Biggest sources of immigrants to Asheville
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 Asheville come from, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Countries are ranked by highest number of foreign-born residents who lived in Asheville as of 2019's five-year estimates.
Keep reading to find out more about the immigrant community in your home city.
#49 (tie). Kazakhstan
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 64
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
National
- Number of residents: 30,388
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #107 most common country of origin
#49 (tie). Austria
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 64
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
National
- Number of residents: 43,103
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #92 most common country of origin
#48. Malaysia
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 66
- 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
#47. Sweden
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 68
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 47,286
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #85 most common country of origin
#46. Denmark
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 71
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 30,192
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #108 most common country of origin
#45. Indonesia
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 72
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 96,229
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #62 most common country of origin
#44. Greece
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 78
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 129,765
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #51 most common country of origin
#43. Latvia
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 84
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 23,372
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #115 most common country of origin
#42. Belarus
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 85
- 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
#41. Uruguay
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 87
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 46,635
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #88 most common country of origin
#40. Switzerland
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 102
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 37,943
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #95 most common country of origin
#39. Costa Rica
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 105
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 88,084
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #66 most common country of origin
#38. Laos
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 108
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 181,546
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #42 most common country of origin
#37. Israel
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 109
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 135,672
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #50 most common country of origin
#36. Cambodia
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 110
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 151,066
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #46 most common country of origin
#35. Italy
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 116
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 332,857
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #30 most common country of origin
#33 (tie). Czechoslovakia (includes Czech Republic and Slovakia)
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 128
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 66,818
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #76 most common country of origin
#33 (tie). Poland
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 128
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 410,841
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #21 most common country of origin
#32. Ecuador
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 129
- 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
#30 (tie). Spain
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 142
- 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
#30 (tie). Peru
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 142
- 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
#29. Ireland
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 143
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 121,469
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #53 most common country of origin
#28. Chile
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 151
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
- Number of residents: 98,945
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #61 most common country of origin
#27. Argentina
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 160
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
- Number of residents: 194,435
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #39 most common country of origin
#25 (tie). Hong Kong
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 174
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%
National
- Number of residents: 231,275
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
- #36 most common country of origin
#25 (tie). South Africa
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 174
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%
National
- Number of residents: 104,022
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #56 most common country of origin
#24. Japan
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 197
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
National
- Number of residents: 345,140
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #29 most common country of origin
#23. France
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 213
- 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
#22. Romania
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 251
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
National
- Number of residents: 162,046
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #45 most common country of origin
#21. Vietnam
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 268
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
National
- Number of residents: 1,336,988
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.0%
- #6 most common country of origin
#20. Cuba
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 270
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
National
- Number of residents: 1,289,875
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.9%
- #7 most common country of origin
#19. South Korea
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 276
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.1%
National
- Number of residents: 1,044,634
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.4%
- #9 most common country of origin
#18. Brazil
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 375
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.4%
National
- Number of residents: 433,479
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
- #20 most common country of origin
#17. Venezuela
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 390
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.5%
National
- Number of residents: 349,720
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #27 most common country of origin
#16. Dominican Republic
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 406
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.5%
National
- Number of residents: 1,118,147
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.5%
- #8 most common country of origin
#15. Jamaica
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 450
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.7%
National
- Number of residents: 741,386
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.7%
- #13 most common country of origin
#14. India
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 476
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.8%
National
- Number of residents: 2,561,906
- Percent of foreign born residents: 5.8%
- #2 most common country of origin
#13. Honduras
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 553
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.1%
National
- Number of residents: 651,123
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.5%
- #16 most common country of origin
#12. Russia
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 582
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.2%
National
- Number of residents: 391,641
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #22 most common country of origin
#11. Moldova
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 656
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.5%
National
- Number of residents: 45,661
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #89 most common country of origin
#10. Colombia
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 740
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.8%
National
- Number of residents: 761,374
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.7%
- #12 most common country of origin
#9. El Salvador
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 769
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.9%
National
- Number of residents: 1,381,008
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.1%
- #5 most common country of origin
#8. Philippines
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 788
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.0%
National
- Number of residents: 1,983,939
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.5%
- #4 most common country of origin
#7. Guatemala
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 817
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.1%
National
- Number of residents: 979,098
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.2%
- #10 most common country of origin
#6. China
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 828
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.2%
National
- Number of residents: 2,162,395
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.9%
- #3 most common country of origin
#5. Germany
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,045
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.0%
National
- Number of residents: 560,368
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.3%
- #17 most common country of origin
#4. Canada
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,082
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.1%
National
- Number of residents: 808,566
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.8%
- #11 most common country of origin
#3. Ukraine
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,091
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.2%
National
- Number of residents: 345,250
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #28 most common country of origin
#2. United Kingdom
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,173
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.5%
National
- Number of residents: 698,612
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.6%
- #14 most common country of origin
#1. Mexico
Asheville, NC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 8,339
- Percent of foreign born residents: 31.8%
National
- Number of residents: 11,250,541
- Percent of foreign born residents: 25.6%
- #1 most common country of origin
