Immigrants in
The United States
The United States was built, in part, by immigrants‚ and the nation has long been the beneficiary of the energy and ingenuity that immigrants bring. Today, 14.3 percent of the nation's residents are foreign-born, almost half of whom are naturalized citizens. Immigrants support the U.S. economy in many ways, accounting for 23.6 percent of entrepreneurs, 23.6 percent of STEM workers, and 15.9 percent of nurses. As neighbors, business owners, taxpayers, and workers, immigrants are an integral part of the country's diverse and thriving communities and make extensive contributions that benefit all.
Overview
47,805,500
Immigrant residents$1.7T
Immigrants spending power$651.9B
Immigrants taxes paid2023
Data yearDemographics
In the United States, immigrants are more likely to be working-age than their U.S.-born counterparts. This means they are more likely to be active in the labor force, allowing them to contribute to the economy not only as consumers but also as taxpayers, helping fund social services and programs like Medicare and Social Security.
| Age Group | Foreign-Born Population | U.S.-Born Population |
|---|---|---|
| 0-15 | 4.9% | 21.4% |
| 16-64 | 77.1% | 60.9% |
| 65+ | 18.0% | 17.7% |
51.0%
Share of immigrants who are women49.0%
Share of immigrants who are men2,855,600
Number of immigrant children22,942,000
Number of U.S.-born residents living with at least one immigrant parent74.0%
Share of Foreign-Born that are proficient in EnglishTop countries of origin for immigrants
Entrepreneurship
It is hard to overstate the importance of entrepreneurship since new businesses are the main driver of job growth in the United States. Immigrants play a particularly important role in this—founding businesses at far higher rates than the U.S. population overall. Today, millions of American workers are employed at immigrant-founded and immigrant-owned companies.
3,855,100
Immigrant entrepreneurs$116.2B
Total business income of immigrant entrepreneurs230
Number of Fortune 500 companies founded by immigrants or children of immigrantsTAXES & SPENDING POWER
Immigrant households contribute hundreds of billions of dollars in federal, state, and local taxes and hold a tremendous amount of spending power. This gives them significant economic clout, helping support local communities as consumers and taxpayers. Like all residents of the United States, regardless of where they were born, immigrants make use of public services like education, healthcare, and public safety. Even with these costs, however, immigrants’ economic contributions far outweigh the cost of additional public services they incur.
$2.4T
Immigrant household income$1.7T
Total spending power| State & Local Taxes Paid | $232.1B |
| Federal Taxes Paid | $419.8B |
| Total Taxes Paid | $651.9B |
$215.8B
Immigrants’ contributions to Social Security$58.7B
Immigrants’ contributions to MedicareWorkforce
The growth in the immigrant population has helped to strengthen America’s labor force. As baby boomers retire, younger immigrants are filling crucial gaps in the labor market. Nationally, immigrants are more likely to hold an advanced degree than the U.S.-born. They are also more likely to have less than a high school education. As such, they are able to fill critical shortages at both ends of the skill spectrum, from high-tech positions to agriculture, hospitality, and service jobs.
30,680,600
Number of immigrant workers in the labor forceEducational Attainment by Nativity, Age 25+
| Education Level | Foreign-Born Population | U.S.-Born Population |
|---|---|---|
| Less Than High School | 24.7% | 7.0% |
| High School & Some College | 40.2% | 56.5% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 19.2% | 22.4% |
| Graduate Degree | 15.9% | 14.1% |
Share of College-Educated Workers Employed in Jobs That Don’t Require a College Degree
| Foreign-Born Population | U.S.-Born Population |
|---|---|
| 31.3% | 28.1% |
TOP INDUSTRIES WITH HIGHEST SHARE OF IMMIGRANT WORKERS
Immigrant share of population: 14.3%
TOP OCCUPATIONS WITH HIGHEST SHARE OF IMMIGRANT WORKERS
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math
Jobs in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields are some of the most in-demand jobs in the U.S. economy. These jobs are also expected to experience some of the highest growth rates in the next decade, second only to healthcare jobs. While immigrants already play a huge part in maintaining the United States’ role as a leading innovator, immigrants will also be instrumental in helping high-tech industries meet their full potential as their needs for high-skilled STEM workers rapidly increases in the future.
Healthcare
As millions of baby boomers become elderly, the U.S. healthcare system is facing unprecedented demand, adding jobs faster than any other segment of the economy. Many healthcare businesses and providers are struggling to find enough workers, and in some rural areas shortages are particularly acute. Immigrants have already been filling some of our most glaring healthcare needs. They are twice as likely as the U.S.-born to work as home health aides, and twice as likely to work as physicians and surgeons.
Housing
Immigrant families have long played an important role in helping to build housing wealth in the United States. In recent decades, the more than 40 million immigrants in the U.S. collectively increased U.S. housing wealth by trillions of dollars. Much of this was possible because immigrants moved into neighborhoods once in decline, thus helping to revitalize communities and make neighborhoods more attractive to U.S.-born residents.
11,615,100
Immigrant homeowners15.4%
Share of recent homebuyers who were foreign-born$6.6T
Housing wealth held by immigrant households$167.2B
Amount paid by immigrant-led households in rentInternational Students
International students in the United States contribute tens of billions of dollars to the U.S. economy every year and support a significant number of U.S. jobs through their tuition payments and day-to-day spending. Research has also found that increases in the number of international students at American universities boost innovation and patent creation.
1,126,690
Students at U.S. colleges and universities who are international students$43.8B
Economic contribution of international students378,175
Jobs supported by international studentsNaturalization & Voting Power
As more immigrants naturalize and become eligible to vote, they continue to gain political power. The number of immigrant voters is only projected to rise in the next decade, and in some states foreign-born voters are already capable of deciding elections.
22,805,400
Number of immigrants who are eligible to vote23,681,300
Number of immigrants who are naturalized U.S. citizens7,353,000
Number of immigrants who are eligible for naturalizationUndocumented Immigrants
The presence of a significant number of undocumented immigrants in the United States poses many legal and political challenges. But these millions of undocumented immigrants, most of whom have lived in the country for more than five years, are working across the country, contributing billions of dollars to the U.S. economy.
11,809,900
Number of undocumented immigrants1,119,400
Undocumented entrepreneurs$388.8B
Undocumented household income$299.0B
Total spending power| State & Local Taxes Paid | $33.9B |
| Federal Taxes Paid | $55.8B |
| Total Taxes Paid | $89.8B |
Top Industries with Highest Share of Undocumented Workers
Immigrant share of population: 14.3%
9,122,000
Number of U.S. citizens living with at least one undocumented family member5,211,000
Number of U.S. citizen children living with at least one undocumented family member4,153,900
Number of U.S. citizen children living with at least one undocumented parentTHE DACA-ELIGIBLE POPULATION
DACA-eligible people contribute billions of dollars to the U.S. economy. Removing the protections afforded to DACA recipients would likely upset local economies, communities, and schools, hurting employers and businesses that depend on these young immigrants as workers and customers.
1,130,000
Number of DACA-eligible residents76,500
Number of DACA-eligible entrepreneurs$46.5B
DACA-eligible household income$35.0B
Total spending power| State & Local Taxes Paid | $4.9B |
| Federal Taxes Paid | $6.6B |
| Total Taxes Paid | $11.5B |
537,730
Number of active DACA recipients834,877
Number of people with DACA granted339,200
Number of additional residents who would satisfy all but the educational requirements for DACARefugees
Refugees living in the United States make tremendous contributions to our economy as earners, taxpayers, and consumers. Rather than a drain on communities, refugees, with their high employment rate and entrepreneurial spirit, actually sustain and strengthen their new hometowns.
2,199,000
Number of likely refugees178,100
Number of refugee entrepreneurs100,034
Number of refugees resettled in the last fiscal year85.5%
Share of refugees who are naturalized U.S. citizens$6.0B
Total business income of refugee entrepreneurs96.5%
Employment rate of likely refugees$115.0B
Refugee household income$83.8B
Total spending power| State & Local Taxes Paid | $11.4B |
| Federal Taxes Paid | $19.9B |
| Total Taxes Paid | $31.2B |
Top Countries of Origin for Refugees Resettled in the last Fiscal Year
Temporary Protected Status Holders
Recipients of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) have made enormous contributions to various industries and paid a significant amount in federal, state, and local taxes in the United States. Forcing them to leave the country not only risks putting these individuals in danger, but also threatens to significantly disrupt local economies.
696,900
Number of TPS holders95.5%
Employment rate of TPS holders$22.1B
TPS household income$16.9B
Total spending power| State & Local Taxes Paid | $2.1B |
| Federal Taxes Paid | $3.1B |
| Total Taxes Paid | $5.2B |