Biggest sources of immigrants to North Carolina
Over 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 biggest sources of immigrants to North Carolina using data from the "U.S. Census Bureau. Countries are ranked by the highest number of residents according to 2020 5-year estimates. Keep reading to find out more about the immigrant community in your home state.
#50. Sudan
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 2,708
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 52,433
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #86 most common country of origin
#49. Turkey
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 2,729
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 126,351
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #53 most common country of origin
#48. Cambodia
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 2,744
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 149,486
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #47 most common country of origin
#47. Costa Rica
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 2,877
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 89,462
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #69 most common country of origin
#46. France
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 3,067
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 181,242
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #42 most common country of origin
#45. Morocco
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 3,112
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 83,842
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #70 most common country of origin
#44. Trinidad and Tobago
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 3,219
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 233,024
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
- #37 most common country of origin
#43. Panama
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 3,361
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 101,520
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #61 most common country of origin
#42. Argentina
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 3,429
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 193,056
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #41 most common country of origin
#41. Poland
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 3,433
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 411,750
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #20 most common country of origin
#40. Taiwan
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 3,602
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 378,942
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #25 most common country of origin
#39. South Africa
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 3,867
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 108,650
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #58 most common country of origin
#38. Iran
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 3,921
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 389,383
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #23 most common country of origin
#37. Ghana
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 3,981
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 180,675
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #43 most common country of origin
#36. Burma
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 4,107
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 147,834
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #48 most common country of origin
#35. Kenya
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 4,150
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 145,272
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #49 most common country of origin
#34. Nepal
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 4,189
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 142,749
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #50 most common country of origin
#33. Republic of the Congo
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 4,250
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 31,671
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #109 most common country of origin
#32. Liberia
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 4,291
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 92,283
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #68 most common country of origin
#31. Italy
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 4,387
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 326,407
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%
- #30 most common country of origin
#30. Egypt
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 4,508
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 202,049
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
- #40 most common country of origin
#29. Ethiopia
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 4,514
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 260,577
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
- #33 most common country of origin
#28. Nicaragua
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 4,627
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
- Number of residents: 244,405
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
- #35 most common country of origin
#27. Haiti
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 4,866
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
- Number of residents: 667,432
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.5%
- #14 most common country of origin
#26. Ukraine
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 5,348
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
- Number of residents: 358,823
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #27 most common country of origin
#25. Thailand
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 5,710
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%
National
- Number of residents: 256,436
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
- #34 most common country of origin
#24. Ecuador
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 6,124
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%
National
- Number of residents: 440,337
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
- #19 most common country of origin
#23. Laos
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 6,217
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%
National
- Number of residents: 179,004
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #44 most common country of origin
#22. Pakistan
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 6,251
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
National
- Number of residents: 385,873
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #24 most common country of origin
#21. Peru
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 6,575
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
National
- Number of residents: 451,666
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
- #18 most common country of origin
#20. Japan
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 6,592
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
National
- Number of residents: 346,149
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #28 most common country of origin
#19. Venezuela
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 6,675
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
National
- Number of residents: 394,365
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #22 most common country of origin
#18. Russia
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 6,794
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
National
- Number of residents: 397,214
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #21 most common country of origin
#17. Nigeria
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 7,304
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
National
- Number of residents: 366,534
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #26 most common country of origin
#16. Brazil
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 7,921
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
National
- Number of residents: 474,723
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.1%
- #17 most common country of origin
#15. Cuba
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 8,362
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
National
- Number of residents: 1,314,570
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.0%
- #7 most common country of origin
#14. Jamaica
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 10,427
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.3%
National
- Number of residents: 760,486
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.7%
- #13 most common country of origin
#13. Dominican Republic
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 13,943
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.7%
National
- Number of residents: 1,125,208
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.6%
- #8 most common country of origin
#12. Colombia
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 15,539
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.9%
National
- Number of residents: 792,579
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.8%
- #12 most common country of origin
#11. Germany
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 15,666
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.9%
National
- Number of residents: 549,073
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.2%
- #16 most common country of origin
#10. South Korea
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 16,108
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.9%
National
- Number of residents: 1,048,588
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.4%
- #9 most common country of origin
#9. Canada
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 18,588
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.2%
National
- Number of residents: 817,885
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.9%
- #11 most common country of origin
#8. Philippines
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 18,891
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.3%
National
- Number of residents: 1,967,140
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.5%
- #4 most common country of origin
#7. Guatemala
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 19,759
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.4%
National
- Number of residents: 964,528
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.2%
- #10 most common country of origin
#6. Vietnam
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 24,988
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.0%
National
- Number of residents: 1,354,391
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.1%
- #6 most common country of origin
#5. China
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 27,227
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.3%
National
- Number of residents: 2,184,189
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.9%
- #3 most common country of origin
#4. El Salvador
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 32,451
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.9%
National
- Number of residents: 1,370,579
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.1%
- #5 most common country of origin
#3. Honduras
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 36,078
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.3%
National
- Number of residents: 649,209
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.5%
- #15 most common country of origin
#2. India
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 75,950
- Percent of foreign born residents: 9.1%
National
- Number of residents: 2,618,558
- Percent of foreign born residents: 5.9%
- #2 most common country of origin
#1. Mexico
North Carolina
- Number of residents: 220,943
- Percent of foreign born residents: 26.5%
National
- Number of residents: 10,924,662
- Percent of foreign born residents: 24.8%
- #1 most common country of origin
