Biggest sources of immigrants to San Diego

Written by:
April 21, 2022
Canva

Biggest sources of immigrants to San Diego

Nearly 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 countries most immigrants to San Diego come from, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Countries are ranked by highest number of foreign-born residents who lived in San Diego as of 2019's five-year estimates.

Keep reading to find out more about the immigrant community in your home city.

You may also like: Highest-rated Southern restaurants in San Diego by diners

#50. Jamaica

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,152
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%

National
- Number of residents: 741,386
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.7%
- #13 most common country of origin

#49. Romania

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,208
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%

National
- Number of residents: 162,046
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #45 most common country of origin

#48. Nicaragua

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,320
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%

National
- Number of residents: 251,913
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
- #33 most common country of origin

#47. Spain

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,441
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%

National
- Number of residents: 115,113
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #55 most common country of origin

#46. Sweden

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,455
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%

National
- Number of residents: 47,286
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #85 most common country of origin

You may also like: How hospital employment has changed in San Diego

#45. Pakistan

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,543
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%

National
- Number of residents: 376,127
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #25 most common country of origin

#44. Ireland

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,659
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%

National
- Number of residents: 121,469
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #53 most common country of origin

#43. Netherlands

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,714
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%

National
- Number of residents: 85,161
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #69 most common country of origin

#42. Turkey

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,778
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%

National
- Number of residents: 119,380
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #54 most common country of origin

#41. Indonesia

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,846
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%

National
- Number of residents: 96,229
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #62 most common country of origin

You may also like: People from these metros are looking to buy homes in San Diego

#40. Argentina

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,849
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%

National
- Number of residents: 194,435
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #39 most common country of origin

#39. Egypt

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,897
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%

National
- Number of residents: 191,452
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #40 most common country of origin

#38. Australia

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,911
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%

National
- Number of residents: 92,483
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #64 most common country of origin

#37. Saudi Arabia

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 2,047
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%

National
- Number of residents: 85,000
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #70 most common country of origin

#36. Syria

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 2,052
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%

National
- Number of residents: 95,802
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #63 most common country of origin

You may also like: Coat drives near San Diego

#35. Lebanon

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 2,111
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%

National
- Number of residents: 121,697
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #52 most common country of origin

#34. Cuba

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 2,151
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%

National
- Number of residents: 1,289,875
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.9%
- #7 most common country of origin

#33. Honduras

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 2,199
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%

National
- Number of residents: 651,123
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.5%
- #16 most common country of origin

#32. Israel

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 2,229
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%

National
- Number of residents: 135,672
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #50 most common country of origin

#31. Ethiopia

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 2,465
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%

National
- Number of residents: 249,777
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
- #34 most common country of origin

You may also like: Highest-rated Italian restaurants in San Diego by diners

#30. Somalia

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 2,527
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%

National
- Number of residents: 98,966
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #60 most common country of origin

#29. Poland

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 2,543
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%

National
- Number of residents: 410,841
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #21 most common country of origin

#28. Cambodia

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 2,696
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%

National
- Number of residents: 151,066
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #46 most common country of origin

#27. South Africa

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 2,715
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%

National
- Number of residents: 104,022
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #56 most common country of origin

#26. Hong Kong

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 2,812
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%

National
- Number of residents: 231,275
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
- #36 most common country of origin

You may also like: Here are the top-selling used cars in the San Diego metro area

#25. Thailand

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,082
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%

National
- Number of residents: 255,345
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
- #32 most common country of origin

#24. France

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,247
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%

National
- Number of residents: 181,554
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #41 most common country of origin

#23. Ukraine

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,282
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%

National
- Number of residents: 345,250
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #28 most common country of origin

#22. Afghanistan

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,289
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%

National
- Number of residents: 101,548
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #59 most common country of origin

#21. Peru

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,387
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%

National
- Number of residents: 451,076
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
- #18 most common country of origin

You may also like: Homes for sale in San Diego at every price point

#20. Italy

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,907
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%

National
- Number of residents: 332,857
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #30 most common country of origin

#19. Colombia

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,929
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%

National
- Number of residents: 761,374
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.7%
- #12 most common country of origin

#18. El Salvador

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 4,563
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%

National
- Number of residents: 1,381,008
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.1%
- #5 most common country of origin

#17. Laos

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 4,829
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%

National
- Number of residents: 181,546
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #42 most common country of origin

#16. Brazil

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 6,112
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%

National
- Number of residents: 433,479
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
- #20 most common country of origin

You may also like: How gas prices have changed in San Diego in the last week

#15. Russia

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 6,272
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%

National
- Number of residents: 391,641
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #22 most common country of origin

#14. Germany

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 6,841
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%

National
- Number of residents: 560,368
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.3%
- #17 most common country of origin

#13. Taiwan

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 7,674
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%

National
- Number of residents: 381,098
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #24 most common country of origin

#12. Guatemala

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 8,014
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%

National
- Number of residents: 979,098
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.2%
- #10 most common country of origin

#11. Iran

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 11,344
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.5%

National
- Number of residents: 382,260
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #23 most common country of origin

You may also like: Recently opened restaurants in the San Diego area

#10. Japan

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 11,647
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.5%

National
- Number of residents: 345,140
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #29 most common country of origin

#9. Canada

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 12,072
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.6%

National
- Number of residents: 808,566
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.8%
- #11 most common country of origin

#8. United Kingdom

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 12,310
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.6%

National
- Number of residents: 698,612
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.6%
- #14 most common country of origin

#7. South Korea

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 14,851
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.9%

National
- Number of residents: 1,044,634
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.4%
- #9 most common country of origin

#6. Iraq

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 23,240
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.0%

National
- Number of residents: 225,038
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
- #38 most common country of origin

You may also like: Highest paying jobs in San Diego that require a graduate degree

#5. India

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 25,243
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.3%

National
- Number of residents: 2,561,906
- Percent of foreign born residents: 5.8%
- #2 most common country of origin

#4. China

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 28,568
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.7%

National
- Number of residents: 2,162,395
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.9%
- #3 most common country of origin

#3. Vietnam

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 38,516
- Percent of foreign born residents: 5.0%

National
- Number of residents: 1,336,988
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.0%
- #6 most common country of origin

#2. Philippines

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 98,068
- Percent of foreign born residents: 12.7%

National
- Number of residents: 1,983,939
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.5%
- #4 most common country of origin

#1. Mexico

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 336,009
- Percent of foreign born residents: 43.4%

National
- Number of residents: 11,250,541
- Percent of foreign born residents: 25.6%
- #1 most common country of origin

You may also like: Best suburbs in San Diego

Trending Now