Immigrants listen to a speech equally they await to go U.Due south. citizens at a naturalization ceremony in Los Angeles. (Mark Ralson/AFP/Getty Images)

The United States has more immigrants than whatever other state in the world. Today, more than 40 meg people living in the U.S. were born in another country, accounting for well-nigh i-5th of the globe's migrants. The population of immigrants is also very diverse, with just about every land in the world represented amidst U.Due south. immigrants.

Pew Enquiry Centre regularly publishes statistical portraits of the nation's foreign-born population, which include historical trends since 1960. Based on these portraits, here are answers to some fundamental questions well-nigh the U.Due south. immigrant population.

How many people in the U.S. are immigrants?

The U.S. foreign-born population reached a record 44.eight million in 2018. Since 1965, when U.Due south. clearing laws replaced a national quota system, the number of immigrants living in the U.Due south. has more than quadrupled. Immigrants today account for 13.7% of the U.S. population, nearly triple the share (iv.8%) in 1970. However, today's immigrant share remains below the record 14.8% share in 1890, when 9.ii million immigrants lived in the U.S.

Immigrant share of U.S. population nears historic high

What is the legal status of immigrants in the U.South.?

Unauthorized immigrants are almost a quarter of U.S. foreign-born population

Most immigrants (77%) are in the country legally, while nearly a quarter are unauthorized, according to new Pew Research Center estimates based on census information adapted for undercount. In 2017, 45% were naturalized U.South. citizens.

Some 27% of immigrants were permanent residents and 5% were temporary residents in 2017. Another 23% of all immigrants were unauthorized immigrants. From 1990 to 2007, the unauthorized immigrant population more tripled in size – from 3.5 meg to a tape high of 12.2 million in 2007. Past 2017, that number had declined by 1.7 one thousand thousand, or fourteen%. In that location were 10.five million unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. in 2017, accounting for iii.2% of the nation's population.

The reject in the unauthorized immigrant population is due largely to a fall in the number from United mexican states – the single largest group of unauthorized immigrants in the U.South. Between 2007 and 2017, this group decreased by 2 million. Meanwhile, there was a ascent in the number from Primal America and Asia.

Do all lawful immigrants cull to go U.S. citizens?

Non all lawful permanent residents choose to pursue U.S. citizenship. Those who wish to practice so may utilize later on meeting certain requirements, including having lived in the U.South. for five years. In fiscal year 2019, nigh 800,000 immigrants applied for naturalization. The number of naturalization applications has climbed in recent years, though the annual totals remain below the one.4 one thousand thousand applications filed in 2007.

Generally, virtually immigrants eligible for naturalization apply to become citizens. Notwithstanding, Mexican lawful immigrants have the lowest naturalization rate overall. Language and personal barriers, lack of interest and financial barriers are among the top reasons for choosing non to naturalize cited past Mexican-born green card holders, according to a 2015 Pew Research Center survey.

Where do immigrants come from?

Mexico, China and India are among top birthplaces for immigrants in the U.S.

United mexican states is the top origin land of the U.S. immigrant population. In 2018, roughly 11.2 one thousand thousand immigrants living in the U.South. were from at that place, accounting for 25% of all U.Due south. immigrants. The next largest origin groups were those from China (six%), Bharat (6%), the Philippines (4%) and El salvador (3%).

By region of birth, immigrants from Asia combined accounted for 28% of all immigrants, close to the share of immigrants from Mexico (25%). Other regions make upwards smaller shares: Europe, Canada and other North America (13%), the Caribbean area (x%), Key America (8%), South America (7%), the Middle East and North Africa (4%) and sub-Saharan Africa (five%).

Who is arriving today?

Among new immigrant arrivals, Asians outnumber Hispanics

More than 1 million immigrants go far in the U.S. each year. In 2018, the top country of origin for new immigrants coming into the U.Due south. was China, with 149,000 people, followed by Bharat (129,000), Mexico (120,000) and the Philippines (46,000).

By race and ethnicity, more Asian immigrants than Hispanic immigrants have arrived in the U.S. in most years since 2009. Clearing from Latin America slowed following the Great Recession, particularly for United mexican states, which has seen both decreasing flows into the United states of america and large flows back to Mexico in recent years.

Asians are projected to become the largest immigrant group in the U.S. by 2055, surpassing Hispanics. Pew Research Center estimates point that in 2065, those who identify as Asian will make up some 38% of all immigrants; every bit Hispanic, 31%; White, 20%; and Blackness, 9%.

Is the immigrant population growing?

U.S. foreign-born population reached 45 million in 2015, projected to reach 78 million by 2065

New immigrant arrivals have fallen, mainly due to a decrease in the number of unauthorized immigrants coming to the U.S. The drib in the unauthorized immigrant population can primarily be attributed to more Mexican immigrants leaving the U.S. than coming in.

Looking forward, immigrants and their descendants are projected to business relationship for 88% of U.S. population growth through 2065, assuming current immigration trends continue. In improver to new arrivals, U.S. births to immigrant parents will be important to futurity growth in the state's population. In 2018, the pct of women giving birth in the past year was higher amid immigrants (7.5%) than amidst the U.Southward. born (5.seven%). While U.S.-built-in women gave birth to more than than 3 meg children that year, immigrant women gave birth to about 760,000.

How many immigrants have come up to the U.S. as refugees?

More than half of U.S. refugees in 2019 were from D.R. Congo and Burma

Since the creation of the federal Refugee Resettlement Programme in 1980, about 3 one thousand thousand refugees have been resettled in the U.S. – more than any other land.

In fiscal 2019, a total of 30,000 refugees were resettled in the U.S. The largest origin group of refugees was the Congo-kinshasa, followed by Burma (Myanmar), Ukraine, Eritrea and Afghanistan. Among all refugees admitted in fiscal year 2019, four,900 are Muslims (16%) and 23,800 are Christians (79%). Texas, Washington, New York and California resettled more a quarter of all refugees admitted in fiscal 2018.

Where exercise most U.S. immigrants live?

Nearly half (45%) of the nation'south immigrants alive in just three states: California (24%), Texas (11%) and Florida (10%). California had the largest immigrant population of any land in 2018, at 10.half-dozen 1000000. Texas, Florida and New York had more than 4 one thousand thousand immigrants each.

In terms of regions, about 2-thirds of immigrants lived in the Westward (34%) and S (34%). Roughly ane-fifth lived in the Northeast (21%) and eleven% were in the Midwest.

In 2018, nigh immigrants lived in just 20 major metropolitan areas, with the largest populations in the New York, Los Angeles and Miami metro areas. These top 20 metro areas were home to 28.7 million immigrants, or 64% of the nation'southward total foreign-born population. Almost of the nation's unauthorized immigrant population lived in these summit metro areas as well.

20 metropolitan areas with the largest number of immigrants in 2018

How practise immigrants compare with the U.S. population overall in instruction?

Educational attainment among U.S. immigrants, 2018

Immigrants in the U.Due south. as a whole accept lower levels of instruction than the U.Due south.-built-in population. In 2018, immigrants were over 3 times every bit likely as the U.S. born to have not completed high schoolhouse (27% vs. 8%). However, immigrants were just as likely as the U.S. born to have a bachelor's degree or more (32% and 33%, respectively).

Educational attainment varies amongst the nation's immigrant groups, particularly across immigrants from different regions of the world. Immigrants from Mexico and Central America are less likely to be loftier schoolhouse graduates than the U.S. built-in (54% and 47%, respectively, do non have a high schoolhouse diploma, vs. 8% of U.S. born). On the other hand, immigrants from every region except Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America were as likely equally or more than likely than U.Due south.-born residents to have a available'due south or advanced degree.

Among all immigrants, those from Southern asia (71%) were the well-nigh likely to have a bachelor's degree or more than. Immigrants from United mexican states (7%) and Cardinal America (eleven%) were the least likely to have a available's or higher.

How many immigrants are working in the U.S.?

Total U.S. labor force grows since 2007, but number of unauthorized immigrant workers declines

In 2017, most 29 million immigrants were working or looking for work in the U.Southward., making up some 17% of the total civilian labor force. Lawful immigrants made upward the majority of the immigrant workforce, at 21.ii 1000000. An additional 7.six one thousand thousand immigrant workers are unauthorized immigrants, less than the total of the previous twelvemonth and notably less than in 2007, when they were 8.two million. They lonely account for 4.6% of the civilian labor forcefulness, a dip from their peak of 5.4% in 2007. During the same period, the overall U.S. workforce grew, as did the number of U.S.-born workers and lawful immigrant workers.

Immigrants are projected to drive future growth in the U.South. working-age population through at least 2035. As the Baby Blast generation heads into retirement, immigrants and their children are expected to commencement a refuse in the working-historic period population past calculation nearly xviii 1000000 people of working age between 2015 and 2035.

How well practice immigrants speak English language?

Half of immigrants in U.S. are English proficient as of 2018

Among immigrants ages 5 and older in 2018, half (53%) are expert English speakers – either speaking English very well (37%) or only speaking English at habitation (17%).

Immigrants from United mexican states have the lowest rates of English proficiency (34%), followed past those from Central America (35%), E and Southeast Asia (fifty%) and South America (56%). Immigrants from Canada (96%), Oceania (82%), Europe (75%) and sub-Saharan Africa (74%) have the highest rates of English proficiency.

The longer immigrants have lived in the U.S., the greater the likelihood they are English proficient. Some 47% of immigrants living in the U.S. 5 years or less are skillful. Past contrast, more than than half (57%) of immigrants who have lived in the U.S. for twenty years or more are practiced English speakers.

Amidst immigrants ages five and older, Spanish is the about commonly spoken language. Some 42% of immigrants in the U.Due south. speak Spanish at home. The top 5 languages spoken at home among immigrants outside of Castilian are English only (17%), followed by Chinese (half dozen%), Hindi (five%), Filipino/Tagalog (4%) and French (3%).

How many immigrants have been deported recently?

Effectually 337,000 immigrants were deported from the U.Southward. in fiscal 2018, up since 2017. Overall, the Obama administration deported about three million immigrants between 2009 and 2016, a significantly college number than the 2 million immigrants deported by the Bush-league assistants between 2001 and 2008. In 2017, the Trump administration deported 295,000 immigrants, the lowest total since 2006.

Immigrants convicted of a crime made upwards the less than half of deportations in 2018, the nigh recent yr for which statistics by criminal status are available. Of the 337,000 immigrants deported in 2018, some 44% had criminal convictions and 56% were not convicted of a crime. From 2001 to 2018, a majority (threescore%) of immigrants deported accept not been bedevilled of a crime.

U.S. deportations of immigrants slightly up in 2018

How many immigrant apprehensions take identify at the U.S.-Mexico border?

The number of apprehensions at the U.S.-Mexico border has doubled from fiscal 2018 to fiscal 2019, from 396,579 in fiscal 2018 to 851,508 in fiscal 2019. Today, at that place are more apprehensions of non-Mexicans than Mexicans at the border. In fiscal 2019, apprehensions of Fundamental Americans at the edge exceeded those of Mexicans for the fourth consecutive year. The first time Mexicans did non brand upwardly the bulk of Border Patrol apprehensions was in 2014.

How do Americans view immigrants and immigration?

U.S. immigrants are seen more as a strength than a burden to the country

While immigration has been at the forefront of a national political debate, the U.Southward. public holds a range of views nigh immigrants living in the country. Overall, a majority of Americans have positive views about immigrants. About two-thirds of  Americans (66%) say immigrants strengthen the state "because of their difficult work and talents," while most a quarter (24%) say immigrants burden the country by taking jobs, housing and health care.

Yet these views vary starkly by political amalgamation. Among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents, 88% think immigrants strengthen the country with their difficult work and talents, and merely eight% say they are a burden. Among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, 41% say immigrants strengthen the state, while 44% say they burden it.

Americans were divided on future levels of clearing. A quarter said legal immigration to the U.Due south. should be decreased (24%), while one-tertiary (38%) said immigration should be kept at its present level and almost another third (32%) said immigration should be increased.

Note: This is an update of a mail originally published May iii, 2017, and written past Gustavo López, a former research analyst focusing on Hispanics, immigration and demographics; and Kristen Bialik, a former research banana.

CORRECTION (Sept. 21, 2020): An update to the methodology used to tabulate figures in the nautical chart "Among new immigrant arrivals, Asians outnumber Hispanics" has inverse all figures from 2001 and 2012. This new methodology has likewise immune the inclusion of the effigy from 2000. Furthermore, the earlier version of the chart incorrectly showed thepartial year shares of Hispanic and Asian recent arrivals in 2015; the correctedcomplete year shares are 31% and 36%, respectively.

Abby Budiman is a former research analyst focusing on race and ethnicity research at Pew Research Center.