Biggest sources of immigrants to Boston
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 Boston come from, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Countries are ranked by highest number of foreign-born residents who lived in Boston as of 2019's five-year estimates.
Keep reading to find out more about the immigrant community in your home city.
#50. Argentina
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,186
- 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
#49. Egypt
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,718
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 191,452
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #40 most common country of origin
#48. Pakistan
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,929
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 376,127
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #25 most common country of origin
#47. Thailand
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 4,138
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 255,345
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
- #32 most common country of origin
#46. Turkey
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 4,254
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 119,380
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #54 most common country of origin
#45. Venezuela
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 4,273
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 349,720
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #27 most common country of origin
#44. Israel
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 4,439
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 135,672
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #50 most common country of origin
#43. Uganda
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 4,485
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 31,366
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #105 most common country of origin
#42. Ecuador
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 4,669
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 438,474
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
- #19 most common country of origin
#41. Spain
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 4,739
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 115,113
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #55 most common country of origin
#40. Ethiopia
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 4,861
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 249,777
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
- #34 most common country of origin
#39. Lebanon
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 5,046
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
- Number of residents: 121,697
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #52 most common country of origin
#38. Kenya
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 5,060
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
- Number of residents: 141,751
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #48 most common country of origin
#37. Nepal
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 5,167
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
- Number of residents: 140,904
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #49 most common country of origin
#36. Iran
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 5,307
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
- Number of residents: 382,260
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #23 most common country of origin
#35. Trinidad and Tobago
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 5,382
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
- Number of residents: 230,035
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
- #37 most common country of origin
#34. Poland
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 5,498
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
- Number of residents: 410,841
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #21 most common country of origin
#33. Peru
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 5,681
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
- Number of residents: 451,076
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
- #18 most common country of origin
#32. Morocco
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 6,201
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%
National
- Number of residents: 78,439
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #73 most common country of origin
#31. Japan
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 6,517
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%
National
- Number of residents: 345,140
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #29 most common country of origin
#30. Albania
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 6,978
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
National
- Number of residents: 89,911
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #65 most common country of origin
#29. France
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 7,106
- 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
#28. Ukraine
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 7,250
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
National
- Number of residents: 345,250
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #28 most common country of origin
#27. Taiwan
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 7,384
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
National
- Number of residents: 381,098
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #24 most common country of origin
#26. Nigeria
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 7,487
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
National
- Number of residents: 350,272
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #26 most common country of origin
#25. Hong Kong
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 7,518
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
National
- Number of residents: 231,275
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
- #36 most common country of origin
#24. Greece
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 8,351
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
National
- Number of residents: 129,765
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #51 most common country of origin
#23. Germany
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 9,820
- 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
#22. Honduras
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 10,111
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.1%
National
- Number of residents: 651,123
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.5%
- #16 most common country of origin
#21. Philippines
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 10,354
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.1%
National
- Number of residents: 1,983,939
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.5%
- #4 most common country of origin
#20. Mexico
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 10,440
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.1%
National
- Number of residents: 11,250,541
- Percent of foreign born residents: 25.6%
- #1 most common country of origin
#19. Cambodia
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 12,146
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.3%
National
- Number of residents: 151,066
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #46 most common country of origin
#18. Ireland
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 12,438
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.4%
National
- Number of residents: 121,469
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #53 most common country of origin
#17. Jamaica
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 13,776
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.5%
National
- Number of residents: 741,386
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.7%
- #13 most common country of origin
#16. Italy
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 14,638
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.6%
National
- Number of residents: 332,857
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #30 most common country of origin
#15. South Korea
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 15,235
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.7%
National
- Number of residents: 1,044,634
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.4%
- #9 most common country of origin
#14. Portugal
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 15,395
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.7%
National
- Number of residents: 171,118
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #44 most common country of origin
#13. Russia
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 15,663
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.7%
National
- Number of residents: 391,641
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #22 most common country of origin
#12. United Kingdom
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 20,545
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.2%
National
- Number of residents: 698,612
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.6%
- #14 most common country of origin
#11. Colombia
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 21,110
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.3%
National
- Number of residents: 761,374
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.7%
- #12 most common country of origin
#10. Canada
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 23,201
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.5%
National
- Number of residents: 808,566
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.8%
- #11 most common country of origin
#9. Cabo Verde
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 23,831
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.6%
National
- Number of residents: 41,085
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #93 most common country of origin
#8. Guatemala
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 24,887
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.7%
National
- Number of residents: 979,098
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.2%
- #10 most common country of origin
#7. Vietnam
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 30,135
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.3%
National
- Number of residents: 1,336,988
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.0%
- #6 most common country of origin
#6. El Salvador
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 36,616
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.0%
National
- Number of residents: 1,381,008
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.1%
- #5 most common country of origin
#5. Haiti
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 53,396
- Percent of foreign born residents: 5.8%
National
- Number of residents: 672,655
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.5%
- #15 most common country of origin
#4. Brazil
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 57,153
- Percent of foreign born residents: 6.3%
National
- Number of residents: 433,479
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
- #20 most common country of origin
#3. India
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 60,643
- Percent of foreign born residents: 6.6%
National
- Number of residents: 2,561,906
- Percent of foreign born residents: 5.8%
- #2 most common country of origin
#2. Dominican Republic
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 80,601
- Percent of foreign born residents: 8.8%
National
- Number of residents: 1,118,147
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.5%
- #8 most common country of origin
#1. China
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
- Number of residents: 85,497
- Percent of foreign born residents: 9.4%
National
- Number of residents: 2,162,395
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.9%
- #3 most common country of origin
