Biggest sources of immigrants to San Francisco
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 Francisco come from, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Countries are ranked by highest number of foreign-born residents who lived in San Francisco as of 2019's five-year estimates.
Keep reading to find out more about the immigrant community in your home city.
#50. Romania
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,099
- 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
#49. Eritrea
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,129
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
National
- Number of residents: 45,119
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #90 most common country of origin
#48. Portugal
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,136
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
National
- Number of residents: 171,118
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #44 most common country of origin
#47. South Africa
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,201
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
National
- Number of residents: 104,022
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #56 most common country of origin
#46. Yemen
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,277
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
National
- Number of residents: 54,152
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #82 most common country of origin
#45. Singapore
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,459
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
National
- Number of residents: 34,014
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #101 most common country of origin
#44. Spain
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,632
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 115,113
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #55 most common country of origin
#43. Turkey
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,633
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 119,380
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #54 most common country of origin
#42. Poland
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,875
- 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
#41. Egypt
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,925
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 191,452
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #40 most common country of origin
#40. Cambodia
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 4,140
- 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
#39. Nigeria
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 4,377
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 350,272
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #26 most common country of origin
#38. Malaysia
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 4,419
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 76,521
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #74 most common country of origin
#37. Israel
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 4,484
- 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
#36. Argentina
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 4,519
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 194,435
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #39 most common country of origin
#35. Laos
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 4,716
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 181,546
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #42 most common country of origin
#34. Australia
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 5,068
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 92,483
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #64 most common country of origin
#33. Colombia
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 5,193
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 761,374
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.7%
- #12 most common country of origin
#32. Ethiopia
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 5,259
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 249,777
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
- #34 most common country of origin
#31. Honduras
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 5,426
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 651,123
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.5%
- #16 most common country of origin
#30. Nepal
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 5,856
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 140,904
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #49 most common country of origin
#29. Ireland
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 5,933
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 121,469
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #53 most common country of origin
#28. Indonesia
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 6,373
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 96,229
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #62 most common country of origin
#27. Italy
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 6,697
- 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
#26. Thailand
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 8,227
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
- Number of residents: 255,345
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
- #32 most common country of origin
#25. Ukraine
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 9,688
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%
National
- Number of residents: 345,250
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #28 most common country of origin
#24. Pakistan
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 10,289
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%
National
- Number of residents: 376,127
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #25 most common country of origin
#23. Fiji
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 10,615
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%
National
- Number of residents: 47,004
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #86 most common country of origin
#22. Afghanistan
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 10,714
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%
National
- Number of residents: 101,548
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #59 most common country of origin
#21. Burma
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 11,097
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
National
- Number of residents: 147,573
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #47 most common country of origin
#20. France
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 11,396
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
National
- Number of residents: 181,554
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #41 most common country of origin
#19. Brazil
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 12,784
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
National
- Number of residents: 433,479
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
- #20 most common country of origin
#18. Germany
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 14,893
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
National
- Number of residents: 560,368
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.3%
- #17 most common country of origin
#17. Russia
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 14,983
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
National
- Number of residents: 391,641
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #22 most common country of origin
#16. Peru
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 15,028
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
National
- Number of residents: 451,076
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
- #18 most common country of origin
#15. Japan
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 15,872
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.1%
National
- Number of residents: 345,140
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #29 most common country of origin
#14. Iran
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 17,298
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.2%
National
- Number of residents: 382,260
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #23 most common country of origin
#13. Nicaragua
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 19,072
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.3%
National
- Number of residents: 251,913
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
- #33 most common country of origin
#12. Canada
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 21,513
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.5%
National
- Number of residents: 808,566
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.8%
- #11 most common country of origin
#11. United Kingdom
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 25,231
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.7%
National
- Number of residents: 698,612
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.6%
- #14 most common country of origin
#10. Taiwan
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 30,324
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.1%
National
- Number of residents: 381,098
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #24 most common country of origin
#9. South Korea
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 30,368
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.1%
National
- Number of residents: 1,044,634
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.4%
- #9 most common country of origin
#8. Guatemala
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 33,589
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.3%
National
- Number of residents: 979,098
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.2%
- #10 most common country of origin
#7. Hong Kong
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 45,149
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.1%
National
- Number of residents: 231,275
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
- #36 most common country of origin
#6. El Salvador
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 56,375
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.9%
National
- Number of residents: 1,381,008
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.1%
- #5 most common country of origin
#5. Vietnam
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 60,583
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.2%
National
- Number of residents: 1,336,988
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.0%
- #6 most common country of origin
#4. India
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 135,591
- Percent of foreign born residents: 9.4%
National
- Number of residents: 2,561,906
- Percent of foreign born residents: 5.8%
- #2 most common country of origin
#3. Philippines
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 160,908
- Percent of foreign born residents: 11.1%
National
- Number of residents: 1,983,939
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.5%
- #4 most common country of origin
#2. China
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 224,854
- Percent of foreign born residents: 15.6%
National
- Number of residents: 2,162,395
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.9%
- #3 most common country of origin
#1. Mexico
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 230,302
- Percent of foreign born residents: 16.0%
National
- Number of residents: 11,250,541
- Percent of foreign born residents: 25.6%
- #1 most common country of origin
