E.g., 06/04/2023
E.g., 06/04/2023
State Demographics Data - VA
 

Virginia

Demographics & Social
2021
2000
1990
Demographics

Note: The term "foreign born" refers to people residing in the United States at the time of the population survey who were not U.S. citizens at birth. The foreign-born population includes naturalized U.S. citizens, lawful permanent immigrants (or green-card holders), refugees and asylees, certain legal nonimmigrants (including those on student, work, or some other temporary visas), and persons residing in the country without authorization.

Foreign Born
Number 1,070,347
% Foreign Born 12.4%
Population Change over Time  
% change: 2000-2021 87.7%
% change: 1990-2000 82.9%
Race (%)  
One race 83.3%
White
19.3%
Black or African American
11.2%
American Indian and Alaska Native
0.9%
Asian
36.8%
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander
0.0%
Other race
15.1%
Two or more races 16.7%
Latino Origin (of any race)  
Number 344,163
% Latino 32.2%
Age Groups (%)  
Under 5 0.8%
5-17 5.9%
18-64 78.8%
65 and older 14.6%
Median Age

Note: 1) Data for Alaska, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming are from the Census Bureau’s pooled 2017-2021 American Community Survey (ACS). Data for the United States overall and for the remaining states are from the 2021 ACS. 2) The letter N indicates that a number could not be provided by the Census Bureau because the number of sample cases was too small for this state.

44.4
Gender (% female) 51.4%
Marital Status (15 and older) (%)  
Never married 23.0%
Married 63.6%
Separated, divorced, or widowed 13.4%

Note: The term "U.S. born" refers to people residing in the United States who were U.S. citizens in one of three categories: people born in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia; people born in U.S. Insular Areas such as Puerto Rico or Guam; or people who were born abroad to at least one U.S. citizen parent.

U.S. Born
Number 7,571,927
% Foreign Born  
Population Change over Time  
% change: 2000-2011 16.3%
% change: 1990-2000 10.8%
Race (%)  
One race 91.5%
White 66.6%
Black or African American 19.4%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.4%
Asian 2.5%
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander 0.1%
Other race 2.5%
Two or more races 8.5%
Latino Origin (of any race)  
Number 535,187
% Latino 7.1%
Age Groups (%)  
Under 5 6.2%
5-17 17.7%
18-64 59.6%
65 and older 16.5%
Median Age 37.4
Gender (% female) 50.4%
Marital Status (15 and older) (%)  
Never married 35.1%
Married 47.2%
Separated, divorced, or widowed 17.8%
Foreign Born
Number 570,279
% Foreign Born 8.1%
Population Change over Time  
% change: 2000-2011  
 
Race (%)  
Latino Origin (of any race)  
Age Groups (%)  
Marital Status (15 and older) (%)  
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U.S. Born
Number 6,508,236
Population Change over Time  
% change: 2000-2011  
1990-2000  
Race (%)  
Latino Origin (of any race)  
Age Groups (%)  
Marital Status (15 and older) (%)  
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Foreign Born
Number 311,809
% Foreign Born 5.0%
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
U.S. Born
Number 5,875,549
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
Foreign Born
Foreign Born
Foreign Born
Place of Birth Number
Region of Birth (excluding born at sea)

Note: For 1990, 2000, and current ACS year, the total for the region of birth of the foreign born is different from the total foreign born. This is because the 1990 total excludes those who did not report a country of birth and those born at sea, while the 2000 and the current ACS year totals exclude those born at sea.

1,070,347
Born in Africa 117,500
Born in Asia 459,546
Born in Europe 100,831
Born in Latin America (South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean) 375,572
Born in Northern America (Canada, Bermuda, Greenland, and St. Pierre and Miquelon) 14,242
Born in Oceania 2,656
Top 3 Countries of Birth

Note: These are the largest countries of birth reported by the Census Bureau. Some countries are only listed as part of a larger geographic region. For example, those born in Somalia are included only among those born in Eastern Africa. Therefore, a few states may have larger populations of foreign-born persons born in countries not listed individually in census data. For each of the three years, countries of birth reflect geographic boundaries as of that year.

 
Country #1
Country #2
Country #3
Detailed Region/Country of Birth

Note: These are the largest countries of birth reported by the Census Bureau. Some countries are only listed as part of a larger geographic region. For example, those born in Somalia are included only among those born in Eastern Africa. Therefore, a few states may have larger populations of foreign-born persons born in countries not listed individually in census data. For each of the three years, countries of birth reflect geographic boundaries as of that year.

1,070,347
Europe 100,831
Northern Europe 23,329
United Kingdom
18,722
Ireland
1,922
Other Northern Europe
2,685
Western Europe 30,110
France
6,366
Germany
18,227
Other Western Europe
5,517
Southern Europe 11,772
Italy
4,071
Portugal
662
Other Southern Europe
7,039
Eastern Europe 35,435
Poland
4,817
Russia
10,660
Other Eastern Europe
19,958
Other Europe (no country specified) 185
Asia 459,546
Eastern Asia 112,421
China
49,215

China, excluding Taiwan

42,487

Taiwan

6,728
Japan
9,560
Korea
51,396
Other Eastern Asia
2,250
South Central Asia 189,412
India
95,098
Iran
14,574
Other South Central Asia
79,740
Southeastern Asia 117,665
Philippines
53,960
Vietnam
43,486
Other Southeastern Asia
20,219
Western Asia 39,091
Israel
742
Lebanon
5,963
Other Western Asia
32,386
Other Asia (no country specified) 957
Africa 117,500
Eastern Africa 42,179
Northern Africa
24,216
Western Africa
39,391
Middle and Southern Africa
6,590
Other Africa (no country specified)
5,124
Oceania 2,656
Australia and New Zealand subregion 2,239
Oceania (no country specified) 417
Americas 389,814
Latin America 375,572
Caribbean
33,177

Cuba

3,867

Jamaica

12,507

Other Caribbean

16,803
Central America
246,603

Mexico

56,513

El Salvador

96,686

Other Central America

93,404
South America
95,792

Brazil

8,617

Colombia

12,449

Other South America

74,726
Northern America 14,242
Canada
13,784
Other Northern America
458
Period of Entry into U.S.  
Before 1990 243,623
1990-1999 199,787
2000-2009 290,178
Since 2010 336,759
%
Region of Birth (excluding born at the sea)* 100%
Born in Africa 11.0%
Born in Asia 42.9%
Born in Europe 9.4%
Born in Latin America (South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean) 35.1%
Born in Northern America (Canada, Bermuda, Greenland, and St. Pierre and Miquelon) 1.3%
Born in Oceania 0.2%
Top 3 Countries of Birth*  
Country #1
Country #2
Country #3
Detailed Region/Country of Birth* 100%
Europe 9.4%
Northern Europe 2.2%
United Kingdom 1.7%
Ireland 0.2%
Other Northern Europe 0.3%
Western Europe 2.8%
France 0.6%
Germany 1.7%
Other Western Europe 0.5%
Southern Europe 1.1%
Italy 0.4%
Portugal 0.1%
Other Southern Europe 0.7%
Eastern Europe 3.3%
Poland 0.5%
Russia 1.0%
Other Eastern Europe 1.9%
Other Europe (no country specified) N
Asia 42.9%
Eastern Asia 10.5%
China 4.6%
China, excluding Taiwan 4.0%
Taiwan 0.6%
Japan 0.9%
Korea 4.8%
Other Eastern Asia 0.2%
South Central Asia 17.7%
India 8.9%
Iran 1.4%
Other South Central Asia 7.4%
Southeastern Asia 11.0%
Philippines 5.0%
Vietnam 4.1%
Other Southeastern Asia 1.9%
Western Asia 3.7%
Israel 0.1%
Lebanon 0.6%
Other Western Asia 3.0%
Other Asia (no country specified) 0.1%
Africa 11.0%
Eastern Africa 3.9%
Northern Africa 2.3%
Western Africa 3.7%
Middle and Southern Africa 0.6%
Other Africa (no country specified) 0.5%
Oceania 0.2%
Australia and New Zealand subregion 0.2%
Oceania (no country specified) N
Americas 36.4%
Latin America 35.1%
Caribbean 3.1%
Cuba 0.4%
Jamaica 1.2%
Other Caribbean 1.6%
Central America 23.0%
Mexico 5.3%
El Salvador 9.0%
Other Central America 8.7%
South America 8.9%
Brazil 0.8%
Colombia 1.2%
Other South America 7.0%
Northern America 1.3%
Canada 1.3%
Other Northern America N
Period of Entry into U.S.  
Before 1980 22.8%
1980-1989 18.7%
1990-1999 27.1%
Since 2000 31.5%
Number
Region of Birth (excluding born at the sea)* 570,279
Born in Africa 42,509
Born in Asia 235,374
Born in Europe 86,612
Born in Latin America (South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean) 189,809
Born in Northern America (Canada, Bermuda, Greenland, and St. Pierre and Miquelon) 13,160
Cat28 2,807
Top 3 Countries of Birth*  
Country #1
Country #2
Country #3
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
%
Region of birth 100%
Born in Africa 7.5%
Born in Asia 41.3%
Born in Europe 15.2%
Born in Latin America 33.3%
Born in Northern America 2.3%
Born in Oceania 0.5%
Top 3 Countries of Birth*  
Country #1
Country #2
Country #3
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Number
Region of Birth (excluding born at the sea)* 299,626
Born in Africa 13,220
Born in Asia 134,526
Born in Europe 64,759
Born in Latin America (South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean) 75,309
Born in Northern America (Canada, Bermuda, Greenland, and St. Pierre and Miquelon) 9,765
Cat21 2,047
Top 3 Countries of Birth*  
Country #1
Country #2
Country #3
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
%
Region of birth 100%
Born in Africa 4.4%
Born in Asia 44.9%
Born in Europe 21.6%
Born in Latin America 25.1%
Born in Northern America 3.3%
Born in Oceania 0.7%
Top 3 Countries of Birth*  
Country #1
Country #2
Country #3
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
Foreign Born
Foreign Born
Foreign Born
Naturalization Number
Foreign Born by U.S. Citizenship Status 1,070,347
Naturalized citizens 611,644
Noncitizens 458,703
Naturalized Citizens by Period of Naturalization 611,644
Before 1990 104,220
1990-1999 94,615
2000-2009 167,885
2010-2014 100,067
Since 2015 144,857
%
Foreign Born by U.S. Citizenship Status 100%
Naturalized citizens 57.1%
Noncitizens 42.9%
Naturalized Citizens by Period of Naturalization 100%
Before 1980 17.0%
1980-1989 15.5%
1990-1999 27.4%
2000-2009 16.4%
Since 2010 23.7%
Number
Foreign Born by U.S. Citizenship Status 570,279
Naturalized citizens 232,767
Noncitizens 337,512
   
   
   
   
   
   
%
Foreign Born by U.S. Citizenship Status 100%
Naturalized citizens 40.8%
Noncitizens 59.2%
   
   
   
   
   
   
Number
Foreign Born by U.S. Citizenship Status 311,809
Naturalized citizens 125,653
Noncitizens 186,156
   
   
   
   
   
   
%
Foreign Born by U.S. Citizenship Status 100%
Naturalized citizens 40.3%
Noncitizens 59.7%
   
   
   
   
   
   
Fertility Foreign Born
Female Population (ages 15-50) 318,671
Women (ages 15-50) who gave birth in the last 12 months 18,634
% married among women who gave birth
82.5%
% unmarried (never married, divorced, or widowed) among women who gave birth
17.5%
U.S. Born
Female Population (ages 15-50) 1,724,968
Women (ages 15-50) who gave birth in the last 12 months 77,698
% married among women who gave birth 67.6%
% unmarried (never married, divorced, or widowed) among women who gave birth 32.4%
Foreign Born
   
   
   
   
U.S. Born
   
   
   
   
Foreign Born
   
   
   
   
U.S. Born
   
   
   
   
Household and Family Size

Note: Data for Alaska, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming are from the U.S Census Bureau’s pooled 2017-2021 American Community Survey (ACS). Data for the United States overall and for the remaining states are from the 2021 ACS. 2) The letter N indicates that a number could not be provided by the Census Bureau because the number of sample cases was too small for this state.

Foreign Born
Average household size 3.19
Average family size 3.62
U.S. Born
Average household size 2.42
Average family size 3.03
Foreign Born
   
   
U.S. Born
   
   
Foreign Born
   
   
U.S. Born
   
   
 
Population
Population
Population
Children under 18 Number
Children with Foreign- and Native-Born Parents

Note: Refers to children between ages 0 and 17 (regardless of their nativity) who reside with at least one parent. This means that the number of children shown here is smaller than the overall number of U.S. children under 18. Since 2013, the U.S. Census Bureau includes children of same-sex married couples in its count of children in families and subfamilies.

 
Children under age 18 with 1,786,124
Only native parent(s)
1,341,970
One or more foreign-born parents
444,154

Child is native

384,944

Child is foreign born

59,210
Children under age 6 with 559,186
Only native parent(s)
423,406
One or more foreign-born parents
135,780

Child is native

125,965

Child is foreign born

9,815
Children between ages 6 and 17 with 1,226,938
Only native parent(s)
918,564
One or more foreign-born parents
308,374

Child is native

258,979

Child is foreign born

49,395
Children in Low-Income Families

Note: Refers to children between ages 0 and 17 (regardless of their nativity) who reside with at least one parent. This means that the number of children shown here is smaller than the overall number of U.S. children under 18. Since 2013, the U.S. Census Bureau includes children of same-sex married couples in its count of children in families and subfamilies. The term "low-income families" refers to families with annual incomes below 200 percent of the federal poverty threshold.

504,637
Only native parents 362,866
One or more foreign-born parents 141,771
%
Children with Foreign- and Native-Born Parents*  
Children under age 18 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 75.1%
One or more foreign-born parents 24.9%
Child is native 21.6%
Child is foreign born 3.3%
Children under age 6 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 75.7%
One or more foreign-born parents 24.3%
Child is native 22.5%
Child is foreign born 1.8%
Children between ages 6 and 17 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 74.9%
One or more foreign-born parents 25.1%
Child is native 21.1%
Child is foreign born 4.0%
Children in Low-Income Families* 100%
Only native parents 71.9%
One or more foreign-born parents 28.1%
Number
Children with Foreign- and Native-Born Parents  
Children under age 18 with 1,652,809
Only native parent(s) 1,435,457
One or more foreign-born parents 217,352
Child is native 170,358
Child is foreign born 46,994
Children under age 6 with 535,315
Only native parent(s) 457,468
One or more foreign-born parents 77,847
Child is native 70,642
Child is foreign born 7,205
Children between ages 6 and 17 with 1,117,494
Only native parent(s) 977,989
One or more foreign-born parents 139,505
Child is native 99,716
Child is foreign born 39,789
Children in Low-Income Families* 505,017
Only native parents 439,775
One or more foreign-born parents 65,242
%
Children with Foreign- and Native-Born Parents  
Children under age 18 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 86.8%
One or more foreign-born parents 13.2%
Child is native 10.3%
Child is foreign born 2.8%
Children under age 6 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 85.5%
One or more foreign-born parents 14.5%
Child is native 13.2%
Child is foreign born 1.3%
Children between ages 6 and 17 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 87.5%
One or more foreign-born parents 12.5%
Child is native 8.9%
Child is foreign born 3.6%
Children in Low-Income Families* 100%
Only native parents 87.1%
One or more foreign-born parents 12.9%
Number
Children with Foreign- and Native-Born Parents  
Children under age 18 with 1,443,150
Only native parent(s) 1,317,669
One or more foreign-born parents 125,481
Child is native 95,772
Child is foreign born 29,709
Children under age 6 with 511,476
Only native parent(s) 467,343
One or more foreign-born parents 44,133
Child is native 39,459
Child is foreign born 4,674
Children between ages 6 and 17 with 931,674
Only native parent(s) 850,326
One or more foreign-born parents 81,348
Child is native 56,313
Child is foreign born 25,035
Children in Low-Income Families* 466,167
Only native parents 431,436
One or more foreign-born parents 34,731
%
Children with Foreign- and Native-Born Parents  
Children under age 18 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 91.3%
One or more foreign-born parents 8.7%
Child is native 6.6%
Child is foreign born 2.1%
Children under age 6 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 91.4%
One or more foreign-born parents 8.6%
Child is native 7.7%
Child is foreign born 0.9%
Children between ages 6 and 17 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 91.3%
One or more foreign-born parents 8.7%
Child is native 6.0%
Child is foreign born 2.7%
Children in Low-Income Families* 100%
Only native parents 92.5%
One or more foreign-born parents 7.5%

Sources: Migration Policy Institute tabulations of the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) and Decennial Census. Unless stated otherwise, 2021 data are from the one-year ACS file. For information about ACS definitions, click here. For ACS methodology, sampling error, and nonsampling error, click here. Estimates from 1990 and 2000 Decennial Census data as well as ACS microdata are from Steven Ruggles, Sarah Flood, Ronald Goeken, Megan Schouweiler and Matthew Sobek. IPUMS USA: Version 12.0 [dataset]. Minneapolis, MN: IPUMS, 2022. https://doi.org/10.18128/D010.V12.0.

Definitions

  • The term "foreign born" refers to people residing in the United States at the time of the population survey who were not U.S. citizens at birth. The foreign-born population includes naturalized U.S. citizens, lawful permanent immigrants (or green-card holders), refugees and asylees, certain legal nonimmigrants (including those on student, work, or some other temporary visas), and persons residing in the country without authorization.
  • The term "U.S. born" refers to people residing in the United States who were U.S. citizens in one of three categories: people born in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia; people born in U.S. Insular Areas such as Puerto Rico or Guam; or people who were born abroad to at least one U.S. citizen parent.
  • The term "low-income families" refers to families with annual incomes below 200 percent of the federal poverty threshold.

Data-related notes

  • The letter N indicates that an estimate could not be provided by the Census Bureau because the number of sample cases was too small for this state.
  • Race and Hispanic origin: The Census Bureau made some improvements and changes in how respondents were asked about their race and Hispanic origin on the 2020 decennial Census form. The goal was to achieve a more accurate portrait of how U.S. residents self-identify. The same changes were implemented in the subsequent ACS as well. Note that the racial composition of the U.S. population in the 2021 ACS looks different from prior ACS years. For instance, the proportion reporting “two or more races” has increased, while the proportion of “white alone” decreased, reflecting both the growth of a more racially diverse population and the changes in questionnaire design. Race and Hispanic origin comparisons between the 2021 ACS and earlier ACS years or pre-2020 decennial Censuses should be made with caution. For more details, visit the Census Bureau’s Resource Library.
  • For “Median Age” and “Household Size”: Data for Alaska, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming are from the U.S. Census Bureau's pooled 2017-2021 American Community Survey (ACS). Data for the United States overall and for the remaining states are from the 2021 ACS.
  • Region of birth: For 1990, 2000, and current ACS year, the total for the region of birth of the foreign born is different from the total foreign born. This is because the 1990 total excludes those who did not report a country of birth and those born at sea, while the 2000 census and the current ACS year totals exclude those born at sea.
  • Countries of birth: These are the largest countries of birth reported by the Census Bureau. Some countries are only listed as part of a larger geographic region. For example, those born in Somalia are included only among those born in Eastern Africa. Therefore, a few states may have larger populations of foreign-born persons born in countries not listed individually in census data. For each of the three years, countries of birth reflect geographic boundaries as of that year.
  • Children: The data here include children between ages 0 and 17 (regardless of their nativity) who reside with at least one parent. This means that the number of children shown here is smaller than the overall number of U.S. children under 18. Since 2013, the U.S. Census Bureau has included children of same-sex married couples in its count of children in families and subfamilies.