years. By 2016, 13.5 percent of the U.S. population was foreign-born, a level that rivaled historic highs.

But what has changed considerably over time is who the foreign-born are and where they have dispersed across the country, according to U.S. Census Bureau research.

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The share of all foreign-born living in the United States was historically concentrated in the Northeast and Midwest regions. Until 1940, over 80 percent of all foreign-born in the United States resided in either of the two regions.

The foreign-born population eventually followed the rest of the U.S. population, expanding to the South and West. By 2016, more than two-thirds of the foreign-born resided in the South or West.

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About America Counts

America Counts tells the stories behind the numbers in a new inviting way. It features stories on various topics such as families, housing, employment, business, education, the economy, emergency preparedness, and population. Contact our Public Information Office for media inquiries or interviews.