How America's Migrant Population Has Changed in 250 Years
Summary
The U.S. Census Bureau reported that America's foreign-born population has changed a lot over the past 250 years. After rising in the 19th century, the foreign-born share dropped in the mid-20th century but has grown again, reaching about 14.8% of the total population in 2024, the highest level since the 1890s.Key Facts
- The foreign-born population includes people not born as U.S. citizens, such as naturalized citizens, legal residents, refugees, and unauthorized migrants.
- In 1850, 9.7% of the U.S. population was foreign-born, mostly from Europe (92.2%).
- Immigration grew until 1890, when 14.8% of the population was foreign-born, then declined to 4.7% by 1970.
- The 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act was the first major U.S. immigration law restricting people based on nationality.
- The 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act ended national-origin quotas and increased immigration from Latin America and Asia.
- Since 1980, more foreign-born residents come from Latin America and Asia than from Europe.
- In 2024, 51.4% of foreign-born people come from Latin America, 30.8% from Asia, and 9.7% from Europe.
- The foreign-born population in 2024 is 50.2 million people, the largest number ever recorded in the U.S.
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