Shadows of group of people walking through the sunny streets with painted United States of America flag on the floor.

Where refugees in New York are arriving from

Written by:
Stacker
September 9, 2024
Robsonphoto // Shutterstock

Where refugees in New York are arriving from

During the past five decades, the U.S. has resettled over 3 million refugees, making it one of the leading countries for finding new homes for people fleeing violence, persecution, and war.

In 2021, then-President Donald Trump lowered the annual cap of refugees that could be admitted into the country to 15,000. Even as the Biden administration has raised the ceiling to 125,000, the annual number of refugees arriving in the U.S. didn't immediately bounce back to pre-Trump administration levels. The numbers are increasing though, with over 25,000 refugees arriving in the U.S. in the 2022 fiscal year, twice the 2021 total.

Refugee arrivals during the 2023 fiscal year dramatically outpaced the prior two years, reaching over 60,000 from October 2022 to September 2023.

In August 2024, the greatest number of refugees admitted by the U.S. came from Venezeula, Afghanistan, and Congo. Each nation faces a unique set of circumstances that can make their citizens unsafe if they stay in their home country.

In Venezuela, over 7.5 million people have left the country due to extreme inflation, violence, food and medicine scarcity, and other factors. Most have resettled in Latin American and Caribbean countries. Afghan refugees have been fleeing to neighboring countries for decades, especially to Pakistan and Iran, which combined host over 8 million Afghans. For the last three decades, Congo, also called the Democratic Republic of Congo, has been struggling with a series of civil wars and internal battles that have left millions of people displaced, both internally and externally, with many people fleeing to neighboring countries.

Stacker referenced data from the Refugee Processing Center to compile statistics on the number of refugees and their countries of origin resettled in New York in August 2024. Countries with only one refugee since October 2023 are not included.

August refugee statistics
Countries where refugees arrived from in August
To New York:
#1. Venezuela: 93
#2. Congo: 77
#3. Syria: 72
#4. Myanmar: 52
#5. Afghanistan: 45
#6. Somalia: 40
#7. Guatemala: 33
#8. Colombia: 27
#9. Iraq: 21
#9. Sudan: 21
#11. Nicaragua: 11
#12. El Salvador: 8
#13. Eritrea: 5
#14. Republic of South Sudan: 3
#15. Sri Lanka: 2
#15. Honduras: 2
#17. Cuba: 1
#17. Algeria: 1

To the U.S. as a whole:
#1. Venezuela: 2,310
#2. Congo: 1,503
#3. Afghanistan: 1,460
#4. Syria: 695
#5. Guatemala: 655

States that accepted the most refugees in August:
#1. Texas: 1,213
#2. California: 808
#3. Florida: 527
#4. New York: 514
#5. Washington: 507

Read on to see the countries that New York has accepted the most refugees from since the start of the fiscal year in October 2023.

You may also like: How access to opioid treatments has changed in New York
Woman carries basket through street in Bukavu
1 / 40
Katja Tsvetkova // Shutterstock

#1. Congo

Refugees that arrived from Congo since October 2023
To New York: 1,112

To the U.S. as a whole: 17,626
Top states receiving refugees from Congo
#1. Texas: 1,574
#2. Kentucky: 1,505
#3. Ohio: 1,217
#4. Arizona: 1,196
#5. New York: 1,112

People buying spices at a street market in Damascus
2 / 40
hanohiki // Shutterstock

#2. Syria

Refugees that arrived from Syria since October 2023
To New York: 972

To the U.S. as a whole: 9,689
Top states receiving refugees from Syria
#1. New York: 972
#2. Michigan: 964
#3. Pennsylvania: 808
#4. Texas: 581
#5. California: 552

A horse-drawn taxi passes through a busy shopping area
3 / 40
Chantal de Bruijne // Shutterstock

#3. Myanmar

Refugees that arrived from Myanmar since October 2023
To New York: 605

To the U.S. as a whole: 5,891
Top states receiving refugees from Myanmar
#1. Texas: 666
#2. New York: 605
#3. Illinois: 569
#4. Wisconsin: 453
#5. Georgia: 415

Afghan women in burkas pass by a man outside a market
4 / 40
Canva

#4. Afghanistan

Refugees that arrived from Afghanistan since October 2023
To New York: 582

To the U.S. as a whole: 12,634
Top states receiving refugees from Afghanistan
#1. California: 2,611
#2. Texas: 1,299
#3. Virginia: 1,042
#4. Washington: 777
#5. New York: 582

An aerial view of caracas, Venezuela.
5 / 40
Canva

#5. Venezuela

Refugees that arrived from Venezuela since October 2023
To New York: 379

To the U.S. as a whole: 9,225
Top states receiving refugees from Venezuela
#1. Texas: 1,488
#2. Florida: 1,425
#3. Illinois: 522
#4. New York: 379
#5. Georgia: 362

You may also like: Counties with the highest unemployment in New York
Muslim woman in hijab waking on streets of Hargeisa
6 / 40
Dave Primov // Shutterstock

#6. Somalia

Refugees that arrived from Somalia since October 2023
To New York: 278

To the U.S. as a whole: 3,940
Top states receiving refugees from Somalia
#1. Minnesota: 1,118
#2. New York: 278
#3. Ohio: 261
#4. Missouri: 224
#5. Arizona: 214

Many people on a dirt street in Shendi
7 / 40
Matyas Rehak // Shutterstock

#7. Sudan

Refugees that arrived from Sudan since October 2023
To New York: 188

To the U.S. as a whole: 1,902
Top states receiving refugees from Sudan
#1. New York: 188
#2. Texas: 158
#3. Ohio: 130
#4. Pennsylvania: 120
#5. Missouri: 117

Daily scene of tuktuks, street stalls and motorbikes in San Pedro
8 / 40
Lauren Squire // Shutterstock

#8. Guatemala

Refugees that arrived from Guatemala since October 2023
To New York: 187

To the U.S. as a whole: 4,320
Top states receiving refugees from Guatemala
#1. California: 631
#2. Texas: 492
#3. Florida: 235
#4. North Carolina: 230
#5. New York: 187

Pedestrians on a street in Bogota, Columbia
9 / 40
Matyas Rehak // Shutterstock

#9. Colombia

Refugees that arrived from Colombia since October 2023
To New York: 95

To the U.S. as a whole: 1,242
Top states receiving refugees from Colombia
#1. Florida: 135
#2. Texas: 104
#3. New York: 95
#4. North Carolina: 93
#5. Washington: 89

Men gathered in the streets with motorcycles in Juba
10 / 40
punghi // Shutterstock

#10. Republic of South Sudan

Refugees that arrived from Republic of South Sudan since October 2023
To New York: 91

To the U.S. as a whole: 1,135
Top states receiving refugees from Republic of South Sudan
#1. Nebraska: 122
#2. Texas: 107
#3. New York: 91
#4. Colorado: 66
#4. Arizona: 66

You may also like: Counties receiving the most SBA loans in New York
Elevated view of Baghdad street scene
11 / 40
Focus and Blur // Shutterstock

#11. Iraq

Refugees that arrived from Iraq since October 2023
To New York: 89

To the U.S. as a whole: 1,897
Top states receiving refugees from Iraq
#1. California: 283
#2. Michigan: 219
#3. Texas: 173
#4. Nebraska: 127
#5. Washington: 114

Woman crossing road by Medlar Market in Asmara
12 / 40
Dave Primov // Shutterstock

#12. Eritrea

Refugees that arrived from Eritrea since October 2023
To New York: 82

To the U.S. as a whole: 1,908
Top states receiving refugees from Eritrea
#1. Texas: 209
#2. Washington: 204
#3. lowa: 135
#4. North Carolina: 116
#5. Ohio: 113

Woman carrying child to Lviv train station on snowy day
13 / 40
Ruslan Lytvyn // Shutterstock

#13. Ukraine

Refugees that arrived from Ukraine since October 2023
To New York: 81

To the U.S. as a whole: 1,346
Top states receiving refugees from Ukraine
#1. Washington: 507
#2. California: 226
#3. New York: 81
#4. Florida: 66
#5. Ohio: 54

People walking by a Cathedral in Granada, Nicaragua
14 / 40
Milosz Maslanka // Shutterstock

#14. Nicaragua

Refugees that arrived from Nicaragua since October 2023
To New York: 77

To the U.S. as a whole: 2,776
Top states receiving refugees from Nicaragua
#1. Florida: 331
#2. Texas: 256
#3. California: 225
#4. Minnesota: 124
#5. Arizona: 108

An aerial view of El Salvador.
15 / 40
Canva

#15. El Salvador

Refugees that arrived from El Salvador since October 2023
To New York: 76

To the U.S. as a whole: 1,176
Top states receiving refugees from El Salvador
#1. Texas: 169
#2. California: 149
#3. Maryland: 112
#4. Virginia: 80
#5. North Carolina: 79

You may also like: Highest-rated breweries in New York
Woman and child on busy market street of Copan
16 / 40
amnat30 // Shutterstock

#16. Honduras

Refugees that arrived from Honduras since October 2023
To New York: 57

To the U.S. as a whole: 825
Top states receiving refugees from Honduras
#1. Texas: 132
#2. Florida: 104
#3. New York: 57
#4. California: 42
#4. Georgia: 42

People walking through the Chitta Gate in the old town area of Lahore
17 / 40
W_NAMKET // Shutterstock

#17. Pakistan

Refugees that arrived from Pakistan since October 2023
To New York: 51

To the U.S. as a whole: 780
Top states receiving refugees from Pakistan
#1. Pennsylvania: 110
#2. Texas: 77
#3. Virginia: 62
#4. New York: 51
#5. Illinois: 49

Burundian people gather at an outside market
18 / 40
Rostasedlacek // Shutterstock

#18. Burundi

Refugees that arrived from Burundi since October 2023
To New York: 41

To the U.S. as a whole: 527
Top states receiving refugees from Burundi
#1. Texas: 65
#2. Arizona: 49
#3. New York: 41
#4. Pennsylvania: 38
#5. Nebraska: 30

An aerial view of Osh, Kyrgyzstan.
19 / 40
Canva

#19. Kyrgyzstan

Refugees that arrived from Kyrgyzstan since October 2023
To New York: 37

To the U.S. as a whole: 60
Top states receiving refugees from Kyrgyzstan
#1. New York: 37
#2. Oregon: 8
#2. Pennsylvania: 8
#4. Illinois: 7

Group of children playing soccer on a rural road
20 / 40
sandis sveicers // Shutterstock

#20. Central African Republic

Refugees that arrived from Central African Republic since October 2023
To New York: 32

To the U.S. as a whole: 797
Top states receiving refugees from Central African Republic
#1. Missouri: 80
#2. Texas: 75
#3. Georgia: 60
#4. Colorado: 56
#5. Michigan: 55

You may also like: Healthy hotspots: The most physically active counties in New York
A panoramic view of Minsk, Belarus.
21 / 40
karp5 // Shutterstock

#21. Belarus

Refugees that arrived from Belarus since October 2023
To New York: 27

To the U.S. as a whole: 348
Top states receiving refugees from Belarus
#1. Washington: 91
#2. California: 57
#3. Massachusetts: 28
#4. New York: 27
#5. Pennsylvania: 24

Cars, people and mopeds on the streets of Kinshasa.
22 / 40
Katja Tsvetkova // Shutterstock

#22. Republic of Congo

Refugees that arrived from Republic of Congo since October 2023
To New York: 25

To the U.S. as a whole: 352
Top states receiving refugees from Republic of Congo
#1. Missouri: 32
#2. Pennsylvania: 28
#3. Wisconsin: 26
#4. New York: 25
#4. Illinois: 25

An aerial drone view of niarela Bakamo, Mali
23 / 40
Canva

#23. Mali

Refugees that arrived from Mali since October 2023
To New York: 24

To the U.S. as a whole: 181
Top states receiving refugees from Mali
#1. Pennsylvania: 27
#2. New York: 24
#3. South Carolina: 23
#4. Missouri: 16
#5. Connecticut: 13

Fishermen sorting nets on wooden boat at beach in Robertsport
24 / 40
Fabian Plock // Shutterstock

#24. Liberia

Refugees that arrived from Liberia since October 2023
To New York: 16

To the U.S. as a whole: 31
Top states receiving refugees from Liberia
#1. New York: 16
#2. Arkansas: 8
#3. Colorado: 4
#4. Kansas: 3

Wide view of traditional, older buildings on a hillside in Yemen.
25 / 40
Canva

#25. Yemen

Refugees that arrived from Yemen since October 2023
To New York: 14

To the U.S. as a whole: 124
Top states receiving refugees from Yemen
#1. Michigan: 27
#2. New York: 14
#3. Georgia: 13
#4. Montana: 12
#5. Texas: 11

You may also like: Best colleges in New York
People shopping at Pieta Central market in Chisinau
26 / 40
JackKPhoto // Shutterstock

#26. Moldova

Refugees that arrived from Moldova since October 2023
To New York: 13

To the U.S. as a whole: 360
Top states receiving refugees from Moldova
#1. Washington: 114
#2. California: 105
#3. Florida: 24
#3. Oregon: 24
#5. Minnesota: 17

People walking on the street in Aksum
27 / 40
Artush // Shutterstock

#26. Ethiopia

Refugees that arrived from Ethiopia since October 2023
To New York: 13

To the U.S. as a whole: 376
Top states receiving refugees from Ethiopia
#1. Minnesota: 111
#2. Washington: 31
#2. Texas: 31
#4. Ohio: 27
#5. Georgia: 26

An aerial shot of Tashkent TV Tower in Uzbekistan at sunset.
28 / 40
Canva

#26. Uzbekistan

Refugees that arrived from Uzbekistan since October 2023
To New York: 13

To the U.S. as a whole: 44
Top states receiving refugees from Uzbekistan
#1. New York: 13
#2. Washington: 12
#3. California: 8
#4. Ohio: 6
#5. Oregon: 5

A distant view of the Havana skyline in Cuba.
29 / 40
Canva

#29. Cuba

Refugees that arrived from Cuba since October 2023
To New York: 12

To the U.S. as a whole: 196
Top states receiving refugees from Cuba
#1. Florida: 74
#2. Texas: 30
#3. New York: 12
#4. Tennessee: 10
#5. Washington: 8

People selling bananas at a street market in Huye
30 / 40
Oscar Espinosa // Shutterstock

#30. Rwanda

Refugees that arrived from Rwanda since October 2023
To New York: 11

To the U.S. as a whole: 216
Top states receiving refugees from Rwanda
#1. Texas: 49
#2. Arizona: 16
#3. South Carolina: 12
#3. Kentucky: 12
#5. Illinois: 11

You may also like: Counties where the most opioids are dispensed in New York
People crossing a busy street near Moscow’s business center
31 / 40
YuryKara // Shutterstock

#31. Russia

Refugees that arrived from Russia since October 2023
To New York: 9

To the U.S. as a whole: 335
Top states receiving refugees from Russia
#1. Washington: 83
#2. California: 75
#3. Oregon: 43
#4. Minnesota: 22
#4. North Carolina: 22

People gather in a urban park on the streets of Tehran
32 / 40
Andrew V Marcus // Shutterstock

#32. Iran

Refugees that arrived from Iran since October 2023
To New York: 3

To the U.S. as a whole: 440
Top states receiving refugees from Iran
#1. California: 268
#2. Texas: 47
#3. Michigan: 17
#4. Washington: 13
#4. Georgia: 13

A distant view of homes on a hillside in Haiti.
33 / 40
Canva

#32. Haiti

Refugees that arrived from Haiti since October 2023
To New York: 3

To the U.S. as a whole: 226
Top states receiving refugees from Haiti
#1. Pennsylvania: 37
#2. Florida: 31
#3. Texas: 16
#4. Georgia: 15
#5. Missouri: 12

A distant view of Mount Victoria in Cameroon.
34 / 40
Canva

#32. Cameroon

Refugees that arrived from Cameroon since October 2023
To New York: 3

To the U.S. as a whole: 105
Top states receiving refugees from Cameroon
#1. Texas: 13
#1. Pennsylvania: 13
#3. Nevada: 8
#4. Maryland: 7
#4. California: 7

A distant view of Constantine, Algeria.
35 / 40
Canva

#35. Algeria

Refugees that arrived from Algeria since October 2023
To New York: 2

To the U.S. as a whole: 11
Top states receiving refugees from Algeria
#1. California: 7
#2. Massachusetts: 2
#2. New York: 2

You may also like: Counties in New York with more precipitation over the past year than average
Busy street in Colombo, Sri Lanka
36 / 40
alionabirukova // Shutterstock

#35. Sri Lanka

Refugees that arrived from Sri Lanka since October 2023
To New York: 2

To the U.S. as a whole: 11
Top states receiving refugees from Sri Lanka
#1. Texas: 5
#2. New Jersey: 4
#3. New York: 2

An arial view of Tbilisi, Georgia.
37 / 40
Canva

#35. Georgia

Refugees that arrived from Georgia since October 2023
To New York: 2

To the U.S. as a whole: 34
Top states receiving refugees from Georgia
#1. Washington: 23
#2. Pennsylvania: 4
#3. California: 3
#4. Indiana: 2
#4. New York: 2

An aerial view of Stone Town in Zanzibar, Tanzania.
38 / 40
Marius Dobilas // Shutterstock

#35. Tanzania

Refugees that arrived from Tanzania since October 2023
To New York: 2

To the U.S. as a whole: 6
Top states receiving refugees from Tanzania
#1. Colorado: 4
#2. New York: 2

Woman walking on busy street in Kampala with basket of mangos
39 / 40
Vlad Karavaev // Shutterstock

#35. Uganda

Refugees that arrived from Uganda since October 2023
To New York: 2

To the U.S. as a whole: 38
Top states receiving refugees from Uganda
#1. Massachusetts: 6
#1. Missouri: 6
#3. Michigan: 5
#3. Ohio: 5
#5. Washington: 4

People standing in front of shops by roadside
40 / 40
Beata Tabak // Shutterstock

#35. Ivory Coast

Refugees that arrived from Ivory Coast since October 2023
To New York: 2

To the U.S. as a whole: 66
Top states receiving refugees from Ivory Coast
#1. Pennsylvania: 10
#2. Minnesota: 8
#3. Massachusetts: 7
#4. Arkansas: 6
#5. Florida: 4

This story features data reporting and writing by Emma Rubin and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 48 states.

You may also like: How many people are receiving substance use treatment in New York

Trending Now