stories
stories
HomeMoneyLifestyleNewsSportsEntertainmentTravelScienceLocal

Biggest sources of immigrants to California

·Stacker

cyo bo // Shutterstock
cyo bo // Shutterstock
Add Stacker as Preferred Source

Over 14% of the United States population is composed of immigrants. But in reality, the vast majority of Americans today are here because of relatives who immigrated from other countries some time in the last several hundred years.

And while the distinctive American culture and spirit is the result of blending many diverse cultures and histories, the United States has for centuries had an up-and-down relationship with immigration.

Each era of immigration has been met with reductive ideas and resistance, whether the backlash was directed toward the Chinese, Irish, Italians, or Mexicans. Immigration laws have targeted specific groups at various times, stoking intolerance and preventing people from truly joining American society. Over time, however, as laws changed to be more equitable and immigrants found their footings, we have reaped the rewards of innovation in business, music, art, literature, dance, food, societal norms, entertainment, and sports—all while realizing a greater understanding of and respect for different cultures, religions, and ideas.

Stacker compiled a list of the biggest sources of immigrants to California using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Countries are ranked by the highest number of residents according to 2023 5-year estimates, the most recent data available as of 2025. Keep reading to find out more about the immigrant community in your home state.

You may also like: 10 signs your car might be a lemon

1 / 50

#50. Malaysia

- Number of residents: 18,418
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.18%

2 / 50

#49. Bangladesh

- Number of residents: 18,687
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.18%

3 / 50

#48. Venezuela

- Number of residents: 19,833
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.19%

4 / 50

#47. South Africa

- Number of residents: 20,577
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%

6 / 50

#45. Turkey

- Number of residents: 22,053
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.21%

7 / 50

#44. Ecuador

- Number of residents: 22,224
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.21%

8 / 50

#43. Romania

- Number of residents: 23,348
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.22%

9 / 50

#42. Ethiopia

- Number of residents: 23,397
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.22%

11 / 50

#40. Portugal

- Number of residents: 25,311
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.24%

12 / 50

#39. Cuba

- Number of residents: 28,501
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.27%

13 / 50

#38. Syria

- Number of residents: 30,317
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.29%

14 / 50

#37. Italy

- Number of residents: 30,349
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.29%

16 / 50

#35. Argentina

- Number of residents: 32,344
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.31%

17 / 50

#34. Israel

- Number of residents: 33,252
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.32%

18 / 50

#33. Fiji

- Number of residents: 35,130
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.34%

19 / 50

#32. Nigeria

- Number of residents: 35,202
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.34%

21 / 50

#30. France

- Number of residents: 39,436
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.38%

22 / 50

#29. Iraq

- Number of residents: 41,350
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.39%

23 / 50

#28. Egypt

- Number of residents: 42,688
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.41%

24 / 50

#27. Laos

- Number of residents: 47,512
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.45%

26 / 50

#25. Cambodia

- Number of residents: 53,489
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.51%

27 / 50

#24. Brazil

- Number of residents: 56,186
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.54%

28 / 50

#23. Afghanistan

- Number of residents: 58,588
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.56%

29 / 50

#22. Colombia

- Number of residents: 62,242
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.59%

31 / 50

#20. Ukraine

- Number of residents: 63,163
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%

32 / 50

#19. Thailand

- Number of residents: 66,233
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.63%

33 / 50

#18. Honduras

- Number of residents: 72,986
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%

34 / 50

#17. Germany

- Number of residents: 73,688
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%

36 / 50

#15. Russia

- Number of residents: 76,006
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.73%

37 / 50

#14. Armenia

- Number of residents: 84,110
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%

38 / 50

#13. Japan

- Number of residents: 102,381
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.98%

39 / 50

#12. Hong Kong

- Number of residents: 105,628
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.01%

41 / 50

#10. Canada

- Number of residents: 128,117
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.22%

42 / 50

#9. Taiwan

- Number of residents: 176,783
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.69%

43 / 50

#8. Iran

- Number of residents: 209,531
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.0%

44 / 50

#7. Guatemala

- Number of residents: 300,751
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.87%

46 / 50

#5. Vietnam

- Number of residents: 517,831
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.94%

47 / 50

#4. India

- Number of residents: 547,160
- Percent of foreign born residents: 5.22%

48 / 50

#3. Philippines

- Number of residents: 817,667
- Percent of foreign born residents: 7.8%

49 / 50

#2. China

- Number of residents: 964,347
- Percent of foreign born residents: 9.2%

Trending stories