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.
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
