E.g., 04/23/2024
E.g., 04/23/2024
Immigrant Profiles & Demographics

Immigrant Profiles & Demographics

International Data
U.S. Data
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In an era when publics are seeking to understand how immigration is reshaping populations and local communities, and the effect that newcomers are having on economic, educational, and labor systems, it is imperative to have access to credible and authoritative data. The U.S. and international data-rich research offered here, and data resources offered through our Data Hub, empower users to learn more about the role of immigration in today's world. Browse by region, by type of research, and more. And visit MPI's Data Hub for data tools, maps, and more.

Recent Activity

A man and child at a naturalization ceremony outside Washington, DC.
Articles
February 10, 2022
Black Immigrants in the United States Face Hurdles, but Outcomes Vary by City
By Valerie Lacarte
Image of man on steps in front of China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou, China
Articles
January 28, 2022
China’s Rapid Development Has Transformed Its Migration Trends
By Heidi Østbø Haugen and Tabitha Speelman
Mother and daughter from Middle Eastern background
Articles
January 13, 2022
Middle Eastern and North African Immigrants in the United States
By Laura Harjanto and Jeanne Batalova
A Dutch family at Ellis Island between 1915 and 1920.
Articles
January 6, 2022
Immigration Has Been a Defining, Often Contentious, Element Throughout U.S. History
By Jessica Bolter
Cover image for The Complex Motivations and Costs of Central American Migration
Reports
November 2021
Charting a New Regional Course of Action: The Complex Motivations and Costs of Central American Migration
By  Ariel G. Ruiz Soto, Rossella Bottone, Jaret Waters, Sarah Williams, Ashley Louie and Yuehan Wang
Two boys pose in an informal settlement east of Johannesburg largely populated by immigrants.
Articles
November 18, 2021
South Africa Reckons with Its Status as a Top Immigration Destination, Apartheid History, and Economic Challenges
By Khangelani Moyo
New U.S. citizens take an oath during a naturalization ceremony.
Articles
November 10, 2021
Naturalized Citizens in the United States
By Maria Gabriela Sanchez and Jeanne Batalova
Cover image for Medicaid Access and Participation
Policy Briefs
October 2021
Medicaid Access and Participation: A Data Profile of Eligible and Ineligible Immigrant Adults
By  Valerie Lacarte, Mark Greenberg and Randy Capps

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How Are Refugees Faring? Integration at U.S. and State Levels
Reports
June 2017
How Are Refugees Faring? Integration at U.S. and State Levels
By  Michael Fix, Kate Hooper and Jie Zong
New Brain Gain: Rising Human Capital among Recent Immigrants to the United States
Fact Sheets
June 2017
New Brain Gain: Rising Human Capital among Recent Immigrants to the United States
By  Jeanne Batalova and Michael Fix
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Reports
May 2017
A Revolving Door No More? A Statistical Profile of Mexican Adults Repatriated from the United States
By  Ryan Schultheis and Ariel G. Ruiz Soto
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Fact Sheets
March 2017
Facts about English Learners and the NCLB/ESSA Transition in Select States
By  Julie Sugarman and Kevin Lee
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Fact Sheets
December 2016
State Sociodemographic Portraits of Immigrant and U.S.-Born Parents of Young Children
By  Maki Park, Margie McHugh and Caitlin Katsiaficas
Fact Sheets
December 2016
The Costs of Brain Waste among Highly Skilled Immigrants in Select States
By  Ariel G. Ruiz Soto, Jeanne Batalova and Michael Fix
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Reports
November 2016
Serving Immigrant Families Through Two-Generation Programs: Identifying Family Needs and Responsive Program Approaches
By  Maki Park, Margie McHugh and Caitlin Katsiaficas
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Fact Sheets
October 2016
Immigration to the Heartland: A Profile of Immigrants in the Kansas City Region
By  Randy Capps and Ariel G. Ruiz Soto

Pages

A teacher leads a lesson on the Korean alphabet in a U.S. dual-language immersion class
Spotlight
April 14, 2022
Korean Immigrants in the United States

Immigrants from the Korean peninsula are one of the ten largest foreign-born groups in the United States, but their numbers have actually shrunk in recent years. Immigrants from Korea tend to be older, better educated, and earn higher incomes than the overall immigrant and native-born populations.

An image of an immigration boarding line.
Spotlight
March 17, 2022
Frequently Requested Statistics on Immigrants and Immigration in the United States

Need information about U.S. immigration trends or the makeup of the country's immigrant population? This useful, stats-rich article answers the most common questions about the size, shape, and changing nature of the U.S. foreign-born population. It also offers data on immigration enforcement actions, backlogs, and other elements of the U.S. immigration system.

A tuk tuk driver in India.
Profile
March 9, 2022
Origin of World’s Largest Migrant Population, India Seeks to Leverage Immigration

With nearly 18 million nationals abroad, India is the origin of more international migrants than any other country and claims the world's largest diaspora. Indian emigration can be traced back to the colonial era, with the British empire dispatching Indian workers across the globe, and has evolved for more than a century in response to global labor demands and geopolitical events. This article offers a comprehensive profile of migration from and to India.

A couple celebrating carnival at home.
Spotlight
February 16, 2022
South American Immigrants in the United States

South Americans make up a relatively small share of all U.S. immigrants. But their numbers have been growing in recent years and flows are diversifying, particularly with new arrivals from Venezuela. This article offers key statistics on the South American immigrant population in the United States.

A man and child at a naturalization ceremony outside Washington, DC.
Feature
February 10, 2022
Black Immigrants in the United States Face Hurdles, but Outcomes Vary by City

The 4.3 million Black immigrants in the United States come largely from the Caribbean and sub-Saharan Africa. This article offers insights about rates of poverty, health insurance, and other metrics for Black immigrants both nationally and in the top five major cities of residence, finding that policies at federal and local levels, as well as the legacy of historical Black disenfranchisement, can exaggerate or reduce some of the gaps with U.S.-born White residents.

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Recent Activity

Policy Briefs
October 2022

Diverging Pathways: Immigrants’ Legal Status and Access to Postsecondary Credentials

As the United States seeks to adapt to trends such as technological change and aging that are reshaping the labor market, increasing productivity and the number of high-skilled workers will be critical. This issue brief explores the characteristics of the 115 million adults without postsecondary credentials, 21 percent of them immigrant, as well as the prospects for credential acquisition for foreign-born subgroups.

Articles
September 22, 2022

Romanian Migration to Spain: Explaining an Unexpected Migrant Flow

Romanians comprise the second largest immigrant community in Spain. This population grew at a dramatic rate during the early 2000s, driven by a variety of economic, policy, and other factors. The number of Romanian immigrants peaked in 2012 and has steadily declined ever since. This article analyzes the drivers behind the growth and relative decline of this population and its role in the Spanish labor force.

Articles
September 15, 2022

Temporary Visa Holders in the United States

COVID-19 and restrictive policies from the Trump administration led to the most dramatic slowdown of temporary immigration to the United States in years, as fewer tourists, temporary workers, and international students arrived. This article reviews the trends in issuance of nonimmigrant visas and arrivals of temporary visitors, including the numbers issued annually over the past five years and the top countries of origin.

Articles
August 4, 2022

Brazilian Immigrants in the United States

Persistent economic turmoil and civil and political insecurity have been drivers of emigration from Brazil, including to the United States. Although the number of Brazilian immigrants in the United States has been on the rise since the 1980s, the magnitude of these flows has made the past decade unique. Read a useful profile of Brazilians immigrants, including U.S. destinations, modes of entry, and educational and work characteristics.

Articles
July 21, 2022

Top Statistics on Global Migration and Migrants

Looking for some of the most often-sought information on global migration? This statistics-rich article draws on the most current data sources to offer a primer on international migration, highlighting its types, the size of the migrant population and growth over time, and major sending and receiving countries and regions. Beyond looking at labor and humanitarian migrants and international students, the article examines remittances and more.

Articles
July 7, 2022

Caribbean Immigrants in the United States

Immigrants from the Caribbean living in the United States come from a diverse set of countries and territories, with Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Haiti, and Trinidad and Tobago the top origins. This article offers a sociodemographic profile of Caribbean immigrants, who represent 10 percent of the U.S. foreign-born population and nearly half of all Black immigrants in the United States.

Policy Briefs
June 2022

Immigrant Children’s Medicaid and CHIP Access and Participation: A Data Profile

Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program help many children in low-income families access health care. But under federal rules, hundreds of thousands of children are ineligible due to immigration status. This brief presents U.S. and state-level estimates of immigrant children who are eligible for and participate in these programs and considers the impact of state policies that expand access to public health insurance.

Articles
June 22, 2022

Ukrainian Immigrants in the United States

Before Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 displaced millions, the United States was home to nearly 355,000 Ukrainians. While most displaced Ukrainians have remained in neighboring countries, small numbers have come to the United States. This article examines the pre-invasion Ukrainian immigrant population in the United States—its history, sociodemographic characteristics, modes of arrival, and more.

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