2008 American Community Survey and Census Data on the Foreign Born by State

 While the immigrant population of the United States increased by 6.9 million between 2000 and 2008, the impact of this growth varied considerably from state to state in terms of population size and characteristics. To facilitate analysis of these differences, the interactive map below provides national and state-by-state data on immigrant populations from the 1990 and 2000 Decennial Censuses and the 2007 American Community Surveys (ACS). Click the desired state to generate fact sheets about the demographic & social, &education, workforce, and income & poverty characteristics.
A sampling of the types of data included in each of the four fact sheets for each state:

• Demographic and Social - (updated with 2008 data): top countries of birth, geographic mobility, children in immigrant families;
• Language and Education: - (updated with 2008 data) rates of limited English proficiency and levels of educational attainment in 1990, 2000, and 2006, rates of linguistic isolation in 2007;
• Workforce: the foreign-born share of the workforce, top occupations and industries;
• Income and Poverty: average incomes, income distributions, poverty rates.

State Rankings - (updated with 2008 data)

• Number of Foreign Born by State (1990, 2000, 2008)
• Percent Foreign Born by State (1990, 2000, 2008)
• Numeric Difference in the Foreign Born by State (1990, 2000, 2008)
• Percent Change in the Foreign Born by State (1990, 2000, 2008)

To view the 2000 version of the data tool, click here.
This data tool is a project of MPI's National Center on Immigrant Integration Policy. It was made possible with generous support from Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Immigration Stats, International Migration Data Hub, Country & Comparative Data

Migration Facts, Stats & Maps, Data Hub, Country and Comparative Data

The MPI Data Hub showcases in-depth and latest data on immigrant trends and patterns in the United States and around the world. Research tools include US State Data on the Foreign Born, Maps of the Foreign Born, the World Migration Map, Comparative Charts and Tables, the Global Remittances Guide, and asylum data.

To date, the Data Hub has compiled stock, flow, citizenship, asylum, and historical data for 17 countries, including the United States, as well as extensive data from the US Census Bureau and Department of Homeland Security that cover the numbers and characteristics of immigrant populations residing in and arriving to the United States every year. We work with demographers and government experts to bring the most accurate and relevant data on international migration and immigrant integration together in one place.

Jump to research tools available on the following topics: US Immigration, Immigrant Integration, European Migration, Migration and Development, and Refugee Protection.

Data Manager: Jeanne Batalova, PhD
MPI Data Hub’s team: Kirin Kalia, Aaron Terrazas

Note on the comparability of country-specific data: Countries around the world publish international migration data based on various definitions. For example, some countries define immigrants based on their place of birth, while others use citizenship as their defining criteria. While the information published by some governments may initially appear identical, the different concepts used can affect the comparability of the data. Because of these differences, it is necessary to exercise caution when drawing conclusions based on the comparison of migration statistics of several countries. The Country and Comparative Data Tool presents country-specific data published by governments worldwide. The table choices available in the Country and Comparative Data Tool are limited by the countries’ preferred data formats as well as the general availability of the data.