Biggest sources of immigrants to Charleston
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 Charleston come from, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Countries are ranked by highest number of foreign-born residents who lived in Charleston as of 2019's five-year estimates.
Keep reading to find out more about the immigrant community in your home city.
#50. Barbados
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 128
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 54,231
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #81 most common country of origin
#49. Ethiopia
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 129
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 249,777
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
- #34 most common country of origin
#48. Iran
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 131
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 382,260
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #23 most common country of origin
#47. Sudan
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 133
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 46,716
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #87 most common country of origin
#46. Pakistan
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 138
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
National
- Number of residents: 376,127
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #25 most common country of origin
#45. Sweden
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 139
- 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
#44. Ireland
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 154
- 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
#43. Cambodia
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 167
- 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
#41 (tie). Dominican Republic
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 168
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 1,118,147
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.5%
- #8 most common country of origin
#41 (tie). Egypt
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 168
- 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
#39 (tie). Czechoslovakia (includes Czech Republic and Slovakia)
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 174
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 66,818
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #76 most common country of origin
#39 (tie). Ecuador
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 174
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 438,474
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
- #19 most common country of origin
#38. Greece
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 184
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 129,765
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #51 most common country of origin
#37. Panama
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 185
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
National
- Number of residents: 103,299
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #58 most common country of origin
#35 (tie). Ukraine
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 200
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 345,250
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #28 most common country of origin
#35 (tie). Belgium
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 200
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 35,220
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #98 most common country of origin
#34. Costa Rica
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 204
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 88,084
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #66 most common country of origin
#33. Afghanistan
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 211
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 101,548
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #59 most common country of origin
#32. Australia
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 218
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 92,483
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #64 most common country of origin
#31. Israel
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 223
- 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
#30. Spain
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 265
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
- Number of residents: 115,113
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #55 most common country of origin
#29. Japan
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 291
- 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
#28. Thailand
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 314
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
National
- Number of residents: 255,345
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
- #32 most common country of origin
#27. Portugal
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 325
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
National
- Number of residents: 171,118
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #44 most common country of origin
#26. Romania
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 349
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
National
- Number of residents: 162,046
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #45 most common country of origin
#25. Poland
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 357
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
National
- Number of residents: 410,841
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #21 most common country of origin
#24. Cuba
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 367
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
National
- Number of residents: 1,289,875
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.9%
- #7 most common country of origin
#23. Italy
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 386
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
National
- Number of residents: 332,857
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #30 most common country of origin
#22. Taiwan
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 427
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
National
- Number of residents: 381,098
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #24 most common country of origin
#21. South Africa
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 431
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
National
- Number of residents: 104,022
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #56 most common country of origin
#20. France
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 481
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.2%
National
- Number of residents: 181,554
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #41 most common country of origin
#19. Trinidad and Tobago
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 489
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.2%
National
- Number of residents: 230,035
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
- #37 most common country of origin
#18. Venezuela
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 491
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.2%
National
- Number of residents: 349,720
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #27 most common country of origin
#17. South Korea
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 539
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.3%
National
- Number of residents: 1,044,634
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.4%
- #9 most common country of origin
#16. El Salvador
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 558
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.3%
National
- Number of residents: 1,381,008
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.1%
- #5 most common country of origin
#15. Russia
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 590
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.4%
National
- Number of residents: 391,641
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #22 most common country of origin
#14. Peru
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 604
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.5%
National
- Number of residents: 451,076
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
- #18 most common country of origin
#13. Jamaica
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 685
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.6%
National
- Number of residents: 741,386
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.7%
- #13 most common country of origin
#12. Colombia
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 778
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.9%
National
- Number of residents: 761,374
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.7%
- #12 most common country of origin
#11. Vietnam
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,056
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.5%
National
- Number of residents: 1,336,988
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.0%
- #6 most common country of origin
#10. Canada
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,473
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.5%
National
- Number of residents: 808,566
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.8%
- #11 most common country of origin
#9. Honduras
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,519
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.7%
National
- Number of residents: 651,123
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.5%
- #16 most common country of origin
#8. Germany
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,621
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.9%
National
- Number of residents: 560,368
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.3%
- #17 most common country of origin
#7. Guatemala
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,685
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.1%
National
- Number of residents: 979,098
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.2%
- #10 most common country of origin
#6. United Kingdom
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,698
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.1%
National
- Number of residents: 698,612
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.6%
- #14 most common country of origin
#5. Brazil
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,741
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.2%
National
- Number of residents: 433,479
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
- #20 most common country of origin
#4. China
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,796
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.3%
National
- Number of residents: 2,162,395
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.9%
- #3 most common country of origin
#3. India
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,847
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.4%
National
- Number of residents: 2,561,906
- Percent of foreign born residents: 5.8%
- #2 most common country of origin
#2. Philippines
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 3,584
- Percent of foreign born residents: 8.6%
National
- Number of residents: 1,983,939
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.5%
- #4 most common country of origin
#1. Mexico
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
- Number of residents: 8,423
- Percent of foreign born residents: 20.3%
National
- Number of residents: 11,250,541
- Percent of foreign born residents: 25.6%
- #1 most common country of origin