Biggest sources of immigrants to Chicago

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April 21, 2022
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Biggest sources of immigrants to Chicago

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

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

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#50. Belize

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 4,153
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%

National
- Number of residents: 48,869
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #84 most common country of origin

#49. Argentina

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 4,198
- 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

#48. France

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 4,262
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%

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

#47. Haiti

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 4,303
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%

National
- Number of residents: 672,655
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.5%
- #15 most common country of origin

#46. Albania

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 4,553
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%

National
- Number of residents: 89,911
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #65 most common country of origin

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#45. North Macedonia (Macedonia)

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 4,652
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%

National
- Number of residents: 26,292
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #111 most common country of origin

#44. Israel

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 4,672
- 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

#43. Belarus

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 5,183
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%

National
- Number of residents: 63,642
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #78 most common country of origin

#42. Czechoslovakia (includes Czech Republic and Slovakia)

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 5,204
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%

National
- Number of residents: 66,818
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #76 most common country of origin

#41. Hong Kong

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 5,470
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%

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

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#39 (tie). Brazil

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 5,668
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%

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

#39 (tie). Egypt

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 5,668
- 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

#38. Iran

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 5,992
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%

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

#37. Thailand

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 6,326
- 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

#36. Serbia

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 6,383
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%

National
- Number of residents: 37,570
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #96 most common country of origin

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#35. Taiwan

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 6,724
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%

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

#34. Jamaica

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 7,114
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%

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

#33. Ghana

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 7,306
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%

National
- Number of residents: 178,388
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #43 most common country of origin

#32. Ireland

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 7,325
- 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

#31. Cuba

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 7,354
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%

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

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#30. Syria

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 7,524
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%

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

#29. Peru

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 7,742
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%

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

#28. Bosnia and Herzegovina

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 9,016
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%

National
- Number of residents: 103,938
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #57 most common country of origin

#27. Jordan

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 9,534
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%

National
- Number of residents: 81,155
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #71 most common country of origin

#26. Lithuania

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 9,895
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%

National
- Number of residents: 32,826
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #104 most common country of origin

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#25. Japan

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 10,226
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%

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

#24. Honduras

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 10,611
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%

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

#23. El Salvador

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 10,830
- 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

#22. Bulgaria

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 12,450
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%

National
- Number of residents: 69,765
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #75 most common country of origin

#21. Iraq

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 12,784
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%

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

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#20. Colombia

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 13,084
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%

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

#19. Greece

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 13,375
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%

National
- Number of residents: 129,765
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #51 most common country of origin

#18. Romania

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 15,240
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%

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

#17. Canada

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 15,897
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%

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

#16. United Kingdom

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 16,389
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%

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

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#15. Russia

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 16,404
- 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

#14. Nigeria

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 16,538
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%

National
- Number of residents: 350,272
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #26 most common country of origin

#13. Ecuador

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 17,726
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.1%

National
- Number of residents: 438,474
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
- #19 most common country of origin

#12. Germany

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 18,160
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.1%

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

#11. Italy

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 18,546
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.1%

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

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#10. Vietnam

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 20,055
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.2%

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

#9. Guatemala

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 25,654
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.5%

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

#8. Ukraine

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 25,713
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.5%

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

#7. Pakistan

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 27,643
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.6%

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

#6. South Korea

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 36,426
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.2%

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

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#5. China

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 66,785
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.0%

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

#4. Philippines

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 82,057
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.9%

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

#3. Poland

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 126,885
- Percent of foreign born residents: 7.5%

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

#2. India

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 145,273
- Percent of foreign born residents: 8.6%

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

#1. Mexico

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Number of residents: 615,611
- Percent of foreign born residents: 36.5%

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

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